Open Enrollment starts Monday, Oct. 18, and continues through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, Eastern Standard Time.
During Open Enrollment, you can change your coverage in the U-M health, dental, vision and legal services plans for 2022.
If eligible, you may also enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
What’s New for 2022?
Eligible faculty and staff will have a one-time opportunity to enroll in the university’s Optional Life Insurance plan or increase their coverage level during this year’s open enrollment without having to provide a health statement of insurability for limited coverage increases.
Plan Ahead
Here are three tips to help you prepare for Open Enrollment 2022:
1. Mark Your Calendar
During Open Enrollment, you may make benefits changes through Wolverine Access Benefits Self-Service as often as you wish until 5 p.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Changes and new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2022.
Add to your Outlook and other calendars
2. Think About the Future
Outside of the annual Open Enrollment period, you may make changes to your health benefits only within 30 days of a qualifying event, such as marriage or divorce, or the birth or adoption of a child. If you have a new dependent because of a qualifying event, remember to add that person to all benefits that apply, including dental, vision, life insurance and others.
Take the time now to review your current benefits and think about changes that will take place in the upcoming year. For example, if you have a young child who will go to the dentist for the first time in 2022 and wasn’t enrolled at birth, you must enroll your child in your dental plan during Open Enrollment this year.
If you’re planning to retire in 2022, be sure to enroll eligible dependents in your benefits during Open Enrollment if you want to cover them under your U-M retiree benefits. Retirees cannot add new dependents to their benefits.
3. Review All of Your Benefits Options
Take the time to review your current benefits and decide if you want to make different choices for next year. And watch for details about a new, interactive tool called Benefits Mentor next month. This tool can help you analyze your health insurance usage history to select the best health plan to fit your needs.
Download an Open Enrollment book to view enrollment instructions and a summary of the benefits plans and options.
View your 2022 benefits plan rates.
No Action Required, Except for FSAs
If you’re happy with your benefits, you don’t need to do anything to keep them — with the exception of Flexible Spending Accounts. IRS rules don’t allow FSA enrollments to continue from one year to the next. You will need to re-enroll if you wish to participate in an FSA for 2022. Learn more about FSAs.
