Open Enrollment

It's that time of year to: 

  • Review your current health insurance plans to re-elect or change (Learn more!)
  • Enroll/re-enroll in one of the Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Add/delete dependents to your coverage
  • Review and update life insurance beneficiaries
  • Elect a charitable giving contribution

Click here for helpful Open Enrollment reminders!

What's new in 2024?

  • Medical Cost Increases:  Overall health care plans will increase by 1.3% for most employees in 2024. The impact of this increase will vary by medical plan, coverage level, and employee type. Bargaining Unit members should refer to your Collective bargaining agreement for healthcare contribution percentages.
  • Medical Plan Changes: The following outlines medical plan design changes that will be implemented for 2024: 
    • Office visit copayments for a PCP visit will increase from $15 to $20.  
    • Specialist visit copays will increase from $15 to $25. 
    • The Emergency Room copay will increase from $100 to $125 (but will continue to be waived if admitted).  Please note that the Urgent Care copay at $25 offers a less expensive and often more convenient option for non-life-threatening situations than seeking treatment at the Emergency Room. Urgent care can treat a wide range of issues, including sinus infections, ear infections, sprains, fractures, and cuts that require stitches — and you’ll often be seen more quickly than in an Emergency Room.
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Maximums and Deductibles: For those who participate in the Consumer-Directed Health Plan, the limit on an individual health savings account contribution goes up to $4,150, and for family coverage, it is $8,300. The limit includes both employee and employer contributions. The IRS has increased the deductible limit for 2024 to $1,600 per individual and $3,200 per family.
  • Prescription Plan Changes: There will be prescription design changes for 2024. Prescription tier copays are increasing from $6, $30, and $45 to $10, $30, and $50.
  • Dental Plan Changes: Enhancements to the dental plan include coverage of root planing and scaling at 100% and adding occlusal adjustments (bite alignments) with no change to premiums.
  • VSP Vision Plan Changes: The vision plan rates will increase $0.79, $1.57, or $2.54 per month depending on the level of coverage.  Enhancements to the vision plan include; The retail frame allowance increasing from $170 to $200, the feature frame brand allowance increasing from $190 to $220, and the Walmart/Costco frame allowance increasing from $150 to $200. In addition, the elective contact lenses allowance is increasing from $150 to $200.
  • Back-Up Care Taxation Changes: To ensure compliance with current IRS standards and practices, Brown may withhold and report taxes on certain dependent care benefits received, which are subsidized by Brown University. If the total of an employee’s backup care subsidies received in a calendar year (or the total of their subsidies plus their annual Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account election) exceeds the annual $5,000 tax-free limit allowed by the IRS, amounts over $5,000 will be considered imputed (taxable) income.
  • Spring Health Employee Assistance Program: In 2024, counseling, coaching, and support services will be administered by Spring Health, Brown's new Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Eligible employees can receive 10 therapy sessions per year, at no cost, for themselves and members of their household. No-cost coaching is also available to help employees achieve tangible goals, build new skills, and develop healthier habits.
  • Brown Gives: Employees can conveniently participate in Brown Gives to support the United Way during Open Enrollment. Faculty and staff can donate a fixed monthly amount of $10, $25, $50, $75, or $100 to be payroll deducted over the calendar year.

2024 Health Insurance

You can learn more about health insurance options by reviewing the Summary of Benefits.

Considering the United Healthcare Choice Plus with HSA Plan?

2024 Dental Insurance

2024 Vision Coverage

2024 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Limits

Healthcare Flexible Spending $3,200
Dependent Care Flexible Spending $5,000
Commuter Parking $315
Commuter Transit $245

 

 

 

Open Enrollment Assistance (Virtual)

Need assistance managing Open Enrollment in Workday? A Benefits representative will be available virtually for a 15 minute, one-on-one appointment. Appointments will be available November 6-27* on Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Need assistance with Zoom Web Conferencing?

*Please note there will be no appointments on November 23 and November 24 as the University will be closed.

Open Enrollment Bootcamp

Missed both Open Enrollment Bootcamp sessions? Not to worry! Review this recording at any time. 

Benefits Fair

Thanks for joining us for the 2023 Benefits Fair on November 8. We hope you enjoyed the opportunity to interact with our benefits providers and to ask questions as you prepare for Open Enrollment. If you still have questions for our vendors or you were not able to attend the event, learn more about Brown’s benefits partners here.