More information is available on the����to help answer any questions. If faculty and staff have any additional questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact��HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

Open Enrollment is the one time of year when eligible employees can reflect on their benefit options, connect with the variety of available resources to help make the best decisions to meet their needs and enroll for the coming year.

Visit the�� to learn more about the University’s benefits for 2025 and the resources available to help you make decisions for next year.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits or the enrollment process? Contact��HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

Reduced Health Plan Contributions

Faculty and staff are encouraged to carefully review the expanded eligibility guidelines for 2024 that outline how to apply for reduced payroll contributions for health coverage. Depending on an employee’s household income and size, reduced health plan contributions are available through Schedule B.��The application deadline is Dec. 1.��For more information and a copy of the application,��.

Dependent Care Subsidy

As part of ongoing efforts to support the changing needs of families, the University continues to offer subsidies to faculty and staff to assist with dependent care.��The application deadline is Dec. 1.��For more information and a copy of the application,��.

Supplemental Life Insurance and Long Term Disability Insurance

Faculty and staff who chose to newly elect or increase supplemental life insurance during this year’s annual Open Enrollment period must complete the����and return it to MetLife. Individuals who newly elected long term disability insurance through The Standard must complete a����and return it to The Standard.

Questions?

Visit the ��or contact HR Shared Services at��hrservice@syr.edu��or 315.443.4042.

More information is available on the����to help answer any questions. If faculty and staff have any additional questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact��HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

Next Monday, Oct. 30, we will begin the annual Open Enrollment process for employee benefit selections for 2024. Ahead of that, I am writing today to provide an update on how the University plans to address rising health care costs, and what you can expect with regard to employee contributions (the amount deducted from your paycheck for health coverage) for 2024. In addition, there will be no significant plan design changes for 2024 benefit plans.

Each year, ���ϲ����� reviews its benefits program and makes revisions based on a thorough evaluation, which includes consideration of the impact on our employees and comparisons to the programs of other employers.

This year, the University, like other employers across the state and country, is seeing rising health care costs. We are taking action to limit the impact of these rising trends on our employees’ costs, especially for our lowest paid employees who need assistance the most. The University will increase its subsidy of the lower contributions under Schedule B and expand eligibility for the program so more employees can qualify. Additionally, the University will not increase deductibles, copays or coinsurance for any employee benefit plan and will hold the increases for employee contributions to below local and national trends. These actions are further detailed below:

• Schedule B Expansion and Rates:
  • Eligibility Expansion: The University will expand eligibility for Schedule B, which has lower employee contribution rates, to allow even more employees to qualify. For 2024, those eligible for Schedule B rates will include:
    • Households of one with incomes under $53,250;
    • Households of two with incomes under $74,550;
    • Households of three with incomes under $95,850;
    • Households of four with incomes under $117,150;
    • Households of five with incomes under $138,450; and
    • Households of six or more with incomes under $159,750
  • Reduced Rates: The University will also increase its subsidy of employee contribution rates under Schedule B to keep costs as low as possible for our lower income employees. The increase for Schedule B rates will be 4.5% for all coverage tiers. The monthly employee contribution increase will range from $6 to $19, depending on plan selection.
• Schedule A Rates: Employee contributions toward health care benefits under Schedule A will increase by 6.5% for employee-only coverage and increase by 8.5% for family coverage, which is below state and national trends. This equates to a monthly increase between $10 and $48, depending on plan selection.
• No Benefit Design Changes: For 2024, there will be no increases in deductibles, copays and coinsurance for any benefit plan.
• Contributions for other benefit plans will either decrease or remain flat for 2024, including a 20% decrease in long term disability rates and no increases in dental, vision and life insurance rates.

Please stay tuned for future communications about and do not hesitate to contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

All the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan details and various resources to learn more, are available on the��.

Questions About Benefits? Connect With Human Resources (HR)

There are several ways for faculty and staff to connect with resources that will enable them to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a����to learn about your 2024 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. With prescription drug questions, contact Optum Rx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.
• TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or��.

