Dear Whitworth benefits eligible employees,
We are approaching open enrollment for our benefits plans and I wanted to let you know that there is very good news to share regarding the premiums for all of our plans. Our health care plan with Group Health will have a small increase for this next year of only 4.4 percent above this year’s rates. We are also improving the health care plan by making approved preventive care services no longer subject to co-pays or the deductible. This change takes place beginning June 1, 2011, with the start of the new plan year.
Dental and life insurance rates will remain the same. Also, you will now be able to purchase $10,000 to $40,000 in additional voluntary life insurance, whether you are currently waiving this voluntary coverage, or even if you are at the benefit maximum of $200,000 in voluntary coverage. This increase is available without the need for providing proof of good health.
We will also add the Emeriti Retirement Solutions benefit as of July 1, 2011, for those who meet the eligibility requirements for this plan. More information will continue to be made available for those who will be enrolled.
Open enrollment will take place May 2-9, 2011. Watch for more information from Human Resource Services in the next few weeks. If you have specific questions about your benefits or your benefits elections, please contact JoAnn Fox at 777.4413.
I appreciate the good work of the Benefits Review Committee over the past several months as we evaluated our options for our benefits renewal. The committee members are Martha Gady, Richard Stevens, Terry Norton, Bonnie Wakefield, Richard Scott, and JoAnn Fox.
Dolores Humiston
