2024 Benefits Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment Overview
Open Enrollment happens once a year and is your opportunity to make changes to your UNI benefits. The Open Enrollment period is Wednesday, November 1 through Thursday, November 30, 2023.
Any enrollment changes you make will take effect January 1, 2024.
For employees there will be an increase to the UNI health insurance premiums and plan design changes for 2024. New health insurance ID cards will be issued for January 1, 2024.
There will be no increase, and no plan design changes to the Avēsis vision plans.
There will be no increase, and no plan design changes to the dental plan for 2024.
For employees who are thinking about retiring, or those already retired from UNI, the updated premiums and forms for calendar year 2024 can be found on our Retired from UNI webpage.
Action Required
- If you want to contribute to a flexible spending account for 2024, you must enroll or re-enroll each year.
- Register for a myWellmark account.
- If you are covering an overage dependent (a qualified child over the age of 26, who is either an unmarried full-time student, or permanently disabled) you must log into self-service to edit that dependent and fill out the corresponding qualifying questions.
- No action is needed if you do not wish to make changes to health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, or VTL insurance.
Benefits Self-Service Quick Help
Benefits Self-Service provides a help site to support you in making your online enrollment elections and viewing your current benefit elections.
Have you already made changes to your benefits and want to check the status of those changes? Review the FAQ number 24 for a detailed listing of each of the Workflow status, and what action if any, you still need to take.
Step 1: Add Key Open Enrollment Dates to Your Calendar
Open Enrollment Begins
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 
Open Enrollment Ends
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Step 2: Zoom Open Enrollment Q&A Sessions
These Zoom sessions are meant to provide a refresher on UNI’s current benefits. These sessions will be happening prior to open enrollment to help you make your open enrollment decisions. After the conclusion each session, the recorded link will be posted below.
Additional opportunities for learning and questions will be offered in November during open enrollment.
| Topic | Date | Time | Registration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) | September 21 | 1 p.m. | View Recording | |
| Dental and Vision | October 5 | 3 p.m. | View Recording | |
| Health Insurance | October 10 | 1 p.m. | View Recording | |
| Health Insurance | October 30 | 10 a.m. | View Recording | |
| Health Insurance | November 9 | 1 p.m. | View Recording |
Step 3: Know Your Plan
UNI Self-Insured Health Plans
Important: If you are not making changes to HEALTH insurance no action is required and your current health coverage selection will continue.
What's New for 2024 for Your Health Plan
- UNI Blue Advantage will now be referred to as UNI Blue HMO.
- There will be an increase to premiums for both plans for 2024.
- There will be an increase to the UNI Blue HMO deductible.
- There will be an increase to both plans Maximum Out-of-Pockets (MOP).
- There will be a change to the prescription formulary, from Blue Rx CompleteSM, to Blue Rx Value PlusSM.
- Due to these changes, all enrollees will receive new health insurance ID cards. Those enrolled on the UNI Blue HMO will now only receive two cards, rather than a card for each person enrolled.
This is a great time to compare the two UNI health insurance plans.
UNI PPO (Alliance Select)
| Coverage | Employee 1/12 Annual Premium | Employee Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $45.00 | $540.00 |
| Family | $436.35 | $5,236.20 |
| Dual Spouse Discount | $218.10 | $2,617.20 |
UNI Blue HMO
| Coverage | Employee 1/12 Annual Premium | Employee Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $20.10 | $241.20 |
| Family | $230.40 | $2,764.80 |
| Dual Spouse Discount | $80.55 | $966.60 |
Continue to encourage preventive measures with other employees and family members so we can see a healthier 2024.
Tools to Help You Choose
- 2024 Health Plan Comparison
- 2024 UNI Blue HMO Summary of Benefits and Coverage
- 2024 UNI PPO (Alliance Select) Summary of Benefits and Coverage
- Wellmark Health Plan Compare Tool
- Find a Doctor - Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Tools to Help You Use
- Blue Rx Value PlusSM Prescription Drug List
- CVS Caremark Mail Order Pharmacy Overview Flyer
- Everyday Benefit Terms
- Know Before You Go
- Health Insurance Made Easy
- You Have So Many Choices, Let Us Help You Choose
- MyWellmark
- Women's Health & Cancer Rights Notice
- Wellmark's Privacy Policy
What is Self-Insured?
