Four. . . Three. . . Two. . . One. . .

Open Enrollment's Almost Done. . .

Start by clicking here and submit your Open Enrollment action A.S.A.P.

Open Enrollment for 2010 ends TODAY at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 24, 2009.

Open Enrollment Ends Tomorrow - Ensure you have confirmed your enrollment

You may make changes during Open Enrollment until 5pm Pacific time tomorrow, however, you can avoid the last minute rush by making your changes today.

It is important to remember that your changes will not be saved unless you go to “Review & Confirm” and click the “Confirm” button after making your changes. Once you have confirmed your changes you will receive a confirmation number. In addition, an Open Enrollment Confirmation Statement with your confirmation number will be sent to your work email address and your personal email address. Please keep a copy of your confirmation number as a reference in case your Open Enrollment changes are not reflected on the paycheck that you receive at the beginning of January.

Family Member Eligibility

Our UC sponsored medical plans allow for a wide range of dependents to be covered under your health plans. In fact, your (unmarried) natural or adopted children are considered eligible dependents until they reach age 23, regardless of their student status.

For a complete list of eligible dependents please review the Group Insurance Eligibility Factsheet.

Open Enrollment is a time when you can 'add' eligible family members to your plans. And don’t forget OE ends next Tuesday at 5:00pm - time is running out: tic-toc, tic- toc! To take an OE action go to AYSO today !

Available Plans for Eligible UC Employees Living Outside California

Anthem Blue Cross PPO

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

A PPO generally offers a broader network of doctors and hospitals than an HMO. This plan model has arrangements with doctors, hospitals, and other providers of care who have agreed to accept lower fees from the plan for their services and participate in the network of physicians. If you need or want health care from outside the network you have access, but you should expect to pay a higher copayment than if the provider were from within the PPO network. http://www.anthem.com/ca/uc/

CORE
Fee-for-Service Plan

This plan allows you to choose the doctor, the hospital, the clinic, or the behavioral health provider and the insurance pays for part or all of the cost according to the schedule laid out in the policy after you have met your plan's deductible. Under this plan, you pay for services up front and submit a claim to the insurance company, and if the service is covered in the policy, you receive reimbursement. http://www.anthem.com/ca/uc/

CIGNA Choice Fund
HRA with PPO

The CIGNA Choice Fund includes a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), funded by UC, which reduces the plan s deductible. The HRA provides coverage for 100% of your eligible medical and prescription drug expenses until the balance is exhausted. If you use up your HRA dollars, the traditional health plan features, which include 100% coverage for in-network preventive care, begin. The CIGNA Choice Fund is available to UC employees in the U.S., except Hawaii. The HRA with PPO is a new plan design. https://my.cigna.com/corp/portal/app/member/public/guest

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic
Health Maintenance Organizations

This plan is only available for employees living in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia. HMOs give you a list of doctors from which to choose a primary care physician (PCP). A PCP coordinates your care, which means that generally you must contact him or her to be referred to a specialist within your designated medical group. If you belong to an HMO, the plan only covers the cost of charges for services authorized by your PCP. HMOS only provide coverage for services outside of your medical group in cases of emergencies. https://www.kaiserpermanente.org/

How can the DepCare FSA save you money?

It does so by allowing you to pay for eligible dependent care expenses on a pretax, salary reduction basis. Dependents can be either children or adults.

Your savings are strictly on taxes. DepCare FSA contributions are deducted from your paycheck on a pretax (tax-free) basis—before federal, state, and Social Security (FICA) taxes are taken out. For example, if you earn $3,000 a month and contribute $200 to your DepCare FSA, you pay taxes on $2,800 a month.

Calculate your savings and increased take-home pay with the DepCare Calculator.

Open Enrollment is the period to enroll or re-enroll in an FSA.

To learn more, visit CONEXIS’ pre-enrollment website, read the FAQs and the DepCare SPD or speak to a CONEXIS representative at UC’s Open Enrollment Support line at 1-800-482-4120 (M-F) between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

One more week to make Open Enrollment selections

... don’t wait until the last minute

Only eight more days to enroll or make 2010 Open Enrollment changes to certain benefits options on the website: At Your Service (click on the Open Enrollment box).

