2012 Open Enrollment - Confidential Employees

Below you will find important information about the 2012 open enrollment process and costing for

• The Oxford Health Plan;

• The Aetna Dental Plan;

• The 2012 Supplemental Retirement Plan, including maximum allowable contributions; and

• The 2012 Flexible Spending Enrollment, Allegiance (New Provider)

Please review the information carefully as there are changes to the employee cost for the health plan that you should understand before deciding on your elections.

An Important Note About Same Sex Partner/Spouse Coverage:

Effective January 1, 2012, the College will offset the federal tax that faculty and administrators pay to cover a same sex domestic partner or spouse on the Oxford Health Plan, a tax which is not applicable to opposite sex spouses.

You need to complete forms only if you wish a change in your current health care or dental care elections, supplemental retirement plan contributions or to participate in the flexible spending program.  Should you wish to change your elections, change forms are available in Human Resources and on the website at www.barnard.edu/hr/forms.html.  Please note that you must complete a new flexible spending enrollment form to participate in the program for 2012 even if you participated in 2011.  The deadline for submitting any enrollment, change or waiver forms is Friday, December 9, 2011.  Forms must be returned to the Human Resources Department by that date.

Should you have any questions about the open enrollment process, please do not hesitate to call me at x47345 or the main Human Resources number x42551.

Oxford Healthcare Open Enrollment 2012

The Open Enrollment Period:

At this time of year, Barnard College offers employees the opportunity to make changes to their health care coverage.  During the Open Enrollment period, employees may add eligible dependents to their existing health care plan, switch from their current health care carrier to the Oxford Health Plan, or switch to Oxford Plan A or Plan B.

This is the only time during the year that employees may change to the Oxford Health Plan, switch between Oxford Plan A and Plan B, and/or add eligible dependents (other than within 31 days following a life status change).  Dependents may be dropped from coverage at any time.

Health Care Costs:

The increase for Oxford coverage for 2012 is 3%.  Information regarding the basic Oxford Freedom plan is available in Human Resources.

Dependent Child Coverage:

1. Recent health care reform legislation has approved provisions for dependent child coverage to age 26.

2. New York State  provisions allow for coverage of a dependent child through age 29.  The employee will pay the full cost for dependents older than age 26 at the individual rate of $644.46 for Plan A, or $777.28 for Plan B.  Anyone with questions about the extended coverage should contact Human Resources. 

For 2012, the Employee/College monthly contributions will be as follows:

PLAN A

*E = employee only; E+1 = employee plus one dependent; E+>1 = family coverage.

PLAN B

Contributions you make toward your Oxford insurance will be deducted from your pay, pre-tax, on a monthly basis.  (Please note:  IRS regulations do not allow a pre-tax payroll deduction for domestic partner coverage.)

Opt-Out Provision:

Employees may waive Oxford coverage by completing a form available in Human Resources and submitting satisfactory proof of coverage under another health insurance plan.  Employees who waive coverage may terminate the waiver and elect the College’s coverage if there is a life status change that results in the loss of their current health coverage. Please keep in mind that you have 31 days to notify Human Resources should this occur.

Enrollment:

As noted on the cover page, you only need to complete forms if you want a change in coverage.  Otherwise, your Oxford coverage will remain as currently in force, and your monthly deductions for health care will be automatically adjusted based on your salary.  Forms are available in Human Resources or by clicking here. Forms are due in Human Resources by Friday, December 9, 2011.

Aetna Dental Open Enrollment 2012

The Open Enrollment Period:

During the open enrollment period, the College offers faculty and administrators the opportunity to enroll in dental coverage.  At this time, participants may also add eligible dependents to their existing dental plan. 

• If you are in the DMO or PPO and want your coverage to remain in the DMO or PPO, you do not need to complete any new forms.

• If you wish to add dependents, you must complete a change form.

• If you now wish to enroll in the dental plan for the first time, you must complete an enrollment/change form.

Dental Care Costs:

The employee monthly contributions for 2012 are as follows:

            $15.00 Individual coverage

            $40.50 Family coverage (applies to employee + one, as well as to full family)

Important Information about the Aetna Dental Plan:

The plan includes Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and out-of-network access to dentists.  While an out-of-network benefit (similar to an indemnity option) is available, the greatest out-of-pocket savings will result if dentists in either the DMO or the large PPO networks are used. 