The university's health and dental insurance plans are self-insured. Self-insured means the employee and employer premiums go into a health plan account instead of being sent to Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (our health insurance vendor). This means how employees use the plan impacts future premiums and the health plan account.
UNI Self-Insured Dental Plan
Important: If you are not making changes to DENTAL insurance no action is required and your current dental coverage selection will continue.
What's New for 2024 for Your Dental Plan
There have been no premium or plan design changes for the UNI Dental Insurance Plan for calendar year 2024 (administered by Delta Dental).
| Coverage | Employee 1/12 Annual Premium | Employee Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $6.00 | $72.00 |
| Family | $54.75 | $657.00 |
| Dual Spouse Discount | $46.50 | $558.00 |
Who is eligible for coverage under your dental insurance?
To learn who eligible for coverage for dental insurance please review the Coverage section on the Dental Insurance Benefits webpage.
Vision Insurance
Important: If you are not making changes to VISION insurance no action is required and your current vision coverage selection will continue.
What's New for 2024 for Your Vision Plan
Avēsis Vision Insurance
| Coverage | Materials Only | Exam & Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $10.23 | $14.65 |
| Family | $23.54 | $33.11 |
- Add-on options such as polycarbonates, standard scratch resistant, tint, AR, and UV screening are covered in full.
- Users will save an average of $498 out-of-pocket with these options.
- Continued 12 month frame and lense frequency .
Who is eligible for coverage under your vision insurance?
To learn who eligible for coverage for vision insurance please review the Coverage section on the Vision Insurance Benefits webpage.
DeltaVision® Discount Program
If you are enrolled in the UNI Dental Plan, you may choose to take advantage of the DeltaVision® discount plan. This vision discount plan offered by Delta Dental will not work with with Avēsis Vision insurance – you must use one or the other on a single purchase.
Blue365® Health and Wellness Deals
If you are a member of a health insurance plan offered at UNI, then you are eligible for savings through the Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Companies member discounts.
Tools to Help You Choose
- Avēsis Materials Only Flyer
- Avēsis Exam & Materials Flyer
- DeltaVision® - Discount Program
- Blue365® Health and Wellness Deals
Tools to Help You Use
Flexible Spending Accounts/Pre-tax
Action Required
- If you want to contribute to a flexible spending account for 2024, you must enroll or re-enroll each year.
Contributing to a Flexible Spending Account and/or utilizing pre-tax deductions for health and dental may provide you a 25% savings on your take home pay.
| Plan | IRS maximum |
|---|---|
| Health Care FSA | 2023 IRS maximum is $3,050. |
| Health Care FSA | 2024 IRS maximum is $3,200. |
| Dependent Care FSA | Current 2023 IRS maximum is $5,000. |
| Dependent Care FSA | 2024 IRS maximum has not been announced. |
You have until March 31, 2024 to submit reimbursements for health, dental, vision, or daycare expenses that occurred between January 1, 2024 through March 15, 2025.
Tools to Help You Choose
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Maximize Your Savings on Healthcare and Dependent Care
- Savings Calculator
Tools to Help You Use
University-Sponsored Group Term Life Insurance
Important: If you are not making changes to University-Sponsored Term Life insurance no action is required and your current term life insurance coverage will continue.
What's New for 2024 for Your Life Insurance Plan
Calculations for coverage will now be based on earnings, and all employee groups will experience the same age reduction schedule.
- Eligible Faculty and Staff who earn less than $84,000 will now receive a calculated life insurance amount of two times their annual fringe benefits salary up to a maximum of $126,000.
- Eligible Faculty and Staff who earn $84,000 or greater will now receive a calculated life insurance amount of one and a half times their annual fringe benefits salary up to a maximum of $300,000.
- All Faculty and Staff eligible for life insurance coverage will be on the same reduction schedule starting at age 65.
The university provides and pays for life insurance coverage for eligible employees at a calculation of their budgeted salary. This coverage is automatically assigned once an employee becomes eligible.
Open Enrollment allows employees to opt into a flat reduced $50,000 coverage option. This removes the obligation to pay imputed income which comes out of your pay each pay period. Please carefully read the 'Considerations Before Making a Change' section below.
