The UCPath welcome video below will show you how to make Open Enrollment changes on UCPath, and we have answers to frequently asked questions about the process.

 

How do I make changes during Open Enrollment?

You’ll enroll in benefits through UCPath online beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2020, by clicking the “Enroll Now” button at the top of the page.

The Guide to Enrolling in Benefits offers step-by-step instructions for enrolling in benefits. You can also view a pre-recorded demonstration on Completing Open Enrollment in UCPath.  Both of these resources are available on the UCPath online homepage. You can continue to make changes until Open Enrollment closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 19. Please note, you can only submit changes once each day.

What plans are available during Open Enrollment? Why can’t I enroll in Life or Disability through the Open Enrollment site?

The following plans will be available during Open Enrollment this year:

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Supplemental Health Plans
  • ARAG Legal
  • Health Savings Account (paired with UC Health Savings Plan)
  • Health Flexible Spending Account
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment (open year round)
  • Pet Insurance (open year round)

The Supplemental and Dependent Life insurance plans, as well as Short-Term and Long-Term Voluntary Disability insurance plans, are open all year for enrollment; however, outside of your Period of Initial Eligibility (usually when you are first hired), evidence of insurability is required, except for children added to Dependent Life.

Do I need to take action if I am not making any changes?

If you don’t take action, your current 2021 benefits will carry over to the 2022 plan year with the exception of enrollment in your Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA). You will need to re-enroll if you would like to continue participating in an FSA in 2022.

Do I need to re-enroll in the Health or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) during Open Enrollment?

You must re-enroll in your FSA during Open Enrollment each year if you wish to continue participating in 2022.

How can I confirm that my benefit elections were processed correctly?

You will receive a Submission Statement via email upon submitting your elections. Allow 24 hours to receive your statement.

You can also sign in to UCPath online at ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu the day after you have submitted your changes to confirm that your elections went through as intended.

Go to Employee Actions> Health and Welfare > Benefits Summary, change the date to January 1, 2022, and click Go. If you don’t see your changes recorded, please submit an inquiry by clicking on “Ask UCPath.” Select “Open Enrollment” as the topic in the dropdown.

You will receive a final email Confirmation Statement for your 2022 benefit choices by the second week of December, regardless of whether you made changes during Open Enrollment.

When will I see new benefit premium rates for the 2021 plan year on my pay statement?

You will see your new benefit premium rates on January 4, 2022, for monthly employees and December 9, 2021, for bi-weekly employees. 

I am on a Leave of Absence; how do I enroll in benefits?

If you are on a leave of absence with pay, you will have the opportunity to make open enrollment elections online via UCPath during the Open Enrollment period. Your benefits will be effective Jan. 1, 2022.

If you are on a leave of absence without pay, you will also have the opportunity to make open enrollment elections. However, the effective date and method of enrollment depends on whether you elected to continue benefits while on leave without pay.

  • If you are not enrolled in direct billing, you will select your open enrollment changes when you return from leave. Contact the UCPath Center for more information. 
  • If you are enrolled in direct billing, you will submit your open enrollment elections via the Open Enrollment form which you should receive by mail. Contact the UCPath Center for more information.

I am newly hired with UC; how do I enroll in benefits?

If you are a new hire you will receive your New Hire packet along with an Open Enrollment packet with instructions on submitting your Open Enrollment benefits for the 2022 plan year.

If you are hired during the Open Enrollment period, you may see multiple benefit events in the Open Benefit Events Section in UCPath. If this is the case, you must complete the New Hire event before you complete the Open Enrollment event. 

Please note:

  • If you only complete your new hire event, your 2021 elections automatically roll over to 2022, with the exception of your FSA elections (you must re-enroll in the FSA every year).
  • If you only complete the 2022 Open Enrollment event, you will not have benefits until Jan. 1, 2022, when those elections become effective.

How do I cancel or waive my benefits?

While making your Open Enrollment elections, you may select the “Waive” option for any benefit that you want to cancel. You may cancel/waive any plan that is editable during Open Enrollment. To cancel/waive a plan that is not listed in the Open Enrollment event, you may contact the UCPath Center.

I am experiencing an error message when trying to access UCPath. What do I do?

Some Google Chrome browser users will encounter an error message when trying to access UCPath online. This is caused by updates that Google has been releasing to the browser across all major platforms (Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS).

What to do if you encounter this error message:

  • Manually enter the URL ucpath.universityofcalifornia.edu into your web browser
  • If the error message persists (after taking the above action), use another browser to access UCPath online