Faculty and staff can enroll online through MySlice from Oct. 30-Nov. 10. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of����available across campus, or faculty or staff may contact��HR Shared Services��by phone or email during normal business hours for assistance.

• Reflect on how they can make the most of benefits offered by the University.
• Connect with benefit professionals and resources to get their questions answered.
• Enroll and make decisions that best meet their needs.

The Office of Human Resources encourages eligible individuals to review their benefits on MySlice to ensure their choices are in place for Jan. 1, 2023. This is the one time of year to elect or change coverage for many benefits, unless one experiences a��.

More information is available on the to help answer any questions. If faculty and staff have any additional questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

There are a variety of resources to support faculty and staff during Open Enrollment:

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a to learn about your 2023 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For prescription drug questions, contact Optum Rx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.

TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or .

Faculty and staff must complete their enrollment by Nov. 11 by logging in to MySlice. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or faculty and staff may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours for assistance.

With questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042. Virtual appointments are available upon request.

Open Enrollment is the one time of year when eligible employees can reflect on their benefit options, connect with the variety of available resources to help make the best decisions to meet their needs and enroll for the coming year.

Visit the to learn more about your 2023 benefits and the resources available to help you make decisions for next year.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits or the enrollment process? Contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

Next Monday, we will begin the annual open enrollment process for employee benefit selections for 2023. Ahead of that, I am writing today to provide an update on how the University plans to address rising health care costs, and what you can expect with regard to employee contribution rates (the amount deducted from your paycheck for health coverage) for 2023.

The University is especially mindful of the difficult economic climate right now, and how household budgets are being challenged by inflation’s effect on everyday living, particularly as it relates to housing, food and gas. That is why the University is taking action to limit the impact of health care cost increases on our community members.

Based on the annual algorithm that determines employee contributions, rates were expected to increase this year for some employees well into the double digits. However, after conferring with a selection of deans, faculty, staff and our budget office, the University has made the decision to invest an additional $1 million to offset these rising costs for this year. This action will result in the following:

• Schedule A: Employee contributions toward health care benefits under Schedule A will increase by 4.9% for employee-only coverage and increase by 7.7% for family coverage. This equates to a monthly increase between $7 and $40, depending on plan selection.
• Schedule B:
  • Eligibility Expansion: The University will significantly expand employee eligibility for Schedule B which has lower employee contribution rates. Moving forward for 2023, those eligible for Schedule B rates will include:
    • Households of one with incomes under $50,000;
    • Households of two with incomes under $70,000;
    • Households of three with incomes under $90,000;
    • Households of four or more with incomes under $110,000.
  • Reduced Rates: The University will also increase its subsidy of employee contribution rates under Schedule B to keep costs as low as possible for our lower income employees. The increase for Schedule B rates will be 3.9% for all plan selections. The monthly employee contribution increase will range from $5 to $16, depending on plan selection.
• For 2023, there will be no increases in deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance for any benefit plan.

In addition to this investment to combat increasing health care costs, the University will take the following actions:

• Part-Time Instructors: Under the leadership of Provost Gretchen Ritter, the University will work with Human Resources (HR) and others to explore ways in the future to support and expand health care coverage for our part-time instructors.
• Faculty and Staff Consultation: At the direction of Chancellor Syverud, beginning in the Spring 2023 semester, HR will work with faculty and staff, and through shared governance structures, including the University Senate, to refine how health care benefits are determined in the future.

I recognize this is a challenging time for many members of our community. We will continue to explore ways to expand and strengthen our benefits in the future, while providing immediate support and relief to our faculty and staff. Please stay tuned for future communications about and do not hesitate to contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu if you have any urgent questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

All the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan details and various resources to learn more are available on the .

Questions About Benefits? Connect With Human Resources.

There are several ways for faculty and staff to connect with resources that will enable them to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a to learn about your 2023 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For prescription drug questions, contact Optum Rx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.
• TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or .

