Attend the Wellness and Benefits Fair 
Start your engines and plan to attend the "RACE TO WELLNESS" 2019 Wellness and Benefits Fair, Wednesday, July 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center! You will have an opportunity to participate in drawings to win some great prizes, enjoy a fun photo booth and receive different giveaways. Representatives from over 50 vendors and wellness-related organizations will be on hand to share information about their services. HR representatives will also be available to answer questions about benefits and summer enrollment, which occurs July 1-13. For more information and updates, visit the HR Wellness and Benefits Fair webpage. Summer Benefits Enrollment now open Summer enrollment (July 1-13) is your opportunity to review and make changes to your benefits for the upcoming benefits year. Insurance and plan rate changes will become effective Sept. 1, 2019. You will see a number of changes to your benefits this year.
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Benefit
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What’s New or Changing
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Medical
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- Kelsey Care HMO will no longer be available. Coverage for currently enrolled members will automatically transfer to HealthSelect, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas plan. The rates will slightly increase.
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Dental
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- Coverage will now be provided through Delta Dental. The cost for coverage for the State of Texas Dental Choice will slightly decrease; and the DHMO plan premium will remain the same.
- The State of Texas Dental Discount plan will be going away and current members will be dropped. If you require coverage, please select one of the above mentioned plans.
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Key Dates to Remember
- July 1-13: Enroll by accessing your ERS account online
- July 10: Participate in the UH Wellness and Benefits Fair at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center
- Sept. 1: Insurance and rate changes become effective
Enrollment is easy. Visit ERS online and sign in to your account and follow the instructions. What Happens If I Do Not Enroll? Your only other opportunity to make changes to your benefits is when you have a qualifying life event (QLE), such as marriage, divorce, birth, or death of a spouse or eligible child. Note: to make benefit changes for these reasons, it requires you to complete a paper form. Please request a benefits election form from the HR Service Center at hrsc@uh.edu or by visiting Room 325 in McElhinney Hall. Kickoff workshop for ww at work This summer, UH WW at Work continues for another 12-week series with a kickoff workshop scheduled for July 25, noon-1 p.m., in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, second floor conference room. 
If you have thought about joining before, but were not quite sure if the program was right for you, view this quick video or drop by any meeting to see how WW works and how the Freestyle program can benefit you! Several members of the UH group have succeeded in meeting their goal weight and you can too! Everyone who is present to enroll at the July 25 kickoff workshop will receive a special discount of 15 percent off the cost of the 12-week series, reducing the price from $156 to $132.60 per member. As an added incentive, current members who invite a friend from work to join will receive a free WW Freestyle Cookbook, as will the new member! UH WW at Work provides ongoing support, encouragement and the convenience of meeting weekly on campus. With membership in the UH group, you receive access to online tools and resources, and the ability to attend any off-campus workshops as well. Join your peers on a wellness journey by becoming a member of the UH WW at Work group. Workshops are held every Thursday during the noon lunchtime hour. If you have questions, contact power@uh.edu or drop by a workshop on any Thursday to learn more. STAY COUGAR S.A.F.E. Forums Planned Join you colleagues for an important University of Houston safety forum. Hosted by Jim McShan, senior vice president, Division of Administration & Finance, the Stay Cougar S.A.F.E. Forums are an opportunity for UH staff to provide input on all aspects of safety at UH through interactive roundtable discussions. Light refreshments will be served. Don't miss this opportunity to provide your valued feedback. Sessions will occur July 11, July 12, July 29 and Aug. 1, in the Kiva Room, Farish Hall. Please RSVP here for the day and time most convenient for you. Fireworks safety Tips offered 
The Fourth of July is synonymous with gatherings, celebrations and fireworks. Whether watching a professionally-authorized fireworks display or purchasing your own, make safety for yourself and those around you a top priority. Follow these helpful tips brought to you by the University Eye Institute and the American Optometric Association.
- Avoid handling fireworks. Attend authorized shows conducted by licensed operators and leave fireworks to the professionals.
- Do not allow children to handle fireworks, and never leave them unsupervised near fireworks.
- Wear protective eyewear when lighting and handling fireworks of any kind.
- Be aware of your surroundings and only light fireworks when family, friends and children are at a safe distance.
- Discuss fireworks safety with children and teens prior to the Fourth of July.
According to the 2017 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Report, an estimated 12,900 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments. More than 53 percent of fireworks injuries were burns primarily to hands, fingers and arms. Sixty-five percent of people injured by fireworks were bystanders and were not directly handling the explosives themselves. Fourteen percent of fireworks-related injuries were to the eyes. For more information on fireworks and eye safety from the University Eye Institute, click here. Be prepared for hurricane season  The University’s Office of Emergency Management wants everyone in the UH community to be prepared for the summer storm season. Attend a Hurricane Preparedness Training, Friday, July 12, 10-11 a.m. Registration is done online.
Also, make sure to read these important hurricane preparedness tips on how to prepare for a hurricane by making a plan, building a kit and staying informed.
Thank you, Court Stein
HR Wellness Administrator
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