Whether you plan to make changes to your benefits plans for 2014 or not, everyone is being encouraged to participate in open enrollment this year. 

“Benefits work better when people make thoughtful, conscious elections that reflect their lifestyles and their expectations for the coming year,” said Brandon Conkle, director of Total Rewards in the Office of Human Resources. “This year, everyone currently enrolled in benefits will need to re-enroll to select from the new plans offered by the University System of Georgia.”

This year, the University System of Georgia (USG) selected a two-week open enrollment period, which will take place later in the year than usual, because of plan changes. Open enrollment will be held from Nov. 11-22 and elections will be made using TechWorks.

Premiums won’t increase for the USG’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, but some co-pays and deductibles will increase as of Jan. 1. For example, the premium for the Kaiser plan will increase by about 4 percent.

There will be significant changes to the nonmedical plans offered to Georgia Tech faculty and staff. Starting in January 2014, all USG colleges and universities will offer the same nonmedical benefits (currently each institution offers its own selection), which includes supplemental life insurance, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and flexible spending and health savings accounts.

“Tech worked closely with representatives from the Board of Regents to ensure that plans offered matched or exceeded our current plans in as many ways as possible,” Conkle said. “Tech was and will continue to be a leader in providing nonmedical benefits within the new USG benefits framework.”

Many of the plan providers will stay the same. For example, Delta Dental, which currently provides coverage for Tech employees, will continue to do so, although the plan options will change slightly.

Tech will also be able to offer other nonmedical benefits not provided by the board, such as the group legal plan through ARAG, critical illness and permanent whole life plans, and a new identity theft protection program.  

“Open enrollment is the time to make thoughtful decisions about your benefits,” Conkle added. “I encourage everyone to review the information we will  provide about the new plans in the coming weeks.”

Information with all of the plan details will be mailed to faculty and staff members’ homes in mid to late October. Information will also be available at the annual Benefits Fair, which will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

For more benefits information, click here.