June 27, 2013
Flexible Spending Accounts Undergo Changes
A NAME change and a
revised healthcare debit card mark a new system for handling employee Flexible
Spending Accounts (FSA) in the Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP). The
administrator name and system changes also apply to the Dependent Care
Assistance Plan (DCAP); the debit card changes apply only to MCAP.
BEGINNING MONDAY, July 1, FSA accounts will be processed by
WageWorks, which purchased the FSA account business from former plan
administrator Fringe Benefit Management Company. WageWorks technically has been the State’s
FSA plan administrator since purchasing the business several years ago, but is
now officially converting the State accounts to the WageWorks system.
CONVERSION TO the new system will include a two-week hold period for Fiscal Year 2013
claims being made by paper reimbursement request. Fiscal Year 2013 ends June
30.
“CMS ADVISED that either they or WageWorks would send a
letter to all current FY2013 members in June letting them know about the
hold period and transition,” said Carole Devaney, UPB benefits manager,
University Payroll & Benefits Services.
WHILE THE current myFBMC
and future WageWorks healthcare debit cards can be used by employees to pay for
eligible healthcare expenses on-site at the time of appointments and purchases,
claims being processed by paper will be subject to the holding period.
“FY 2013 paper claim forms will
be subject to a two-week hold period from July 1 through July 15 during the
transition to WageWorks,” said Katie Ross, director, Human Resources Administration, University Human Resources. “FY2013 debit card transactions during this
hold period could be inadvertently reimbursed from FY2014 accounts and would
require the employee’s action to request an adjustment to correct this with
WageWorks. It is in employees’ best interest to submit paper claim forms for
any FY 2013 reimbursements during the hold period.”
THE CURRENT myFBMC card will continue to work through June 30,
2013; however, employees electing to re-enroll for the new plan year will need
to use the new WageWorks debit card beginning July 1.
THE FSA debit card system removes much previously required
paperwork, although some transactions require documentation.
“IF YOU use the card at a healthcare provider or pharmacy
for an amount that is not a known copayment, or the merchant does not have an
Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) in place, WageWorks will most
likely require that you submit a receipt or explanation of benefits form,”
Devaney said. “IIAS enables merchants to verify FSA-eligible purchases at
the register, eliminating the need for members to submit receipts. WageWorks
will notify members of any card transactions that require attention by email
and when members log onto their system.”
THE STATE of Illinois
Medical Care Assistance Plan allows employees to set aside up to $208.33/month
($277.77/month for University employees paid over nine months), tax free, for eligible medical care
expenses. Money in this plan can be used to cover the cost of medical expenses
that are not paid by health, dental or vision insurance, such as deductibles,
co-payments, and eligible non-covered expenses.
FOR ADDITIONAL details, see:
nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/cf/benefits/index.cfm?Item_id=121
Mentors, Proteges Needed
THE PROGRAM allows Academic
Professionals and Civil Service staff the opportunity for professional
development, advancement, and leadership and skills development in their
careers. It will run from the beginning of September through May 31, 2014. A
kick-off event for all participants will be held in mid-September, with the
date TBD at this time.
AHLAM AL-KODMANY, APAC Vice Chair, has
participated in the APMP in the past and commented, “It’s a great program
because it brings together professionals from different backgrounds—work,
ethnic, racial, and cultural—to exchange ideas on how we can improve in
professional development, skill set, conflict management, graduate/professional
degree pursuit, and home/life balance. Whether mentor or mentee, we all learn
from each other.”
THE APMP committee is
accepting applications for mentors and protégés through Monday, July 1. There
is a greater need for mentors in the program. If you are interested in becoming
a mentor and/or a protégé for the first time or participating in program again,
visit the APMP website and complete an application:
IF YOU have questions,
contact the committee at apmp_committee@uic.edu.
Brenda Russell Becomes UIC United President; Fights to Protect Pensions
 |
Brenda Russell, PhD, new
President of UIC United, the UIC chapter of SURS,
and her husband, Jack Cooksey,
MD.
|
BRENDA RUSSELL, Professor Emerita, Physiology and
Biophysics, has been elected President of the UIC United chapter of the State
University Annuitants Association (SUAA). This organization is for anyone who
has ever paid into the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). The goals
of UIC United are to push for fairness for UIC employees and retirees concerning
retirement benefits, including taking legal action with coalition partners or
independently when unconstitutional or adverse legislation is proposed that
could diminish or impair promised benefits.
