Open Enrollment is the annual opportunity for benefit-eligible employees to enroll, make changes, and add or drop eligible dependents from coverage without a qualifying life event. Changes made during open enrollment will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Important Dates
OE begins 11/01/2023
OE ends 11/15/2023
Take effect 01/01/2024
The voluntary vision insurance open enrollment period is Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, 2024, with an April 1 effective date.
Employees cannot enroll in the voluntary plan during this open enrollment period. An email will be sent to all regular benefit-eligible employees when World Insurance Associates opens their enrollment for 2024.
Review information on the Voluntary Vision Insurance webpage for more details.
2024 Highlights and Changes
What is Changing in 2024
Health Insurance
1. UIChoice and UISelect Monthly Premiums
- There will be premium rate increases for both health plans. UISelect will remain the zero-cost premium option for employee only and double spouse family coverage. The bolded numbers are the 2024 premium rates that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
UIChoice Premiums | UISelect Premiums | Domestic Partner Premiums | COBRA Premium Rates | Adult Child Taxable Amounts for 2024
| UIchoice | UISelect | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Employee Only | $81.00 | $86.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Employee+Spouse | $389.00 | $411.00 | $311.00 | $316.00 |
| Employee+Child | $317.00 | $335.00 | $254.00 | $258.00 |
| Family | $416.00 | $440.00 | $333.00 | $339.00 |
| Double Spouse Family | $208.00 | $220.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
2. UISelect Plan Design Change
- Effective Jan. 01, 2024, mental health visits under Levels 1 & 2 providers will have a $0 copay. (Previously $15 copay for Levels 1 &2)
Reminder: Effective Jul. 01, 2023, Doc on Demand mental health visits are now covered under both UI health plans.
Plan Documents
- UIChoice Summary of Benefits Coverage (SBC) (pdf) - coming soon
- UISelect Summary of Benefits Coverage (SBC) (pdf) - coming soon
3. Dental Insurance - Dental II
- There will be a slight premium rate increase for the dental plan.
Dental II Premiums | Dental II Domestic Partner Premiums | Dental II COBRA Premiums | Adult Children Taxable Amounts for 2024
| Dental II 2023 | Dental II 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Only | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Employee+Spouse | $19.50 | $20.10 |
| Employee+Child | $20.50 | $21.20 |
| Family | $27.50 | $28.40 |
| Double Spouse Family | $0.00 | $0 |
4. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- The Health Care FSA maximum will increase to $3,050 for calendar year 2024.
1. Health Insurance
- No plan design changes for UIChoice in 2024.
2. Dental Insurance
- No plan changes to the Dental II plan.
3. Flexible Spending Accounts
- The Dependent Care FSA maximum will remain at $5,000 per household.
-
If you want to participate in the FSA program, you MUST enroll (or re-enroll) each annual open enrollment period. Your 2023 contributions will NOT continue unless you have leftover benefit credits that default to create your FSA account.
4. AD&D, Group Life, Voluntary Life (VTL)
- There will be no rate or plan design changes to any of these plans in 2024.
Open Enrollment 2024 Announcement
How to Enroll Online in Employee Self Service
Decisions to Make During Open Enrollment
The University Benefits Office encourages all eligible employees to log in to Employee Self Service and review their current benefit elections, even if they don't want to change anything. Here are a few reasons why:
- In 2024, both health plans, UIChoice and UISelect, will have an increase in monthly premium rates. This is a great time to compare health plan provisions and rates to determine which plan may be best for you and your family next year. The Dental II plan will see a minimal rate increase and no plan design changes.
- Did you have a big birthday this year? The Voluntary Term Life (VTL) insurance plan is age-rated. When an enrolled employee turns age 40, 50, or 60, rates will increase for each milestone. Review your current elections and determine the right amount of coverage you need going forward.
- Want to save on taxes? During this open enrollment period, you may enroll (or re-enroll) in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program. Making before-tax contributions to a health care and/or dependent care FSA can save an employee an average of 30 percent!
