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Open Enrollment

Benefits Open Enrollment Fair

As we kick off Open Enrollment, we wanted to provide information, tools, and resources to assist you during the Open Enrollment Period. Included on this site, you will find information and links to available medical, prescription, and dental plans, pre-tax flexible spending, and retirement plans. There are also helpful videos, flyers, information from financial investment carriers and other benefits-related vendors, as well as information on our in-person Open Enrollment Fairs.

If you wish to enroll in or renew your flexible spending account(s), you must take action - see 'Flexible Spending Accounts' section below.

If you do not anticipate making any changes to your medical and/or dental coverage options (or covered dependents) for the 2024 plan year, during the Open Enrollment Period, no further action is required on your part to maintain your coverage.

Open Enrollment

The 2024 Open Enrollment Period for the SHBP and NJ Tax$ave Program runs from October 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023. This is your annual opportunity to assess your benefits needs and revise your medical, prescription, dental, and pre-tax flexible spending account selections. The deadline for modifications is October 31, 2023, for an effective date of January 1, 2024. If you do not anticipate making any changes to your medical or dental plan choices (or to your covered dependents), no further action is required to maintain your coverage. If you are participating in a Flexible Spending Account, you MUST make an election. Your 2023 FSA election will NOT carry over to the 2024 plan year.

Open Enrollment Fairs

UHR will be hosting a number of Open Enrollment fairs across the University. This will be your opportunity to ask questions related to medical and dental benefits, retirement plans, voluntary savings plans (for both retirement and flexible spending), and other related topics.

New Brunswick
  • Monday, October 16, 2023
    10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    College Avenue Student Center
    Multipurpose Room
    126 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ
  • Tuesday, October 24, 2023
    10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Busch Campus Center Multipurpose Room
    604 Bartholomew Road, Piscataway, NJ
Camden
  • Tuesday, October 17, 2023
    11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

    Camden Athletic and Fitness Center
    301 Linden Street, Camden, NJ
Newark
  • Wednesday, October 18, 2023
    10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Medical Science Building - B Level Grand Foyer
    185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ
  • Wednesday, October 25, 2023
    10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

    Paul Robeson Campus Center - Essex
    Multipurpose Room
    350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ

Benefit Vendor Webinars

Horizon BCBS, Aetna, OPTUM, Horizon MyWay and more of your benefit vendors will host live (and recorded) webinars throughout the month of October 2023. Please visit the Stream Your Benefits webpage to view available sessions and schedules.

State Health Benefits Program (Medical Benefits)

Medical Plans Changes

The HD 1500 will be replaced by a new NJ Direct HDLow plan, and the HD 4000 will be replaced by a new NJ Direct HDHigh plan. Employees currently enrolled in the HD1500 plan will automatically be enrolled in the HDLow plan and those currently enrolled in the HD4000 plan will automatically be enrolled in the HDHigh Plan. Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Maximums have increased slightly. For more information related to new deductible, HSA limits and out of pocket maximum amounts, please visit the NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits Virtual Fair.

The federal HSA contribution limit in 2024 has increased to $4,150 for Single level coverage and $8,300 for Member & Spouse/Same-Sex Civil Union or Same-Sex Domestic Partner or Family coverage.

2024 Premium Contribution Calculator

https://www.horizonblue.com/shbp/2024-open-enrollment/2024-premium-contribution-calculator 

Benefitsolver – Online Open Enrollment Benefits Management for SHBP

Employees can make changes to their medical and dental plans through BenefitSolver, the State’s online Open Enrollment tool, by logging in or creating a MyNewJersey portal account. If you have trouble creating an account or logging in, please contact NJ OIT support.  If you have problems with the BenefitSolver tool, please utilize the support service within the application. For more information, please visit NJ Division of Pensions and Benefits Virtual Fair.

Medical Plans

Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield continues to be the sole provider of medical insurance plans for the SHBP. In addition to PPOs, HMO, Tiered Network, and High Deductible health coverage plans, Horizon offers resources for virtual medical and behavioral health care (telemedicine) as well as a host of other services and tools. More information regarding Horizon can be found below, as well as on their website.

