The annual Benefit Choice enrollment period is upon us. Before we all begin daydreaming of sun and fun, we need to take time to make decisions about our benefits for next year.
This year, those decisions must be made through the State’s new enrollment website – mybenefits.illinois.gov. If you have not signed on to the system previously, you will need to establish your user name and password before you begin. Information on how to sign on for the first time was sent in an email to all impacted staff on March 30, 2017, and will also be included in your Benefit Choice newsletter.
- May 1 through May 31 – Online enrollment changes/options are open in mybenefits.illinois.gov. If you are a benefits-eligible employee, you will need to login, review your information, and submit any changes by May 31 if you want them to take effect on July 1. You can access this site through iPeople, but since this is a State of Illinois managed site, it does not utilize your regular ISU/ULID login/password. Questions? See last bullet.
- What’s changing? – AETNA will replace CIGNA as the vendor for the Quality Care Health Plan effective July 1. Faculty and staff who are enrolled in this plan will want to review AETNA’s website (accessible through mybenefits.illinois.gov) after May 1 to ensure their providers are in-network for the AETNA plan.
- What’s NOT changing? – NO CHANGES to premiums, deductibles, copayments or plan designs will be implemented on July 1.
- Saving money in the new fiscal year pre-tax for medical bills? Dependent care? Often referred to as “Flex Spending” – You will need to select this option before May 31, even if you want your amount to remain the same as last year. This is a mandated opt-in for which you will have to choose the plan and specify an amount. You will need only to enter the annual amount you wish to contribute and the online system will calculate the per pay period amount for you. This year, the annual maximum for MCAP will be $2600.00.
- Switching health plans? Opting out? Enrolling dependents” – Now is the time to make those elections, but remember
- You have to be enrolled in health insurance to be eligible for dental insurance
- Supporting documentation is required to opt out of coverage or add dependents to your coverage.
- Life insurance changes? – Often popular during this time, but remember a Statement of Health form must be completed and sent to Minnesota Life for any optional life increases or spouse life elections.
- Life event happening for you during this time? Birth? Marriage? Other? – No problem. These events can be processed through the mybenefits.illinois.gov website even during Benefit Choice.
- Not sure how to get started? – Human Resources will be holding enrollment assistance sessions in the Nelson Smith Building and Julian Hall on various dates throughout the month of May. Information on dates and times will be contained in the annual Benefit Choice newsletter.
- Questions? – Give us a call at (309) 438-8311, send us an email at hr.benefits@ilstu.edu or stop by and see us from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, in 101A Nelson Smith Building and we will be glad to assist.