RUSSELL JOINED UIC United in hopes of protecting the
pension plans of all UIC employees. She retired two years ago mainly to ensure
her pension plan would be protected, as she did not trust the political system
to protect her or other SURS members. “I am rehired to continue my NIH-funded
research, so I see the current situation first hand,” explained Russell. “I am
very concerned about the fiscal crisis in Illinois, with the resulting cuts to
both higher education and the attack on State pensions.”
AT THE moment, UIC United is trying to give
information to SURS members about their pensions and is encouraging everyone to
contact his or her own Illinois Senator or Representative in the Illinois
House. “We don’t tell people what to say,” Russell said, “but we do want them
to express their opinion directly to their own elected officials. Future votes
matter.”
RUSSELL HOPES there will be fairness for UIC
employees. “The State employees should not be paying an unfair load for past
fiscal mismanagement in Illinois, which now has the lowest credit rating of all
50 states,” Russell explained. Currently, $9 out of $10 of Illinois General
Fund spending is going towards four core services: education, health care,
human services, and public safety. “Spending on pensions may mean devastating
cuts for our most basic public services,” Russell said. “I understand that is
why some feel pensions should be targeted, but that’s the wrong solution. My
own opinion is that the State needs to raise revenue because we cannot cut our
way out of the fiscal mess without doing serious harm to the pensions and to
UIC’s State funding.”
BESIDES PENSION cuts, health care is another major
concern for SURS members. The Senate plan proposed by Senate President John Cullerton offers a potential
choice between cost of living increases and health insurance for retirees.
“Health care is a fast moving situation, especially as Obamacare will start
January 2014,” Russell said, noting that the potential impact of this
legislation is unclear at this point.
DURING A recent survey of UIC United members,
it was reinforced that they wanted information that they can trust about
pensions and benefits. “We are starting a quarterly newsletter and will have
bulletins any time hot news or immediate action is required,” Russell
announced. The events that UIC United holds will be focused on the pension
issues.
IT IS important to note that the UIC United
chapter of SUAA and the faculty union, also called “UIC United,” are not the
same thing, she said. “Our word ‘united’ is to register the fact that we are
uniting current employees and those who are retired,” explained Russell. Anyone
who is an employee and is currently paying into SURS is eligible to join.
MEMBERSHIP IS easy as it takes five minutes and can
be completed online. “Membership is affordable—it costs less than Netflix—and
can be set up to be automatically deducted from your paycheck,” Russell said.
One can join via the UIC United website, www.uic.edu/orgs/suaa/applicat.html.
The application can be printed, completed, and mailed with a $42 check to the
SUAA office. The application also can be completed online through the SUAA
website, www.suaa.org.
Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence Award Nominations Due in June
 |
Chancellor Paula
Allen-Meares once again is sponsoring the CAPE Awards.
|
APAC Meetings Scheduled
ALL
APs are invited to
the monthly APAC meeting at 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.
Meetings are held either in Room 5175 of the College of Medicine Research
Building, 909 S. Wolcott, or Room 2750 of University Hall on the East Campus.
Next meeting is July 10 in Room 2750 of University Hall. For information, call
(312) 996-0306.
THE CONTINUING CRISIS
STATE UNIVERSITIES get only fraction of what they are due
from State, says State Journal-Register of
May 19. See http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x776192089/Deadbeat-Illinois-Universities-get-fraction-of-what-theyre-due?utm_source=Copy+of+PI+Extra+5.16.13&utm_campaign=PI+email+5.20.13&utm_medium=email.
PUBLIC PENSIONS rebound from recession. See Marketplace, May 20: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/public-pension-funds-rebound-recession.
‘STATE OF denial’ over true amount of UI
financial reserves? See News-Gazette, June
9: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2013-06-09/state-denial-over-true-amount-ui-financial-reserves.html
Vol. 6, No. 6 June 2013
ISSN 1946-1860
Editor: William S. Bike
Staff: Lucia Gonzalez, Neal Lorenzi, Gail Mansfield, Monica M. Walk
Vice Chair: Ahlam Al-Kodmany
Chair: Michael Moss
Secretary: Mary Berta
Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
Web Chair: Jeff Alcantar
Web Chair: Jeff Alcantar
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