Own Your Benefits
New Hire Benefits Orientation - Part 2
Own Your Benefits: 2021 Annual Open Enrollment is Coming Up
The 2022 Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period will run from Monday, November 1 through Tuesday, November 30, 2021. During this time you may review and change your benefit elections. Any changes made to your benefit elections will be effective January 1, 2022. Watch for an email announcement on November 1 as well as an informational mailing that will be sent to your home address later this month.
Own Your Benefits: Your Online Benefits Accounts
Electing your benefits with UNI allows access to a number of tools that will assist you in successfully managing your benefits. Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental, Avesis Vision, ASIFlex, Principal Financial, TIAA and IPERS all offer personal accounts where you can view and manage each benefit. By registering and using these accounts you can:
- View your benefits
- request ID cards
- designate beneficiaries
- view contributions
- check to see if you are on track for retirement
- and much more
Review our webpage for specific details on each account as well as how to access each one.
Own Your Benefits: Important Information About Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
On December 27, 2020 the President signed the COVID-19 Relief Bill passed by Congress, allowing UNI the opportunity to temporarily amend our flexible spending plans for the 2021 calendar year. The following two provisions impact Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA and will expire December 31, 2021.
The deadline for individuals with remaining 2020 unused FSA funds has been extended to December 31, 2021, rather than March 15, 2021. This extension also allows 2020 participants to use their 2020 unused funds for 2021 claims. This provision expires December 31, 2021.
Between January 1 - December 31, 2021 you may elect, increase, decrease, or waive 2021 FSA contributions without a qualifying life event. No retroactive changes are allowed. This provision expires December 31, 2021.
Limitations do exist, for more information and examples visit our 2021 FSA Plan Updates webpage.
Own Your Benefits: Delta Dental Offers Hearing Discounts
Hearing loss can occur so gradually that you may not even notice it. Individuals should be tested once every three to five years, for those 55 and old should test more often. Delta Dental has partnered with Amplifon to provide hearing discounts to Delta Dental members. Discounts are provided for hearing exams, hearing devices, and warranties. For more information call 866-925-1698 or visit the Delta Dental Hearing website.
Own Your Benefits: When Can You Make Changes to Your Benefits?
Experiencing a qualified life event such as marriage, or birth of a child, allows you to make changes to your benefits. If you do not have a qualified life event during the year you may make changes annually during Open Enrollment, which will occur November 1 - November 30, 2021. Any changes made during the open enrollment period will be effective January 1, 2022. Human Resource Services will announce information regarding Open Enrollment through our benefits webpage, HRS Latest News, Inside UNI, UNI email, and home mailings. Keep watching, more information will be coming soon.
Own Your Benefits: Use These Virtual Healthcare Services
UnityPoint and MercyOne hospitals and clinics have online systems that allow patients to contact their care teams virtually. Through these platforms you are also able to request prescription refills, access test results, and read provider notes. Doctor on Demand, UNI’s option for a virtual office visit, allows 24/7 care for common symptoms. Utilizing these services lowers the risk of exposure and illness.
Own Your Benefits: IRS Increases Annual Maximum for 2021 Dependent Care FSA
Due to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 the IRS increased the Dependent Care FSA maximum from $5,000 to $10,500 for calendar year 2021. UNI has decided to adopt this provision for the 2021 plan year effective immediately.
You can still make changes to your election amount at any time in 2021. You can claim for expenses back to your coverage start date, as far back as January 1, 2021.
Example 1: If you enrolled with Open Enrollment then you can submit for expenses that occurred on or after January 1, 2021.
Example 2: If you newly enrolled March 1,2021, you can submit for expenses that occurred on or after March 1.
You will still only be able to submit for claims up to the amount that you have accrued for your dependent care FSA.
For more information on the changes allowed for the flexible spending plans for calendar year 2021, please visit our webpage.
Own Your Benefits: Cost Savings with Mail Order Prescriptions
Avoid going to the pharmacy by having your maintenance medications conveniently mailed to your home by using CVS Pharmacy's Mail Service. Utilizing this service saves you money as a 90 day supply will only cost you two copayments, instead of three. This service saves you time as you can enjoy the convenience of not driving to the pharmacy and confirming your refills on your own time.