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Bob Taft, Governor

Carol Nolan Drake, Director

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Human Resources Division

Benefits Administration Services

www.ohio.gov/employeebenefits

WHAT TO DO DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT
Step 1.
Understand the New Open Enrollment,
Re-enrollment and Dependent
Verification Process
All state employees are being asked to re-enroll, enroll or decline coverage by positively confirming or updating their personal and plan coverage information as well as by verifying that their dependents are eligible for coverage. Employees are able to complete the re-enrollment process by completing a personalized enrollment form, which is available online and being mailed in paper form.

During this benefit year, all employees will be subject to a dependent eligibility audit. Employees who do not take the time to re-enroll will have an increased chance of being audited. If you are selected for this audit, you will be required to provide a copy of documentation demonstrating eligibility of your dependents.

Please take the time to understand the verification process and verify the eligibility of your dependents, if applicable. Please check here for more information.

Step 2.
Understand Benefit Changes Effective July 1

Please review all the changes effective July 1st — at least one of them applies to you.

Step 3.
Review Your Current Coverage and Options
Please review the information sent to your home and/or posted online that lists your current dependents and benefit coverages. Read through this guide to understand dependent eligibility and coverage information. Are you satisfied that your current health plan will meet your health care needs? Do all of your dependents meet the eligibility criteria? Is the amount of supplemental life insurance you have now adequate for your needs?

You can enroll in or make changes to your medical, dental and vision plans as well as supplemental life insurance amount during this enrollment period, plus enroll for long term care without regard to your health or health history.

Review your options using these helpful resources:
• This guide which gives you an overview of your benefit options and a side-by-side   comparison of the health plans.
• Pathways, the Joint Health Care Committee’s newsletter that presents health and   health plan information. Open enrollment editions will be distributed to your agency   April 14 and April 28.
• Benefit fairs being held at many locations throughout Ohio from April 24 through   May 5. Attend a fair and talk with plan representatives about your coverage   questions. Check with your agency or see the April 14 edition of the Pathways   newsletter for more details.
 
 

•  DAS Benefits Administration Services Web site for the latest updates and links to health plan    Web sites. In addition, phone numbers and Web addresses for each of these plans are here.

•  Materials sent to you by your available health plans.

If you are a union employee, review the Union Benefits Trust materials sent to your home for information about dental, vision and supplemental life insurance.

Step 4.
Enroll, Re-enroll or Decline Benefits and Complete the Dependent Verification Process
 • Refer to the dependent verification process.

You may enroll or make changes to your coverage using the following tools:
• Online at www.ohio.gov/employeebenefits. Click on the Open Enrollment    button and use your employee identification number (EIN) to access the Web    enrollment site. Your EIN is near the top of the open enrollment letter recently sent    to your home and also on your paycheck stub.

• By submitting a signed 2006 Health Care Enrollment Form to your agency’s    payroll or personnel office. Your personalized form was mailed to your home.

Deadine:
 The deadline for submitting your form to re-enroll, enroll or decline benefits coverage and verify eligibility of dependents is May 12 for benefits elections effective July 1.

Please note: If you access the Web site more than once, the system retains the information you entered during your last transaction. 		 
  Important FAQs
 Q. Why should I take the time to re-enroll?
 A. By confirming your information, we can continue to personalize some of your benefits materials. As a result, you’ll receive your materials quicker, they’ll be more accurate, and they’ll be easier to understand. Re-enrollment should take only 5 to 10 minutes.
 Q. What happens if I do not take the time to re-enroll?
 A. Employees who do not take the time to re-enroll will have an increased chance of being audited. Save yourself from the increased risk of the hassle of having to provide documentation.
 Q. Why should I verify the eligibility of my dependents?
 A. By taking the time to ensure that your dependents are eligible for coverage, the state will be able to mimimize health care cost increases which benefits us all.
 Q. I plan to keep all of my coverage the same for next year. Is it okay if I do not return my enrollment information?
 A. No, we are asking all state employees to participate in the re-enrollment process by confirming their personal and coverage information and verifying the eligibility of their dependents.
 Q. What happens if I am selected for an audit?
 A. If you are selected for an audit, you will be required to provide a copy of documentation (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) demonstrating your dependents’ eligibility. Failure to comply with the audit process may result in loss of coverage for your dependents.
 

 

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