Faculty and staff can enroll online through MySlice from Oct. 31-Nov. 11. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or faculty or staff may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours for assistance.

• Reflect on how they can make the most of benefits offered by the University.
• Connect with benefit professionals and resources to get their questions answered.
• Enroll and make decisions that best meet their needs.

The Office of Human Resources encourages eligible individuals to review their benefits on MySlice to ensure their choices are in place for Jan. 1, 2022. This is the one time of year to elect or change coverage for many benefits, unless one experiences a��.

Additional information is available on the to help answer any questions. If faculty and staff have any additional questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

There are a variety of resources to support faculty and staff during Open Enrollment:

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a to learn about your 2022 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For prescription drug questions, contact OptumRx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.

TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or .

Faculty and staff must complete their enrollment by Nov. 12 by logging into MySlice. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or faculty and staff may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours.

and for faculty and staff about 2022 benefits are available on the .

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits or the enrollment process? Contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

All of the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan details and various resources to learn more are available on the .

Questions About Benefits? Connect With Human Resources.

There are several ways for faculty and staff to connect with resources that will enable them to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a live virtual to learn about your 2022 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For prescription drug questions, contact OptumRx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.
• TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or sign up online.

Faculty and staff can enroll online through from Nov. 1-12. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or faculty or staff may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours.

• Reflect on how they can make the most of benefits offered by the University;
• Connect with benefit professionals and resources to get their personal questions answered; and
• Enroll and make decisions that best meet their needs.

The Office of Human Resources encourages eligible individuals to review their benefits on to ensure their choices are in place for Jan. 1, 2021. This is the one time of year to elect or change coverage for many benefits, unless one experiences a��.

Various news items, FAQs and additional information are available on the to help answer any questions. If faculty and staff have any additional questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

There are a variety of resources to support faculty and staff during Open Enrollment:

Faculty and staff must complete their enrollment by Nov. 13 by logging into . If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or they may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours.

With questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042. Virtual appointments are available upon request.

Open Enrollment is the one time of year when eligible employees can reflect on their benefit options, connect with the variety of available resources to help make the best decisions to meet their needs and enroll for the coming year.

A ,�� and for faculty and staff about 2021 benefits are available on the .

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits or the enrollment process? Contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

All of the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan details, various resources to learn more and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the .

Questions About Benefits? Connect With Human Resources!

There are several ways for faculty and staff to connect with resources that will enable them to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

• View the to learn everything employees need to know about 2021 benefit offerings.
• Attend a on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. or Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. to learn about 2021 benefits.
• Contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu to get personal benefit questions answered. Virtual appointments are available upon request.
• Connect with the University’s .

Faculty and staff can enroll online through from Nov. 2-13. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or they may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours.

• Reflect on how you can make the most of your benefits through the University
• Connect with benefit professionals to get your personal questions answered
• Enroll and make decisions that best meet your needs

Review your benefits on and ensure that your choices are in place for Jan. 1, 2020. Remember, this is the one time of year when you may elect or change your coverage for many benefits, unless you experience a .

Various news items, FAQs and additional information are available on the to help answer your questions.

Computer kiosks are available inside the Office of Human Resources, Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the��.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

There are a variety of resources to assist employees during Open Enrollment:

Eligible employees must complete their enrollment by Nov. 15 by logging into . Computer kiosks are available inside the Office of Human Resources, Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the��.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact ��at 315.443.4042.

Open Enrollment is the one time of year when you can reflect on your benefit options, connect with the variety of available resources to help make the decisions that best meet your needs and enroll for the coming year.

A recorded��,�� and you should know are available on the Open Enrollment website—.