Available Medical Plans

The following medical plans administered through Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will be available to employees effective January 1, 2024.

  • NJ DIRECT/NJ DIRECT 2019 PPO
  • NJ DIRECT15
  • NJ DIRECT1525
  • NJ DIRECT2030
  • NJ DIRECT2035
  • Horizon HMO
  • Horizon OMNIA
  • NJ DIRECT HDHigh
  • NJ DIRECT HDLow

Incentive Program for Tiered-Network Plan

The Incentive Program for Horizon OMNIA will be extended for State employees with modifications to past years’ incentives. The program will offer a financial incentive of $1,000 to first-time enrollees who remain enrolled for one year for all coverage levels (i.e., Single, Member and Spouse, Parent and Child, or Family coverage). The incentive is paid by gift card no later than the end of the current tax year and is deemed reportable income for tax purposes. The incentive shall be forfeited and returned to the SHBP if the subscriber fails to remain enrolled in the Tiered-Network Plan for at least one plan year. This program does not extend to children over the age of 26 or COBRA members.

Prescription Drug Plan

OptumRx will continue to be the prescription plan vendor for prescriptions through your local pharmacy as well as mail order prescriptions. Once available, prescription plan information will be posted here and on the NJDPB website. More information regarding OptumRx can be found on their website.

Dental Plans

There will be no plan additions, deletions, or changes in 2024 to the dental plan options offered under the SHBP.

Once available, dental plan information, the SHBP Dental Plan Comparison Guide, and 2024 Monthly Group Dental Rates will be posted here and on the NJDPB website.

Important Exception: Employees who began enrollment in a SHBP dental plan after January 1, 2023 will not be permitted to change dental plans during this Open Enrollment Period. Employees must be enrolled in a dental plan for a minimum of 12 months before changing dental plans.

Dental Providers

The SHBP consists of 4 different vendors for dental coverage options.  All of these vendors offer Dental Plan Organizations (DPOs), while Aetna also offers the Dental Expense Plan (DEP), which is a PPO. More information regarding these vendors can be found below.

Flexible Spending Accounts

FURTHER

FURTHER will continue to be the Section 125 Flexible Spending Account program vendor.  You may enroll in a flexible spending account program (Tax$ave Program) to save money on your taxes by paying for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. The program, provided for under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, consists of a Premium Option Plan (allows your health insurance premiums to be deducted on a pre-tax basis), Unreimbursed Medical Flexible Spending Account (annual limit of $2,500), and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (annual limit of $5,000). In the event the IRS adjusts these limits for 2024, this information will be posted here are well as on our Tax$ave program webpage.

If you are interested in having a flexible spending account for the 2024 plan year, enrollment must be completed during the 2024 Open Enrollment Period, regardless if you have previously had a flexible spending account. All changes made during the Open Enrollment Period will be effective as of January 1, 2024.

To enroll, please visit here and follow the enrollment instructions provided by FURTHER or call 866-999-3531 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

NJWELL Program

NJWELL provides inclusive and holistic experiences to meet members’ needs through activities and education programming to support healthy lifestyles. NJWELL is open to employees who are enrolled in the SHBP. Spouses and eligible partners can also participate, as long as they are covered by the SHBP plan. Participants have access to specialized programming and benefits, including live wellness events, fitness challenges, and online wellness platforms tailored to their unique needs. Participants can also earn a prepaid Visa card issued by Horizon based on points earned from participation in NJWELL. The current NJWELL 2023 Plan Year will be coming to a close on October 31, 2023. For information about the program, please visit NJWELL.

Caregiver Support Program

Care.com

In our continued effort to support the evolving needs of our employees, Rutgers is pleased to continue the Caregiver Support Program through Care.com.

