University of Houston employees who wondered what the requirements are to enroll in disability insurance or what financial investments are available to them will get their chance to ask questions directly of UH vendors at an upcoming benefits fair.

The Department of Human Resources Benefits Office will sponsor its annual benefits fair
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., July 18 at the University Center’s Cougar Den. This year’s theme is A Passport to Health and Wellness.

“The fair is a great opportunity for faculty and staff to meet with the vendors who are providing our benefits, ask specific questions and find out about new and innovative projects that might be on the horizon,” said William Kimble, benefits manager. “They will have the opportunity to learn more about how to use the PayFlex convenience card, the new ROTH 403B program and discounts for Jenny Craig and Curves.”

Other topics to be discussed include the increase in the benefit amount in short-term disability and the new automatic re-enrollment feature in TexFlex — a program that enables employees to use tax-free money for healthcare and daycare expenses.

Companies scheduled to participate include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, which administers the university’s medical insurance plan HealthSelect. Representatives from Medco Health Insurance Inc., which manages the HealthSelect prescription drug program, and Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Co., which provides short-term and long-term disability, will attend the fair.

Representatives from retirement vendors such as Fidelity Investments Co., Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund, American International Group Inc.’s The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, ING and Aetna Insurance Co. also will be on hand.

Additionally, officials from various UH offices and departments such as , the Division of Administration and Finance Customer Service Center, the Health Center, the Recreation and Wellness Center and UH Campus Police are scheduled to participate in the fair.

Refreshments will be served, and doors prizes will be given away. For more information, visit http://www.uh.edu/admin/hr/benefits/benefitsinfo.htm or call 713-743-5764.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu