Open Enrollment
During this time benefit eligible employees are allowed to make changes to their benefits. This is the only time of year where changes can be made without a qualified life event.
Any changes that are made go into effect January 1 of the upcoming year.
Human Resource Services sends out notifications via email, the Employee Benefits & Well-being Newsletter, InsideUNI, HRS Announcements, as well as posts information on our website regarding Open Enrollment. This includes when open enrollment starts, ends, any changes for the upcoming year, and instructions on how to enroll in or change benefits.
Late enrollments will not be accepted.
Verifying Dependents
Adding new dependents to your health and/or dental plan?
You can verify your dependents by Uploading Dependent Verification Document(s) in UNI Works. Once the required documentation has been uploaded, click Submit to complete and clear the task.
Do not send personal documents by email. Email is not a secure method for submitting dependent verification documentation.
Examples of Acceptable Documentation
- Spouse – Marriage certificate or common law spouse affidavit
- Domestic Partner – Notarized domestic partner affidavit
- Child – Birth certificate that includes the parents' names, adoption paperwork, court order, or guardianship paperwork
Previously Verified Dependents
Once a dependent has been verified, you do not need to verify that dependent again unless there has been a change that affects their eligibility or the documentation previously provided.
Examples of changes that may require updated documentation include:
- Spouse – A change in marital status, such as divorce.
- Child – A change to a court order or guardianship arrangement.
If there have been no changes affecting your dependent's eligibility, no additional verification documentation is required.
Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
If you are enrolled in health, dental, or vision insurance and make no changes during open enrollment, your elections will stay the same.
If you wish to enroll in any of the plans, or make a change to a different plan, you must do so during Open Enrollment in order for the change to go into effect January 1.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Employees who wish to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account for the upcoming calendar year must enroll or re-enroll during Open Enrollment.
The IRS sets the maximum amount that employees are allowed to contribute annually. Instructions will be included in the open enrollment information sent out by Human Resource Services.
Failure to elect these benefits in the open enrollment time frame will result in waived coverage for the next year. There are no exceptions for the missed enrollment, and no late enrollees will be accepted.
Voluntary Term Life (VTL) Insurance
Eligible employees may enroll in, cancel, increase, or decrease voluntary term life insurance coverage for themselves, their spouse, or their children during Open Enrollment.
Increasing Coverage: Principal Life Insurance allows employees to increase their coverage by up to $20,000 without medical underwriting. If you request an increase of more than $20,000, Principal Financial will send you a medical questionnaire to complete for review.
Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA) Plan
If you are currently contributing, or would like to enroll, in a TDA plan you may do so during open enrollment. You can elect either an annual or monthly contribution amount. A person can change their contribution amount at any time during the year as well.
Keep Beneficiary Information Up-to-date
Each year it is good practice to review your life insurance and retirement beneficiaries during open enrollment. Beneficiaries can be changed at any time of year, but this may be a good time to review and update if necessary. Retirement beneficiaries may be changed through the respective plan portal and the UNI Group Term LIfe Insurance beneficiaries can be updated through UNI Works.
This is also a good time to review any personal information such as address and phone number. If you make a change to your health plan during open enrollment, you may require new health ID cards, and we need to have your most up-to-date information on file to ensure receipt of those cards.
When You Can Make Changes to Your Benefits
Annual Open Enrollment
If you do not make any changes during open enrollment your coverage selection will remain the same.
Qualifying Life Event
You may also enroll, waive, or change your coverage selection based on a qualifying life event.
How to Make Changes to Your Benefits
UNI Works
UNI Works is designed to help you enroll, make changes, and view your current benefit elections, dependents and beneficiaries all in one location. When logging into UNI Works, select Benefits and Pay from the Main Menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- 1Q: Does UNI have an active Open Enrollment?
The only benefit employees must actively enroll in each year are the health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
- 2Q: If I make changes during Open Enrollment, when will those changes take effect?
January 1.
- 3Q: How do I make my changes during Open Enrollment?
Through UNI Works.
Contact Information
HRS Benefits Team
319-273-2422
hrs-benefits@uni.edu
Wherever conflicts occur between the contents of this site and the contracts, rules, regulations, or laws governing the administration of the various programs, the terms set forth in the various program contracts, rules, regulations, or laws shall prevail. Space does not permit listing all limitations and exclusions that apply to each plan. Before using your benefits, review the plan's coverage manual. Benefits provided can be changed at any time without the consent of participants.