It’s that time of year, again, when University of Houston faculty and staff can make changes to their benefit plans online. Summer (Benefits) Enrollment will run from Monday, July 25 through Friday, Aug.19.

This year, benefit changes will only be made via the Employee Retirement System of Texas’ (ERS) Web site at www.ers.state.tx.us. Benefit changes made during this time will become effective in the new fiscal year, which begins Thursday, Sept. 1. The new fiscal year also will bring slight increases in health insurance rates for UH faculty and staff with covered dependents.

Beginning Sept. 1, the faculty and staff member portion of the HealthSelect insurance plan will increase from $180.16 to $196.22 for employee and spouse; from $120.63 to $131.38 for employee and children; and from $300.79 to $327.60 for employee and family, according to ERS.

During Summer Enrollment, faculty and staff enrolled in TexFlex, the state’s health care reimbursement program, must re-enroll to continue their participation in the program. The deadline to use current TexFlex funds has been extended from Wednesday, Aug. 31 to Tuesday, Nov. 15. UH also offers dental and vision coverage and term life, long-term care, long- and short-term disability and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

To add disability or dependent life insurance or increase group life insurance, faculty and staff members must provide evidence of insurability (EOI). EOI forms will be accepted through Monday, July 25. Forms are available online at http://www.ers.state.tx.us/forms/EOI.pdf or in the Benefits Office, Room 352, McElhinney Hall. For Summer Enrollment updates, please visit http://www.uh.edu/hr.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu