University Times

Pitt Benefits

Open Enrollment Schedule

Open enrollment ends Wednesday, May 9th. If you have not done so, please take a look at the information provided to you or visit the Benefits website at www.hr.pitt.edu/benefits.

Call us at 412-624-8160 if you have any questions.

An Easy Way to Access Personal Information on the UPMC Health Plan Website

Only a small percentage of UPMC Health Plan members access their website. It contains a significant amount of general information that is accessible to the general public and potential members as well the current membership. You can obtain personal information about:

Medical Claims History.
Explanation of Benefit (EOB) statements.
History of prescription drug claims.
Flexible Spending Account Balances and Transaction History.
Online Chat with Member Services.
Self Service Tools such as Changing your PCP or Requesting new ID Cards.
MyHealth Central which includes Health Risk Assessment, Personalized Health Record, Activity Tracker, and access to online Health Coaching.
Smart Health Care tools which include MyHealth Community Discounts and tips to save money.

There is a simple way to access your information. There is a single sign-on process in place for all faculty and staff members who are enrolled in UPMC Health Plan coverage through the University. Most faculty and staff log on daily to the University Portal to access everything from CourseWeb to payroll advices and time sheets.

Once you log on to my.pitt.edu with your username and password, follow these steps:

Select the “My Resources” tab located toward the top of the page.

Scroll down the “My Resources” tab and click on UPMC Health Plan.

You will be sent to a page titled “UPMC MyHealth OnLine.” Click on “MyHealth” in the upper right side of the page.

It takes about 15 seconds for the authentication to take place. The next screen that appears is the UPMC “MyHealth OnLine website.”

Note: First-time users are asked a few questions about how they would like to receive delivery of information. This provides an opportunity to “Go Green” by receiving notification of your EOBs online instead of paper copies delivered through the mail.

In addition to the information listed above, a wealth of information and online resources are available including how to find a doctor or facility, ordering a membership ID card, reviewing the prescription drug formulary, ordering a prescription through mail order … the list goes on. It is secure and yet easy to access.

The University’s CSSD Department dedicated time and effort to work in partnership with the staff at UPMC Health Plan to create this process. Everyone who has tested the process thus far has found it easy to access valuable information.

Open Enrollment-
Why It Is Important to Pay Attention to It

Open Enrollment presents an opportunity to make changes to your current benefit elections. As directed by the Internal Revenue Service, organizations are required to provide an annual open enrollment if benefit contributions are offered to be taken on a pre-tax basis. However, your elections are “locked-in place” for the entire year unless you have a life event. Most life events are fairly obvious and include marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, and gain or loss of employment or benefits.

Most employers have a “passive” open enrollment. A passive enrollment allows current elections to continue through the next plan year unless a proactive change is made. Employers may require a full “active” enrollment if there are significant changes in a plan design.

The University is having an active open enrollment for flexible spending accounts this year. The primary reason for the change involves the reduction in maximum for health care spending accounts as imposed under health care reform. For plan year beginning July 1, 2012, the maximum that may be deferred into a health care spending account is $208.33 monthly or $2,500 annually. The maximum remains $5,000 annually for the dependent day care account.

Spending accounts can provide a substantial savings to you if the monies you deferred are used by the end of the plan year. Well over 90% of all transactions are handled with the UPMC ID/debit card. It is easier to use and quite popular. However, some participants leave deferred money in their accounts that fall under the “Use it or lose it” rule. By actively enrolling in a spending account for FY13, we anticipate faculty and staff will take a close look at their needs and plan accordingly.

Flexible Spending Accounts

We are quickly approaching the end of the 2011-2012 plan year. All expenses that can be incurred for the current plan year must take place by June 30, 2012. The exception to this is health care spending accounts. The federal government extends the period for incurring health care claims until September 15. For all spending accounts, incurred claims must be submitted for reimbursement by December 31, 2012. Please look at your balance and take action to spend it down to take full advantage of the program.

Please contact the MyFlex Advantage Program at 1-888-499-6885 if you have any questions about your account.

Important Vendor Contact Information

Benefits Department

Office hours: 8 am-5 pm EST, 320 Craig Hall

412-624-8160 (Main Line) • 412-624-3485 (Fax)

www.hr.pitt.edu/benefits

Please visit our web site for FAQs, downloadable forms and other benefits information.

Medical

UPMC Health Plan

1-888-499-6885

• www.upmchealthplan.com

Dental