UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- 2016 Benefits Open Enrollment is just around the corner and employees will see a big change in how they can research benefit offerings and determine the best benefits selections for their families.
Benefits Open Enrollment, which runs from Nov. 2 to Nov. 20, provides Penn State employees the opportunity to make or change benefits selections by logging into ESSIC – Employee Self-Service Information Center – with all changes and updates taking effect on Jan. 1, 2016.
Penn State knows that choosing benefits is an important decision for its employees, but also understands that finding in a single, convenient location all of the information needed to select the right benefits can be a challenging task.
To empower employees and help simplify the process, the Office of Human Resources has compiled all of the information and tools employees will need in a single, easy-to-use website.
“Penn State Human Resources is pleased to announce the launch of the 2016 Benefits Open Enrollment microsite at http://openenrollment.psu.edu,” said Susan Basso, vice president of Human Resources. “This digital resource provides employees with a wealth of information and useful applications, including an electronic benefits guide and health plan comparison tools, as well as convenient links to relevant sites, such as ESSIC and the Highmark Blue Shield website.”
Microsite features include:
- Information on health care, dental, vision, optional life insurance, long-term disability and accidental death and dismemberment benefits
- Explanations of the PPO Savings Plan and PPO Blue Plan, and side-by-side coverage comparisons
- Basic and comprehensive decision tools that assist employees on the health plan decision making process
- A schedule of and links to a series of online webinars for more in depth and interactive benefits discussions. Learn more at http://openenrollment.psu.edu/webinar-schedule/
The microsite includes additional information about lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums under the PPO Savings Plan as required by IRS regulations, the modest increase to the rates for the optional long-term disability benefit, and the $50,000 life insurance benefit for faculty and staff.
Among the microsite’s more prominent features is the benefits e-magazine, which satisfies the dual-requirement of informing employees of benefits options while saving money through the reduction of paper, printing and mailing costs. Unlike years past, employees will not receive a hard copy benefits guide in the mail.
“In keeping with our sustainability efforts, an electronic version of the benefits guide has been created and posted on the microsite, eliminating the need for paper and mailing costs,” said Basso. “This online interactive e-magazine will provide employees 24/7 benefits information and support from any computer or tablet and conveniently links directly to ESSIC, where employees must confirm or change 2016 benefit elections.”
The link directly to ESSIC is more than just a convenience for 2016. Because of the Pennsylvania Wage Payment & Collection Law, which requires employers to have an employee’s written consent to take deductions from that employee’s pay for voluntary benefits, the employee’s permission must be obtained prior to deductions being applied. Therefore, all Penn State employees electing health care, dental, vision, optional life insurance, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment or long-term care must log into ESSIC during 2016 Benefits Open Enrollment to provide consent or risk the discontinuation of benefits.