What is happening to benefits next year?

Administrator’s FormMarch 9, 2010

Change!

Things do not change; we change. Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1970)

Okay, well sometimes things do change, but we need to change with them!

No paperNo benefits open enrollment packets

No fancy bookletsNo Esther IDs and PINs distributed

We will be mailing a postcard reminder to your home address

Open enrollment is April 12 – April 30, 2010Don’t procrastinate!

Rice Fest is Tuesday, April 20th in the RMC/Ley Student Center

No paperPlease be sure you know your Esther ID and PIN

(or use the “Forgot PIN?” button before contacting HR)

We will send a basic booklet to employees who are not typically at a desk all day (FE&P, H&D, Delivery Services, RUPD, and Transportation)More will be available in HRMore information online and new, updated web

content coming soon

Medical planRates are going up!

We’re still trying to figure out by how muchHopefully, in the increase will only be in the

single digitsPlan designs are probably changing

Our plans have been the same for 7+ yearsGiven the increasing costs, the copayments will

need to change slightly to keep premium rates lower and reflect the increasing cost of health care

More information coming soon…

Why are health costs increasing?We negotiated a two year rate guarantee for

Aetna’s administrative rates last yearOur own medical claims expense is driving

the cost upPrescription drugsMedical plan usageHigh-tech treatmentsUse of the emergency room

Other changes?Most of the other health and welfare plans

will remain the same.Look for changes with short-term disability

planRetirement plans remain the same

What can you do to help?Spread the word about benefits open enrollment “going

green”What about medical plan costs?

Monitor your use of the medical planSee if you can use get a generic prescription drugSee if you can use mail order services for your regular

medicationsThink about your use of the emergency room

Can it wait until tomorrow? Can I be seen in an urgent care clinic?

Take care of yourself (and participate in wellness programs)Use the web (http://benefits.rice.edu) for open enrollment

information and tell us what you think!Coming soon (once the changes are finalized)