Leaving: Health Insurance: Open Enrollment
From HPAlumnipedia
...Under COBRA
HPAlumnipedia > Leaving > Health Insurance > Open Enrollment
After you sign up for COBRA coverage, near the end of each calendar year you must participate in Open Enrollment, similar to when you were an employee, but with different wrinkles.
Alan Silverstein, Fall 2002:
I think Hewitt, um, could do a better job right now for WFRites. (2007: I hope this situation has improved; I don't know, but for what it's worth, here was my experience...)
Two weeks after my termination date I received an Open Enrollment package as if I was still employed, including irrelevant "personalized" data. A simple-minded reading of this data implied a huge increase in medical premiums -- using the new "price tags" but assuming no "flex dollars" given to me. A Hewitt supervisor finally clued me on the phone that my medical premium would increase a more reasonable 14% under COBRA for 2003. (And in fact that was correct; also a 3% increase for me for dental and 29% increase for vision.)
However, I did not receive anything pertinent to COBRA only, telling me my options (which were available in the mailing already received and on the Hewitt Associates website) and my costs for 2003 (those were missing) so I could make a fully informed decision, until Nov 25, 2002 (two copies, both postmarked Nov 21). This material was useful, and a cover letter was included stating that due to timing, I'd have until Dec 5 to make my choices.
So it appears that, while in some areas such as Colorado, Open Enrollment occurs "early" (October), all WFRites, and perhaps retirees too, are lumped into the "late" OE period (November).
The only glitch was that while my prices matched those in the generic tables for 2003 for me + child(ren), my daughter was listed as not covered for medical or vision. I had to straighten that out.
Later I was told: "We had some misprints, she is covered and your confirmation of enrollment after Dec 5 will confirm that!" (And it did.)
By the way, to save a little time and aggravation when calling Hewitt at 800-890-3100 (2003 number), say "representative" at the first voice prompt. Later I heard you can press "*0#", to be connected even faster!
I have learned the following, at least I hope it's right:
- Termination is a "qualified event" for changing covered dependents but not for changing plans -- you cannot re-enroll or change your options, you're stuck with whatever plan you were already on, for the rest of the calendar year, unless you drop COBRA completely.
- You can do Open Enrollment for successive years, such as 2003, while on COBRA. And don't worry about the stated OE signup periods because WFRites will receive special handling. (Confirmed later, see above.)
Beware, the first-line phone representatives at Hewitt do not seem to be well trained, at least in WFR matters. I have received incorrect or inconsistent advice. When in doubt ask to speak with a supervisor.
I also conversed with Pam Crabb, 281-514-1493, of HP US Benefits. She has a pretty good idea what's going on, but can't do much about Hewitt being slow and/or incorrect.
