Annual Benefits Enrollment Under Way; Closes April 30

Annual Benefits Enrollment Under Way; Closes April 30

RICE NEWS
April 22, 1999

The annual benefits enrollment is under way with the distribution of enrollment
packets to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff at Rice University. The enrollment
period offers the opportunity for Rice employees to make changes in their benefit
choices for the upcoming fiscal year, July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000. The
enrollment period will close at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 30, when all forms must
be in Human Resources in order to be effective.

A major change this year is the replacement of Prudential HMO with the MethodistCare
HMO. During the enrollment period, a person may change to any Rice medical plan,
or drop out completely, if he or she desires. This is true regardless of the
plan in which they are presently enrolled. But to ensure no member presently
in Prudential HMO is left without coverage through procrastination, the present
Prudential members will be moved to the MethodistCare HMO if they do not make
a specific election to a different option. The person will still have to complete
a new enrollment form for MethodistCare HMO. Prudential members received an
advance notification of the change and were provided information on MethodistCare
HMO. Additionally, informational meetings were held on campus April 12-13 to
provide the opportunity to compare the Aetna HMO and the MethodistCare HMO.

There are increases in the employee costs for medical coverage and dental coverage,
but the exact amount depends upon the plan chosen. The enrollment packet contains
a schedule of rates and the Benefit Plans booklet contains the rates also. Copies
of many of the documents in the enrollment kit have been posted on the Human
Resource Services section of the Rice Web site.

Everyone is encouraged to return an enrollment form, even if making no changes.
Internal Revenue Service rules require that an enrollment form be received if
a person wants to have a Medical Spending Account or Dependent Care Account
in the next fiscal year, even if there is no change in the amount. Both of these
accounts are stopped for all employees at the end of a fiscal year and they
are restarted only if a completed enrollment form is received during the enrollment
period.

Experience has shown that there are almost no significant delays at the enrollment
assistance sessions until about the last three days of the enrollment period.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to consider their options, make their choices
and turn in their completed enrollment form, along with any additional forms
that may be required for certain changes. The enrollment period will close at
4:30 p.m. April 30, 1999.