Open Enrollment

Plan Changes as of July 1, 2018

No Increase in Medical Rates

Medical rates for the 2018-2019 plan year will remain the same. The University of Pennsylvania’s medical health plans have seen favorable claims experience over the past year, which has enabled Penn to hold the medical rates flat for the upcoming year. Although the health care market in general has experienced approximately 6% medical cost inflation over the past few years, Penn’s plan costs have been much lower than the industry trend. Plan design changes, favorable claims experience, enhanced prescription drug management, wellness initiatives and better employee consumerism have resulted in this positive trend in cost. Faculty and staff enrolled in a medical plan will not see an increase in the 2018-2019 plan year.

Fertility Benefits

Under the current benefit, candidates for in-vitro fertilization must have a proven history of their inability to conceive. Effective July 1, 2018, this benefit will put more emphasis on fertility rather than infertility, and candidates will no longer have to present a proven history of not being able to conceive. 

A candidate for advanced reproductive benefits will have to exhaust less costly methods of conception such as artificial insemination, prior to their attempts with in-vitro fertilization. The new in-vitro fertilization process will benefit same sex couples as well as women without partners. They can receive two cycles per lifetime, per family, and at HUP only. 

Penn Dental Changes Name 

Penn Dental Plan is now Penn Family Plan. The dental provider has changed its name and their Bryn Mawr office will be moving to Berwyn in the summer 2018. The other offices are on Locust Walk and at 3737 Market Street. 

2018-2019 Flexible Spending Account Limit 

The IRS has increased the limit from $2,600 to $2,650. A flexible spending account is a special account where you set aside pre-tax dollars into an account to use for certain IRS eligible out-of-pocket healthcare costs. 

Health Savings Account (HSA) Changes 

For calendar year 2018, the IRS has announced a decrease in the HSA family maximum contribution by $50. The single contribution limit is not changing. For calendar year 2018, the annual limitation on deductions for family coverage will be $6,850.   An HSA is a tax savings account that you can contribute to via payroll deductions and then use the money to offset the cost of care. An HSA requires enrollment in a High Deductible Health Plan.  

Part-time Healthcare Benefits

Effective July 1, 2018, regular part-time faculty and staff will be eligible for Penn’s Aetna POS II Standard Plan (formerly called the ACA plan). The cost for single coverage will be subsidized by the University. This plan doesn’t require a primary care provider or referral and it has in-network or out-of-network coverage. The individual deductible is $900 and the family deductible is $1,800.

In addition, part-time faculty and staff will be eligible for a $50,000 Basic Life Insurance policy paid by the University, and Supplemental Life Insurance up to two times their benefits base salary.

This year part-time faculty and staff can also select Penn Family Plan and MetLife dental plans. Employees pay the full cost of coverage. Davis and VSP vision plans will continue to be offered.  

ACA Eligible Benefits 

Effective July 1, 2018, ACA-eligible faculty and staff can select the Aetna POS II Standard Plan (formerly called the ACA plan). The cost for single coverage will be subsidized by the University. ACA-eligible faculty and staff are also eligible for a $50,000 Basic Life Insurance policy paid by the University, and Supplemental Life Insurance up to two times their benefits base salary.

ACA-eligible faculty and staff can also select Penn Family Plan and MetLife dental plans. Employees pay the full cost of coverage. Davis and VSP vision plans are also offered, with employees paying the full cost for coverage. 

Your Contributions

Your contributions for medical, dental, vision, and the flexible spending accounts are made with pre-tax dollars. You pay for employee and dependent life insurance with after-tax dollars. All contributions are taken from your paycheck in the month for which your benefits are effective. Your pay must support your contributions for the benefits elected. If that is not the case, then your enrollment cannot be processed.

Campus Locations To Access the Penn Benefits Website

If you don’t have internet access at home or at work, don’t worry—log on to manage your benefits at one of these convenient locations:

Goldstein Undergraduate Study Center
3420 Walnut Street (ground level of Van Pelt Dietrich Library)
Monday–Thursday: 24 hours daily
Friday: closes 12 midnight
Saturday: 10am–2am
Sunday: opens 10am

Human Resources
600 Franklin Building
3451 Walnut Street 
Monday–Friday: 8:30am–5pm

AppleOne Employment Services Penn Job Center
3440 Market Street, Suite 105
Monday–Friday: 8am–5pm 

Are You Newly Eligible for Benefits or Have You Experienced a Qualifying Event?

If you’re newly eligible for benefits or you experience a qualifying life event between now and June 30, 2018, you’ll need to enroll twice: once to elect or change your benefits for the current plan year (through June 30, 2018), and then again to elect your coverage for the 2018-2019 plan year (starting July 1, 2018). 

For More Information

• Download the 2018-2019 Benefits Open Enrollment Guide
  
• Attend an Open Enrollment and Wellness Fair
  

If you missed the Open Enrollment Presentations, you can still get access to the information by downloading the 2018 Open Enrollment Presentation.

• Contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1–888–PENNBEN (1–888–736–6236), Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm, and Saturday, 8am-5pm (Eastern).
• Contact HR via email.