UNI has two health plans available for eligible employees, the UNI PPO (Alliance Select) and the UNI Blue Advantage (HMO). The UNI PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan provides coverage whether you are in-network or out-of-network, but you pay more for services provided outside of the network. The network for this plan is nationwide and is available in over 200 countries. The UNI Blue Advantage is known as a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). This plan provides coverage only in the state of Iowa.
The Black Hawk County Health Department issued a press release regarding the county’s response to Monkeypox. Prevention is our frontline defense against any virus or illness. This includes eating well, getting adequate rest, and regularly washing hands/using hand sanitizer. As a reminder, the cost of vaccinations and testing are covered through the UNI’s self-insured health plans.
The 2023 Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period will run from Tuesday, November 1 through Wednesday, November 30, 2022. During this time you may review and change your benefit elections. Any changes made to your benefit elections will be effective January 1, 2023. 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.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It is recommended that women start scheduling mammograms at age 40. UNI’s self-insured health plans cover one annual preventive care mammogram, including 3D preventive mammograms, per calendar year at 100%.
Human Resource Services will host an informational session on TIAA Traditional. Benny Goodman, VP and Actuary with TIAA, will be on-campus sharing how to receive guaranteed lifetime income with TIAA Traditional. This session will take place in Maucker Union Ballrooms A & B on October 26, from 1 - 2 p.m. Please register in advance.
Human Resource Services will host two informational sessions on retiring from UNI, for faculty and staff planning to retire soon or in the foreseeable future. Participants will learn guidelines and benefits available at retirement from UNI. The hour-long sessions will be presented by Therese Callaghan, Employee Well-being Coordinator, on November 2 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Gilchrist 009. Please register in advance.
Human Resource Services will host an informational session on bridging the gap from your employer health plan to Medicare. Learn how to use the Marketplace or healthcare.gov to price Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant plans, and options such as COBRA, short term health plans, sharing programs and group plans. The hour-long session will be presented by Todd Cooper with Veridian, October 6 at noon in Gilchrist 009.
Avoid going to the pharmacy by having your maintenance medications conveniently mailed to your home by using CVS Caremark's Rx Mail Order Service. Utilizing this service saves you money as a 90 day supply will only cost you two prescription 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, at your own convenience.
UNI's self-insured health plans have paid over $15,000 for COVID-19 test kits year-to-date. There are several resources on how to obtain free COVID-19 test kits. We ask that you use the free options for test kits as the kits are not charged to our self-insured health plans (which impacts employee premiums). Please see information where to obtain free test kits in our Benefits and Well-being Newsletter.
Human Resource Services will host two informational sessions on retiring from UNI, for faculty and staff planning to retire soon or in the foreseeable future. Participants will learn guidelines and benefits available at retirement from UNI. The hour-long sessions will be presented by Therese Callaghan, Employee Well-being Coordinator, on September 6 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Gilchrist 009. Please register in advance.
