Health care costs are increasing nationwide. The annual increase nationally is six percent, but here in Alaska it is even higher -- over 15 percent. The University of Alaska is self-insured, which means that all costs for the health care and pharmacy plans for employees and their dependents are paid through university and employee contributions. As a result, increased costs from providers and hospitals, increased usage by employees and catastrophic claims have a direct impact on UA’s annual health care costs.� READ ARTICLE� (Includes FY10 rates and comparisons with other state plans.)

The 2009 "Your Employee Benefts" CD produced for the University System by BenCom is a great tool for evaluating and comparing benefit options including health plans, life insurance, flexible spending accounts and other UA benefits. Also included on the disc are copies of open enrollment forms, the employee handbook and more. The disc was mailed to your home address.

Reminder, if you haven't already logged into Get the Point to take advantage of the Joint Health Care Committee $50/$50, you have until the end of the day Thursday, April 30!�� MORE...

Welcome to Open Enrollment 2009.

Open enrollment is the employee's annual opportunity to make changes to certain benefits for the new plan year, effective July 1, 2009.

During open enrollment, you can:

��� ► Add or opt out of health plan coverage

��� ► Change the level of health plan coverage

��� ► Enroll eligible family members in your health plan

��� ► Add, drop or change the level of your life insurance or accidental death and dismemberment (AD & D) coverage

��� ► Enroll or re-enroll in a flexible spending account to pay for day care or health expenses with pre-tax dollars

Employees should receive a CD with all pertinent open enrollment information at their home address, but you don’t need to wait for the mail. All necessary forms and information are also on this site.

http://www.alaska.edu/benefits/open_enrollment/