Open Enrollment coming up; visit Vendor Fair for information

Representatives from the University's benefits providers will be available to answer questions about benefits at the Vendor Fair on Nov. 17 and 18. The fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, and from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Cloister Club in Ida Noyes Hall.

Open Enrollment, now done via a new phone system (see Oct. 23 Chronicle), will begin on Friday, Nov. 14, and close on Monday, Nov. 24.

Representatives from most of the University's benefit providers (including the health and dental plans, Perspectives, and Aging and the Workplace) will be available during the Vendor Fair.

"Many employees may be thinking about changing from one health plan to another, but aren't sure about the type of coverage the other plans offer or where their facilities are located," said Lele Paulson, Director of Benefits. "Additionally, anyone who wants to sign up for an HMO or the First Commonwealth dental plan must select a primary care physician to do so. The Vendor Fair will allow employees to get this type of information firsthand from the providers. They may also use this opportunity to speak with representatives from some of our other benefit programs, such as our eldercare referral provider or our staff and faculty assistance plan." Employees may not enroll for benefits at the Vendor Fair.

"We're hosting the fair strictly for informational purposes," Paulson said. "Employees must use the phone-in enrollment system to make benefit elections or changes for 1998. This week we will mail Open Enrollment packets, which contain the access code and personal identification numbers that employees will need to use the new system. Any employee who does not receive a packet by Nov. 17 should contact the Benefits Office immediately."

Employees may contact the Benefits Office by phone at 702-9634, or by e-mail at benefits@uchicago.edu.