Open Enrollment for 2016 Begins Oct. 19

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Open Enrollment for 2016 begins at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19 and ends at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. Benefits-eligible Northwestern University faculty and staff are asked to review current benefit selections that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.

It is important to review current benefits, verify dependent information and enrollment, and make informed decisions about benefits for the upcoming year during this period. Helpful information also will be available at the annual Health and Benefits Fair, on Oct. 13 in Evanston, and Oct. 20 in Chicago. Employees with WildCARD IDs also have the option of receiving a free flu shot while they are at the fair. Details follow.

 Minimal benefit changes for 2016 include the following:

• Northwestern will match Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions for every year that a benefits-eligible employee is enrolled. This will be an annual match of contributions up to the single Value PPO plan deductible of $1,400 or the family Value PPO plan deductible of $2,800.

• Beginning in 2016 the maximum limit for the employee tuition benefit will increase to $12,000 per calendar year. The Employee Northwestern Certificate tuition benefit will increase to $5,250 per calendar year. The Dependent Portable and Dependent Reduced tuition benefits will increase to a rate of 50 percent of tuition and eligible fees.

Important Reminder: The health care, limited use and dependent care Flexible Spending accounts (FSA) and the Health Savings Account (HSA) can be valuable benefits because they allow employees to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. Faculty and staff must enroll or re-enroll during Open Enrollment to participate in these accounts in 2016.

Printed copies of the 2016 Open Enrollment Guide have been mailed to the home addresses of benefits-eligible employees and should arrive this week. 

An electronic version of the Open Enrollment guide will be available online on or after Oct. 19. 

2015 Health and Benefits Fair

The annual Health and Benefits Fair provides faculty and staff with an opportunity to meet with representatives from various health care companies, who will be on hand to detail their benefit packages, answer questions and highlight special options. Benefits Division representatives also will be on hand to answer questions about various educational assistance programs available to Northwestern employees and their dependents.

The 2015 Health and Benefits Fair will take place on the Evanston campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive; and on the Chicago campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center’s Ryan Family Atrium, 300 E. Superior St.

Flu shots available at 2015 Health and Benefits Fair or by appointment

Flu shots will be available at both 2015 Health and Benefits fairs at no cost to all Northwestern faculty and staff with WildCARD IDs. Spouses and dependent children (18 years and older) may receive a flu shot for $29 with exact cash or check made payable to HMI (Health Maintenance Institute) at the time of service. 

Flu shots also will be available by appointment. To schedule an appointment, visit the HMI website.