Health care plans for temporary employees, March 15 deadline for FSAs

By Trudy Fernandez

In an effort to facilitate health plan access to all university temporary employees, the Division of Human Resources negotiated with three insurance companies to offer plans featuring affordable rates and better service. In addition to temporary employees, the plans are also available to contract workers, vendors, and/or dependents. Since this is not a university plan, there is no period of open enrollment, and individuals may sign up for the health care insurance at their convenience. The medical coverage will be in force in accordance with each of the company’s policies and subject to approval.  

Representatives from Vista Healthplans, Preferred Medical Plan and Care Access Health Plan will be at University Park and Biscayne Bay Campus this month to meet with temporary employees interested in receiving more information about each plan’s services. During their visits to University Park and Biscayne Bay Campus, the representatives can assist with the enrollment process, as well as the approval process, and discuss premium rates to be paid directly to the insurance company.  The on-site schedule for the month of March is as follows:

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

UNIVERSITY PARK

Graham Center South Corridor (next to GC164)

BISCAYNE BAY CAMPUS

Wolfe University Center Panther Square (across from the information desk)

Can’t make it to one of their on-campus visits? Temporary employees may also enroll by visiting the respective websites for each health plan.  For enrollment and more information on the companies that are offering health insurance to FIU’s temporary employees, vendors and their dependents, please visit the following links:

Vista Healthplans    (888) 836-8023

Preferred Medical Plan   (305) 648-4015

Care Access Health Plan (305) 614-5046

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Reminder – Fast Approaching Deadline…

March 15, 2009 – Flexible Spending Account

Important Benefits Open Enrollment Change for 2008 Flexible Spending Accounts: A new “grace period” was added in 2008 to the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit. This means that employees who were enrolled in 2008 for FSA can continue incurring eligible medical and dependent care FSA expenses during the period from Jan. 1, 2008, until March 15, 2009. The “use it-or-lose-it” rule will apply to amounts in your account for which expenses have not been incurred as of March 15, 2009.  As with other FSA expenses, all claims must be submitted prior to April 15, 2009.

For more information, please contact People First at 1-866-ONE-HRFL (1-866-663-4735). To access the claim form with detailed reimbursement instructions, please click here.

We look forward to better serving you.  If we can provide further assistance, please contact us at (305) 348-7259.