Remember to review your beneficiary(ies) and your residing home address while you are in Employee Self Service.
ALERT: If you take no action during Open Enrollment, the elections you made for 2023 benefits will roll forward, except for your FSA health care and/or dependent care elections. The IRS requires an employee to make an active election every year, and you must re-enroll to participate in 2024.
Is your dependent 26 years old?
An eligible dependent may remain on your coverage until the end of the calendar year when they turn 26. If they are not a full-time student or are disabled, open enrollment is the perfect time to remove them, effective 1/1/2024.
In need of a form?
Visit the Benefits Forms & Resources page for all you may need during this open enrollment period. Find the domestic partner affidavit, double spouse credit form, plan docs, and so much more.
What are University Credits?
Regular benefit-eligible employees receive a $90 general benefit credit each month. In addition, eligible employees can receive shared savings credits. Find out what credits are available and how they are used.
Have a Question?
Open enrollment can be a confusing time, especially with plan design changes and new programs available. The Benefits Office is here to help you! Send us your Annual Open Enrollment question(s) by choosing the button below, filling out the contact form, and receiving a timely response to your question from a dedicated University Benefits HR Specialist.
2024 Annual Benefits & Enrollment Guide
- Benefits Enrollment Guide (pdf)
- Benefits Enrollment Guide - Spanish Version (pdf)
- Benefits Enrollment Guide - French Version (pdf)
- Benefits Enrollment Guide - Text Only Version (pdf)
2024 Summary of Benefits and Coverage
Other Helpful Resources
English Versions
- Real-world example - Rob (pdf)
- Real-world example - Selena (pdf)
- Side-by-side Health Plan Comparison (pdf)
Spanish Versions
- Real-world example - Rob Spanish version (pdf)
- Real-world example - Selena Spanish version (pdf)
- Side-by-side Health Plan Comparison Spanish version (pdf)
French Versions
Can't find your open enrollment emails?
Find all of the open enrollment communications we have sent out to benefit-eligible employees from Oct. 10, 2023, to the end of the year.
comms that were sent out to employees
Email sent on 10/10/2023 from the University Benefits Office (benefits@uiowa.edu) to benefit-eligible employees only.
2024 benefits preview
On behalf of University Human Resources, we are proud to offer you and your family a comprehensive and robust benefits package. We are excited to share a summary of what’s included in this year’s benefits open enrollment.
The annual benefits open enrollment for faculty and staff will begin at 8 a.m. Nov. 1, 2023, and end at 5 p.m. Nov. 15, 2023. We are sharing this information now so you have time to consider your options before you need to make final decisions about your 2024 insurance benefits.
You will receive an email with additional open enrollment information on Nov. 1, 2023.
Plan cost and coverage changes for 2024:
- Dental insurance premiums will increase modestly.
- Health insurance premiums will increase similar to national trends. However, UISelect will continue to offer a zero-premium option for Employee Only and Double Spouse Family.
- Because mental health and well-being is a top priority, both UISelect and UIChoice health plans will have zero dollar copays for mental health visits, along with free virtual mental health visits through Doc on Demand.
Visit the University Benefits website to find new premium rates for Dental II, UIChoice, and UISelect.
Flexible Spending Account Maximum
The 2024 Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) maximum will increase to $3,050.
If you wish to participate in the FSA program for 2024, you must re-enroll each year during the open enrollment period.
Unchanged Benefits
In 2024, the following plan details and rates will remain unchanged:
- Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
- Group life insurance
- Voluntary term life insurance
More Information
For more information about the above changes, rates, and additional open enrollment items for 2024, please visit University Benefits Office's annual open enrollment web page, email us at benefits@uiowa.edu, or call 319-335-2676 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Thank you,
University Benefits Office
120 University Services Bldg
Iowa City, IA 52242
319-335-2676
benefits@uiowa.edu
Email sent on 11/01/2023 from the University Benefits Office (benefits@uiowa.edu) to benefit-eligible employees only.
