SUBJECT:

Annual Open Enrollment Period

This notice is to highlight UC Office of the President's announcement earlier this week regarding the University's annual Open Enrollment period - the time of year for members to review their health and welfare plans and decide whether to make any changes in coverage.

Open Enrollment begins at 8:00 a.m., Thursday, October 29, and ends at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2009.

Despite facing rising health insurance costs and historic financial challenges, the University has maintained benefits at the same levels and kept employee health care costs as flat as possible. Given the financial sacrifices many UC employees are already making, it was especially important to the University to do everything possible to mitigate rising health care costs and not simply pass on increases to employees.

You will be pleased to learn there are no significant changes in benefits or coverage levels for 2010. And where there are some changes, most will enhance employee benefits. For instance, co-pays for generic drugs will cost a bit less next year, and in some cases, mental health benefits have been expanded. In addition, the legal plan is open for enrollment this year.

You should receive your Open Enrollment booklet at your home address this week, and full details on your health insurance choices for 2010 are available at the Open Enrollment website on At Your Service www.atyourservice.ucop.edu. The site includes information about UC's health and welfare plans, eligibility for coverage, summaries of plan changes, medical plan costs, and much more. If you are satisfied with your current coverage, you do not need to take any action. However, employees wishing to participate in a Flexible Spending Account must enroll or re-enroll for 2010.

You are encouraged to begin thinking about your current benefits coverage and changes you may want to make by visiting the Open Enrollment website. However, please note that you will not be able to make changes until 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 29. Any changes in coverage will be effective January 1, 2010.

If you have questions or need assistance with your enrollment, please feel free to contact the Human Resources Department Benefits Office at 858-534-2816 or the person in your department who handles benefits information.

Thomas R. Leet Assistant Vice Chancellor - Human Resources