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Newsletter sent on November 7th, November 21st, and November 28th

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November 8th -
November 15th -
November 15th -
December 1st - Wellness rebate paid out
December 5th -
December 5th -
December 7th -
December 12th -
December 13th -

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This months news contains information on...

1. FINANCIAL HEALTH
• Meet with Fidelity
• Fidelity Engagement Program
2. HEALTH & WELLNESS
• Providence ��ɫ����Ƶ Group Update
• Denali Pharmacy in Fairbanks - Remains In-Network
• The Eye Guys (November Dates)
3. WEBINARS
• NEW! Employee Leave Benefits Training (On Demand)
• TIAA December Webinars
• TIAA November Webinars
• You’re more than your blood sugar
• Unmasking ADHD Mimics: Exploring Sleep Disorders, Encephalopathies, and More
4. REMINDERS
• Wellness Rebate - Paid out on 12/1/23 Paycheck
• Leave Share Program
5. RESOURCES
• Speak with a member of the benefits team directly!
• Get the most out of your Premera plan
• Confused about your EOB (explanation of benefits)?

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Financial Health

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Meet with Fidelity
UA’s Fidelity Representative, Dan Kline, has added additional meeting times! Mr. Kline can help with everyday financial needs - from investing in your workplace retirement plan, to saving for college tuition, and more. To sign up for an appointment, please go to the , choose your preferred date, and select your time slot. You may also call 800-642-7131 to schedule an appointment at a time that works best for you. 

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Fidelity Engagement Campaign
Research tells us that when employees are more engaged with their workplace retirement plans, they are more financially confident and knowledgeable – which directly correlates with greater employee financial wellness. Yet, many employees are not engaged with their Fidelity NetBenefits® account because they don’t know how to log on, or they simply do not know what services Fidelity provides - like personal help and financial support.

Check out Fidelity’s , to gain a better understanding of Fidelity’s services. This site provides contact information, a scheduler to schedule meetings with Fidelity, and a series of short videos that go over many of the frequently asked questions. 

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Health and Wellness

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Providence ��ɫ����Ƶ Group Update
Premera Blue Cross received termination notices for three Providence ��ɫ����Ƶ groups: 

• Providence Medical Group ��ɫ����Ƶ
• Providence Behavioral Medicine Group
• Providence Imaging Center

Premera is working in good faith to reach a new agreement that provides both quality care and fairly compensates the health system before the contract end date of December 31, 2023. Premera is committed to long-term, realistic, practical solutions that drive down costs and will continue to work with the Providence ��ɫ����Ƶ groups to meet these commitments.

Premera is obligated to send out notices to affected members 30 days before the termination date, even though they are continuing to work with the Providence ��ɫ����Ƶ groups on a new agreement. These notices will be sent out by the end of November. We will keep employees up to date as Premera continues to work toward a new agreement over the coming weeks.

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Denali Pharmacy in Fairbanks - Remains In-Network
If you use Denali Pharmacy in Fairbanks, please disregard the notice sent that the in-network coverage would term on 11/27. Paperwork has been completed and Denali Pharmacy will remain in-network. If you have questions about your in-network pharmacy benefits, please call Premera’s customer service number on the back of your Premera ID card or reach out to TouchCare.

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The Eye Guys (November and December Dates)
Through a WellVision Exam, The Eye Guys will get a better view of your eyes and overall health. They’ll look for eye health problems, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. They’ll also look for signs of health conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and pre-diabetes. Plus, you can discuss day-to-day concerns like allergies or digital eye strain. 

All locations will be open from 9am-6pm. Appointments are appreciated! Schedule by calling 907-376-3917.

• Ketchikan - The Landing Hotel - November 12th - 15th
• Wrangell - Stikine Inn - November 17th - 18th
• Petersburg - Scandia House - November 20th - 21st
• Haines - Ripinski Retreat - December 1st - 2nd
• Skagway - Air B&B at 1325 State Street - December 4th - 5th
• Hoonah - Icy Strait Lodge - December 7th - 8th
• Gustavus - The Annie Mae Lodge - December 9th - 10th
• Yakutat - The Sly Fox Inn - December 13th - 14th
• Cordova - Cordova Civic Center - December 16th - 18th

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Webinars

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NEW! (On Demand)
Wondering how the many types of leaves UA offers to employees interact? Wondering when some of these options are available and when they are not? 

