Fall is the time to rake leaves, dust off your winter boots and update your benefits.
Open enrollment for eligible Colorado State University faculty and staff begins Oct. 28 and runs through Nov. 15, with changes becoming effective Jan. 1, 2020. This is the annual opportunity for faculty, administrative professionals and non-classified staff members to make changes to health benefits and add or drop dependents.
Any changes made outside this period are allowed only for a mid-year qualifying event including births, adoption, changes to marital, domestic partnership or civil union status, and other qualifying events.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 28, update your open enrollment elections in Employee Self-Service at aar.is.colostate.edu. Submit official documentation for any new dependents added to your insurance to Human Resources by Friday, Nov. 22.
“Your health and financial wellness matter,” said Teri Suhr, chief total rewards officer for CSU Human Resources. “There is a lot to consider during open enrollment — use ALEX and Engage, our online tools, to guide your way.”
Monthly premiums for benefits
CSU will continue to pay 100% of the cost of coverage for employee basic life and short- and long-term disability coverage and there is no increase in monthly premiums for voluntary life insurance and vision coverage.
Based on your enrollment choice, your monthly medical plan premium may stay the same as last year or increase by up to $35.
• Green Plan and Ram Plan – No increase for employee-only; employee+1 premium will go up $9 per month; employee plus family premium will go up $12
• Gold Plan (frozen to new enrollment) – $4 per month increase in premium for employee-only and $19 for employee+1; employee plus family premium will go up $25
• POS Plan – Increase in premium of $8 per month for employee-only and $25 for employee+1; employee plus family premium will go up $35
Medical plan – hearing aids
As a new benefit enhancement to all medical plans, CSU has added a hearing aid benefit of $2,000 every 3 years, subject to plan deductible/coinsurance/copay.
Health savings account – Ram Plan HDHP
The $500 HSA contribution for each employee enrolled in the Ram Plan-HDHP plan will continue. The annual IRS allowable contribution limits will increase to $3,550 (individual) and $7,100 (family), reduced by CSU’s contribution.
Upcoming events
Enrollment Help Sessions – Morgan Library Room 173
- Wednesday, Oct. 30: 9-11 a.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 7: 9-11 a.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 12: 1-3 p.m.
Health Fairs (Flu Shots and Biometric Screenings)
- Thursday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m.-noon, LSC Room 382
- Tuesday, Nov. 5: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Cherokee Park Ballroom
- Wednesday, Nov. 13: noon- 4 p.m., LSC Room 382
- Register online.
For more information about open enrollment, contact CSU Human Resources at (970) 491-MyHR (6947) or MyHR@colostate.edu.
Dental coverage
Depending on your coverage, the premium will remain the same or increase by $3 to allow the university to increase the maximum amount the plan pays.
• Dental Basic – plan maximum increased from $800 in 2019 to $1,000 in 2020
• Dental Plus – plan maximum increased from $1,750 in 2019 to $2,000 in 2020
Vision service plan
As an added benefit under your VSP plan, take advantage of Eyeconic, an online eyewear store where VSP members can apply their vision benefit and enjoy in-network savings. With Eyeconic, you’ll enjoy great choices in eyewear, including glasses and sunglasses from top frame brands and the most popular contact lenses – all with the convenience of shopping online 24/7.
Long term disability
The maximum salary replacement benefit for Long Term Disability (LTD) is increasing in 2020. This will increase the maximum monthly income replacement benefit for PERA members and DCP participants to better align with our employees’ salary levels. Although the LTD benefit is offered to eligible employees at no cost, it is a taxable benefit which means the increased monthly premium may affect your paycheck.
Benefits Fair
The Benefits Fair will take place in the LSC North Ballroom Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event is an opportunity for employees to speak with medical, dental and vision vendors, along with retirement plan and ancillary benefit providers. Stop by for refreshments, giveaways and to discuss health and benefit information.
FITlife wellness incentive
Employees enrolled in a CSU Anthem medical plan may participate in the university’s FITlife health and financial wellness program. A $150 incentive may be earned for participation in health fair and biometrics testing, downloading the mobile Engage app or registering online to access your personalized health assistant, completing an online health assessment and a financial retirement check-up with a CSU-approved vendor. Through Nov. 30, employees who download the Engage app will be registered to win one of four iPads provided by Anthem.
ALEX – benefits counselor
ALEX is a confidential online tool that helps employees select the best benefit plans for themselves and their family. It estimates your total annual medical costs by considering monthly premiums, copays, and coinsurance. One employee who used the tool said, “I started this process feeling stressed and overwhelmed. This program made it fun and easy. I even laughed through a lot of it. I feel informed and confident now.”
