Benefits Enrollment. Pre-tax vs. After-tax What does it mean to me? NCFlex benefits are pre-tax, while those offered by the University are after-tax.

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1 Benefits Enrollment 2009 It s time to enroll for benefits again! This year the enrollment period is September 29 through November 3, Your new elections will go into effect on January 1, To help you enroll, be sure to read: This bulletin, to find out what s new or changed for 2009 The NCFlex 2009 Enrollment Booklet Pre-tax vs. After-tax What does it mean to me? Whether you re buying groceries, pumping gas, outfitting your children or refilling your prescriptions the economy is likely not on your side. You and your wallet are probably thinking Enough already! The good news is you have a choice in how to give your wallet a break. You have a number of benefit offerings through NCFlex that allow you to have deductions withheld before taxes (i.e. pre-tax). In addition, the University provides some benefits to you directly and you pay for these benefits on an after-tax basis (i.e. post-tax). Let s take a look at the benefit programs: NCFlex benefits are pre-tax, while those offered by the University are after-tax. Benefit Program NCFlex Benefits University Benefits Dental United Concordia Assurant Dental Group Life ING MetLife Accidental Death & Dismemberment AC Newman & Co. Reliance Standard Vision Superior Vision N/A Critical Illness MetLife N/A Cancer American Heritage N/A Health Care Flexible Spending Account Aon N/A Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account Aon N/A 1

2 What are the benefits of pre-tax vs. post-tax deductions? A pre-tax basis means that the money you pay towards the cost of coverage comes out of your salary before you pay any taxes on it. By choosing this option, you reduce your taxable income, therefore reducing the taxes you owe. All premium payments and contributions to the NCFlex program are made through payroll deductions before taxes are withheld. If you choose this option, you cannot drop coverage until the next annual enrollment period or until you have a qualifying change in your status (i.e. birth of a child, divorce, separation, reduction in hours, etc.). Also, consider the tax issue of Group Term Life Insurance. If you purchase Group Term Life Insurance on a pre-tax basis and your coverage exceeds $50,000 (including the State Retirement System s Death Benefit, if applicable), the IRS takes back those savings on amounts in excess of $50,000. You see a small premium charge that is added back to your income only for tax purposes this is how the IRS is repaid. A post-tax basis means that the money you pay towards the cost of coverage comes out of your salary after you pay taxes. Although you do not get any savings from taxes, you have the flexibility of dropping your coverage at any time. You may also enroll any time during the year but, depending on the plan, you may be subject to waiting periods for pre-existing conditions, or you may have to furnish Evidence of Insurability (EOI). What s New and Different for 2009 Dental Plans Read more about benefit waiting periods and other limitations before making a decision to enroll. United Concordia is the dental carrier for the NCFlex program. There are no changes for this plan for If you are enrolled in either the high or low option and want to keep your coverage, you do not need to reenroll. If you are switching options or transferring coverage from the University Dental Plan, please read the information on Benefit Waiting Periods in the NCFlex enrollment booklet, pages Assurant Dental is the University s dental carrier. Rates are increasing by 8.38 percent. The University s program currently provides coverage for spouse/domestic partner and dependent children. For information about Assurant Dental, visit the Office of Human Resources (OHR) Web site at Group Term Life ING is the insurance carrier for the NCFlex program. The group term rates for this plan have been lowered in almost every age category. If you enroll in this plan during annual enrollment, you may purchase $20,000 of coverage on a guaranteed issue basis if you were not previously denied coverage. If you are currently enrolled in the plan, you may add $10,000 of additional coverage at each annual enrollment, up to the guaranteed issue amount ($100,000), without providing Evidence of Insurability (EOI). For detailed information about this plan please refer to the NCFlex enrollment booklet, pages MetLife is the insurance carrier for the University s benefit program. You can elect coverage up to five times your salary, with a maximum of $500,000. You can increase coverage levels from one to three times your salary without providing Evidence of Insurability. If you want to increase to four or five times your salary, you must provide Evidence of Insurability. The University s program currently provides coverage for spouse/domestic partner and dependent children. For information about MetLife visit the OHR Web site at

