Human Resources

2018 Benefits Open Enrollment starts Nov. 1

The 2018 Benefits Open Enrollment period starts tomorrow (Nov. 1) and runs through Nov. 17. The time is now to begin reviewing and researching your benefits options – if you haven’t done so already. 

Gregory D. Stoner, Human Resources’ senior director of Compensation and Benefits, said a theme of this year’s enrollment period is “Communicate to Educate.”

“We all share the responsibility of becoming better educated and engaged consumers of health care, and both the University and employees play a part in managing health care costs,” Stoner said. “Penn State employees are strongly encouraged to review plan options and take advantage of the available decision tools and resources before choosing.”

The Benefits Open Enrollment period provides Penn State employees an annual 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, 2018.  Employees are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this annual opportunity to review their benefit options and make the choices that best meet their needs.  If employees do not log into ESSIC and complete Benefits Open Enrollment, their elections for 2018 will remain the same as they are for 2017. However, be sure to indicate your payroll contributions for the Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account(s), if applicable, as these amounts do not roll over from year to year. 

To simplify the plan comparison process, Human Resources created a Benefits Open Enrollment microsite, a digital resource providing 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 Aetna, CVS Caremark, Unum and Health Equity web sites.  

Many faculty and staff have already taken advantage of the 2018 Benefits Open Enrollment microsite, using the enhanced tools and resources available there to assist in reviewing and researching plan options.

Benefits changes for 2018 include:

  • Deductibles under the PPO plan are determined by annual base salary
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) seed money is determined by annual base salary
  • For spouses who are both employed by Penn State, employee premium contributions will be based on the higher paid spouse, if employee/spouse or family coverage is selected
  • Employee premium contributions have changed under both the PPO and PPO Savings plans
  • Employees will no longer be required to complete the tobacco surcharge attestation
  • The spousal surcharge still applies
  • The addition of a voluntary short-term disability benefit

Beginning tomorrow, log into ESSIC and complete Benefits Open Enrollment.  Employees have until Nov. 17 at 11:59 pm to make their selections.

Last Updated October 31, 2017