Open Enrollment, the period when faculty and staff members have an opportunity to review their health plans and make choices regarding their 2016 benefits, continues through Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Open enrollment packets were mailed to the homes of UCSB employees earlier this month, and while no major benefits changes are in store for 2016, employees will see a few benefits enhancements.
Medical Plans
For those who travel, all medical plans will cover any requisite immunizations.
Health Net Blue & Gold is adding the “Quit for Life” behavioral coaching program for smoking cessation. The current online program will continue.
Health Net Blue & Gold also will expand the Omada Prevent program for people with pre-diabetes to support those who are at risk for heart disease.
Blue Shield Health Savings Plan and Core will add “Oncology Practice of the Future,” a program designed to ensure comprehensive cancer care for its members.
Core will add coverage for applied behavioral health services to support autism care.
UC Care will add more Ambulatory Surgery Center providers in its UC Select tier, with a $100 co-pay.
Wellness
UC Living Well, the systemwide wellness initiative, will continue to promote numerous wellness activities offered at each location, and in addition, will highlight wellness resources available through UC’s medical plans. Wellness coaching and the $75 incentive earned through Optum will not be available in 2016.
Legal Plan
The ARAG Legal Plan is open for enrollment. Among the many services offered through this plan are legal assistance, credit monitoring and expanded identity theft protection. Slight changes will result in fewer limitations and more benefits for certain services. For example, the limitation of one claim per benefit year per family will be elimination.
Workshops and Presentations
Throughout the month of November, a series of presentations and workshops hosted by UCSB’s Office of Human Resources will offer Open Enrollment highlights and provide information and assistance to employees.
Side-by-side comparisons of all medical plans will take place at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Thursday, Nov. 19, in the Human Resources Learning Center, SAASB 3101.
An overview of the Blue Shield Health Savings Plan, a high-deductible PPO medical plan paired with a tax-free health savings account, will begin at noon Monday, Nov. 16, in the Human Resources Learning Center.
A Mini-Fair & Presentations is slated for Thursday, Nov. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UCen Harbor Room. On hand to answer questions will be representatives from Blue Shield, Health Equity, Health Net, Kaiser UC Care, Optum, Delta Dental, ARAG Legal, Fidelity and the UCSB Benefits Office.
Plan representatives will present overviews in the UCen State Street Room, beginning with UC Care at 10 a.m. Health Net will follow at 11:15 a.m., UC Care at 12:30 p.m. and Blue Shield Health Savings Plan at 1:45 p.m.
On Friday, Nov. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., faculty and staff members are invited to drop in at the Help Desk and computer lab in the Human Resources Learning Center for assistance with changes to or questions about health plans, flexible spending accounts, disability insurance and the legal plan.
Additional information about Open Enrollment can be found here.
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