Open enrollment for Health Benef

Open enrollment for Health Benefits and Flexible Reimbursement Accounts (FRAs) is April 16 – May 16, 2008.

Open enrollment is the time each year when you may make changes to your health benefits and/or enroll in flexible medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts. During open enrollment you may:

ü Enroll in a health benefits plan if you are not currently enrolled.

ü Make changes to your existing health plan coverage and membership.

ü Enroll or re-enroll in a Flexible Medical or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account.

ü Medical reimbursement account enrollees may request an EZ Reimburse MasterCard, or apply to continue use of the current card.

ü Take no action to continue your current health plan and membership with no changes, or if you choose not to enroll or re-enroll in a flexible reimbursement account.

How to Make Changes and/or Enroll During Open Enrollment:

Use EmployeeDirect: EmployeeDirect is a secure web based service available for making your health benefits changes and flexible reimbursement account elections online. EmployeeDirect saves time by eliminating the paper enrollment forms. It is easy, convenient, and available 24 hours a day from any computer with internet access. Employees who wish to use EmployeeDirect must “register” a new account at https://edirect.virginia.gov/EDL/Start.aspx, including employees who have used EmployeeDirect in the past. You must have your 7-digit employee ID number to start the registration process. This 7-digit number is on your current health benefits plan ID card and is preceded by the letters “YTX” and followed by the letters “XU”. Once you are registered, select “Health Benefits Enrollment and Information” to make your changes or to enroll. If questions, please contact Charlene Reiser at ext. 2076.

OR, you may complete the paper processes indicated below:

Health Benefits Elections: Use the “State Health Benefits Program Enrollment Form for Employees” (http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/statefrm/health/ActiveEnroll08.pdf) to make changes to your current elections or for initial enrollment. Complete Section 3 if you wish to enroll or re-enroll in a flexible reimbursement account along with your health benefits change or enrollment.

Flexible Reimbursement Account: Use the “Flexible Reimbursement Account Election Form” (http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/statefrm/flex/fraelectionform.pdf) to enroll or re-enroll in a flexible reimbursement account with no changes to your current health plan election. Additional information regarding flexible reimbursement accounts may be found in the Flexible Benefits Program Sourcebook at http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/genlbenefits/flex/flexsourcebook0809.pdf.

EZ Reimburse MasterCard: If you enroll or re-enroll in a medical reimbursement account, you may complete the “EZ Reimburse MasterCard Enrollment Form” (http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/statefrm/flex/ezmastercardform.pdf) to receive the card or to continue to use your current card. The EZ Reimburse MasterCard brochure is available at http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/genlbenefits/flex/EZReimburseBrochure.pdf.

Additional Information

Ø The “Spotlight on Benefits” contains details regarding open enrollment and health plan premium and benefit changes for the upcoming plan year.

Ø Changes made during open enrollment will be effective from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.

Ø Flexible reimbursement accounts do not automatically renew. You must enroll each year.

Ø If making health benefits changes or enrolling in a flexible reimbursement account using the paper process, submit all Open Enrollment forms to Human Resources by the close of business on Friday, May 16, 2008.

Ø If you enrolled in flexible reimbursement accounts that began July 1, 2007, they will end on June 30, 2008. If you have a balance remaining in your account, you must use those funds by June 30, 2008 or the remaining balance will be forfeited. You have a three month grace period from the end of the plan year (through September 30, 2008) to file for reimbursement of expenses incurred between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 using a “Flexible Spending Account Reimbursement Request” form.

If you have questions or need assistance regarding the benefits open enrollment process, please contact Charlene Reiser, Benefits Manager, Longwood University, at 395-2076 or reisercl@longwood.edu.