Benefits open enrollment begins today
Open enrollment for 2024 benefits is now open. This is your annual opportunity to tailor the benefits package offered by the University of Iowa. Here’s how you can get started:
Elect benefits or make changes in Employee Self-Service.
A summary of updates and changes for 2024 is available below and on our annual benefits open enrollment webpage. Don’t forget to re-enroll in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) if you wish to participate in 2024.
Changes and new rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. You have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, to complete your open enrollment.
If you choose not to make any changes during this open enrollment period:
- You will remain enrolled in your current plan and keep the same coverage options, except for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), which requires reenrollment.
- 2023 FSA election(s) won’t carry forward unless you have unused credits rolling into a health care spending account.
- You won’t have the opportunity to modify your benefits until open enrollment in fall 2024 or unless you experience a qualifying event.
University Benefits is committed to assisting you in understanding your benefits. We provide an array of resources, including an interactive PDF enrollment guide available in English, Spanish, and French versions. Additionally, you can access informational videos and real-life scenarios to better understand your options.
For questions or concerns, our “You Ask. We Answer” contact box allows you to submit open enrollment questions directly to us.
A summary of updates for 2024 is included below.
Thank you,
Rebecca S. Olson, MBA, CEBS
Senior Director of Benefits, University Benefits Office
120 University Services Building, Iowa City, IA 52242
319-335-2676
benefits@uiowa.edu
Health and Dental Insurance Premiums and Plan Changes
- Health insurance premiums will increase similar to national trends. UISelect will continue to offer a zero-premium option for Employee Only and Double Spouse Family. Monthly premium increases for UIChoice and UISelect can be found here.
- Because mental health and well-being is a top priority, both UISelect and UIChoice health plans will have zero-dollar copays for mental health visits, along with free virtual mental health visits through Doc on Demand.
- Dental insurance premiums will increase modestly.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 2024
- The Health Care FSA maximum will increase to $3,050.
- The maximum contribution for a Dependent Care FSA remains at $5,000 per family.
Open Enrollment Reminders
- All changes made during open enrollment take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
- An employee who plans to add a spouse, partner, or dependent(s) to their health and/or dental insurance will be required to verify each person’s eligibility. Review the verification process on the Dependent Eligibility Verification webpage.
- A notification that your 2024 benefits confirmation statement is ready will be emailed. Review this carefully and request any changes by 11:59 p.m. Nov. 20, 2023.
- The voluntary vision insurance enrollment administered by World Insurance Associates will take place from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, with an effective date of April 1. University Benefits will email all eligible employees once the enrollment period begins.
More about these resources is available on the 2024 open enrollment webpage.
The email was sent to a targeted population of employees on 11/02/2023 regarding their election to waive health insurance.
ACTION REQUIRED - Review your enrollment for University health insurance
Please read the following important information about your benefits.
Our records indicate you are not currently enrolled or have actively waived UI health insurance coverage for 2024.
All regular benefit-eligible employees receive a $90 general benefit credit each month ($1,080/year). This $90 can be used to pay for the benefits you elect. In addition, certain benefit selections provide you an opportunity to obtain shared savings credits.
To receive the maximum amount of university credits (general and shared savings) based on your benefit elections, if you plan to continue waiving UI health coverage, you must take action before 5 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2023.
Action needed:
- Log in to Employee Self Service and review your 2024 open enrollment event.
- When waiving health insurance coverage on your event, you must answer the minimum value coverage question that will appear in a red box below the drop-down menu.
- Review other benefit offerings and once satisfied with your elections, finalize your enrollment by 5 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2023.
Please note – The minimum value coverage attestation must be completed every open enrollment period. Therefore, if you answered this question earlier in the year or last open enrollment, you must answer it again to receive the maximum credits in 2024.