Imputed income:
- Per IRS regulations, any life insurance coverage amount greater than $50,000 will be taxable to the employee and will be subject to Medicare and Social Security taxes. This amount is reflected as "Txbl Life Ins" on the employee's UNI payslip each month.
- To view the calculation formula and rates visit page 14 of the IRS Publication 15-B.
Planning for Tomorrow: Considerations Before Making a Change
- Reducing your life insurance coverage can have a significant impact on your family/beneficiaries.
- You may only opt-in/opt-out of coverage during the Open Enrollment period.
- You will be required to complete a proof-of-good health questionnaire if you want to re-enroll into your calculated budgeted salary life insurance coverage.
- Principal Financial makes the final determination of eligibility to re-enroll into your calculated budgeted salary life insurance coverage.
Importance of Current Beneficiary Information
It’s important to keep your beneficiary designations up-to-date on insurance policies and retirement plans. A beneficiary or beneficiaries are the person(s) or entity you would like your assets to go to when you pass away. Naming a beneficiary allows you the opportunity to instruct whom to distribute your assets to and at which percentage(s). This may help avoid probate costs associated with a will and your estate.
Beneficiary changes through Benefits Self-Service is for life insurance only. If you need to make changes to your beneficiaries for TIAA you may access your account at TIAA.org and change your beneficiary designations. To make changes for IPERS you may log into your account at ipers.org to make beneficiary changes.
Voluntary Term Life Insurance
Important: If you are not making coverage amount changes to Voluntary Term Life (VTL) insurance no action is required and your current VTL coverage selection will continue.
What's New for 2024 for Your VTL Insurance Plan
There have been no premium or plan design changes for 2024.
- Employees may elect coverage for themselves in increments of $10,000 up to a maximum of $500,000.
- Employees may elect coverage for their spouse/domestic partner in increments of $5,000 up to a maximum of $100,000.
- Employees may elect $10,000 of coverage for their child(ren).
Any coverage amount increased by more than $20,000 will be subject to a proof of good health questionnaire and final eligibility will be determined by Principal Financial. If proof of good health is required, it will be sent to your UNI email address.
Planning for Tomorrow
Having enough life insurance today may better prepare you for tomorrow. Once you have established a Voluntary Term Life (VTL) policy you are able to increase your election by a maximum of $20,000 each year without being required to complete a statement of health questionnaire. You are able to elect VTL coverage for yourself, a spouse or domestic partner, and children.
Importance of Current Beneficiary Information
It’s important to keep your beneficiary designations up-to-date on insurance policies and retirement plans. A beneficiary or beneficiaries are the person(s) or entity you would like your assets to go to when you pass away. Naming a beneficiary allows you the opportunity to instruct whom to distribute your assets to and at which percentage(s). This may help avoid probate costs associated with a will and your estate.
Beneficiary changes through Benefits Self-Service is for Life Insurance only. If you need to make changes to your beneficiaries for TIAA you may access your account at TIAA.org and change your beneficiary designations. To make changes for IPERS you may log into your account at ipers.org to make beneficiary changes.
Tools to Help You Choose
Tools to Help You Use
Tax-deferred Annuity Plans
The smallest amount contributed may make a big impact on your retirement savings goals; start by enrolling or increasing your contributions into your TDA for 2024.
| Plan | IRS maximum |
|---|---|
| Tax-deferred Annuity | Current 2023 IRS maximum is $22,500. |
| Tax-deferred Annuity | 2024 IRS maximum is $23,000. |
Tools to Help You Choose
Free Services
Free services for benefit eligible employees and their family members.
Step 4: Elect or Change for 2024
Action Required
- If you want to contribute to a flex spending account for 2024, you must enroll or re-enroll each year.
- Register for a myWellmark account today. Registering for a MyWellmark account provides you access to a temporary ID card, or allows you to order new cards.
- If you are covering an overage dependent (a qualified child over the age of 26, who is either an unmarried full-time student, or permanently disabled) you must log into self-service and add that dependent back to your plan, and fill out the corresponding qualifying questions.
Benefits Self-Service
Benefits Self-Service System - UNI Human Resource Services will not accept paper forms for benefits changes and/or updates.
"Jan-2024" is the "Month Change Takes Place".
Benefits Self-Service provides a help site to support you in making your online enrollment elections and viewing your current benefit elections.