Open Enrollment actions include choices such as: add/delete eligible dependents, change medical and dental plans and/or add legal insurance plan this year.

And, most importantly, you must re-enroll in the Health and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) for the 2010 tax year.

This year’s deadline is earlier, Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5 p.m. (PST).

For more information about your UC benefits choices during the Open Enrollment period, go to UCSF Open Enrollment or for other general benefits information: UCSF HR/Benefits

Don’t be late for this important date: 2010 Open Enrollment ends this year at 5 p.m. (PST) on Tuesday, November 24, 2009.

UC's Annual Plan Ratings. . .

. . . A tool to help you make decisions about changing your plans.

Every year UC conducts surveys to measure participant satisfaction with its health and welfare plans. As in previous years, DSS Research, an independent research firm, surveyed UC members to measure satisfaction with the Anthem Blue Cross plans, Kaiser Permanente, Health Net and WHA. In addition, Liberty Mutual, Delta Dental and VSP conducted their own membership satisfaction surveys.

The survey results--click here--are based on responses from UC plan members.

Expanded mental health coverage in 2010

UC has made improvements to the medical plans in 2010 in order to comply with the Federal Mental Health Parity Act which mandates that if a plan offers mental health benefits then these benefits should be at least equal to other medical benefits offered.

These improvements include adding out-of-network behavioral health benefits to the CIGNA Choice Fund and the Anthem Blue Cross Plus plan and removing the visit limit for Anthem Blue Cross PPO out-of-network treatments. There are also no more penalties for non-compliance with a substance abuse treatment plan and there are no more day limits inpatient treatment for mental health and substance abuse.

Please see the following link for an overview of these changes by plan.

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu//files/MH_Parity_information_by_plan.pdf

United Behavioral Health (UBH) offers behavioral health benefits for UC employees with the Anthem Blue Cross Plus, Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Health Net, Western Health Advantage and Kaiser plans. Kaiser members may also use behavioral health services from Kaiser.

Employees should call UBH advance to obtain authorization for treatment. There is no co-payment for the first 3 outpatient visits.

Please see the following link for more information.
http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/open_enrollment/employees/e_ubh.html

Save Money With Flexible Spending Accounts

If you are looking for ways to save money in 2010, consider participating in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

An FSA allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent care or health care expenses not covered by your medical, dental, or vision plans. The minimum you can set aside is $180 and the maximum is $5000 annually.

It is important to carefully budget for your annual expenses because the plan guidelines (set by the IRS) have a ‘Use-It or Lose-It’ rule meaning you must spend all funds set aside by the plan year deadline or loose the money.

Also, these plans are only open for enrollment during 'Open Enrollment' and employees already participating in 2009 must re-enroll during Open Enrollment to participate again next year. This year, Open Enrollment ends November 24th at 5:00 p.m.!

For more FSA information including a list of eligible expenses go to the AYS website.

VSP Discounts for 2010!!!

The discount on additional pairs of prescription and non-prescription glasses, including sunglasses, when purchased the same day as the member’s eye exam from the same VSP doctor who provided the exam is increasing from 20% to 30%. Members will still receive 20% discount for unlimited additional pairs of glasses if purchased through any VSP doctor within 12 months of the last covered eye exam.

A Diabetic Eye Care Program, which provides medical eye care services specifically targeted to members with Type 1 diabetes, is being added.

For more information please see the VSP website: http://www.vsp.com/

New for 2010 - CIGNA OFFERS ONLINE PHYSICIAN VISITS

For 2010, online physician visits will be added to the CIGNA plans, with members paying 20 percent of visit cost.

For more information: http://www.cigna.com/ or 2010 CIGNA Evidence of Coverage (EOC) booklet

Also, since July 2009, CIGNA has been offering 24/7 access to nurses.

What’s the good news this Open Enrollment?

There are no major plan changes in programs or coverage levels for any of UC’s health plans for 2010. Where there are changes – most will enhance employee coverage. For instance, along with some mental health benefits being expanded, copayments for generic drugs will cost a bit less next year.

