Time to Choose, the annual Employee Benefits Division enrollment period, will occur from Nov. 3-21. During this time, employees will have the opportunity to enroll themselves and/or eligible dependents in a University-sponsored medical plan and/or to change from one plan to another. Open enrollment also is available for the dental and vision programs.
Employees also may enroll or change the amount of VADD coverage and make changes to life insurance programs. All employees who wish to participate in a Flexible Benefits Reimbursement Account for 2004 must enroll, even if they participated in 2003 and wish to continue at the same contribution level in 2004.
The enrollment period is shorter this year than in previous years. It was reduced to provide the health plans with adequate time to process changes and deliver new ID cards to members before Jan. 1.
Specific information regarding benefit plan changes and contribution rates for 2004 are being mailed to the campus address of all full-time faculty and staff. Included with this information is a statement of current benefits. These benefits statements are informational only and cannot be used to make any benefit changes. As with last year's open enrollment, requests for benefit changes for 2004 will be made online through the Employee Benefits Division's Web site at http://www.ohr.psu.edu/benefits
The Web-based open enrollment system will be available Nov. 3 through 21. This program improves the efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of the process over the traditional paper-based system. Faculty and staff may make and submit their benefit choices from anywhere in the world during the open enrollment period and, if desired, electronic confirmation of the choices made will be returned within minutes by e-mail.
The Employee Benefits Web-based enrollment system is now part of ESSIC, the Employee Self-Service Information Center. ESSIC offers the opportunity to view benefits and flexible benefits claim activity and, when appropriate, to make changes to coverage and to add or delete dependents. ESSIC is operational each day from 7:30 a.m. until midnight Eastern Standard Time and can be accessed from the Employee Benefits Division Web page at http://www.ohr.psu.edu/benefits/benefits.htm
During the Time to Choose open enrollment period ESSIC also will enable employees to make benefit changes and flexible benefit elections for 2004.
To ensure and maintain the confidentiality of records and to access and/or change benefit plans, employees will need their Penn State Access Account ID and password provided by the Information Technology Services. If an employee does not have an account or password, he or she should visit the Information Technology Services Account Services Web site at http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/access.html
The Web-based enrollment eliminates concerns that requested changes may not have been received by the deadline date.
Employees may make benefits changes for 2004 from the Employee Benefits Division Web page at http://www.ohr.psu.edu/benefits/benefits.htm
On the Benefits Web page, click on the link for Open Enrollment for 2004. This link will connect employees with the Employee Self-Service Information Center. When prompted, enter a valid Penn State Access Account ID and password. Click on the Benefits tab in the upper right hand corner. Select update benefits and follow the instructions for Open Enrollment changes.
If employees do not wish to make any changes and/or do not wish to contribute to either of the Flexible Benefits reimbursement accounts, they do not need to do anything.
During the open enrollment period, staff members from the Employee Benefits Division will be available to assist employees with any questions regarding the Web-based enrollment process as well as answer any benefits-related questions. Additionally, personal computer stations will be available in the Employee Benefits Division office, as well as at each University Park Benefits Open House. Anyone who cannot access any computer to complete the online enrollment, or has any questions regarding the Web-based system or open enrollment, should contact the Employee Benefits Division at (814) 865-1473 or e-mail bene@psu.edu.