Open enrollment starts next month

Annual open enrollment for plan year 2004 health insurance, flexible spending accounts and the Health Risk Appraisal program will be Oct. 1 through 31. Faculty and staff are encouraged to enroll online at www.ku.edu/~kuhr under the “faculty and staff” section starting Oct. 1.

Open enrollment information will be distributed to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff through campus mail when it is available. KU staff benefits personnel will help employees from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in 150 Carruth-O’Leary Hall and from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, and from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Computer Center auditorium.

Employees wishing to receive assistance with online open enrollment before or after the scheduled meetings should bring a pay stub for employee number identification.

Two-hour informational meetings are scheduled, and representatives from health insurance companies and the health benefits administration will be present. The meetings will be at 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, and 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Computer Center auditorium. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend one of these meetings to learn more about plan changes, to express concerns and to provide feedback to health-insurance and health-benefits representatives.

For retirees, open enrollment will occur Oct. 13 through Nov. 14. The state’s Division of Personnel Services will send information directly to retirees who are participating in the state’s health insurance programs. Two open enrollment meetings for retirees are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper, building 21.