And the winner is ...

By Kevin Fitzsimons Raul Herrera, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and geodetic science, accepts a fruit basket from Jeanne McGuire, co-chair of the Senate Diversity Committee, in a surprise notification that he is a recipient of a Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award. Looking on are Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human resources, and Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost.

Benefits enrollment begins April 1

Ohio State faculty and staff who participate in the University's medical plans will have the option of making changes to their plans during the annual Open Enrollment period, which will take place throughout April. Changes will go into effect July 1.

Medical premiums for the coming year will cost approximately 30 percent more than this year. Fees for office and emergency room visits and other out-of-pocket expenses also will increase, as will pharmacy copayments. Costs vary for each medical plan, and in the case of premiums, depend on how many individuals within a family are enrolled.

"It has been a difficult year nationwide, in terms of ballooning medical costs," said Larry M. Lewellen, associate vice president for human resources. "We have done our best to contain expenses as much as reasonably possible for our faculty and staff. The University will be absorbing about 85 percent of the premium increases, as in the past."

"Other than for the pharmacy plan, these changes in fees and copayments are the only significant changes since the early 1990s," said Nicholas D. Maul, director of benefits finance and risk management.

Medical costs nationally are rising at unprecedented rates. Contributing factors include new drug development, an aging population, advances in technology, medical inflation and governmental legislation regarding health care reform.

During Open Enrollment, eligible faculty and staff can add or drop coverage for spouses or children and coverage for Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance, change their medical plan, dental or vision elections, and elect their contribution amount for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts.

Those who make no changes to current benefit elections will be automatically re-enrolled. The one exception is Flexible Spending Accounts, which require re-enrollment each year.

Because the increase in premium costs is so sharp this year, Ohio State is providing a credit for half of the PrimeCare plan premium increase to faculty and staff who earn $30,000 or less as of July 1, 2001, Lewellen said. The credit will be applied in a lump sum to the Aug. 30 check for employees paid monthly and to the Sept. 7 check for those paid biweekly.

"We understand that employees in this salary range will see the greatest impact of the increased cost on their paychecks. We are providing this credit to minimize the effect of the increases," Lewellen said.

To receive the credit, faculty and staff must have a regular or term appointment and be enrolled in a University-sponsored medical plan. Other stipulations include: Those with multiple appointments will have all regular and term appointments combined to determine eligibility; employees with appointments ranging from 50 percent to 74 percent will receive the full credit; and employees who terminate employment prior to Aug. 15 will not receive the credit.

More than 40,500 people are insured under Ohio State's medical plans, including 18,000 faculty and staff and 22,500 dependents. Seventy-six percent of enrollees participate in University Prime Care; 14 percent in the OSU Health Plan; 7 percent in the Traditional Health Plan; and 3 percent in the Buckeye Health Plan.

A Health Plan Evaluation Committee was formed last spring to study the current systems and make recommendations for changes. The committee assisted with short-term recommendations, reflected in this year's benefits changes, and will continue to meet to provide input for long-term recommendations.

Open Enrollment Overview booklets detailing changes are being mailed directly to faculty and staff. New this year is an Open Enrollment Web site at www.ohr.ohio-state.edu/oe01/home.htm. The site features expanded benefit information and downloadable forms.

The Office of Human Resources will sponsor several Open Enrollment Forums at the Columbus and regional campuses, beginning April 10. For a complete schedule, visit the Open Enrollment Web site or call 292-1050.