Upcoming Open Enrollment Support Events

Dear Colleagues,

This is a friendly reminder that the annual Open Enrollment period is currently underway and will conclude on Friday, October 31. Given the anticipated increases in health plan premiums, it is especially important to take time to review your benefit options. Please use the available resources to:

• Explore the various benefit plan options and provider networks
• Compare out-of-pocket costs and premium estimates
• Determine which health plan best meets your needs

This is your once-a-year opportunity to make changes to your benefits elections. Don’t miss the chance to ensure your selections align with your personal and financial needs for the upcoming year.

Please note the Upcoming Events section below. It includes links to Webinars, in person Benefit Fair dates and locations and information related to two Open House events where the Benefits and One Source teams will be available in person to assist with Open Enrollment related questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To facilitate the Open Enrollment process, you may find the following FAQs helpful:

1. If I am not making any changes to my medical or dental plan for calendar year 2026, do I need to do anything? No. No action is required If you do not wish to make any changes to your medical or dental plan. Medical and dental plan elections will automatically carry over into the new plan year if no changes are submitted.
2. If I do wish to make a change to my medical or dental plan, what do I need to do? If you wish to make any changes to your medical or dental plan for calendar year 2026, you must change your plan election by October 31st.
3. Do you have any guidance as to how to evaluate which health plan best aligns with my needs and the needs of my family? Yes, here are some tips for helping to guide your health plan selection include:
   
   1. Assessing Plan Costs
      
      1. Evaluate Plan costs based on your salary, coverage level, and chosen plan.
      2. Out-of-pocket expenses such as copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance.
   2. Reviewing Plan Types - Choose based on your preference for in-network only or in/out-of-network coverage:
      
      1. In Network Only
         • Aetna HMO/Horizon HMO
         • Aetna Liberty / Horizon OMNIA
      2. In and Out of Network
         • NJ Direct / Freedom
         • NJ Direct 2019 / Freedom 2019
         • NJ Direct 15 / Freedom 15
         • NJ Direct 1525 / Freedom 1525
         • NJ Direct 2030 / Freedom 2030
         • NJ Direct 2035 / Freedom 2035
      3. In and Out of Network (with higher deductibles and coinsurance)
         • NJ Direct HDHigh / Freedom HDHigh
         • NJ Direct HDLow / Freedom HDLow
4. What do I need to do if I wish to change my health or dental plan options for calendar year 2026?
   
   1. Use the Horizon or Aetna premium calculators to estimate your annual costs:
      
      1. Select “Rutgers/NJIT/University Hospital” under Employee Type.
      2. Divide the annual amount by 24 to get your per pay period (pretax) contribution.
   2. Utilize the medical and prescription plan comparison charts to anticipate your out-of-pocket expenses when you incur services during the plan year.
   3. Weigh the costs of the plans against the out-of-pocket expenses (copayments, deductibles, coinsurance) based on your typical utilization.
   4. Finalize all changes by October 31st.
5. Do I have to take any action to continue my Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Enrollment for calendar year 2026? Yes, FSA elections do not roll over from year to year, you must actively enroll in a Medical and/or Dependent Care FSA for the 2026 plan year by October 31st. FSA accounts can help reduce your taxable income while supporting your healthcare needs.
6. What do I need to do if I wish to enroll in a Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for calendar year 2026? To enroll in a Medical or Dependent Care FSA:
   
   1. Visit Horizon MyWay and follow the enrollment instructions.
   2. Or call 866-999-3531, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. ET.
7. What is the effective date of the changes I make during Open Enrollment? All changes made during Open Enrollment will take effect on January 1, 2026.
8. How can I review my current benefits or make changes? To make changes, log in to mynjbenefitshub via your myNewJersey account. You can also explore the Virtual Benefits Fairs on the site for more resources.

Upcoming Events

Live Webinars hosted by Aetna, Horizon, OPTUM RX, and Further (Horizon MyWay FSA) are available. To register, visit the Webinar Calendar webpage.

Open Enrollment Fairs: UHR benefits representatives and vendors will be available to answer your questions in person at the following locations:

• Newark: October 21, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
  Rutgers Health – Medical Science Building, B Level Grand Foyer
  185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ
• Camden: October 22, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
  Camden Athletic and Fitness Center
  301 Linden Street, Camden, NJ

Open House: UHR Benefits and One Source teams will be available to provide Open Enrollment related assistance at the following locations:

• New Brunswick: October 23, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
  Rutgers Administrative Services Building
  57 U.S Highway 1 New Brunswick NJ
• Newark: October 29, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
  Stanley Bergen Building
  65 Bergen Street 12th Floor, Room 1214

Thank you for taking the time to make informed decisions about your benefits.

For additional support, contact the OneSource Rutgers Faculty and Staff Service Center or call 732-745-SERV (7378).

Sincerely,

Vivian Fernández
Senior Vice President for Human Resources