Insurance Enrollment Windows: Important Reminder
If you've completed our recently updated Benefits Tune-up Workbook (which you can do any time), enrollment windows may be fresh in your mind. Here's a reminder for those who may need it.
UUA Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
There is no open enrollment for these plans. Eligible employees must enroll within 60 days of their start date. (Or, if an employee's schedule increases to over 750 hours/year after the first 60 days of employment, they can enroll within 60 days of the schedule change.) Once the 60-day enrollment window has passed, employees will need to go through an Evidence of Insurability process in order to participate. Acceptance by Guardian, our Plan provider, cannot be guaranteed.
We see too many situations in which a congregation has failed to ensure timely enrollment of an employee who is supposed to have Long-Term Disability insurance, in particular. This causes strain, puts the congregation at risk, and is unfair to your new staff member.
UUA Health Plan
Employees must enroll within 30 days of their start date or qualifying event. Otherwise they must wait for Open Enrollment (November) to participate in the next calendar year.
UUA Dental Plan
Employees must enroll within 60 days of their start date or qualifying event. Otherwise they must wait for Open Enrollment (November) to participate for the next calendar year.
For Supervisors of Staff and Administrators of Benefits
When a new employee is hired, who is responsible for communicating with them about benefits? Are deadlines noted on the calendar? How do you ensure key dates aren't missed? Again, we hope you'll make use of the Benefits Tune-up Workbook as a resource for enrollment windows, eligibility criteria, and more.
