Archive: Take control of your health: Open Enrollment begins Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022

UC’s Open Enrollment for 2023 benefits begins on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 8 a.m., and ends on Friday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. UC will continue to offer the same benefit plans as this year for faculty and staff. However, there are some important changes next year — including new resources to support you, enhanced benefits, and changes in monthly premiums — so take the time to understand your options.

If you wish to continue the same benefit plans you currently have, no action is required, with the exception of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). As a reminder, you must enroll or re-enroll in your Health and/or Dependent Care FSA each year.

“Access to quality health care is more important than ever right now, and I’m very proud of our work to maintain a choice of high-quality options for UC faculty, staff and retirees and their families,” said Vice President of Systemwide Human Resources Cheryl Lloyd. “As costs rise nationwide, we’re committed to working closely with our health insurance partners to keep costs as low as possible, and to continuing to cover the majority of monthly premium costs for eligible faculty, staff and retirees.”

2023 highlights

Understanding your choices

To help you take control of your health, UC is offering more support than ever to learn about your options.

Check out the following resources, starting Monday, Oct. 24:

• Visit ALEX, your virtual benefits counselor, for a quick and easy Q&A to help you determine which plan is right for you.
• Visit UC’s Open Enrollment website and virtual Systemwide Benefits Fair to find out details about 2023 choices, changes and costs.
• Check your postal mailbox for your Open Enrollment packet, including medical plan comparison charts.

Improving UC coverage with new benefits and resources

All UC non-Medicare medical plans: UC will enhance benefits for infertility services, with coverage of up to two treatment cycles of IVF, GIFT, or ZIFT procedures at 50% coinsurance (lifetime limit per eligible member).

Kaiser HMO: Kaiser will add coverage for lactation supplies and will cover additional forms of birth control without copay. Certain infertility outpatient diagnostics and outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services will also be covered without member cost-sharing.

CORE, UC Care and UC Health Savings Plan: Members will have a new resource to help them navigate their benefits: Accolade Health Care Advocate. Accolade health assistants and nurses will replace Anthem Health Guide as these PPO plan members’ first point of contact for help with health benefits questions, big or small.  

UC Health Savings Plan: Health FSA participants will have the option to switch to UC Health Savings Plan without losing their carryover FSA balance. UC Health Savings Plan in-network deductible will increase to $1,500 for individuals and $3,000 for families. The maximum contribution to the Health Savings Account will increase to $3,850 for individual coverage and $7,750 for family coverage.

Legal insurance: The legal plan will enhance coverage for estate planning, mediation and more, with no changes to premium costs.

Monthly premium increases for some plans

Unfortunately, medical premiums continue to increase annually for employers nationwide, including for UC.

For 2023, monthly premium increases will vary depending on the plan you choose and who you cover (increases do not vary by your salary range):

• Kaiser HMO: $1.93 (self) to $5.79 (family)
• UC Health Savings Plan: $4.47 (self) to $13.37 (family)
• UC Blue & Gold HMO: $15.32 (self) to $45.92 (family)
• UC Care: $27.29 (self) to $86.16 (family)

Costs for Voluntary Short-Term Disability will increase an average of $4 per month.

Log in to UCPath starting Thursday, Oct. 27, at 8 a.m. to make your benefits elections, and be sure to finalize and submit your choices by Friday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m.