Open enrollment scheduled for employees

Look at your benefits statement carefully. It is important to take advantage of this special open enrollment period. The opportunity to add on and/or drop yourself or dependents from dental and health coverage will not be available again until October 1999, with a Jan. 1, 2000, effective date. All eligible employees and qualified dependents will be permitted to add health insurance without providing medical evidence of good health. Certain preexisting condition provisions may be applicable. Come to one of the scheduled sessions to find out.

This enrollment period is also an open enrollment for the dental insurance plan. Employees and qualified dependents may be added and/or deleted to dental coverage this year. Do not forget to add those two, three and four-year-old children, and any other qualified dependents that have not been covered by the dental insurance plan. The next open enrollment period will be in October 1999, with an effective date of Jan.1, 2000.

There will be no increase in premiums for the State Health and Dental Plans again this year. Premiums will change for the HMOâs, increasing in some categories and decreasing in others.

Participants in the MoneyPlu$ program who have Dependent Care Spending Accounts and/or Medical Spending Accounts must re-enroll if they wish to continue these plans for the 1998 year. Employees may also enroll in either of these plans or the health and dental premium account for the first time. A minimum of one yearâs service in a benefits eligible position is required to establish a Medical Spending Account.

While certain changes in benefits can be made only during annual enrollment, there are many changes that can be made throughout the year. Certain changes can be made within 31 days of a qualifying event (i.e., birth, death, marriage, divorce/separation, change in employment status, change in dependent status, loss of other group coverage, etc.). Under these circumstances, employees are permitted to make relevant changes to their health, dental, and life insurance benefits and/or spending accounts. Optional life insurance and dependent life insurance, as well as supplemental disability insurance can be added at any time during the year with medical evidence of good health.

In order to learn more about their benefits, employees are encouraged to attend the Benefits Fair or one of the scheduled Annual Enrollment briefings. These special events offer the best opportunity for employees to ask questions, receive individual attention, and obtain assistance completing the necessary paperwork for changes. Those unable to attend either event should come to the Human Resources Service Center, room 105, Harborview Office Tower, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or the Children's Hospital, room 109, in the Medical Center, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Coverage Level BC/BS Economy BC/BS Standard Companion HealthSource HMO Blue

Employee Only $11.70 $14.72 $35.84 $45.96 $34.72

Employee/Spouse $77.56 $97.02 $136.98 $158.88 $201.48

Employee/Child $41.32 $51.74 $106.90 $124.62 $107.76

Full Family $113.64 $142.12 $216.14 $245.60 $282.60

Annual Enrollment Briefings

Annual Enrollment Briefings Benefits specialists from the Department of Human Resources Management will discuss changes in State benefits for 1998, answer questions, and help employees complete the necessary paperwork. Briefings are scheduled at the following locations, with no registration necessary:

Oct. 2, 1 and 4 p.m., Basic Science Bldg., room 100

Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m. Harborview, room 103

Oct. 15, 2 and 5 p.m., Basic Science Bldg., room 100

Oct. 21, 2 and 5 p.m., Basic Science Bldg., room 100

Enrollment only/No briefing given Oct. 30, 7-10 a.m., Admin. Bldg., room 100 Oct. 31, 7-10 a.m., Admin. Bldg., room 100 BRING YOUR BENEFITS STATEMENT WITH YOU.

Benefits Fair to be held Oct. 9, 10

The MUSC Department of Human Resources Management Benefits staff will host the third annual MUSC Benefits Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, and Friday, Oct. 10, in the lobby and rooms 100 and 107 of the Administration Building. The fair is a source of one-stop shopping for benefits information and a convenient location for completing the paperwork necessary to make benefits changes.

Employees will have an opportunity to talk to individual representatives from the following organizations: Office of Insurance Services (State Health Plan); Companion; Healthsource; HMO Blue; South Carolina Retirement System; State Deferred Compensation; Standard Insurance Company (Supplemental Long Term Disability); Hartford Life Insurance Companies; MoneyPlu$ Program; Wellness Center; Weight Management Program through the Institute of Psychiatry; Public Safety; Dental Faculty Practice. Employee Health Services will also be offering flu shots on Friday, Oct. 10.