If you are enrolled in Kaiser or Health Net, the copay will be $5 for a 30-day retail supply and $10 for a 90-day mail-order supply. The copay for Anthem Blue Cross PLUS and Anthem Blue Cross PPO will be $10 for a 30-day supply and $20 for a 90-day mail order supply.

Take Charge of Your Health – Connect with System-wide and Local Resources

UC continues to offer a wide range of wellness resources for 2010.

This includes access to the StayWell Health Management program, which features an annual health assessment, online health resources, interactive tools, and wellness coaching. The StayWell program is available to those enrolled in UC medical plans except Kaiser.

UC Kaiser Permanente members and their family members aged 18 and older may take a free health assessment through Kaiser's HealthWorks program. (No incentive is being offered for participation in the Kaiser Healthworks program in 2010)

Employees represented by some UC unions are not eligible for StayWell because participation has not been agreed to on behalf of their members during the collective bargaining process. (A list of participating bargaining units can be found here.

A key first step in your wellness and making positive lifestyle changes is taking a health assessment — online or on paper. Again in 2010, StayWell will offer an incentive for completing an online or paper health assessment. Employees will receive a $100 gift certificate and spouses/domestic partners a $50 certificate if they complete the health assessment by April 15.

UCSF Wellness Web Portal Launches

Stay abreast of all UCSF wellness news and programs – visit the UCSF Wellness Web Portal often for timely updates.

The UCSF Walking Program Continues to Expand

Enjoy regular neighborhood walks with other UCSF employees and still have time to eat your lunch. Walking is a proven way to get in shape, improve health and relieve stress. All fitness levels are welcome.

Parnassus

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-12:35 pm

Meet at Parnassus Central Desk

500 Parnassus Ave.

Laurel Heights

Wednesdays, 12:00-12:35 pm

Meet at the Laurel Heights Lobby

220 Montgomery

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-12:45 pm

Meet at Pine Street entrance to 220 Montgomery

(back stairway)

China Basin

Wednesdays and Fridays, 12:00-12:30 pm

Meet at the courtyard, outside of Lobby 6

185 Berry Street

Mission Center Building (Starts Monday 11/9)

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

12:00-12:35 pm

Meet at the main entrance

San Francisco General Hospital

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:10-12:45 pm

Meet at the Comfort Garden, between buildings 80 and 90

Interested in starting a walking group at your location?

It’s easy! Please e-mail: lauren.cox@ucsf.edu

Open Enrollment Ends 5 p.m. 11/24/2009

Online Tools Can Help!

If you're considering making plan changes during Open Enrollment for 2010, or you just want to learn more about your UC-sponsored programs, please feel free to tinker with these online tools. They will increase your understanding of the plans and just might help you in making your decision(s).
Medical Plan Chooser
Dental Plan Chooser
Find a Doctor
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Find More At Your Service

Free legal documents

The legal plan is finally open for enrollment this year so if you have been waiting to enroll in the legal plan now is your chance. You can find details about the services that the ARAG legal plan offers on their website at http://members.ARAGgroup.com/ucop.

This year ARAG is offering UC employees the chance to create a free Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney and/or a HIPAA Authorization (Patient) form during Open Enrollment. These documents can be found on their website. Please be sure to download and save any documents that you have created before the end of Open Enrollment on November 24, 2009.

The monthly rates are:

$10.02 Self
$13.78 Self plus child(ren)$13.78 Self plus adult
$15.03 Self plus adult plus child(ren)

Oops - Error in Medicare Information in Employee OE Booklet

You should know, there is inaccurate information about Medicare on page 4 of the hard copy of your Open Enrollment Booklet. The information indicates that employees/and or family members that become Medicare eligible must enroll in Medicare and in a Medicare coordinated plan.

This is absolutely wrong!

If you continue working at UC past age 65, you are not required to sign up for Medicare Part B. In fact, you may delay enrollment, without penalty and the University does not even provide a Medicare coordinated plan option for employees that have not yet retired.

For more information, see the Medicare Factsheet [PDF] and/or contact Social Security at 800-772-1213. A corrected version of the Open Enrollment booklet is available online.