HR Essentials

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The Open Enrollment period for plan year 2010 ends November 30, 2009. This is the one time each year when you can make changes to your medical and/or dental plans or add an eligible family member to your coverage. This is also the time to enroll or re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Account and/or Dependent Care Assistance Programs. Any changes made during this month, will become effective January 1, 2010. Please visit the Open Enrollment website for additional information, www.hrs.wsu.edu/openenrollment.

Medical and Dental Benefits - 2010 is bringing changes to many of the medical/dental plans offered to WSU employees. All medical plans will cover the same benefits as in 2009, but some plans will add or increase deductibles as well as increase other member out-of-pocket costs in 2010. Informational sessions regarding the upcoming changes will be available statewide via WSU Videoconferencing Services on November 13 from 1:30 to 3:00, as well as a Pullman Campus only presentation on November 18^th from 1:30 – 3:00.

For complete scheduling details and to register online, use the following link to access the course information page within your WSU Online Learning Account; then click on the round 'play' button: http://www.hrs.wsu.edu/skillsoft/default.aspx?c=ilt_wsu_FIN_731

 

For a summary of the 2010 changes go to www.hrs.wsu.edu and click on the Open Enrollment link under Latest News. 

 

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)/Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) – Open Enrollment for the FSA and DCAP plans also occurs during the month of November, for the 2010 plan year. These programs require you to enroll in the programs annually in order to participate for the next plan year. If you do not re-enroll, you will not have either of these benefits in 2010 unless there is a special qualifying event that may occur throughout the year.

 

If you want to enroll as a new participant or continue your participation in the FSA and/or the DCAP program for 2010, you must complete the ASIFlex enrollment form. Please complete and return the form to Human Resource Services (HRS) no later than November 30, 2009. (There is not an online enrollment option for FSA or DCAP) This enrollment form is for both FSA and DCAP -- please review and complete the form carefully to ensure you are enrolled in the appropriate program.

 

Dependent Verification Process (DVP) - The Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) is verifying that individuals covered on your medical and dental plans are your eligible dependents and therefore should remain on your insurance. In September, PEBB mailed letters to all State of Washington employees requesting that you provide proof of your covered family member’s eligibility before November 30, 2009. 

 

If information is not received verifying your dependents eligibility, they will be removed from your coverage in early 2010. Therefore, if is very important to respond to this request in a timely manner.  

 

Any questions regarding the DVP should be directed to the PEBB/Health Care Authority (HCA) at 1-800-200-1004 or by emailing them by visiting their website at www.pebb.hca.wa.gov and clicking on the “Dependent Verification Project” in the “Spotlight” section on the right hand side of the screen. 

 

PERS Plan 2 members can choose to join Plan 3 in January - Every January, certain PERS Plan 2 members have the opportunity to transfer to Plan 3. WSU employees who have earned retirement service credit in January can opt to transfer to PERS 3 in January of 2010 if they first established membership in PERS 2 prior to March 1, 2002. Those employees eligible for the PERS plans who were  hired on or after March 1, 2002 made an irrevocable decision for their retirement plan choice within 90 days of being hired, and therefore, at not eligible for the January transfer window.

 

There are Member Handbooks and other Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) publications available on the DRS Member Information website at http://www.drs.wa.gov. Additional investment education and information is available on the Plan 3 Investment Education website at http://www2.icmarc.org/xp/plan3/pers/. You may wish to run some scenarios through the Financial Modeling Software, which will help you compare your projected benefits for Plan 2 verses 3 based on your personal situation. You will need the current account balance from your most recent annual statement from the DRS. If you have lost your copy please contact DRS by phone at 800-547-6657 or by email at recep@drs.wa.gov.

 

It is important to remember that the decision to transfer to Plan 3 is irrevocable – once you make that decision, you cannot return to Plan 2. To complete a transfer one should complete a Member Information Form and submit it to Human Resource Services during the month of January. The Member Information Form is available at the Pullman HRS Office at 139 French Administration Building or online at http://www.drs.wa.gov/forms/member/memberInformationForm.pdf.

 

Maximize Your End of the Year Voluntary Retirement Savings - WSU offers two voluntary retirement accounts to employees. The Voluntary Investment Plan (VIP) through TIAA-CREF and the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) through the Department of Retirement Systems. There are two (2) pay periods left in the 2009 tax year in which you can make changes to our voluntary retirement savings accounts. You would need to make and submit your selections no later than November 15 or 30, to impact one or both of these pay periods. If you would like to increase your retirement savings you will need to do one of the following depending on the program you are participating in:

 

To increase or start a VIP, complete a “Salary Reduction Agreement”, available at Human Resource Services (HRS) or online at www.hrs.wsu.edu/utils/file.aspx?fileid=1109.   Mail the completed form to HRS, P.O. Box 641014, Pullman, WA 99164-1014 or send through intercampus mail using campus zip 1014. If you are a new participant, you will also need to create an account with TIAA-CREF. For online enrollment instructions go to www.hrs.wsu.edu/utils/File.aspx?fileid=2223 and follow the step by step prompts.

 

To increase or start a DCP, complete the enrollment form in the DCP packet available at Human Resource Services (HRS) or online at www.drs.wa.gov/dcp. Mail the completed form directly to DRS for processing.   Depending on when the DRS receives the form will determine what paycycle it will become effective.

 

In both of the plans, the minimum contribution amount is $15 per pay period ($30 per month) and the maximum amount for 2009 is $16,500. There is the ability to contribute $22,000 if you are over age 50. Both accounts have different IRS codes, therefore employees can participate in both plans at the same time and contribute up to the maximum in both plans.

 

Questions? - Any questions regarding any of the above benefits may be directed to Human Resource Services (HRS) at 509-335-4521 or hrs@wsu.edu.