Got health insurance? University opens enrollment

UCCS faculty and staff who do not have CU-provided health insurance will have another opportunity to enroll beginning Nov. 11.

While employees are not required to use CU benefits, the provisions of the Affordable Care Act require that everyone have some form of health insurance. To help employees comply with the new act, Employee Services will open enrollment for those employees Nov. 11-22 with an effective coverage date of Jan. 1, 2014.

“We presume that those who have not taken the insurance benefits have done so intentionally,” Susan Szpyrka, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance, said. “For example, some people are covered under a spouse’s plan. That’s their choice. But since the ACA requires everyone to have health insurance and imposes fines on those who don’t, we want to give everyone a chance to comply with the law.”

An estimated 170 benefits-eligible UCCS employees do not use the university’s health insurance, according to Michelle Martinez, director, Benefits Administration, CU System. For all CU campuses, there are about 1,700 people who chose not to use university benefits.

Employees who have questions about benefits are encouraged to visit https://www.cusys.edu/benefits/index.html, email [email protected]  or call (855) 216-7740. Employee Services has also prepared a list of frequently asked questions and answers. To see the list, visit https://www.cusys.edu/benefits/faqs.html.