Good news! The UA HR Benefits and Compensation Team has compiled an on-demand video training focused on the Family and Medical Leave Act, Parental Leave, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, the Leave Share Program, and the UNAC Leave Bank. Geared toward both employees and supervisors, this new training can be watched when it fits into your schedule, on your terms.

If after watching this training, you still have questions, please reach out to the Leave and Accommodations Team at ua-hr-leaves@alaska.edu. Every leave journey is different; we would love to help!

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TIAA November Webinars
Join TIAA’s live webinars during the month of November. Access can be found on . These are open to any employee - not just TIAA members.

• November 8 @ 10:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | Take control of your financial life: 5 steps to managing money and debt
• Learn how to manage your money and balance your priorities so you can enjoy life now and save for the future. This webinar covers balancing income and expenses, creating a spending plan, debt strategies and building your credit score.

• November 15 @ 8:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | Invest for success: Fine-tuning your retirement strategy
• If you’re in or near your peak earning years, move beyond the basics to build a secure retirement. This includes adopting a saving lifestyle, avoiding pitfalls that can sabotage your saving and planning carefully before retiring.

• December 5 @ 11:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | Live with confidence in retirement: 5 steps to creating your retirement income plan  
• Prepare your retirement income plan with the help of these five steps! These include estimating expenses, understanding income sources, building a strategy for lifetime income, withdrawing retirement assets and other planning tips.
  
  
• December 5 @ 12:00 p.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | Invest for Success: 5 principles you need to know
• No matter where you are in your career journey, this webinar can help you understand the key principles of investing for retirement. From compounding to taxes to choosing investments, you’ll learn that how you invest for retirement is just as important as how much you save.

• December 7 @ 8:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | Make the move toward long-term financial security: Your mid career retirement check-in
• Review your retirement plan to make sure you’re on the path to lifelong financial security! This webinar includes considering your priorities, putting together a spending plan and knowing the ways to save, all while juggling current financial demands.
  
  
• December 12 @ 10:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | Write your next chapter: 5 steps to setting your retirement date
• Set your retirement date with the help of these five steps! These include estimating retirement expenses, closing any income gaps, understanding key milestones that can impact your retirement finances and protecting your savings.
  
  
• December 13 @ 8:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | Establish your retirement plan: A start-to-finish guide
• Developed with women in mind, or for anyone who wants to think ahead about their finances! This webinar will help you understand your income inflow and outflow and how to balance them, saving strategies and creating a solid foundation for financial well-being.

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You’re more than your blood sugar
TouchCare Webinar | Wednesday, November 15 at 10am ��ɫ����Ƶ

Join us for an engaging session with Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, MD, IFMCP, and Elle Bernardo, MS, RDN, LDN, Head of Nutrition from Health Meets Wellness, as we explore how to take control of your health and achieve optimal blood sugar levels. Explore how optimizing your blood sugar levels can enhance heart health, support weight management, and prevent or manage rising chronic conditions like diabetes.

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Unmasking ADHD Mimics: Exploring Sleep Disorders, Encephalopathies, and More
Discover the hidden conditions that mimic ADHD with Dr. Georges Ghacibeh, MD, MS, FAAN, from Hackensack University Medical Center. This webinar explores lesser-known culprits such as sleep disorders and encephalopathies, providing insights for accurate diagnosis and effective management. .

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Reminders

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Wellness Rebate - Paid out with 12/1/23 Paycheck
The Wellness Rebate will be paid out with the 12/1/23 paycheck. If you have any questions on the rebate, please call benefits at (907) 450-8242 or email us at ua-benefits@alaska.edu. 

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Leave Share Program
The Leave Share Program has been updated with our new Short-term Disability policy. The Leave Share Program allows certain employees who are experiencing an approved Family Medical Leave (FML) event and have exhausted all their own paid leave to receive sick leave donations from other employees, meaning the employee in leave-without-pay status can still receive their salary. Importantly, only some FML events and employment situations are eligible for the Leave Share Program. Please review the Leave Share webpage for information on who is eligible and how to apply.

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Resources 

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Speak with a member of the benefits team directly!
Employees have many ways to get in touch with the benefits team. 

• NEW PHONE LINE! The benefits team now has a direct line (907) 450-8242. This line rings to our front line benefits specialists who can help you with all things benefits! 
• If you’re interested in setting up some time with one of our specialists, feel free to schedule some time during our benefits open office hours!
• As always, we are available to answer questions at ua-benefits@alaska.edu. 

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Get the most out of your Premera plan
Your Premera Account
on the secure premera.com member website to get your current benefit information. Create an account for everyone enrolled on your plan.

