Benefits Bulletin May 2023

Welcome to the Benefits Bulletin!

Our goal with this monthly newsletter is to communicate benefit changes and keep you up-to-date and informed on approaching deadlines.

Open Enrollment Deadline Quickly Approaching!

You have until May 15 to make changes to your health insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, and voluntary benefits. Visit the 2023 Open Enrollment website for more details.

Ask ALEX for Advice

Evaluate and compare health plan options with ALEX, your online benefits counselor! ALEX will use your input to let you know how the different health insurance plans work for you. Visit ALEX Benefits Counselor (myalex.com).

Earn Premium Rewards to Reduce Your Monthly Premiums!

Premium rewards are reductions in health plan premiums for participants in the COVA Care and COVA HealthAware plans who complete a health assessment. An employee and/or their enrolled spouse can reduce the premium by $204 annually ($17/month) or $408 annually ($34/month) for both employee and enrolled spouse if they fulfill the requirements to earn a premium reward. Visit your plan’s website or mobile app to access your health assessment. A step-by-step guide is provided to assist in completing your health assessment. Complete or update your health assessment between May 1 and May 15. Health assessments submitted before May 1 will not count for the new plan year! Please keep a copy of your confirmation.

Flexible Spending Accounts

As a reminder you must re-enroll each year to continue participating in flexible spending accounts. The maximum Health FSA contribution is increasing up to $3,050/plan year. The maximum Dependent Care FSA is up to $5,000/plan year, depending on your tax filing status.

Aflac

Michael Glover, JMU's Aflac representative, will provide in-person meetings and individual phone conferences during open enrollment. You may also email him directly at michael_glover@us.aflac.com.

Michael will be on campus in the Wine-Price Building on the second floor Wednesday, May 3 and Wednesday, May 10, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Pierce

Pierce Insurance, the broker for Chubb LifeTime Benefit Term, pet insurance, legal and identity theft coverage, and home/auto insurance, will provide in-person meetings and individual phone conferences during open enrollment.

A representative will be available on Thursday, May 4 at the Facilities Management Annex Building from 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Additionally, a representative will be in the Wine-Price Building on the second floor Wednesday, May 10 and Thursday, May 11, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Click here to schedule an appointment.

May's Featured Benefit

This month's featured benefit is...

Aflac provides supplemental insurance and acts as an extra measure of financial protection to help pay out-of-pocket expenses your health insurance may not cover.

When you are sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits directly to you to help you and your family with unexpected expenses. The benefits are predetermined and paid regardless of any other insurance you have. You can use your Aflac benefit as you see fit—to offset medical expenses, pay for groceries, pay your mortgage—it’s up to you.

The following Aflac policies are available to you through payroll deduction:

• Accident Insurance
• Cancer Insurance/Specified-Disease Insurance
• Hospital Confinement Indemnity Insurance
• Short-term Disability Insurance
• Specified Health Event Insurance

All plans (with the exception of the individual short-term disability insurance) are a pre-taxed deduction.

You may enroll in Aflac during open enrollment (May 1 – May 15), with the policy(ies) becoming effective July 1. Since the short-term disability insurance is an after-tax deduction, you may enroll in that plan anytime during the year.

For further details on Aflac, watch this informational video, or contact Michael Glover, JMU’s Aflac representative, at michael_glover@us.aflac.com.

Employee Appreciation Day is May 18th

Lunch will be provided in the Festival, with many activities occurring at Festival, Taylor Down Under, and UREC. Registration opens on May 2, click here for additional information.

Modified Summer Schedule

The university’s modified summer work schedule begins Monday, May 15 and ends Friday, August 11, 2023.

Need to talk with an expert?

• May 1 - MissionSquare, Janice Parker - Online scheduling or jparker@missionsq.org
• May 3 - AFLAC, Michael Glover - michael_glover@us.aflac.com or 540-997-3201
• May 10 - Pierce Insurance, Michael Pierce - Online scheduling
• May 10 - AFLAC, Michael Glover - michael_glover@us.aflac.com or 540-997-3201
• May 11 - Pierce Insurance, Michael Pierce - Online scheduling
• May 16 - FIRM, Philp Harris - Online scheduling

Save the Date: Money Matters – Financial Seminar, October 17

More details to come!

University Holiday - Monday, May 29

As a reminder, the university will be closed on Monday, May 29 in recognition of Memorial Day. Full-time employees are expected to work 32 hours during the Memorial Day holiday week. Any hours short of a 32-hour workweek should be charged to available leave. All leave requests are subject to supervisor’s approval. Please see the Modified Summer Schedule website for additional information.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

This bulletin has been brought to you by the JMU Benefits Team. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us, please give us a call at 540-568-3593, visit us on the web at www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits, or email us at benefits@jmu.edu. Look for the Live Chat on our website and reach one of us instantly!