Open Enrollment: Ways to Help Manage Your Health Care Costs in 2019

Open Enrollment will start on November 1 and run through November 14. As you assess your benefit options for the upcoming year, it’s also a good time to consider all of the ways you can help manage your health care costs.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

A Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows you to set aside pre-tax money to pay for eligible health care expenses. If you want to participate in a Health Care FSA in 2019, you must enroll during Open Enrollment. Your contributions can range from $100 to $2,650 for the year, and reimbursements from your account are tax-free.

Premium Credit

A premium credit to reduce the cost of employee medical plan contributions is available with the completion of the Personal Health and Well-being Assessment (PHA) and a verified Biometric Screening. Complete both steps in 2018 to ensure you receive the full amount of the premium credit for 2019. Enrolled faculty and staff can receive $20/month by completing both requirements and $30/month if your enrolled spouse completes them as well.

Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Credits

Like an FSA, an HRA can be used to provide tax-free reimbursement for eligible heath care expenses. However, the HRA is an account that is funded by the university, while you fund an FSA. You earn HRA credits when you and your spouse are enrolled in Ohio State’s medical plan and accumulate points through the Your Plan for Health (YP4H) Incentive Program. In 2019, the YP4H Incentive Program has been restructured to provide quarterly incentives, so you will have an opportunity to earn rewards even more frequently, up to $300 for each enrolled participant.

Additional Benefits Available

As an Ohio State Faculty & Staff Health Plan member, you have other valuable benefits available to help you save money, such as:

Health benefits are one component of the valuable suite of total rewards offered to faculty and staff. Visit hr.osu.edu/oe/forums to register for an Open Enrollment forum or webinar and learn more about your benefit options.

HR Focus News

New Benefits and Pay Dashboard in Workday

A new benefits and pay dashboard in Workday now makes it easier to access your most important benefits and pay information in one place. The new dashboard, called the Benefits and Pay Hub, combines the previous Pay and Benefits apps with more comprehensive details about your compensation history, recent paychecks, health benefits, and more.

Manager Foundations: Getting Started with Technology

A training on Ohio State’s technology platforms, tools and resources is available to help people leaders use administrative technology to perform your work and manage employees. Managers, manager liaisons and administrative professionals can participate in the on-demand BuckeyeLearn training.

Expanded Career Resources in Workday

If you want to advance your Buckeye career, a new Workday internal career site has tools to help you easily navigate and apply for open opportunities across Ohio State.

Ohio State names new senior vice president of talent, culture and human resources

President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. has named Katie Hall as senior vice president of talent, culture and human resources, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. Hall has served as the interim senior vice president since last spring and has been with Ohio State for 24 years.

New retirement videos help current, new faculty and staff

Human Resources is introducing four new retirement videos to help new and current employees save for the future. New faculty and staff can learn more about selecting a mandatory retirement plan. Current employees can better understand their retirement plan and how to manage investments as well as learn about fees and how they impact your retirement savings.

Recent HR News

Dr. Taru Saigal: Why Ohio State feels like home

Dr. Taru Saigal, a 2023 Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award honoree, knew she wanted a career that aligned with her passion for serving underrepresented minority patients. She also wanted her young family to be in a nurturing place. One institution with both qualities stood out prominently – Ohio State.

How $125 can improve your well-being and bring joy

With uses as varied as our employees are diverse, Ohio State’s Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) reimburses a wide range of activities and items to help bring joy and alleviate stress – like pet adoption, dance classes, car repairs, marathons, emergency child care, and so much more.

Use 2023 FSA Funds by March 15, Submit to HealthEquity by March 31

To help you make the most of your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), please note these upcoming deadlines. Employees with remaining funds in a 2023 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) have until March 15, 2024, to incur eligible claims and until March 31, 2024, to file claims for reimbursement for 2023.

From First-Gen Student to Presidential Staff Award- Robert Decatur’s path at Ohio State

Drawing inspiration from colleagues and students, Robert Decatur provides a comforting welcome to new undergraduates, telling them Ohio State is full of talented people with their hearts in the right place and an abundance of resources.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Labor Notifications

To connect you with the support and resources you need for yourself and your team, Human Resources provides information about federal and state employment laws on the HR website for you to view at any time.