The annual enrollment transfer period for UT’s health insurance program is October 1 through November 1. During this time, employees currently enrolled in a plan have the opportunity to make changes to coverage options for the 2012 calendar year. Employees who did not elect health or dental coverage during initial enrollment periods also may enroll during this time.

The Partnership PPO and Standard PPO will continue to be the health insurance options offered to UT employees through the State of Tennessee.

Information about enrollment and options and benefit enhancements has been mailed to home and office addresses. If you have not received an information packet, visit: http://insurance.tennessee.edu.

About Flexible Benefits

Enrollment in the UT Flexible Benefits Plan is now open until November 30. Employees interested in joining the plan can enroll during this time period. The Flexible Benefits enrollment is a separate process from health insurance enrollment. Employees who already participate in the flexible benefits plan and want to continue enrollment must re-enroll each year. Forms are available at: http://flexiblebenefits.tennessee.edu.

About Partnership Health and Dental Insurance

UT employees who did not elect coverage upon their employment may do so during this open enrollment. Certain monthly fees will apply, however, for late application and must be paid through December 2013, unless a qualifying event has occurred to necessitate coverage.

Employees currently enrolled in one of the health insurance plans and who wish to keep the same coverage options do not need to take any action. However, employees participating in the Partnership PPO insurance plan during calendar year 2011 who failed to satisfy the Promise requirements will automatically be moved to the Standard PPO plan with the same provider for calendar year 2012, unless a new provider is specified.

Some enhancements to coverage options were recently approved by the state and will be effective for calendar year 2012, including:

• Lowering co-pays at convenience clinic and urgent care facilities,
• Limiting out-of-pocket co-pays for in-network primary care and specialist office visits, and
• Inclusion of a new pharmacy maintenance drug tier for ninety-day supplies of certain generic and preferred brand medications purchased at ninety-day network pharmacies or by mail order.

If you have questions, contact the UT System Office of Payroll at (865) 974-5251.

The open enrollment period for the long-term disability (LTD) insurance plan offered through the University of Tennessee begins Monday, March 28. Recent changes have resulted not only in improved benefits but also lower in premiums for current participants and for eligible employees who wish to join the plan during the enrollment period, which ends May 2. If you are currently enrolled in the LTD insurance plan and are not changing your level of coverage, you do not need to complete any additional forms. During open enrollment, those not currently covered and those who would like to change their level of coverage may do so.

Regular full- and part-time employees who are regularly scheduled to work at least 75 percent time are eligible to enroll and should have received detailed information about the changes in the university’s LTD insurance plan from the Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential). Information meetings with Prudential, UT Human Resources, and plan representatives are scheduled statewide between Monday, March 28, and Tuesday, April 5.

Knoxville-area employees may take advantage of information sessions in the Carolyn P. Brown Memorial University Center Auditorium on Monday and Tuesday, April 4 and 5. Monday’s session will be from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Tuesday’s session will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

For more information on UT’s LTD insurance plan, or if you need plan information, call UT HR at 946-8847 or 1-888-444-8847. Additional information is available here.

Effective Jan. 1, 2011, only UT employees and non-Medicare eligible retirees, spouses and their dependents insured under the state of Tennessee health insurance Partnership PPO plan will continue to receive this full write-off of the residual hospital charges.

All other employees and non-Medicare eligible retirees and their dependents who chose the standard PPO plan or who do not participate in the state of Tennessee plans will have a limited 25 percent discount waiver of residual hospital charges.

For more information, call the Payroll Office at 865-974-5251.

All currently participating employees must select a new health plan for calendar year 2011. All eligible employees and their dependents will be able to sign up for a medical plan even if they have not participated in the past.

The enrollment period for calendar year 2011 coverage will begin one month early, running Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. An enrollment kit containing detailed information and a DVD presentation will be mailed to current participants in late August. A call center dedicated to answering questions about the new plans has been established at 1-866-741-6464, and is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

Quarterly, I meet with the UT Employee Relations Advisory Board (ERAB) to address concerns from UT employees. As you know, the ERAB is a statewide group of employees elected to represent you by voicing your concerns during these meetings.

The following comments are based on specific questions raised in today’s ERAB meeting. I am sure your representatives will share this information with you. Because of the important nature of some of these questions, I also want to bring this information to your attention.

There has been much discussion surrounding bonuses. The state budget includes a provision for a one-time bonus this fall only if state revenues improve sufficiently. If state revenues do not improve sufficiently by September, bonuses likely will be off the table.

If funded, bonuses would be paid much like UT’s current longevity program. A one-time bonus payment of $50 per year of service for each employee, up to a maximum of 25 years or $1,250, would be issued as a lump sum in Oct. 2010. A minimum bonus payment of $150 would be paid to employees with one to three years of service as of Oct. 1. All UT employees with at least one year or more of service on Oct. 1, 2010 will be eligible.

There was a question about a 5 percent across-the-board salary reduction. No such measure is being discussed at this time.

UT will propose an 8.5 percent tuition increase. We are forced to increase tuition to cover annual fixed costs and to address other critical needs.

Some are concerned that every employee placed on stimulus funds will be part of a reduction-in-force. The fact an employee is moved to stimulus does not mean that employee is automatically targeted for elimination. Some employees on stimulus are retirees in term positions or regular employees on limited duration appointments. Final decisions on employee status have not been made, but please know we are making every possible effort to save jobs.

Once decisions are made, employees will be notified and given as much notice as possible. Those on stimulus funds have been notified already.

Changes to UT’s health insurance plans are under way. One of these changes will result in only two medical plans being offered: a standard PPO and a partnership PPO. We are told the State Insurance Committee will not make final decisions until after it meets in July 2010. As decisions are made, our benefits office will relay information as soon as possible.