Go Paperless
Read your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) online. Premera will send you an email when a new EOB is available to view.

Premera Mobile App
Check out the – your ID card and health info on the go! Available for or.

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Confused about your EOB (explanation of benefits)?
When you receive healthcare, your provider sends the bill (known as a claim) to Premera. When Premera pays the claim, we send you an explanation of benefits or EOB. (Don't worry—it's not a bill.)

The EOB explains how your benefits were applied to a particular claim, including the following:

• Date of service
• Amount billed and amount paid by your plan
• Amount you owe
• Amount credited toward your deductible

To stay on top of your expenses:

• Review each EOB closely
• Compare it to your provider’s receipt or bill
• Keep the EOB for at least 2 years 

Need additional help with your EOB? Call over to TouchCare and they can help walk you through it!

Newsletters sent on October 10th and October 23rd

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October 4th - 
October 10th - World Mental Health Day
October 11th - 
October 11th - Benefits Survey due today
October 16th - Premera customer service survey sent (complete by October 31st)
October 17th - and
October 19th -
October 18th - Unmasking ADHD Mimics | TouchCare Webinar
October 19th -
October 25 - 
November 7 -
November 7 -
November 17 -
December 4 -

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This months news contains information on…

1. FINANCIAL HEALTH
   • LifeWorks - Financial Resources at your Fingertips with Securian
   • PERS and TRS retirement trainings with the Division of Retirement and Benefits (DRB)
   • Meet with Fidelity
2. HEALTH & WELLNESS
   • Premera Customer Service Survey
   • Premera card updates
   • The Eye Guys (October Dates)
   • NEW! Livongo - Weight Management Program
3. WEBINARS
   • Unmasking ADHD Mimics | TouchCare Webinar
   • Headache to Headway: Understanding & Managing Migraines | TouchCare Webinar
   • TIAA October Webinars
4. REMINDERS
   • DUE ON WEDNESDAY, 10/11! Benefits Survey
5. RESOURCES
   • October 10th is World Mental Health Day

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Financial Health

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LifeWorks - Financial Resources at your Fingertips with Securian
LifeWorks provides telephone consults or 45-minute counseling sessions per issue on many topics - from budget analysis to tax planning. This also includes online access to a financial fitness assessment. The best part? This is a free benefit available to all benefit-eligible employees!

There are quite a few resources available on LifeWorks webpage (including work/life balance, health, family, and more). To log in, go to with user name: lfg and password: resources. To review your financial wellbeing, log into using the user name and password above. 

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Division of Retirement and Benefits (DRB) Training
The Division of Retirement and Benefits (DRB) will be hosting three (3) training sessions for Public Employees Retirement Plan (PERS) and Teachers Retirement Plan (TRS) employees. Below is the training schedule. To register, click on the link and complete the registration page. 

If you are unsure what retirement plan you are in, go to > Employee Services > Benefits and Deductions > Retirement Plans or email ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

| October 17th from 12pm - 2pm
Intro to Defined Contribution Retirement (DCR) Plan - Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) & Teachers Retirement System (TRS). 

• This session includes information about the defined contribution account, financial advice services, retiree insurance plans, Health Reimbursement Arrangement, occupational disability, eligibility, vesting, investment options, distribution options and additional resources available.

| October 17th from 4pm - 6pm
The Retirement Process: Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Defined Benefit (DB) Retirement Plan -Tier I, II ​

• The interactive session covers the retirement process, eligibility, vesting, service and benefit calculations, early and normal retirement, increasing service credit, survivor options, retiree insurance options, after retirement increases and the timing of benefits.

| October 19th from 2pm - 4pm
The Retirement Process: Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Defined Benefit (DB) 

Retirement Plan - Tier I, II, III

• The interactive session covers the retirement process, Voluntary Savings Plan, eligibility, vesting, service and benefit calculations, early and normal retirement, increasing service credit, survivor options, retiree insurance options, after retirement increases and the timing of benefits.

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Meet with Fidelity
UA’s Fidelity Representative, Dan Kline, is available for virtual appointments on November 7, November 17, and December 4. Mr. Kline can help with everyday financial needs - from investing in your workplace retirement plan, to saving for college tuition, and more. To sign up for an appointment, please go to the , choose your preferred date, and select your time slot. You may also call 800-642-7131 to schedule an appointment at a time that works best for you. 

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Health and Wellness

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Premera Customer Service Survey
Look for an email from premeramarketresearch@premera.com on October 16.