Faculty and staff are invited to connect directly with benefit partners and HR representatives at the tomorrow, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Barnes Center at The Arch, MAC Court. Learn more about the University’s benefit program and get answers to your questions right in time for Open Enrollment.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits or the enrollment process? Contact HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

Open Enrollment, the annual period when University employees reflect on their benefit options for the coming year, begins Monday, Nov. 4, and continues through Friday, Nov. 15. This is the one time of year when individuals may elect or change their coverage for many benefits, unless they experience a��. All of the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan and contribution details, dates for information sessions and office hours, and answers to frequently asked questions, are posted online at .

Learn more! Attend the on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Barnes Center at The Arch, MAC Court. This event provides you with the opportunity to speak directly with the University’s benefit partners and HR representatives, learn how to get the most out of your benefits, and get your questions answered right in time for Open Enrollment. Complimentary parking is available at the Skytop Lot. Meet at the main entrance of the Skytop Office Building for direct transportation to the Barnes Center.

In addition to the Benefits Open House, you’ll have various opportunities to connect with benefit professionals. Visit the dedicated�� to learn about those opportunities.

Enroll online through from Nov. 4-15. Computer kiosks are available during normal business hours inside the Office of Human Resources in the Skytop Office Building to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the��.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits, the enrollment process or the Benefits Open House may be directed to HR Shared Services��at 315.443.4042.

Human Resources offers a variety of resources to assist employees during Open Enrollment:

•
•
•
•
•

Other news and information is available on the Open Enrollment website—.

Eligible employees must complete their enrollment by Nov. 9 by logging into . Computer kiosks are available inside the Office of Human Resources, Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the .

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or other benefits, please contact the at 315.443.4042.

A recorded��,��, benefit��and other news and information is available on the Open Enrollment website—.

Also, employees are reminded to join the Office of Human Resources and other experts at the Benefits Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 30, for an educational, fun and health-oriented event. Those attending can take advantage of free flu shots, stress reduction techniques and healthy living information, and learn more about the University’s comprehensive suite of benefits and get answers to questions right in time for Open Enrollment.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits, the enrollment process or the Benefits Fair may be directed to the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

The first of several information sessions will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 at 9:30 a.m. in Heroy Auditorium in the Heroy Geology Laboratory. For additional information sessions, office hours, benefit newsletters and other details, visit the dedicated Open Enrollment .

Open Enrollment will be conducted online through MySlice beginning Oct. 29. Computer kiosks are available during normal business hours inside the Office of Human Resources in the Skytop Office Building to provide additional computer access for online enrollment. For other locations, review the .

Additionally, Human Resources will host the annual on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. Attendees can take advantage of free flu shots, stress reduction techniques and healthy living information. They can also learn more about the many services and resources available to employees and retirees. Complimentary parking is available in Booth Garage and University Avenue Garage, with shuttle service. For directions, visit .

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits, the enrollment process or the Benefits Fair may be directed to the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

In an Oct. 17 email to benefits eligible faculty and staff, Andrew R. Gordon, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, shared information and updates about the University benefits package for 2019. Some important highlights include the following:

• For the second year in a row, employee per-paycheck contributions for the medical plan will remain the same.
• There will be no increases to existing deductibles, copays or coinsurance for SUBlue, SUOrange or SUPro.
• There will be reduced copays for outpatient treatment related to mental health and substance use in SUBlue and SUOrange.
• Biofeedback services will be offered as a new benefit under the medical plan when deemed medically necessary by a prescribing physician.
• There will be an expansion of the Dependent Care Subsidy, including a greater subsidy amount, an expansion of the age range of eligible dependents and an increase in the annual household income threshold used to determine faculty and staff eligibility. The deadline for 2019 participation in the program is Dec. 7.
• A new two-year commitment cycle for the University’s dental and vision plans will start Jan. 1, 2019.
• Dental rates, set by Delta Dental, will increase for the first time in five years. However, the University will increase its annual dental subsidy of dental coverage from $100 to $110.
• Vision rates will decrease by 4 percent, and the contact lens allowance will increase by $20 when using a VSP network provider.
• Employee contributions for supplemental life insurance will decrease by 15 percent, and during this open enrollment only, employees may increase their supplemental life insurance coverage by one level (or elect the lowest increment if not currently participating), capped at $250,000, without requiring a statement of health.
• Employee contributions for dependent life, supplemental AD&D, and voluntary long-term disability insurance will have no rate increases or plan design changes.