3 Please note: Group Term Life Insurance is age-based and adjusted annually. Your rate for ING changes based on your age and salary as of January 1, 2009, and your rate for MetLife changes based on your age and salary as of December 31, You will see the new rates appear in your January 2009 paycheck. Accidental Death & Dismemberment AC Newman and Company, on behalf of Gerber Life Insurance Company, is the insurance carrier for the NCFlex program. The group rates for this plan have been lowered. If you were previously enrolled in this plan with UNUM, your coverage will automatically be transferred to AC Newman and Company. Please refer to the NCFlex enrollment booklet, pages 28-30, for instructions on enrolling or increasing your coverage. Reliance Standard is the insurance carrier for the University s benefit program. There are no changes to this plan for The University s program currently provides coverage for spouse/domestic partner and dependent children. For information about Reliance Standard, please visit the OHR Web site at Critical Illness MetLife is the insurance carrier for this NCFlex program. This is a new program for 2009 and requires enrollment if you want to elect coverage for yourself and your dependents. This insurance complements medical coverage, but does not replace it. The coverage pays a lump-sum payment when a covered person experiences a medical condition outlined in the plan. You can find detailed information on the critical illness plan in the NCFlex enrollment booklet on pages Flexible Spending Accounts Aon Consulting is the third-party administrator of the flexible spending accounts for the NCFlex program. If you elected either a Health Care Flexible Spending Account or a Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account in 2008 you must re-enroll and designate annual contribution amounts for The plan continues to have minimum monthly amounts required to participate, but has removed the monthly maximums. Please read more about benefit waiting periods and other limitations before making a decision to enroll. You can find detailed information about flexible spending accounts in the NCFlex enrollment booklet on pages As of January 2009, NCFlex convenience card holders no longer need to submit documentation for: t Copays t Eligible NCFlex dental expenses. If you use your NCFlex Convenience Card to pay for eligible dental expenses under the NCFlex dental plan (administered by United Concordia), these expenses will be automatically approved provided the amount of the transaction is equal to the balance due once the claim has been processed by United Concordia. Vision Superior Vision Services provides vision benefits under the NCFlex program. The rates have been lowered for all coverage levels for Plan 1 and Plan 2. There is now an additional option, Plan 3, which provides enhanced exam and materials coverage. You can find detailed information about vision coverage in the NCFlex enrollment booklet on pages Cancer Insurance Remember to designate an annual contribution amount for the flexible spending accounts. Allstate Workplace Division (American Heritage Life Insurance Company) provides cancer insurance under the NC Flex program. There is a new option called the Premium Option, which provides a higher level of benefit coverage. You can find detailed information about the cancer plan in the NCFlex Enrollment Booklet on pages

4 NCFlex Benefit Plans and Rates United Concordia Dental Plan Monthly Rates High Option Low Option Employee Only $33.26 $18.98 Employee and Spouse $66.74 $38.28 Employee and One Child $64.02 $36.74 Employee and Two or More Children $80.92 $46.82 Family $ $65.54 ING Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance You can elect life insurance coverage in increments of $10,000. A minimum of $20,000 of coverage is available up to a maximum of $500,000 of coverage. The following chart outlines the cost of coverage per $1,000 increments based on age. Your Age Monthly Rates*/ $1,000 Coverage Under $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ and above... $2.520 AC Newman & Company Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance The amount of insurance you purchase is called the principal sum. Example benefit amounts include: Principal Cost for Employee Only Cost for Employee/ Family $50,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $ ,000...$ $15.00 NCFlex rates for Vision, Cancer and Critical Illness plans are outlined in the NCFlex enrollment booklet. 4

5 University Benefit Plans and Rates Assurant Dental Plan Monthly Rates Employee Only $36.90 Employee and Spouse/Domestic Partner $69.00 Employee and Child(ren) $71.42 Employee and Family $ MetLife Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance You can elect life insurance coverage in increments of one to five times your annual salary, up to a maximum of $500,000 of coverage. The following chart outlines the cost of coverage per $1,000 increments based on age. Your Age Monthly Rates*/ $1,000 Coverage Under $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ and above... $2.20 MetLife Dependent Life Insurance Coverage Coverage Cost Spouse/Domestic Partner...$10, $2.66 Child(ren)...$8,000...$0.54 (per child) *Rates are guaranteed until February 28, Reliance Standard Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance The amount of insurance you purchase is called the principal sum. Example benefit amounts include: Principal Employee Under 75 Spouse/Domestic Partner Each Child $10,000 $0.20 $0.20 $ ,000 $0.40 $0.40 $ ,000 * * $ ,000 $0.60 $0.60 * 50,000 $1.00 $1.00 $ ,000 * * $ ,000 $2.00 $2.00 * 150,000 $3.00 $3.00 * 200,000 $4.00 $4.00 * 250,000 $5.00 $5.00 * 300,000 $6.00 $6.00 * 400,000 $8.00 * * 500,000 $10.00 * * * Coverage level not available Note: If you are electing coverage for a domestic partner, please complete an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership, available on the OHR Web site. 5

6 Enrolling for benefits for 2009 is simpler than ever! Enrolling Made Easier You do not need to enroll if you want to keep your 2008 benefits and coverage levels the same for 2009 and do not want to enroll in a flexible spending account. You do need to enroll if you want to participate in the flexible spending accounts or if you want to elect coverage, cancel coverage or make changes to your benefit and/or coverage levels. To enroll or make changes visit the University s enrollment Web site at benefits/enroll. NCFlex Benefit Program For NCFlex benefits, select the link to the NCFlex Online Enrollment site ( The online enrollment tool is available from any computer with Internet access. In addition to the online enrollment tool, telephone enrollment is also available. Please call (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 8 p.m.). Interpreters are available via phone for more than 30 languages, including Spanish and Burmese. Paper enrollments will NOT be accepted for the NCFlex benefit program for University Benefit Program For University benefits (MetLife, Reliance Standard and Assurant Dental) coverage, go to the OHR enrollment Web site and select the link to the plan(s) you want to enroll in, print the form and send to Benefit Administration by November 3, Forms can be sent via interoffice mail to Campus Box 1045 or by mail to 104 Airport Drive, Chapel Hill NC For your convenience a green drop box marked Benefit Administration is located at the front doors of the Administrative Office Building so forms can be dropped off after business hours during the enrollment period. Assistance from the Office of Human Resources Benefits specialists in the Office of Human Resources will be available to provide enrollment assistance and to answer questions you may have about any of these benefit plans during the enrollment period. If you have any questions, please call the Benefits Office main line at

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