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2011-12 Open Enrollment


Full-time employees should renew their retirement and benefit selections via Banner Self-Service.  2011-12 Open Enrollment is available from May 4, 2011 through June 1, 2011.  

Full-time employees with Dickinson College e-mail accounts received a personal e-mail from HR Services on May 4, titled "2011-12 Open Enrollment ". The message contains information regarding the login process for the Gateway and Banner Self-Service. Full-time employees who do not have Dickinson College e-mail accounts must complete the open enrollment process individually with a representative from HR Services


 

https://gateway.dickinson.edu

Click on the 'Banner Self-Service' tab.
Select ' Employee Information'.
Select ‘ Benefits and Deductions '.
Select ‘ Open Enrollment '.


 

Changes to Your Medical Insurance Coverage effective July 1, 2011:

To comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("health care reform"), the following changes will be made to your coverage at renewal:

  • Dependent to age 26 - Adult children up to age 26 may be added to coverage on July 1, 2011.  These young adults must be dependents, unmarried, and cannot have any dependents of their own in order to qualify. Please complete and return a Dependent form to add a dependent.
  • Removal of annual and lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits
    • Chiropractic coverage - The $1,000 annual maximum was removed and replaced with a 20 visit calendar year maximum
    • Hearing Exam - Removed $800 limit every 24 months
    • Home Health Services - Removal of the $60 maximum allowable charge per visit on non-participating Services
     
  • Coverage of preventive health services
    • Preventive benefits with no copayment for in-network - additional information here
    • Coverage for out of  network adult physical and well child care (deductible/coinsurance applies)
     

 Important Note Regarding Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts:

  • Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
    • Effective July 1, 2011, in compliance with the above mentioned "health care reform" act, please take note that co-pays for preventive health services will no longer be charged.  Participants enrolling in new Flexible Spending Accounts should plan accordingly.
    • Effective January 1, 2011, new law mandated that health care Flexible Spending Account participants will no longer be able to claim Over the Counter (OTC) medicines and drugs as an eligible expense for reimbursement without supporting documentation such as a physician's prescription.  It is important to note; however, that some OTC supplies, as well as insulin, will remain eligible for reimbursement.  Participants enrolling in new Flexible Spending Accounts during this year's open enrollment should take this change in OTC medicines and drugs into account when setting up their elections for 2011-2012.
     
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
    • Unlike the  health care FSA, dependent care FSA's are not "pre-funded"; employees will only receive reimbursement for the amount deposited into the account as of the reimbursement date.
    • IRS regulations do NOT allow reimbursements for services that have not yet been provided, so even if you pay in advance for your expenses, you can only claim service periods that have already occurred.  For example, if you are required to pay for all of January's child care expenses on January 1, you cannot claim the entire month's expense until February.
    • It is important to note that the maximum for the dependent care FSA is a "family maximum".  Therefore, if your spouse contributes to an FSA at another employer, the combined election may not exceed $5,000, or your personal limit if less than $5,000.
    • Employees can generally exclude from gross income up to $5,000 of dependent care benefits provided under the College's dependent care assistance program each calendar year ($2,500 for married employees filing separately).  Dependent care benefits include flexible spending reimbursements as well as employee discounts at the Dickinson College Children's Center.  Any benefits in excess of $5,000 are included in gross income with applicable taxes withheld on the final pay cycle of the calendar year.
     

Open Enrollment Reminders:

  • Current insurance benefits and retirement amounts will continue into 2011-12 if no changes are made; however, flexible spending accounts require an active re-enrollment.  
  • All deductions are on a per-pay basis.
  • After tax deductions, such as Annual Giving, Emeriti, and IRA contributions are included in the open enrollment process. Annual Giving contributions cease at the end of the fiscal year (June 30) unless otherwise specified.  
  • Employees may choose to allocate the College's EMPLOYER 7% retirement contribution to TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity. Employees with at least one year of full-time service are eligible for this contribution.  
  • When you complete open enrollment via Banner Self-Service, you will be able to see immediate estimated results of what your pay will look like beginning July 1.

 

You will be able to change your elections at any time, up to the deadline (JUNE 1, 2011). All changes are effective July 1, 2011.


**If you are electing an insurance coverage for the first time, or are adding or removing a dependent from your existing insurance coverage, you must notify HR Services.**  

**New retirement accounts require additional paperwork.  Materials may be picked up at HR Services.**