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Changes to benefits can be made during October Employees should have received their 1999 Insurance Benefit Statement along with a copy of The Insurance Advantage newsletter which outlines important changes in benefits effective Jan. 1, 2000. State employees at MUSC can make open enrollment changes to their state benefits during the month of October. All changes will become effective Jan. 1, 2000. During Open Enrollment, employees can change health plan carriers and/or add/drop dependents. Review the insurance benefits statement carefully. It is important to take advantage of this open enrollment period because the next opportunity will not be until October 2001 with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2002. All eligible employees and qualified dependents will be permitted to add health insurance without a qualifying event. Certain pre-existing condition provisions may be applicable. Attend one of the scheduled sessions to obtain more information. The enrollment period is also an open enrollment for the state dental plan. Employees and qualified dependents may be added or deleted to dental coverage this year. The next open enrollment period will be in October 2001, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2002. There are no increases in premiums for the State Health and Dental Plans again this year; however, premiums for HMOs have changed.  Participants in the MoneyPlu$ program who have Dependent Care Spending Account and/or Medical Spending Account MUST re-enroll to continue these plans for the 2000 calendar year. Employees may also enroll in either of these plans or the health and dental premiums account for the first time. Employees must occupy a benefits eligible position for one year prior to Jan. 1, 2000, in order 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, loss of other group coverage, etc.) Under these qualifying events employees are permitted to make relevant changes to their health, dental, and life insurance benefits and/or spending accounts. Optional and Dependent Life Insurance as well as Supplemental Long-term Disability insurance can be added throughout the year with medical evidence of good health.  In order to learn more about your benefits we invite you to attend the Benefits Fair or one of the scheduled Open Enrollment Briefings. These special events offer you the best opportunity to ask questions, receive individual attention, and obtain assistance completing the necessary documents for changes. Those unable to attend a briefing should stop by their benefits office. Medical Center Employees 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday room 109, Children's Hospital  792-0826 University Employees 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday room 105, Harborview Office Towers  792-2607 Fair slated for Oct. 27, 28 The MUSC Department of Human Resources Management benefits staff will host the Benefits Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 27, and Thursday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in rooms 100 and 107 of the Administration Building. The fair is a one-stop shopping source for benefits information and a convenient location for completing your benefit changes. Employees will have the opportunity to talk to individual representatives from the following organizations: State Health Plan, MUSC Options, Companion, HealthSource, HMO  Blue, South Carolina Retirement System, State Deferred Compensation (401(k), 403(b), and 457), Standard Insurance Company (Disability Insurance) - HR Representative, Hartford Life Company, Hunt, DuPree, and Rhine (MoneyPlu$) HR Representative, MUSC Family Medicine, Carolina Family Care and UMA.  Open Enrollment Briefings Benefit specialists from the Department of Human Resources Management will discuss changes in benefits, answer questions, and help employees complete necessary documents. Benefits briefings will be conducted during the first 30 minutes of each session.  Briefings are scheduled at the following locations, with no registration necessary: Oct. 14, 1 - 3 p.m. room 100, Basic Science Building; Oct. 19, 7 - 9 a.m. room 302, Basic Science Building; Oct. 19,  3 - 5 p.m., room 302, Basic Science Building.