All eligible employees may have a Care.com membership. Care.com offers employees access to the world’s largest network of caregivers to meet all of your unexpected care needs, connecting you with caregivers for children and adults, and giving you the option of using your own personal caregiver if no network caregiver is available. Through Care.com, you can find the right caregivers for children and adults including:

  • Nannies and babysitters
  • Senior caregivers
  • Special needs caregivers

Backup Care is also available when school is closed, your babysitter or adult caregiver is sick, you need to work late, or any other time your regular care isn’t available. Each eligible employee will be able to take advantage of this subsidized service up to a maximum of five days over the course of the year, unless the total number of subsidized days the university has contracted for with Care.com has been exhausted.

In addition to caregiver support services, Rutgers employees will have access to LifeMart Discounts during the pilot program year. With LifeMart Discounts, you can get exclusive offers on childcare, education, nutrition services, electronics, travel, entertainment, and more.

To learn more about the services provided, the specifics about this program (including eligibility) and to view the FAQs, visit the University Human Resources Benefits website, where there also will be a link to sign up for a Care.com membership.

Retirement Plans

Alternate Benefit Program (ABP)

The Alternate Benefit Program (ABP) is a defined contribution plan where retirement benefits are based on investment earnings. Employees can choose from a number of financial investment carriers. More information regarding these vendors can be found below.

Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)

Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) is a defined benefit plan where retirement benefit is based on a formula and guaranteed by the state. For more information regarding PERS, please visit the NJDPB PERS website.

Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS)

The Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) is a defined benefit plan where retirement benefit is based on a formula and guaranteed by the state. For more information regarding PFRS, please visit the NJDPB PFRS website.

New Jersey Defined Contribution Retirement Plan

The New Jersey Defined Contribution Retirement Program (NJDCRP) provides eligible members with a tax-sheltered, defined contribution retirement benefit, along with life insurance and disability coverage. Eligible employees contribute 5.5% of their pensionable salary, and the employer contributes 3%. Prudential is the designated financial carrier for the NJDCRP plan. For more information regarding NJDCRP, please visit Prudential’s website.

Tax Deferred Annuity (TDA) – Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans

Rutgers University offers several tax-favored voluntary retirement saving plans which allow employees to save and supplement income at retirement. These plans offer tax advantages, either as a pre-tax investment that allows contributions and earnings to grow over time while deferring tax payments until funds are withdrawn, or as an after-tax ROTH contribution that allows already-taxed contributions and earnings to grow over time with no tax liabilities upon withdrawal.  To take advantage of these plans and learn more about these programs, visit Tax Savings Plans on the UHR website.

Offered Plans
  • Alternate Benefit Program Additional Contributions – 403(b) (ABP)
  • Additional Contributions Tax-Sheltered Programs (ACTS)
  • Supplemental Annuity Collective Trust (SACT)
  • NJ State Employees' Deferred Compensation Plan (NJSEDCP)
IRS Contribution Limits

The current limits to contributions, as set by the Internal Revenue Service, for these programs:

  • Under age 50: A combined pre-tax and after-tax contributions: $22,500
  • Age 50 and over:  A maximum pre-tax and after-tax contributions: $30,000

In the event the IRS adjusts these limits for 2024, this information will be posted to Tax Savings Plans on the UHR website, as well as emailed to all employees.

How to Enroll or Make Changes

To enroll or make changes to the voluntary tax-deferred contributions, please complete and submit the plan’s corresponding forms to OneSource Rutgers Faculty and Staff Service Center by uploading the form(s) using the OneSource portal.

Other Benefit Resources for Employees

Retail Vendors

Rutgers University Services

Flu Vaccine Clinics

To find a list of flu clinics being offered by Occupational Health this fall, please visit https://sites.rutgers.edu/occhealth for more information. These clinics will be staffed by Walgreens, and employees should bring their medical insurance card. If you cannot make one of these clinics, Occupational Health is encouraging all employees to visit their local pharmacy for their flu vaccine this year.  The flu vaccine is free under most health insurance plans, and no prescription is necessary.

Workplace Banking
Wells Fargo
PNC Bank

In addition, OneSource Rutgers Faculty and Staff Service Center is available to answer any questions you may have regarding Open Enrollment or other UHR or payroll concerns. Please contact OneSource at 732-745-SERV (7378) or at OneSource@rutgers.edu.