Open Enrollment On the Horizon
Minimal Changes for 2009; GUWellness Starts Second Year
After a year of benefits changes, including a new universitywide wellness initiative, life insurance policy adjustments and an enhanced staff retirement plan, Georgetown employees can rest easy -- not much is different during this year's Open Enrollment.
Open Enrollment serves as the annual time period for faculty and staff to change or update health, dental, vision and life insurance as well as flexible spending accounts. The window for adjustments this year runs Oct. 15 - Nov. 15, and the changes take effect on Jan. 1.
"This is a minimal change year," said
Charles DeSantis, associate vice president and chief benefits officer. Noting that this is the third Open Enrollment under his leadership, he added, "We have gotten to a place of stability where we're constantly managing our health-care operations and opportunities."
While the basic medical plans are not changing for the upcoming year, more options for health care are opening up for employees represented by the SEIU 1199 union. They will now have access to additional vision benefits and medical insurance plans with Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare and CareFirst.
Premiums for most plans will rise for 2009. Kaiser Signature HMO rates will increase by about 8 to 9 percent depending on whether the coverage is for employee only, family or employee and spouse or child. UnitedHealthcare rates will increase about 20 percent.
CareFirst BlueChoice is the exception -- rates will staying flat for 2009.
Officials expected the upcoming year to be the first in which the university halted subsidies on UnitedHealthcare rates. But given the economic climate, Georgetown will continue the subsidy through 2009.
"We didn't want anyone to go through shock," said
Rachel Bridges, director of communications for the Office of Faculty and Staff Benefits. "This gives people in the plan more time to decide whether they want to keep it in coming years or find an alternative."
UnitedHealthcare remains the university's only preferred provider organization, or PPO, but Bridges said the benefits office will consider additional PPO plans for the 2010 Open Enrollment to give employees more coverage options.
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While preparing for Open Enrollment, DeSantis says he hopes the Georgetown community will remember the GUWellness program.
Now in its second year, GUWellness targets the mind, body and soul of faculty and staff members with activities, workshops and outreach programs.
GUWellness initiatives include a universitywide walking challenge, health fairs, spiritual exercises, fitness classes, financial education sessions and Weight Watchers groups. DeSantis, associate vice president and chief benefits officer, says the number of employees participating gratifies him.
"We're actually making a huge difference in people's lives that's about more than just the work they do and the pay they get," he says.
Geneva Thorne knows about that. The manager of purchasing and contracts participated in the first GUWellness walking challenge and can document her health rewards.
As part of a five-member walking group at her office -- the Financially Fit Walkers -- Thorne strives for three-mile walks every day at lunch.
The Georgetown employees usually walk down across the Key Bridge and back from their office at 2121 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.
"On rainy days, we'll walk up and down the stairs of the building," she says.
Thorne says her supervisor, a lunch-hour runner himself, encourages the staff members' efforts, which DeSantis says is crucial if Georgetown wants to create a culture of wellness.
Thorne, who came in second in GUWellness' walking challenge, says she enjoys the camaraderie that comes from walking with a group -- and she enjoys some health benefits as well.
"My doctor is shocked at my blood pressure. Before this, I suffered from high blood pressure, but now it's about 110/63," Thorne says. "She says it's the blood pressure of an athlete."
A fall walking challenge began on Oct. 1 and runs through the month. This time, the competition is being coordinated through the American Heart Association's MyStart program. Walkers can log their progress, map walking routes and track their diets through online tools on the MyStart Web site.
Recognizing that walking isn't the only form of activity, Bridges says the log will count minutes, rather than steps, so all exercise can count toward personal and team goals. Information about joining the program can be found on the GUWellness Web site.
"We're counting all activity done for fitness. So if you're walking across campus to a meeting, that doesn't count," Bridges says with a smile. "But if you walk or bike to work instead of driving, we'll count that. Dancing, swimming -- it all counts."
Weight Watchers at Work also is starting a new session on Oct. 15. So far, Georgetown participants have lost almost 500 pounds since January.
