Open Enrollment Ends Nov. 21

Open Enrollment, the period when faculty and staff members have an opportunity to review their health plans and make choices regarding their 2018 benefits, continues through Tuesday, Nov. 21. 

“We are pleased that we have been able to keep premium costs exceptionally low for the overwhelming majority of our people,” said Dwaine Duckett, UC vice president of human resources. “Employees still have an array of choices of high-value, high-quality plans at low rates — allowing them to improve or maintain their health and the health of their families.”

Medical Plans

Most faculty and staff members will see medical plan premium increases of less than $10 a month across all salary and coverage levels. Premium increases for UC Care will be a bit higher, ranging from $17-$53 per month. UC will continue to adjust premiums to pay level to ensure costs are distributed fairly.

Dental and vision plans are still offered at no cost for employees.

For 2018, Anthem Blue Cross will replace OptumRx in administering pharmacy benefits for all of UC’s preferred provider organization (PPO) medical plans. Anthem currently administers medical and behavioral health benefits for UC’s PPO plans, and will continue in that role in 2018. This change will affect faculty, staff and retirees enrolled in Core, UC Care and UC Health Savings Plan.

Legal Plan

The ARAG Legal Plan is open for enrollment. Among the expanded benefits offered are family law and real estate packages.

Workshops and Presentations

Throughout the Open Enrollment period, presentations and workshops hosted by UCSB’s Office of Human Resources are providing information and assistance to employees.

A mini-fair set for 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, in the UCen’s Santa Barbara Mission and Goleta Valley rooms will bring together representatives from the UCSB benefits office as well as from health benefits providers to answer questions. Among those participating are UC Care/Anthem, Health Equity, Health Net, Delta Dental, Optum Behavioral Health and Fidelity.

Plan overviews also will be presented in the UCen’s Lobero Room as follows: UC Care, 9:15-10:15 a.m.; Health Savings Plan, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Health Net Blue & Gold, 11:45 a.m. -12:45 p.m.; and UC Care repeat, 1-2 p.m.

A comparison of the behavioral health coverage provided by each medical plan, as well as wellness and condition management programs, will be presented Monday, Oct. 30, from noon-2 p.m. in the Human Resources Learning Center (SAASB 3101).

A side-by-side comparison of all UC medical plans will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, and from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the Human Resources Learning Center.

Faculty and staff members who have questions about health and welfare benefits or need assistance making changes are invited to drop by a Help Desk with Computer Lab, which will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, in the Human Resources Learning Center.

Additional information about Open Enrollment can be found here.