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  • November 2020

November 2020

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

In This Issue

  • Upcoming Events

  • Open Enrollment is Going on Now

  • Student Loan Forgiveness

  • Men’s Health Month

  • Family Members Eligible for EAP

  • Virtual Healthcare Services

  • Other Helpful Reminders and Announcements

  • Recognizing Our Retirees

Contact Us

If you still have a question after reading this newsletter or visiting our website, please contact us. 

COVID-19 and Your Benefits

To view frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and your benefits, visit the Forward Together website. 

Going on Now!
2021 Annual Benefits Open Enrollment

The 2021 Annual Benefits Open Enrollment period is going on now and will run through November 30, 2020. During this time you may learn what is new for 2021, as well as review and change your benefit elections. Any changes made to your benefit elections will be effective January 1, 2021. No action is needed if you do not wish to make changes to health, dental, vision, or VTL. However, employees wishing to contribute to a Flex Spending Spending Account (FSA) must enroll or re-enroll each year. For information about Open Enrollment, informational Zoom sessions, as well as a list of steps to take for a positive and successful Open Enrollment period, see the Open Enrollment website.


Open Enrollment Benefits Zoom Sessions

Open to all Benefit Eligible Employees and Their Family Members

 

  • November 4 | 12 to 1 p.m. CST Registration Required

  • November 10 | 3 to 4 p.m. CST Registration Required

Upcoming Events

My Well-being: Final On-Campus Flu Shot Clinics

The are a limited number of flu shots available on-campus. The Student Health Center will host final flu shot clinics on the following dates:

  • November 3 | 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • November 5 | 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • November 6 | 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

My Well-being: Confidential Biometric Screening

Human Resource Services will host a confidential biometric screening on November 6 from 7 to 9:30 a.m. in the Safety Training Room, located at 3219 Hudson Road. All benefit eligible employees may participate in one free biometric screening per academic year. For more information, and to register, visit the confidential biometric screening webpage.

Retirement Readiness: What You Need to Know About Medicare and Medicare Supplements

Human Resource Services will host an informational session on the basics of Medicare and how to integrate healthcare into your retirement plan. Presented by SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) the hour long session will be held via Zoom on November 12 at noon. Please register in advance.

Financial Wellness: Money at Work: Foundations of Investing

Human Resource Services will host an informational session on strategies for successful investing. This TIAA led session will guide you through stocks, annuities, mutual funds, and IRA's. Learn about risk tolerance and savings principals that work for the short and long-term goals. The hour long session will be Thursday, November 19 at noon via Webcast. Please register in advance.

My Well-being: Men's Health

“Movember” is an annual awareness in November to raise awareness of men's health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mens suicide. To assist with awareness and education for this health focus, Dr. Inamdar, MercyOne Urology, will cover these topics and more, via Zoom, on December 4 at 1 p.m. Please register in advance.

Retirement Readiness: Social Security 101

Human Resource Services will host an informational session on Social Security benefits and preparing for retirement. Learn how Social Security benefits impact your retirement income, and strategies to maximize your benefits. The hour long session will be presented by John Morgan with AIG, via Zoom, on December 7 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.

Participation in events that occur during scheduled working hours must be approved by your supervisor. Employees on a university-approved leave should contact hrs-leaves@uni.edu for approval. Stay up-to-date with the status of this session by visiting https://hrs.uni.edu/event-status. If the status of this session changes you will also be notified by UNI email or campus phone. Individuals needing an accommodation in order to participate in an event, please contact a HRS team member at 319-273-2954, or hrs-benefits@uni.edu, at least one week prior to the event.

TIAA Logo

TIAA November Financial Wellness Webinars

  • November 10 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CDT

    • Making Gifts to Loved Ones and Charities

  • November 10 | 2 to 3 p.m. CDT

    • Money at Work 1: Foundations of Investing

  • November 11 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CDT

    • The Power of Saving

  • November 11 | 2 to 3 p.m. CDT

    • Making it Easier for You: Online Tools and Resources

  • November 12 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CDT

    • Retiring in the 'New Normal'

  • November 12 | 2 to 3 p.m. CDT

    • Responsible Investing: Portfolios with a Purpose

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.

Financial Wellness

Financial Wellness: Public Sector Student Loan Forgiveness

UNI employees with federal (direct) student loans may be eligible for student loan forgiveness. Qualifying employees must have worked for a public sector employer, such as UNI, for at least 10 years. In addition, employees must have made 120 qualifying payments toward their federal (direct) student loans. Employees meeting this criteria may qualify to have the remainder of their federal (direct) student loans forgiven. To learn more about this benefit, please visit our Public Sector Student Loan Forgiveness webpage.

My Well-being

November is Movember 

November is Men’s Health month. According to the CDC, women are more likely to visit the doctor and are more likely to receive annual preventative care. This is one speculative reason as to why men have a higher mortality rate due to COVID-19 in the U.S. than women, and one long held belief why women live longer on average than men. 


One thing we know for sure is annual prevention and screenings save lives. Early diagnosis and treatment leads to better prognosis and outcomes. Both UNI health insurance plans cover 100% annual preventive care and necessary screenings, each calendar year (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31). There is still time left in 2020 to get your annual preventive visit with your healthcare provider. In the midst of this global pandemic there is no better reminder that prevention is key.

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.

Recognizing Our Retirees

We are thankful for the service of all of UNI's retirees! With their consent we are able to celebrate their years of service and share their information with the entire campus community.

Michael Helten
Library Assistant III, Instructional Resources & Technology Services
23 Years of Service, Retiring in November
michael.helten@uni.edu

Retirement Readiness

Retirement Benefit Questions? The HRS Benefits Team is Here to Assist!

The Human Resource Services Benefits Team is continuing to help employees with retirement benefit questions. If you plan to retire in 2020 please email hrs-benefits@uni.edu or call 319-273-2423. For additional information on retirement visit Retiring from UNI.

Coming In December

December Calendar
Stay Up-to-Date with HRS Events

Plan on attending an upcoming Human Resource Services (HRS) sponsored event? Please visit the HRS event status webpage to view if the event is on-time, postponed, rescheduled, or canceled.  Registered participants will also receive an email from HRS notifying that an event status has changed.

Subscribe to HRS Latest News and Events

Be the first to hear the latest news and events from UNI Human Resource Services including benefits and well-being news. Subscribe to receive the HRS News emails right to your uni.edu email account.

Is Your Personal Information Up-to-Date?

To make changes to your office and/or home (confidential) contact information:

Login to MyUNIverse > My Page > Update My Personal Information. This information is sent to Human Resource Services and will be updated within four working days.

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