Human Resource Services

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  • April 2021

April 2021

Employee Benefits & Well-Being

Human Resource Services

April Newsletter

In This Issue

  • Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

  • Financial Literacy Month 

  • National Public Health Week

  • Men’s Health Awareness

  • Free Financial Consultations

  • URGENT: IRS Significantly Increases 2021 Dependent Care FSA Maximum

  • Mail Order Prescriptions

  • Who’s Retiring This Month?

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.

Upcoming Events

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 April 13 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.

Financial Wellness: Getting a Head Start: A Step-by-Step Overview of Your Plan

Human Resource Services will host an informational session providing a detailed overview of your retirement plan. Retirement may seem like a long way off but it’s never too early to start saving. This may give your money more time to accumulate. Learn more about your retirement program and the advantages of participation, how to create a personal retirement strategy, and how to update your account and take control. This TIAA led session will be held via webinar on April 14 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.

My Well-being: Mental Health Awareness - Ending the Stigma

Human Resource Services will host an informational session on mental health awareness. Seeking help and getting treatment for mental health should be no different than physical health. Yet a stigma still remains around mental health that keeps people from seeking treatment and getting better. Learn more about mental health conditions, treatment, and when to seek help. Jake Schaefer, LMHC, with Cedar Valley Counseling Services will lead this session via Zoom on April 20 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.

My Well-being: Confidential Biometric Screening

Human Resource Services will host a confidential biometric screening on April 30 from 7 to 10 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. New additional vitamin and mineral testing is available at a low cost. For more information, and to register, visit the confidential biometric screening webpage.

Retirement Readiness: Bridging the Gap: Healthcare in Retirement Before 65

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 sessions will be presented by Todd Cooper with Veridian, via Zoom on May 4 at 3 p.m. Please register in advance.

Retirement Readiness: Social Security Q & A

Human Resource Services will host an informational session to expand on the concepts discussed in Social Security 101. This session provides additional time for questions and answers to your social security questions. You may send questions in advance to therese.callaghan@uni.edu. The hour long session will be presented by John Morgan with AIG via Zoom on May 6 at 10 a.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 April Financial Wellness Webinars

  • April 13 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST

    • Paying Yourself: Income Options in Retirement

  • April 13 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST

    • Making it Easier for You: Online Tools and Resources

  • April 14 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST

    • Quarterly Economic and Market Update with TIAA’s Chief Investment Strategist

  • April 14 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST

    • The Power of Saving

  • April 15 | 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST

    • Attention to Detail: Financial Finishing Touches for Women

  • April 15 | 2 to 3 p.m. CST

    • Making Gifts to Loved Ones and Charities

TIAA webinars are open to all employees. To register visit: www.tiaa.org/webinars2022

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

Financial Wellness

Your Children Have Big Dreams. This Financial Literacy Month commit to teaching your kids about money.

April is Financial Literacy Month

Celebrate Financial Literacy Month by sharing financial knowledge with youth. Financial literacy starts at home. Start simple with the value of saving. Starting those “piggy banks” young can really help children see their savings grow in front of them. Consider opening a college savings (529 plan) through College Savings Iowa. These plans have great tax advantages now and tax-free growth over time. This is also a great way to teach children the power of investments over time. Review the 529 statement with them and allow them to see both contributions and earnings. Want additional ideas on how to teach financial literacy? Register for the upcoming session Financial Wellness: Kids and Money on May 11 at 10 a.m.

My Well-being

Celebrate National Public Health Week (April 5 - 11)

One year into a global pandemic, the importance of public health has never been so heightened. We have witnessed a science led campaign to encourage social distancing, wear face coverings, and practice good hand hygiene which proved to decrease the spread of the virus and illness and has helped us to move forward with life outside of our homes. Now we’re in the midst of one of the greatest scientific modern marvels of the COVID-19 vaccines that are safe and highly effective at preventing illness and saving lives. Celebrate National Public Health Week by cheering on anyone you know that has been able and willing to receive the vaccine. Each vaccine administered gets us all closer to herd immunity and helps save lives. Continue to practice social distancing and wearing face coverings in public. These continue to be required on campus. Always practice good hand hygiene (like your mom has been telling you). When it’s your turn and if you are able, you are encouraged to receive the vaccine to protect yourself and others. Lastly, let us never forget that when it comes to public health, we truly are all in this together!

Men’s Health: April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

Often when we think of cancer we may assume we are at a higher risk when we are older. While it can happen at any age, when it comes to testicular cancer the highest risk group is young men ages 15 to 35. It is the leading cause of cancer in men aged 15 to 44, and more men will die of testicular cancer in this age group than women of breast cancer. Yet, when detected early testicular cancer has over 95% cure rate. All men should regularly conduct self-exams. If you experience any change, pain, or detect new lumps/bumps, be sure to follow-up with a healthcare provider right away. It just might save your life.

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 during Open Enrollment then you can submit for expenses that occurred on or after January 1, 2021.


Example 2: If you newly enrolled April 1, 2021, you can submit for expenses that occurred on or after April 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.

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 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.

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.

Yvonne Buehner
Account Specialist, Financial Accounting & Reporting Services
21 Years of Service, Retiring in April
yvonne.buehner@butler-bremer.com

Carol Geiger
Administrative Asst to Vice President, Student Affairs
35 Years of Service, Retiring in April
Carol.Geiger@uni.edu

Diane Hensley
Cashier II, Business Operations
40 Years of Service, Retiring in April
catlady50703@yahoo.com

Stephanie Marra
Budget Coordinator, Library
30 Years of Service, Retiring in April
Stephanie.Marra@uni.edu

Kathy Martin
Director, Educational Opportunity Center
24 Years of Service, Retiring in April
Kathy.Martin@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 2021 please email
hrs-benefits@uni.edu or call 319-273-2423. For additional information on retirement visit Retire from UNI: Next Steps.

Coming In May

May 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.