Make changes to your health, dental or vision plans during Open Enrollment
Enrolling for Your Family's Health
Open Enrollment to run Oct. 4-14
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Durham, NC -- It's that time again — Open Enrollment, that stretch in October when faculty and staff select or make changes to health, dental, vision and reimbursement benefits.
For the fourth consecutive year, participants in the Duke Basic plan will not see a premium increase.
Other insurance plans such as Duke Select will have modest increases in 2009. Premiums for Duke Select, which covers the majority of Duke employees and families, will increase $1.64 per month for individuals; $9.76 per month for families. The monthly premium increase for Blue Care is $2.70 for individuals; $12.20 for family. The increase for individuals in Blue Options is $2.60; $12 for family.
Health insurance is one of the most popular benefits at Duke with 90 percent of eligible faculty and staff participating, said Lois Ann Green, director of Benefits, adding that the benefit's popularity is based largely on the value it offers.
"Few employers in the area can compare with Duke's health benefits in terms of premiums, out-of-pocket costs and coverage," she said. "Our employees also have access to innovative programs such as Duke Prospective Health and cutting-edge medical care through Duke Medicine."
Open Enrollment Online Tutorial
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Open Enrollment is the only time in which employees can make make changes in their health, dental and vision coverage or reimbursement accounts for 2009. Packets with details about Duke's health, dental and vision plans and how to make changes or sign up for a plan will be mailed to employees in September.
If you wish to participate in the Health Care and/or Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts for 2009, you must enroll. Participation in the reimbursement accounts does not automatically continue from year to year.
If you do not make changes to your health, dental, or vision coverage, your current health, dental, and vision coverage selections for 2008 will automatically continue for 2009.
To take a video guided tour of the Open Enrollment process, click here.
Green said that Duke's continued focus will be to engage faculty and staff to take advantage of the resources available to maintain or improve their health, which has a direct impact on health benefit costs.
"That's why we are promoting and investing in preventive health programs," Green said. "We care that our employees enjoy good health, for their own sake and the sake of their families."
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Other 2009 health plan updates include:
* Out-of-pocket expenses (co-payments, deductibles) for health, dental, pharmacy and vision insurance will not change.
* The vision care premium will stay the same.
* The monthly premium for the comprehensive dental plan A will rise $1.82 for individuals; $5.53 for family. The premium for dental plan B remains the same.
* Online enrollment will be offered through Duke@Work, the employee self-service web site.
* Dependent Care and Health Care Reimbursement Accounts do not automatically roll over. Employees must re-join during open enrollment in October.
Information sessions will be held beginning Oct. 1. For a full list of sessions, click here.
