Benefits-eligible faculty, staff, retirees and graduate students can change their benefits during Open Enrollment, which continues through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29.
Changes can be made to health, dental, vision and legal plan enrollments. You may also add eligible dependents and enroll in a flexible spending account.
This year, you have a one-time opportunity to enroll in the university’s Optional Life Insurance plan or increase your coverage level during Open Enrollment without having to provide a health statement of insurability for limited coverage increases.
All benefits-eligible employees and retirees should review their benefits plans, options and 2022 rates. Benefits changes and new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2022.
No Action Required to Keep Current Benefits, Except FSAs
No action is required to keep current benefits as long as eligibility is maintained, with the exception of flexible spending accounts.
The Internal Revenue Service regulates FSAs. Unlike other benefits, the IRS does not allow FSA enrollments to continue from one year to the next. Even if you were enrolled for 2021, you must re-enroll for 2022.
Look Ahead if Planning to Retire in 2022
If you plan to retire in 2022, you should think about the future and use this Open Enrollment period to enroll in the benefits and coverage you want to have in retirement.
Benefits coverage for the employee and eligible dependents enrolled in the U-M health, dental, vision and/or legal plan at the time of retirement automatically continue as long as eligibility is maintained.
Interactive Tool Can Help Compare Plans
Respondents to last year’s Open Enrollment survey indicated they’d like more tools to help them analyze their benefits choices. In response, Human Resources is offering Benefits Mentor, an interactive tool open to faculty, staff and retirees.
With users’ permission, Benefits Mentor accesses their actual health care claims to compare U-M’s plans and analyze which best suits their needs. If you opt out of allowing access to personal data, Benefits Mentor will utilize benchmark data to walk you through a series of prompts. Based on your responses, the tool will recommend a health plan.
You can still select whatever health plan you feel is best for your situation. Also, it’s important to note that using Benefits Mentor doesn’t automatically enroll you in a health plan. If you want to change your benefits or enroll in an FSA, you must complete the traditional Open Enrollment process.
Learn more about Benefits Mentor.
To use the new tool, go to Wolverine Access and search “Benefits Mentor.”
More Tools to Inform, Compare
Health care plans
Watch this video for an overview of U-M’s health care plans, and follow up with the Health Plan Coverage Comparison tool or 2022 comparison chart for a deeper dive into the specifics.
Dental Plans
This video offers an overview of each plan option, or use this comparison chart to flesh out the details.
Health Care FSAs
This video gives you an idea of how a Health Care FSA works to cover out-of-pocket health care expenses.
Enroll or Change Benefits through Wolverine Access
You can make changes online through Wolverine Access benefits self-service. Changes may be made as often as needed during Open Enrollment. All changes must be completed and submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29. Benefits changes are complete when an online confirmation statement is displayed.
Retirees may make changes online by 5 p.m. Oct. 29, or with the enrollment form included in the Open Enrollment book. The Benefits Office mailed these to home addresses in early October. Completed forms may be mailed or faxed, and must be postmarked or received by Oct. 29.
Changes and new rates go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Complete benefits plan and enrollment information is available on the Human Resources Open Enrollment website.
For questions, call the SSC Contact Center at (734) 615-2000 or (866) 647-7657.
