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Trouble-free employee benefit plan administration requires a strong partnership between employees and Human Resources.  The Human Resources Dept. works diligently each year-end to accurately process the thousands of required or requested benefit record changes, and then we check and double-check our work.  However, in the end, we also must rely on you, the employee, to do your part in managing your benefits by confirming that you are enrolled in the benefits you intended to elect.  Please carefully review your first paycheck and let us know if you have questions or if anything seems amiss. 

Medical/Dental Insurance

• If you made a change to who is covered under your medical or dental plan, new ID cards were mailed to you in December.  Please confirm that you have received your new ID card(s) if you made a change to who is covered under your medical or dental plan.  If you need additional cards (for example, for a child away at college) call the toll free customer service number on your ID card (1-888-222-9206).
•  As was announced in November, the employee portion of the medical & dental premiums did not increase for 2013.  However, any employee who made coverage (single/2 person/family) level changes should see a premium change in the first paycheck of 2013.

 Vision Insurance

• As a reminder the Vision Plan is with Vision Service Plan (VSP).  No ID card is required (just tell your VSP provider the last 4 digits of your SSN and date of birth). A summary of the Plan and other helpful information is available on-line at http://www.middlebury.edu/offices/business/hr/staffandfaculty/benefits/vision. 

Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

• Premiums changes related to a change in coverage amount or age-band changes (5 year increments) should be reflected in the first paycheck in 2013.  If you made changes or you hit a new age band in 2012, please confirm that your premium changed.
• Requests for new Life coverage or for increases in Life coverage over the guarantee issue amount are not effective until approved by Mutual of Omaha.  An Evidence of Insurability form must be submitted by you to Mutual of Omaha if you have requested this type of change. Mutual of Omaha will notify you directly of approval or denial.  Any premium changes will be made as of the effective date of the approved coverage.

 Flexible Spending Accounts

• 2013 elections for the Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts should be reflected in the first paycheck of 2013.  Please review your pay stub and confirm that your contribution is correct (divide your total annual election by 26 to calculate your per pay-period election.) 
• If you are a new Flexible Spending Account plan participant (you were not enrolled in a FSA last year) then FSA Benefits Cards were mailed to your home address in mid-December.  If you had a FSA last year you will not be issued a new card as they are valid for 3 years.   The Benefits Card can be used to access funds in your Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account.  Important information about the FSA Benefits Card is available at http://www.middlebury.edu/offices/business/hr/staffandfaculty/benefits/flex. 
• You have until March 15, 2013 to file claims against your 2012 flexible spending accounts for expenses incurred in 2012.  The FSA Claim form and other helpful information on Flexible Spending Accounts can be found at http://www.middlebury.edu/offices/business/hr/staffandfaculty/benefits/flex.Please visit CBA Blue’s website at http://select.cbabluevt.com/middlebury/ to review your account information.

 Retirement

• If you submitted forms prior to the holiday break requesting changes to your Voluntary Retirement Plan or to enroll in the 457b Salary Deferral Supplemental Retirement Plan, your new elections should have been reflected in your first paycheck of 2013.  If you requested changes please confirm that your elections are as expected.

 If you have made a change to who is covered on your medical or dental plan and you have not received your new ID card(s), or if a benefit deduction doesn’t look right to you, or if you have any other questions or concerns about your benefits, please contact Human Resources as soon as possible.  Thanks for doing your part to keep our benefit plans running smoothly!

 Your Benefits Team,
~Lisa Hoff, Benefits Specialist (Health/Dental/Vision/Flex Spending) x3372
~Loretta Lee, Benefits Specialist (Retirement Plans & Retiree Medical/Dental) x5468
~Cheryl Mullins, Benefits & Compensation Manager x5542