Beginning on Monday, Oct. 22, all of the relevant information—including plan and rate details, dates for information sessions and office hours, and answers to frequently asked questions—will be posted online at .

Employees who have any immediate questions about ���ϲ����� benefits can contact the HR Service Center by phone at 315.443.4042 or by email at hrservice@syr.edu.

Human Resources offers a variety of resources to assist employees during Open Enrollment:

• HR Service Center

Other news and information is available on the Open Enrollment website—.

Eligible employees must complete their enrollment by Nov. 10 by logging into . Computer kiosks are available in the first floor lobby of the Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or other benefits, please contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

This is the only time of year when you may elect or change your coverage for many benefits, unless you experience a .

Human Resources offers a variety of resources to assist employees during Open Enrollment:

• HR Service Center

Other news and information is available on the Open Enrollment website—.

Eligible employees must complete their enrollment by Nov. 10 by logging into . Computer kiosks are available in the first floor lobby of the Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or other benefits, please contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

A recorded��,��, benefit����and other news and information��are available on the Open Enrollment website—.

Computer kiosks are available in the first floor lobby of the Skytop Office Building, 640 Skytop Road, during normal business hours to provide additional computer access for online enrollment.

If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or other benefits, please contact the HR Service Center at 315.443.4042.

As previously announced, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has been selected to administer the medical plans for ���ϲ�����, effective Jan. 1, 2018. As an Upstate New York-based provider with offices in DeWitt, Excellus was selected as part of a comprehensive benefits review process to ensure employees and retirees have access to an excellent set of options from the highest-quality plans.

In an Oct. 2 email to the campus community, Andrew R. Gordon, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, shared information and updates about the ���ϲ����� benefits package for 2018. Some important highlights include the following:

• There will be no increase in employee per-paycheck contributions for any University benefit plans for 2018.
• Members enrolled in SUBlue and SUOrange will not be required to obtain referrals to see in-network providers.
• Copays for certain medical services will increase by $10. This is the first such increase in four years. An annual in-network deductible will be applied to SUBlue and SUOrange.
• All copays and deductibles are listed on the University’s website, including detailed information provided in our Frequently Asked Questions resource guide.
• There will be no changes to existing deductibles or coinsurance for SUPro. SUPro has no referral requirement.
• OptumRx will continue to provide prescription drug coverage.
• The University’s dental and vision plans will have no copayment, coinsurance or contribution increases. In these plans, 2018 is the second year of a two-year commitment, so the only change participants can make is to enroll or remove dependents from the plan, unless they experience a qualifying life event.

Employee contributions for dependent life, supplemental life and AD&D, and voluntary long-term disability insurance will have no rate increases or plan changes. Free will preparation services are included when employees enroll in supplemental life insurance.

Information sessions and office hours are available during Open Enrollment and can be found . In addition, on-campus office hours will be held twice per week this fall and into 2018 by an experienced representative from Excellus to assist members with any personal transition questions. All of the relevant information will be posted online at as it becomes available.

Employees who have any immediate questions about ���ϲ����� benefits can contact the HR Service Center by phone at 315.443.4042 or by email at hrservice@syr.edu.

This is also when those eligible for health care or dependent care flexible spending accounts must designate their contributions for the coming year. To review or update benefits, visit and go to “Update My Benefit Elections.” If you have any questions about benefits or the Open Enrollment process, please contact the Human Resources Service Center at 315-443-4042 or hrservic@syr.edu. Detailed benefit information is also available on the .

There is good news to share for 2015, with rates for the University dental plan decreasing by 8 percent. Also, those eligible for health care coverage will see the smallest rate increase in years. This and other benefits news and information is available on the new Open Enrollment website——just launched by the Office of Human Resources.

