2007 Annual Benefits Choice Period (May 1 – May 31)

The annual Benefits Choice Period is underway and employees must complete any benefit changes by May 31.  Central Management Services (CMS) has mailed a Benefits Choice Options booklet to members’ (employees’) home address (on file in the Group Insurance Membership System).  Employees can also access current Benefits Choice information through the CMS Web site:  http://www.state.il.us/cms/3_servicese_ben_choice/defaultFY07.htm or the Human Resource Services (HRS) Web site, www.hr.niu.edu.

Employees seeking information concerning benefit changes or options should review the new CMS Benefits Choice booklet, consult the CMS and HRS Web site links, and/or speak with the NIU Insurance and Employee Benefits Office by calling (815) 753-6000.  Employees should take note of the following key points for FY08:

• With the exception of premium rates, there are no changes in health plans or HMO providers.
• CIGNA remains the administrator of the Quality Care Health Plan (http://provider.healthcare.cigna.com/soi.html).

Plan Changes Include:

• Medical Care Assistance Program (MCAP):  In a change from prior policies, all university employees participating in MCAP can now utilize a new “grace period”, in which eligible claims incurred between July 1 and September 15 can be reimbursed using the previous year’s money.
• Quality Care Dental Plan:  The Quality Care Dental Plan will now cover dental implants, inlays, onlays and adult sealants.  These procedures are expensive and will use up the maximum benefit for the plan year fairly quickly, so reviewing the amount the plan will reimburse per service is important. See the Benefits Choice Options Booklet for details.
• Optional life insurance:  Optional life insurance rates decreased for some age groups. See the Benefits Choice Options Booklet for details.
• Managed Care Plan (HMO):  The co-pay for outpatient surgery has increased from $100 to $150. 
• Quality Care Health Plan (QCHP) name change:  The Quality Care Health Plan has renamed its PPO network to the QCHP Network. 
• Quality Care out-of-pocket expenses:  The out-of-pocket expenses for Quality Care have increased.  The individual out-of-pocket maximum rose from $1,000 to $1,100 and the family from $2,500 to $2,750.  Maximum out-of-pocket amounts remain higher for those members who use non-QCHP providers.
• Quality Care co-pays:  Prescription co-pays for the Quality Care Plan increased from $10 / $20 / $40 to $11 / $22 / $44.
• Quality Care Emergency Room co-pay:  Emergency Room co-pays for the Quality Care Plan increased from $300 to $400.
• HMO service area changes:  New HMO plans may be available in your area of residence.  See the Benefits Choice Options Booklet for more details. 

Faculty and Staff Off Pay Status During the Summer:

• Faculty on 9 or 10 month contracts are reminded that they can elect the 12-month payroll option prior to August 1.  This option avoids the requirement of paying CMS insurance bills during the summer and assures eligibility for MCAP and DCAP participation on a continuous basis.
• If you know you will be away for a period of time, contact the CMS Special Payment Programs Unit (800-442-1300) to discuss how to make your summer premium payments.
• Employees who will be off pay status during the summer may make certain changes to their insurance benefits.  Details regarding benefit options, payment of insurance premiums, and the required forms to request benefit changes can be found on the Human Resource Services Web site at http://www.hr.niu.edu.

Sick Leave Bank Donation:

• The university has established a Sick Leave Bank program in which regularly appointed faculty, supportive professional staff, and civil service employees are eligible to participate.
• Regularly appointed employees may elect to join the Sick Leave Bank during the Benefits Choice period, May 1 through May 31, 2007.
• For FY08, current participants will not be required to donate additional sick days to maintain participation due to the adequacy of donated sick days remaining on balance as of this date.
• Otherwise, participation in the Sick Leave Bank program requires an employee (who was not enrolled during FY07) to annually donate at least one day of accrued sick leave prior to the end of the annual “Benefits Choice” period.  Consistent with the Illinois Sick Leave Bank Act, the Sick Leave Bank program is designed to assist NIU employees who face major health crises and who have exhausted all other available benefits.
• To register for participation in the Sick Leave Bank program for FY08, please complete the enrollment form, which is available on the HRS Web site at http://www.hr.niu.edu/benefitschoice/index.cfm.
• All forms must be received in the Payroll Department by May 31, 2007.  If you have any questions regarding the Sick Leave Bank program, please feel free to contact Human Resource Services at 753-6000.
• Employees on temporary appointments have separate sick leave banks and their donation period is August 16 through October 31, 2007.

Human Resource Services provides this information as guidance to employees.  While we make every effort to assure the accuracy and completeness of this information, employees are urged to directly access the information provided by Central Management Services and the designated care providers who establish and maintain the official policies and procedures.  Where possible, we have provided links to relevant Web sites for your convenience in accessing additional information and clarification.