An email distributed in the past week addressed the state’s pharmacy network changes. CVS Caremark will become the pharmacy benefits manager for all UT employees participating in the State of Tennessee Group Health Insurance Program.

Further, since that email was distributed, CVS Caremark and Walgreens have reached an understanding, and Walgreens now will be part of the Caremark pharmacy 30-day network. Our benefits staff will relay additional information within a few days.

It is important to me that I hear employee concerns, and your ERAB representatives have been charged with bringing your feedback to these meetings. I encourage you to share your comments and concerns with them. A list of all ERAB representatives is below.

Our employees are our single greatest asset, and I thank each of you for all you do for the University of Tennessee.

ERAB Representatives:

Debi Adcock-Martin (Student Affairs)

Tom Cervone-Knoxville (Clarence Brown Theatre)

Jean Dake-Chattanooga (Placement)

Mary Evans-Knoxville (Student Affairs)

Kelly Griffin-Chattanooga (Dean- Arts and Sciences)

Valeria Hodge-Knoxville (Academic Affairs)

Rebecca Layman- Tullahoma (Research)

Jacquelyne McClarin- Health Science Center (VC-Finance and Operations)

Roger McDonald-Knoxville (University Operations)

Leann McElhaney-Institute of Agriculture (College of Ag Sciences & Natural Resources)

Gloria Tipton-Knoxville (Telephone Services)

Glenda Walker-Knoxville, Medical Center (Human Resources)

Karen Weatherly-Health Science Center (Human Resources)

Over the last several weeks, you have received information from the state Office of Benefits Administration regarding changes to the state’s pharmacy network. As this affects all UT employees who are enrolled in an employee medical plan, I want to share the below information with you.

Starting July 1, 2010, CVS Caremark will become the pharmacy benefits manager for all employees participating in the State of Tennessee Group Health Insurance Program. All participating employees should receive the welcome packet and prescription cards in the mail by next week. If you do not receive your cards by then, please call the CVS Caremark Call Center, open 24/7, at 1-877-522-8679.

As a result of ongoing interaction between Walgreens and Caremark, Walgreens no longer will participate in the Caremark pharmacy 30-day network, effective July 9, 2010.

Update Notice: On June 21, Walgreens and Caremark reached an agreement whereby Walgreens will continue to be a part of the 30-day pharmacy network, although Walgreens will not be a part of the 90-day mail at retail network.

A document provided by the State of Tennessee Office of Benefits Administration summarizing changes to the pharmacy network can be found at http://insurance.tennessee.edu/pharmacyqa.pdf.

Even without Walgreens in the network, plan members will have access to more than 1,400 pharmacies across Tennessee. A listing of pharmacies participating in the retail pharmacy network (30-day supply) and the mail order network (90-day supply) can be found at http://www.caremark.com/stateoftn/.

This is important information. If you have questions or concerns, I encourage you to call CVS Caremark or visit the websites referenced above. Please understand we are working with the state to ensure that your medical needs will continue to be met. Changes such as these require preparation, and we are committed to relaying information as it becomes available to us.

Even if you aren’t enrolling or changing your coverage, this is an excellent time to review your personalized benefits statement. Prior to 2009, employees’ personalized benefit statements were distributed once each year to give UT faculty and staff an overview of their annual compensation including any deferred compensation, educational assistance, longevity pay, insurance plans and retirement, as well as the amount UT contributes to your benefit programs.

You can now access your personalized benefits statement whenever you want with the click of a mouse. The same Web site you visit for your online pay statement also houses your personalized benefits statement.

For more information on open enrollment, your personalized benefits statement or your online pay statement, call the Payroll Office at 974-5251 or visit the Web site. To view your personalized benefits statement or online pay statement, click here. You will need your Net ID and password.

Patricia Wagoner is the face and voice of the Office of the Vice President for Agriculture. As the senior administrative services assistant for the vice president, she is a key asset to the UT Institute of Agriculture and is described by colleagues as courteous, helpful and willing to go the extra mile.

Patricia exceeds the expectations of her co-workers and tackles the most challenging requests without the slightest lament. Her many contributions day in and day out, year after year, inspired colleagues to nominate her for the award.

Because of her outstanding customer service and job performance, the UT Positive Recognition Committee named Patricia one of April’s Send Roses Award recipients.

Heather Webb, a sign language interpreter/transcriber, has gone above and beyond for the Office of Disability Services. Described as a hardworking problem solver, Heather has tackled a special project for the office — creating a video interpreting program for deaf and hearing-impaired students on campus.

As the go-to person on the project, Heather has worked long hours and has seen the project grow from the ground up. Surpassing every expectation, her hard work resulted in impressive cost savings.

Because of her success and dedication, the UT Positive Recognition Committee named Heather April’s other Send Roses recipient.

To nominate someone for the Send Roses Award, visit the UT Positive Recognition Committee’s Web site at http://bigorangerecognition.utk.edu/rose.html or call 974-6018.

Smokey the mascot and Smokey the dog will make appearances during the game.

The game begins at 7 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Gates open at 5 p.m. Parking is available in the “F” lots off Todd Helton Drive. In case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled.

For more information, click here (pdf) to see the poster, or call 974-5028.

The first session is set for 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 3, in room 238 of the Conference Center Building. The second session is set for 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, April 29, in room 218 of the Conference Center Building.

Both sessions will help participants understand the normal phases and feelings they may experience with the knowledge that downsizing and job loss are a possible outcome of the global economic crisis, and will help participants prepare to move forward.

For more info or to register, call Employee and Organizational Development at 974-6657.