One of the unusual features of our plan is that participants may switch between the DMO and the PPO options on a monthly basis.  You may switch back and forth between the DMO and the PPO by calling Aetna customer service by the 15^th of any month.  The change of option will become effective the first of the month following your call.  

Information regarding the Aetna Dental Plan design is available in Human Resources.

Late Entry/Opt-Out Provision:

Please be aware that there is a late entry penalty for Aetna dental plans.  Aetna defines a late entrant as an employee who does not enroll when initially eligible as a new employee.

If you chose not to participate when you were eligible or cancel your coverage now, you may only enroll in the plan at an open enrollment period, and you will be subject to a late entry penalty.  Those penalties are detailed on Dental Insurance Waiver form available in Human Resources or by clicking here.  Please complete that form if you wish to cancel your coverage.

Enrollment:

As noted on the cover page, you only need to complete Aetna Dental forms if you want a change in coverage.  Forms are available in Human Resources or by clicking here. Forms are due in Human Resources by Friday, December 9, 2011.

Supplemental Retirement Annuities 2012

How tax-deferral can work for you:

• SRAs are tax-deferred annuities that can help you save for the future. Your contributions lower your current tax bill.  They are set aside from the rest of your income and invested before taxes.  Because your taxable income is lower, you pay less income tax now.  You pay no federal or, in most cases, state or local taxes on your contributions until you receive them in the future as income.

• Also, you don’t lose part of your earnings to taxes every year.  Interest and earnings on your before-tax contributions compound tax-deferred until you begin receiving income, so your money accumulates faster than it might in a taxable account.

• Please note that the amount you may contribute to an SRA is limited by the IRS.

The limits indicated above may not be accurate if you fall into any of the following categories:

• You have taken a sabbatical or any similar break in service

• You are currently, or have ever been, a part-time employee

• You are terminating employment in the calculation year

• You have participated in a Tax Deductible Annuity (TDA) Plan with another carrier

If you are affected by any of these situations, or if you have questions about your limits and the advantages available to you through SRAs, please call TIAA-CREF or Fidelity to speak with a noncommissioned retirement planning specialist.

Enrollment:

If you wish to change your allocations, you may do so by completing a Salary Reduction Agreement that is available in Human Resources or by clicking here.  If you wish to contribute to an SRA for the first time, please come by Human Resources for additional information.

Flexible Spending Account Enrollment 2012

The Barnard College Flexible Spending Accounts are benefit programs which enable you to reduce taxes by paying for your unreimbursed health and/or dependent care expenses with pre-tax income. 

Beginning January 1, 2012, we have a new provider for this benefit. Our new carrier is Allegiance, a division of CIGNA, our prior carrier.  This change brings new on-line tools that will make it easier for you to manage your account.

In order to participate for the calendar year 2012, you must complete and return your election form by the deadline, Friday, December 9, 2011.

Annual Maximums:

• Health Care Spending          $6,000

• Dependent Care Spending   $5,000

IRS Regulations:

As noted last year, recent national health care reform legislation includes new regulations for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Beginning with our 2011 FSA plan year, the cost of over-the-counter purchases can no longer be reimbursed from the account unless a prescription is obtained.  For example, prior to January 2011 you could submit receipts for items such as non-prescription allergy medication.  After January 2011, those items are not reimbursable from your FSA unless you have special documentation from your physician.  You are still able to use your pre-tax FSA funds to pay for prescription glasses, contact lenses, office co-pays, prescription co-pays and deductibles.    For more information about FSA reimbursements with Allegiance, you can visit their website:  www.allegianceflexadvantage.com or call member services at 1-877-424-3570.

Once the plan year begins, you may change the amount of your flexible spending contributions only if there is a change in your family status – marriage, death, divorce, birth or adoption of a child – or a change in a spouse’s employment status.  This change must occur within 31 days of the qualifying event.  Otherwise, your election may not be changed during the year.

Forms are available in Human Resources or by clicking here. Forms are due in Human Resources by Friday, December 9, 2011.  Please feel free to call me if you have any questions at x47345.

(REV. 11/16/11)