Colder weather and autumn colors signal not just that fall is here, but that the season for open enrollment for benefits is upon us.

Starting Monday, Oct. 26, and continuing through Friday, Nov. 20, faculty, administrative professionals and non-classified staff may participate in open enrollment, the annual opportunity to make changes to their benefits plan for the next calendar year. Human Resources will release the 2016 Open Enrollment Newsletter to eligible employees on Monday, detailing options and how to enroll.

Keeping the mainstays, adding new plan by demand

“This is an important year to pay special attention to the medical plan choices offered,” said Teri Suhr, Human Resources Chief Total Rewards Officer.  “Flexibility in medical plan choices for employees remains available through the long-established Green, Gold and POS medical plans with no changes in deductibles or co-pays. But CSU is pleased to introduce a new plan due to positive employee feedback. It’s called the Ram Plan-HDHP, a flexible, high-deductible health plan that allows pre-tax contributions into a health savings account or HSA.”

Suhr added that rising health care costs and increased claim expenditures will result in higher medical plan costs in 2016. CSU will absorb a large share of those increased costs as part of the university’s Cost-Share Benefits Program.

Here’s what to expect:

Green Plan

• Coverage remains at no cost for employee-only, but monthly premiums will increase $17 for employee+1 and $25 for family coverage

Gold Plan

• Monthly premiums for employee-only coverage will increase $8, employee+1 will increase $34 and $50 for family coverage

POS Plan

• Monthly premiums for employee-only coverage will increase $15, employee+1 will increase $46 and $67 for family coverage

New Ram Plan – HDHP

• Monthly premiums mirror the Green Plan; CSU provides a $500 contribution in an HSA account in calendar year 2016

CSU employees will continue to receive basic life, short and long-term disability insurance with the university paying 100% of the cost of coverage, and there will be no increase in monthly premiums for dental, life insurance and vision coverage.

Selections will be effective Jan. 1, 2016.

Benefits Fair

The 2016 Benefits Fair allows for a one-day, one-stop opportunity for employees seeking to speak directly to medical, dental, and vision vendors, along with retirement plan and ancillary benefit providers.

Other on- and off-campus providers also will be on hand to answer questions, and include:

• AP Council (APC)
• Food Science and Human Nutrition
• Campus Recreation
• Health and Exercise Science
• Early Childhood Center
• Training and Organizational Development
• Environmental Health Services
• University Benefits Committee (UBC)

The Benefits Fair will be held in LSC North Ballroom from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Health Fair

CSU is committed to supporting employee health and wellness by providing flu shots, preventive health screenings and biometrics at the 2016 Health Fair.

Employees enrolled in CSU Anthem medical plans are eligible for free flu shots and lipid/glucose testing (fasting required). Blood screenings for thyroid, prostate, hemoglobin A1c for diabetes, and C-reactive protein to measure general levels of inflammation in the body will be available for $15 each. Prior registration is required for flu shots and blood draws. Free biometrics assessments also will be offered for blood pressure, pulse, height, weight and calculation of body mass index.

Employees participating in CSU Anthem medical plan may participate in the university’s FITlife health and financial wellness program.

“A $150 incentive, double last year’s amount, may be earned for participation in the health fair,” said Suhr. “However, participants must also create an anthem.com Healthy Lifestyles account, complete an online well-being assessment and a financial retirement check-up with a CSU-approved vendor.”

The dates and locations of the Health Fair are:

LSC North Ballroom

• 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12
• 7:30-11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17
• 7:30-11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18

LSC Rooms 382-386

• Noon-4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20

Registration and more information is available online.