If you don’t take action:
- Your UI health insurance coverage will continue as waived.
- The maximum amount of credits you will receive is $500 for the calendar year.
This is a legal requirement to comply with ACA regulations. Group health coverage is insurance sponsored by your (or your spouse’s or parent’s) employer. To confirm that your plan meets the minimum value standard, review the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) or check with your plan administrator. You may find more information on the Affordable Care Act Requirements page.
If you have questions, please contact University Benefits at benefits@uiowa.edu.
Thank you,
University Benefits Office
120 University Services Bldg
Iowa City, IA 52242
benefits@uiowa.edu
hr.uiowa.edu/benefits
The email was sent to a targeted population of employees on 11/02/2023 who are enrolled in double spouse credit and have adult children who must come off the plan for 2024.
Double spouse credit and adult child
You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you and your spouse or domestic partner are enrolled in the double spouse credit option for health and dental insurance, and the adult dependent child(ren) you are covering has reached age 26 and may no longer be eligible for benefits in 2024. The double spouse credit provides family health and dental coverage to eligible faculty and staff at a reduced premium rate. There is no benefit of double spouse credit if there are no dependent children who require coverage under your policy.
If your adult child is not a full-time student or disabled, you must remove them from coverage during the 2024 open enrollment period. You and your spouse/partner will need to enroll in single plans for health and dental.
Next Steps
- Before making changes through your open enrollment event, complete a “Request for Double Spouse Credit” form. Select ‘cancel double spouse credit’ using a 1/1/2024 event date and open enrollment as the event. Sign and submit the completed form via email to benefits@uiowa.edu.
- Upon receipt, our office will process your request, and we will email both spouses/partners to notify you when you may proceed with your enrollment in single coverage.
- After removing your adult child from health and dental insurance, our office will mail COBRA paperwork to your home in early January. COBRA allows the child to continue the health and dental insurance, if needed temporarily.
Full-time Student or Disabled
Coverage for children over age 26 and full-time students or disabled can continue as long as they remain in that status. If your child is not dropped from health and dental during open enrollment, you will be sent a letter in early December requesting that you verify your child’s eligibility to remain on the insurance.
If you have questions, please contact University Benefits at benefits@uiowa.edu.
Thank you,
University Benefits Office
120 University Services Bldg
Iowa City, IA 52242
benefits@uiowa.edu
hr.uiowa.edu/benefits
The email was sent to a targeted population of employees on 11/08/2023 who have yet to work their open enrollment event for 2024.
Reminder - 2024 Benefits open enrollment ends Nov. 15
Open enrollment for 2024 benefits will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.
You may disregard this notice if you have finalized your enrollment since 8 a.m. on Nov. 8, 2023.
University Benefits strongly encourages all employees to sign into Employee Self Service and complete their open enrollment event. Carefully review your benefit elections to ensure they are still the best options for you in 2024.
If you have looked at your open enrollment event and chosen the “Keep for Later” button, you MUST log back in and finalize your selections before 5 p.m. on Nov. 15. The system will not submit the saved choices to the Benefits Office.
If you do not make changes during this open enrollment period:
- You will remain enrolled in the same plan and coverage options you currently have in 2023. The only exception is your Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
- You must re-enroll in FSA if you would like to participate in 2024. The 2023 election(s) will not carry forward unless you have leftover credits defaulting into a health care spending account.
- You will be unable to change your benefits until next fall’s open enrollment or until you experience a qualifying life event.
To help employees understand their benefits, the University Benefits Office provides several resources, including an interactive PDF enrollment guide (English, Spanish, and French versions), informational videos, real-life scenarios, and the “You Ask. We Answer” contact box that allows employees to submit their open enrollment questions through our webpage.
University Benefits
120 University Services Building
https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits
Related Content Links
Life Insurance
Adding/Removing Dependent(s)
COBRA
Flexible Spending Accounts
Domestic Partner Benefits
AD&D Insurance