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  • February 2020

February 2020

Employee Benefits & Well-being - Human Resource Services
February Newsletter

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

IRS Form 1095-C for 2019 Tax Year

As part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers are required to provide IRS Form 1095-C to employees who were offered and/or enrolled in employer health insurance. The University will mail the 1095-C to the employee’s home address on file prior to the March 2, 2020 deadline. While you DO NOT need IRS Form 1095-C to file your 2019 tax return, you do need to keep it with your important tax documents. To show proof of health insurance coverage, UNI sends this information to the IRS on your behalf. For more information about IRS Form 1095-C, please visit the HRS supporting page.

Increase in Flu Cases

The UNI Student Health Clinic has recently seen an increased number of students who have tested positive for the flu. Currently, the flu is widespread in the State of Iowa. It is important to practice good hand washing hygiene, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly. These practices help reduce the spread of the flu. The single best way to prevent the flu is to get your annual flu shot. If you have not received your flu shot yet this season, you can still get one through local pharmacies and health care clinics. The UNI Health Insurance Plans cover one flu vaccine per year, per person covered on the plans. If you are experiencing symptoms of the flu, stay home while you are ill. For additional information on flu symptoms and prevention, visit: https://hrs.uni.edu/fluprevention

UPCOMING EVENTS

Financial Wellness: Show Your Money Who's Boss

Employees are invited to attend a free workshop series on budgeting, eliminating debt, creating an emergency fund, and more. Brett Olsen, Associate Professor of Finance, will facilitate this series on February 13, February 20, March 5, March 12, and April 2. All sessions take place from 2 to 3 p.m. in the DOR Large Conference Room, in the Redeker Center. Participants are asked to attend all five sessions and advanced registration is required.

Financial Wellness: Financial Blunders

Human Resource Services will host two informational sessions on financial blunders. Learn how to handle bankruptcy, the right steps to rebuilding your credit, and how to keep yourself out of the "red zone". All faculty and staff are welcome to attend. The hour long sessions will be presented by Lee Wealth Management: February 17 at 3 p.m. and February 18 at noon in the State College Room MAU. Please register in advance.

Retirement Readiness: Bridging the Gap from Your Employer Health Plan to Medicare

Human Resource Services will host two informational sessions 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. Alternate options such as COBRA, Short Term Health Plans, Sharing Programs and Group Plans will also be discussed. All faculty and staff are welcome to attend. The hour long sessions will be presented by Veridian: February 18 at 3 p.m. and February 19 at noon in Gilchrist 007. Please register in advance.

Retirement Readiness: Social Security 101

Human Resource Services will host two informational sessions on Social Security benefits and preparing for retirement. Learn how Social Security benefits affect retirement, strategies to maximize your benefits, and ideas to help you set up your retirement income. All faculty and staff are welcome to attend. The hour long sessions will be presented by VALIC: March 2 at 3 p.m. and March 3 at noon in the Presidential Room MAU. Please register in advance.

Retirement Readiness: Social Security Q&A

Human Resource Services will host one informational session to expand on the concepts discussed in Social Security 101. This session will have time allotted for questions and answers to your social security questions. You may send questions to therese.callaghan@uni.edu ahead of the session. All faculty and staff are welcome to attend. The hour long session will be presented by VALIC on March 3 at 3 p.m. in the Presidential Room MAU. Please register in advance.

Please be advised the above sessions may be cancelled if 10 or more employees are not registered. If cancelled, you will be notified directly via UNI email or campus phone. Room location is subject to change. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UNI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact a benefits team member at 319-273-2954, or hrs-benefits@uni.edu, at least one week prior to the event.

TIAA Logo

TIAA February Financial Wellness Webinars

  • February 11 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
    • Special Topic Series 1: Introduction to Trusts
  • February 11 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST
    • Tomorrow in Focus: Saving for Your Ideal Retirement
  • February 12 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
    • Lifetime Income: Marketproof Your Retirement
  • February 12 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST
    • She’s Got It: A Woman’s Guide to Saving and Investing
  • February 13 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
  • February 13 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST
    • Within Reach: Transitioning From Career to Retirement

TIAA webinars are open to all employees. To register visit: www.tiaa.org/webinars

Times through the webinar link will be shown in Eastern Standard Time.