On the website you will find benefit newsletters targeted to specific audiences—faculty and staff, graduate assistants and fellows, and part-time instructors eligible for the modified benefits plan—as well as information on flexible spending accounts, financial planning opportunities and other benefits-related topics.

During Open Enrollment those eligible to participate in a flexible spending account for health care or dependent care must decide how much they will contribute to each account for 2015. This is also the year to elect or waive coverage under the University dental and vision plans for the next two years.

As in years past, Open Enrollment will be conducted online through MySlice. If you have any questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact the Human Resources Service Center at 315-443-4042 or hrservic@syr.edu.

This is the only time of the year when eligible staff, faculty, graduate assistants and fellows and part-time instructors may elect or change their coverage�� for 2014, unless they undergo a change in family status such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child or other qualifying life event. It is also the time when those eligible to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health care or dependent care must commit to their contribution for 2014.

To keep the University community aware of approaching deadlines and to help people make informed choices about benefits options, the Office of Human Resources issues a number of communications and provides a variety of resources each year at this time.

Information about the Open Enrollment process, plan changes and how to enroll is available online now at the Open Enrollment website at . There, you will find detailed newsletters for faculty and staff, graduate assistants and fellows, and part-time instructors eligible for the Modified Benefits Plan, as well as a Health Plan Contribution Calculator and other information to help you navigate Open Enrollment this year.

Tuesday, Oct. 29, through Friday, Nov. 8, HR staff also will present a dozen Open Enrollment Information Sessions at various times, dates and locations around campus, as well as four online webinars. Two of the information sessions and one of the webinars will include Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), a form of live captioning which converts audio into viewable text. A full schedule of the information sessions is available at .

If you have questions now or during the Open Enrollment period, please contact HR at 443-4042 or hrservic@syr.edu.

Those who do not wish to make any changes in the benefits they chose for 2012 need not reaffirm those choices for 2013; they automatically will carry over to the new year. However, this does not apply to Flexible Spending Accounts: FSA contributions must be specified each year. All employees are encouraged to take this opportunity to review their benefits, familiarize themselves with changes for 2013 and choose the best options for themselves and their families.

The big news this year is about Flexible Spending Accounts. The University’s new partner for 2013, WageWorks, offers faster reimbursement and more convenient ways to file a claim, including via mobile apps using smart phones, tablets or other devices. Other improvements for 2013 include new coverage for dental implants, as well as an expansion of in-network eye care. Jan. 1, 2013, also marks the beginning of a new two-year commitment for SU’s dental and vision plans.

Information about the Open Enrollment process, benefit options and how to enroll is available online at the Open Enrollment web site: . There, you will find detailed newsletters for faculty and staff; graduate assistants and fellows; and part-time instructors eligible for the Modified Benefits Plan, as well as links to a contribution calculator and other tools and information to help you navigate Open Enrollment this year.

The final two Open Enrollment information sessions are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 29, at 11 a.m. in Room 101 of Newhouse 1, and at 2 p.m. in Shaw Dining Hall. Human Resources has scheduled an additional online webinar for noon on Thursday, Nov. 1. New this year, HR has posted a recorded webinar for employees to view or listen to at their convenience. For details on how to join the webinar scheduled for Nov. 1 or watch the recorded webinar, please visit: .

The Open Enrollment process is conducted online through MySlice, at . To access the site, employees need to enter their MySlice NetID and password (for log-in assistance, visit Information Technology and Services at , or call 443-2677).

Once employees complete the enrollment process in MySlice and click the “FINISH” button, a confirmation statement will be e-mailed to them (a hard copy statement can be requested from Human Resources). Individuals may continue to make changes to benefits selections through Nov. 9, and will receive a confirmation every time the “FINISH” button is clicked. The last confirmation statement received via e-mail represents the final selections, regardless of confirmation statements previously received.

Employees with questions should contact the HR Service Center at 443-4042 or hrservic@syr.edu.