Appeal Process

If there was an issue with making changes or electing enrollments, you may submit an appeal.

• No action during ABE is not a basis for an appeal
• Submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval
• Effective dates for approved appeals will vary upon receipt of appeal

Deadline to Appeal – by 4:30pm date listed

• January 31, 2021 deadline: Flex Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA)
• February 28, 2021 deadline: Dental (Preventative, Select, Select Plus), Vision, Accident Insurance
• April 15, 2021 deadline: State Group Health and Health Insurance Opt-Out Incentive
• December 31, 2020 deadline: Rescind ABE elections – if approved, coverage in effect 12/31/2020 will be reinstated

Reasons Employees May File an Appeal

• To enroll in or change plans or plan designs
• To change from single to family or family to single coverage
• To remove a dependent

How to Submit an Appeal

• All appeals are submitted via the My UW System portal under Benefit Information.
• Follow this tipsheet on how to file an appeal.
• When completing the online appeal, only select the plan(s) you are requesting an appeal for.

The Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period is an annual opportunity for eligible employees to enroll in or make changes to select benefit plans for the upcoming year.

This is the only time during the year when you are eligible to make benefit plans changes to most plans unless you have a life event (e.g. family or employment change) that allows you to change your benefits.

Changes made during this period will be effective January 1, 2022.

Important: This website will contain information about benefit opportunities and changes for 2022. For information about current UW System benefits (2021), please visit the Employee Benefits Website.

These resources will be made available closer to the ABE enrollment period.

Recording of the Informational Session Presentation – this provides details on the specifics for changes related to insurances and providers as well as how to obtain assistance with self-service.

View Recording of the Informational Session Presentation
View the Informational Session Presentation PowerPoint

View the video highlighting the general changes for 2022 – A high-level overview that does not include specifics to provider changes or options for assistance at UWO. View the Informational Session Presentation for those details.

Finding Information:

• Changes Allowed During ABE
• ABE Reference Guide
• State Group Health Insurance
• ETF It’s Your Choice (IYC) Health Decision Guide
• Health and Pharmacy Benefits Plan Design Comparison Chart
• Health Plan Search
• Health Insurance Opt-Out Incentive – must enroll in every year
• Pharmacy Benefits
• Well-Being Resources
• Uniform, Preventative & Supplemental Dental
• Dental Comparison Chart
• Vision Insurance
  
• Vision Summary
• Individual & Family Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Accident Insurance
• Spending and Savings Accounts (FSA and HSA) – must enroll in every year
• ConnectYourCare Mobile App Flyer
• HSA Contributions per Paycheck
• Other Considerations
• Note: Parking and Transit is not available for UW employees if you are having
  parking deductions taken pre-tax from your paycheck.

If you have questions for the vendors, please visit the Virtual Benefits Fair Sessions section below.

Once you have made your benefits plan decisions, enroll through Self Service. All elections must be completely submitted by 4:30pm on Friday, October 22, 2021.

You will be required to provide the below information, so have this information handy.

• Dependent names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth
• Copy of health insurance card (if you have other health insurance coverage)

Tipsheet for How to Enroll or Make Changes
Watch Video on How to Enroll or Make Changes
Updating Other Health and Medicare Information Tipsheet

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) Enrollment Requirement:
Employees who enroll in HDHP must provide updated coverage information every year via the Personnel Information module on the My UW System portal. Click here on how to update information under ‘Coordination of Benefits’

Must Enroll in the following EVERY YEAR:

•  Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
•  Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
•  Opt-Out Incentive for Health Insurance

Individual and Family Life Insurance

• For increasing coverage, do so online via self-service
• For decreasing coverage, complete a paper application and submit to Human Resources
  • Do not email application as our email is not secure

All elections must be completely submitted by 4:30pm on Friday, October 22, 2021.

ALEX explains all your options in plain English, and helps you choose the plans that make the most sense for you and your family.

In an effort to make the Annual Benefits Enrollment period less stressful for current employees, UW System is introducing this new online tool for anyone who wants a better understanding of the comprehensive benefits offered at the UW System.

ALEX will ask you a series of questions to walk you through benefits offerings and suggest appropriate plans based on your answers. It is UW System’s hope that a conversation with ALEX will educate you while helping you make sound, informed decisions about benefits.

Visit him here: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/alex/

These virtual presentations are held by the UWO Human Resources Benefits Specialist. Come hear the changes that are taking place. You do not need to RSVP to attend.

This presentation is being recorded if you are unable to attend any of the session dates listed.

Live Online Link or dial in

Session Dates/Times:

coming closer to enrollment period

View Recording of the Informational Session Presentation
View the Informational Session Presentation PowerPoint

Information regarding benefits fair options will be available closer to the ABE enrollment period.

The in-person benefits fair is replaced with Virtual Benefit Fair Sessions with individual vendors, including ETF. This is the time to ask questions directly with the vendors regarding coverage, etc.

Visit here to register for a session. You will be sent an email with a link to participate in the session.

Appointments will be made available closer to the ABE enrollment period.

These 15-minute one-on-one virtual or phone appointments are opportunities to gain assistance with completing the self-service online enrollment/change processes and answer basic ABE specific questions.

This is not a time to learn about the changes; This is a time to gain assistance with the changes you wish to make or ask personal questions.

RSVP is Required: These sessions will be held virtually via Teams or via phone call only. The 15-minute time slots in October are specifically for ABE questions.

Click here to register via the Benefits Online Appointment Scheduler if you need assistance with enrolling/making changes or have basic ABE specific questions.

You will be enrolling/making changes via Self Service. You may be required to provide the below information, so have this information handy.

• Dependent names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth
• Copy of health insurance card (if you have other health insurance coverage)

Deadline to enroll/make changes is Friday, October 22, 2021 by 4:30pm.