1. Open enrollment dates are set
UAB’s annual open enrollment for benefits will begin 7 a.m. Oct. 23 and conclude 5 p.m. Nov. 9. Eligible employees can choose among dental, vision and health insurance plans, plus voluntary life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance and tax-deferred spending accounts for health and dependent care for 2021. You can review all the information you need in the open enrollment toolkit anytime on the UAB for Me portal.
2. Action is required
This is an active open enrollment, which means any benefit-eligible employee who does not select a 2021 health care plan option during the enrollment period will not have UAB-provided health care coverage (medical, dental, vision) beginning January 2021. Detailed offerings of these plans will be provided in coming weeks to better enable you to make the best choice for your household.
3. Transition to three tiers is complete.
A change in the tier structure begun in 2017 affected employees whose spouses were covered in UAB medical plans in the temporary category “Employee plus spouse, or employee plus spouse plus one child.” Through incremental premium increases in years since, UAB has realigned its coverage options and will offer only three premium tiers: 1) Single, 2) Employee + Children and 3) Family.
4. Premium rates are flat or decreased
Premiums for medical, dental and vision coverage will not incur any increases for the coming year, and in some instances premiums may be reduced.
5. The Benefits Fair will have to adapt for social distancing
Typically, Human Resources hosts a daylong UAB Benefits Fair that enables employees talk to representatives in person to ask questions and get answers before choosing benefits for the coming year. But a large, public gathering is not permissible this year. Plans are underway for smaller, more limited opportunities for employees to engage, and more information will be provided as those plans are finalized. Meanwhile, contact your school/ department HR consultant or the UAB Benefits office, benefits@uab.edu or 934-3458.