IPERS Logo

IPERS Individual Retirement Counseling Sessions

Individual retirement counseling sessions are for IPERS members within five years of retirement. These sessions will teach members about their retirement account, possible retirement dates, benefit payout and service purchase options. To schedule your counseling session, contact IPERS at 800-622-3849. Preregistration is required. Appointment times fill up quickly, so call today!

Dates: March 23 - 26

Location: Central Rivers AEA

                 1521 Technology Drive

                 Cedar Falls IA 50613

HEADLINES

Financial Wellness

America Saves Week is February 24 - 29

Are you financially prepared for life emergencies? If your heater goes out this winter, do you have enough saved to fix or replace it for your home? These life emergencies can happen at any time. While these emergencies are never fun, when we are financially prepared for them it can reduce stress and help us bounce back quicker.


Financial advisers recommend 3 - 6 months of household expenses saved for instances of job loss or unexpected life emergencies. According to bankrate.com using information from the federal reserve, the average household had $8,863 in savings, with half of Americans having less than three months worth of expenses saved. America Saves Week works to increase awareness of our need to save, and reasons for saving.


To learn more visit: https://americasavesweek.org.

My Well-being

Take Heart This February

February is American Heart Month. According to the American Heart Association, four important ways to increase are heart health are:

  1. Quit tobacco use. Did you know UNI provides free tobacco cessation medicine for those covered under a UNI Health plan? In addition, UNI offers free nurse health coaching to assist with quitting. Contact Therese Callaghan at 273-4246 or employeewellbeing@uni.edu, with questions on how to use these services.
  2. Maintain a healthy blood pressure. Last year the American Heart Association tightened the guidelines for blood pressure levels where anything above 120/80 is considered high. Do you know what your blood pressure is? UNI provides one free biometric screening per academic year, which includes a blood pressure reading. If your levels are high, you qualify to meet with a Nurse Health Coach to assist with reducing your blood pressure. To learn more and register visit: https://hrs.uni.edu/wellbeing/bioscreening
  3. Maintain healthy cholesterol levels. For years the American Heart Association has been promoting healthy cholesterol levels as an important way to maintain heart health. Do you know what your cholesterol levels are? UNI provides one free biometric screening per academic year, which includes total cholesterol count and breakdown of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. If your levels are high, you qualify to meet with a Nurse Health Coach to assist with reducing your cholesterol. To learn more and register visit: https://hrs.uni.edu/wellbeing/bioscreening
  4. Get regular physical activity. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. The activity does not need to be all at once and can be broken up. For example, 30 minutes per day, can be broken up to 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon, and 10 minutes in the evening. When increasing levels of activity, it is recommended to start small and slowly build. If you have a health condition, be sure to consult your health care provider before increasing activity. UNI Employee Well-being provides some suggestions on adding more movement into your daily life.

Take heart and utilize your regular screenings to know your numbers, work with your healthcare providers, and use UNI Employee Well-being services to maintain a healthy heart for life.

Own It.

Could You be Saving Money on Your Prescriptions?

When a doctor writes you a prescription do you know what it’s going to cost prior to arriving at the pharmacy? Is the cost less at another pharmacy and/or is the Rx less than your co-pay? Did you ask if the medication could be written as a 90-day prescription to save money? Is there a generic available? Do you know if it is covered under your health plan? The UNI Human Resource Services Benefits Team has developed a step-by-step guide for you to follow before you have your prescription filled or re-filled. This guide can be used now with your current prescriptions or the next time you are at the doctor's office. It is simple to follow and smartphone friendly. Your health is important! Know your options and costs.

COMING IN MARCH

March 2020 Calendar

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