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Open Enrollment 2005-2006

The annual Open Enrollment period provides you with the opportunity to review your current benefits and take a fresh look at what else Penn has to offer. This year’s Open Enrollment begins Monday, April 11 and runs through Friday, April 22. During this time, you can make changes to your healthcare elections either online or by calling the Penn Benefits Center. You will receive personalized enrollment information at your home address in early April, but some highlights are below.

What’s New?

There will be just a few changes for this upcoming plan year, as outlined in the table. 

Change

What This Means For You

Increase in premiums

As medical and prescription drug costs continue to rise nationwide, Penn continues to pay a significant portion of the premiums. Based on the plan you select, both you and the University may pay more for your current medical coverage.

Plan 100 elimination

Plan 100 will no longer be offered as of July 1, 2005.  Employees currently enrolled in Plan 100 must select a different plan during Open Enrollment, or be automatically enrolled in the PENNCare/Personal Choice plan. Your current prescription drug coverage will continue under any of the other Penn medical plans.

Penn Faculty Practice dental plan change

Endodontic and periodontal services under the Penn Faculty Practice dental plan will be covered at 80%, reduced from the current 90% coinsurance.

Open Enrollment and Health Fairs

Come to the Open Enrollment and Health Fairs to get more information about your options and obtain free health screenings. Speak with representatives from Penn’s healthcare providers and administrators, including: medical (Independence Blue Cross and Aetna), prescription (Caremark), dental (Penn Faculty Practice and MetLife), vision (OptiChoice), life insurance (Aetna), pre-tax expense accounts (ADP) and Penn Benefits Center (ADP). In addition, take advantage of free health screenings and information, such as those listed below.

You have two opportunities to attend:

•  Thursday, April 7, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m in Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge and Reading Room

•  Tuesday, April 12, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in the Biomedical Research Building (BRB) II/III

Cholesterol screenings will be available at the April 7 fair only; you will need to pre-register at www.hr.upenn.edu (click on “Open Enrollment” under Benefits). However, many other free health screenings and information tables will be available at both fairs, such as:

  • Blood Pressure
  • Chair Massage
  • Vision Screening
  • Cancer Prevention
  • Environmental Safety Issues & Ergonomics
  • Body Composition
  • Derma Scan
  • Dental and Oral Health
  • Discount Fitness Programs
  • Women’s Health & OB/GYN Information
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Digestive Health
  • Therapy and Fitness
  • Recreation & Fitness Programs
  • Occupational Medicine/ Injury Management

New Bolton Center – Open Enrollment Fair

Speak with representatives from Penn’s healthcare providers and administrators at the New Bolton Center Open Enrollment Fair on Wednesday, April 13, from 10 a.m–2 p.m. at Alumni Hall.

Wellness and Fitness Workshops

As you think about your healthcare options, you can also take this opportunity to focus on your personal wellbeing.  Participate in one or more of the wellness and fitness workshops that will be held on April 7 and 8.  Pre-register at www.hr.upenn.edu (click on “Open Enrollment” under Benefits).

Wellness Workshops—Thursday, April 7 – Houston Hall

Time

Topic

Speaker

11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Managing Stress

Gregg Mattison, Penn Behavioral Health

Dealing with Back Pain

Dr. Curtis Slipman, Penn Spine Center

12–1 p.m.

Coping with Change

Gregg Mattison, Penn Behavioral Health

Living with Menopause

Dr. Cathy Dratman, Independence Blue Cross

 

Fitness Workshops—Friday, April 8 – Pottruck Fitness Center

Time

Topic

Speaker

10—10:45 a.m.

Bike Safety

Officer David Dager, Public Safety

11—11:45 a.m.

Spinning, Pilates, or Weight Training

Experts from Penn’s Department of Recreation

12—12:45 p.m.

Yoga, Pilates, Weight Training, or Nutrition

Experts from Penn’s Department of Recreation

New Rates

The new premium rates shown below will take effect with your first June paycheck (rates shown are for full-time faculty and staff). While health care costs continue their steady upward trend, the University continues to subsidize an average of 80% of the total medical premium for full-time employees.


WEEKLY PAID
(per pay period)


Employee

Employee + 1

Employee + 2 or more

Medical

Keystone HMO

$6.92

$15.81

$19.96

Aetna HMO

7.73

18.00

22.62

UPHS POS

12.19

29.54

37.15

PENNCare / Personal Choice

$28.50

$65.54

$82.73

Dental

Penn Faculty Practice Plan

$4.15

$15.92

$17.65

MetLife Dental

3.58
13.62
15.1

Vision

OptiChoice

$.74

$1.47

$2.21

 


MONTHLY PAID
(per pay period)


Employee

Employee + 1

Employee + 2 or more

Medical

Keystone HMO

$30.00

$68.50

$86.50

Aetna HMO

33.50

78.00

98.00

UPHS POS

56.00

128.00

161.00

PENNCare / Personal Choice

$123.50

$284.00

$358.50

Dental

Penn Faculty Practice Plan

$18.00

$69.00

$76.50

MetLife Dental

15.50

59.00

65.50

Vision

OptiChoice

$3.19

$6.37

$9.56

 

How to Make Changes

Make your Open Enrollment changes online 24 hours a day at www.upenn.edu/u@penn (click on “Open Enrollment” under Announcements).  When you log on, simply provide your PennKey and password, and the online system will walk you through the enrollment process. If you do not have online access, or are having problems enrolling online, contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236), Monday—Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.

How Do I Find Out More?

• Attend an Open Enrollment Fair

• Look for personalized Open Enrollment information at your home address in early April

• Visit the Human Resources website at www.hr.upenn.edu

• Call the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236), Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

—Division of Human Resources

 

 



 
  Almanac, Vol. 51, No. 26, March 29, 2005

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:

Tuesday,
March 29, 2005
Volume 51 Number 26
www.upenn.edu/almanac

 

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