This week, UAB HR Benefits begins a new step-by-step process of rolling out information about Open Enrollment for benefit-eligible employees. Weekly communications in the UAB Reporter and Monday Mailing will replace the annual newsletter to provide employees more time to review available benefits and upcoming changes and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
1. Open enrollment dates are set
UAB’s annual open enrollment for benefits will begin 7 a.m. Oct. 28 and conclude 5 p.m. Nov.14. Eligible employees can choose among dental, vision and health insurance plans, plus voluntary life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance and tax-deferred spending accounts for health and dependent care for 2017. You can review your benefit detail report anytime on the
UAB for Me portal.
2. Action is required
This is an active open enrollment, which means any
benefit-eligible employee who does not select a 2017 medical plan option during the enrollment period will not have UAB-provided medical coverage beginning January 2017. Detailed offerings of these plans will be provided in coming weeks to better enable you to make the best choice for your household.
3. Tobacco use has a cost
Employees enrolling in a UAB medical plan will be asked whether they have used tobacco products in the past six months, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and oral smokeless tobacco. A $50 monthly tobacco surcharge will be applied to medical premiums of those who answer yes. More information on the surcharge and how to get it discontinued is available
online.
4. Use the online toolkit
All the information you need will be collected and organized in the open enrollment toolkit in the
UAB for Me benefits portal during the next several weeks. This includes plan details, educational pieces, FAQs, decision-making tools and other resources that can help you make selections. This will replace the packet of printed information that had been mailed to employees’ homes in prior years.
5. Get answers at the Benefits Fair
The UAB Benefits Fair will be held 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 3 in the UAB Hospital West Pavilion Atrium to help answer any questions you may have before choosing your benefits for 2017. Can’t make it? Contact your HR consultant or the UAB Benefits office,
benefits@uab.edu or 934-3458.