On October 16, 2023, Premera will be conducting a survey for those who have contacted the Premera Customer Service department within the past six months. Your participation in the survey will help Premera improve the service they provide us. Be on the lookout for the survey from Premera’s Market Research Department (premeramarketresearch@premera.com). If you have any questions, please reach out to ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

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Premera Card Updates
Premera will be sending new cards to everyone on a UA Choice Plan. The
only update to the new cards that you will receive is to the plan names: Premium, Basic, and HDHP. This will align the plan names on the Premera cards with our new FY24 plan names. If you have any questions, please email ua-benefits@alaska.edu. 

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The Eye Guys (October and November Dates)
Through a WellVision Exam, The Eye Guys will get a better view of your eyes and overall health. They’ll look for eye health problems, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. They’ll also look for signs of health conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Plus, you can discuss day-to-day concerns like allergies or digital eye strain. 

All locations will be open from 9am-6pm. Appointments are appreciated! Schedule by calling 907-376-3917.

• Tok - Old Tok Clinic - October 12th - 13th
• Delta Junction - Diamond Willow Inn - October 15th - 16th
• Glennallen - Cross Road Medical Clinic - October 18th - 19th
• Valdez - Valdez Conc. & Civic Center - October 21st - 23rd
  
• Ketchikan - The Landing Hotel - November 12th - 15th
• Wrangell - Stikine Inn - November 17th - 18th
• Petersburg - Scandia House - November 20th - 21st

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NEW! Livongo - Weight Management Program

Livongo has expanded their program to include (1) diabetes prevention, (2) diabetes management, (3) hypertension management, and now (4) weight management! 

The Weight Management Program connects you with a certified health coach who helps make living healthy and tackling your weight challenges easier. You will get personalized tips and techniques for you to improve your nutrition, exercise, weight loss, and sleep.

This program is available through your UA Choice medical plan with Premera. If you are eligible for the program, there is no cost to you! To see if you are eligible for any of the four (4) Livongo programs, please call 800-945-4355.

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Webinars

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Unmasking ADHD Mimics | TouchCare Webinar
Wednesday, October 18th at 10am ��ɫ����Ƶ |

Discover the hidden conditions that mimic ADHD with Dr. Georges Ghacibeh, MD, MS, FAAN, from Hackensack University Medical Center. This webinar explores lesser-known culprits such as sleep disorders and encephalopathies, providing insights for accurate diagnosis and effective management. Join us as we unmask ADHD mimics and broaden our perspective on these complex conditions.

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Headache to Headway: Understanding & Managing Migraines | TouchCare Webinar
On Demand:

Are debilitating headaches or migraines disrupting your daily life? This month's TouchCare webinar is designed to help you understand and manage these common neurological conditions. TouchCare will be joined by Dr. Regina Krel, MD, FAHS, Neurologist at Hackensack Meridian Health to discuss underlying causes, triggers, and treatment options for headaches and migraines.

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TIAA October Webinars

Join TIAA’s live webinars during the month of October. Access can be found on . These are open to any employee - not just TIAA members.

• October 11 @ 11am ��ɫ����Ƶ | Invest for success: 5 principles you need to know
• No matter where you are in your career journey, this webinar can help you understand the key principles of investing for retirement. This includes compounding, taxes, choosing investments and more.
  
  
• October 19 @ 10am ��ɫ����Ƶ | Generative AI Cybersecurity: New Insights and Actions to Strengthen Security and Boost Productivity
• Hear from cybersecurity leaders who will share the latest insights on AI cyberattacks and steps professionals can take to avoid these crimes. This includes the latest higher education and government initiatives focused on generative AI cybersecurity.
  
  
• October 25 @ 8am ��ɫ����Ƶ | Maximize your Health Savings Account (HSA): contributions are more powerful than you think
• HSAs can do more than cover current healthcare expenses. Learn how this unique fund can support your needs over time. This includes tax advantages and what your funds can be used for today and in the future.

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Make the move toward long-term financial security: Your mid-career retirement check-in (TIAA)
November 7 @ 10:30am ��ɫ����Ƶ | Register on

For anyone halfway down the road to retirement, this webinar is a critical checkpoint. It takes you through the keys to successful money management, how to juggle competing financial demands and retirement saving strategies that can help put you on the path to lifelong financial security. 

TIAA will look at how to:

• Understand what you’re aiming for
• Consider your priorities
• Put your spending plan together
• Know the ways to save

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Reminders

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 DUE ON WEDNESDAY, 10/11! Benefits Survey

University of ��ɫ����Ƶ Human Resources is conducting an employee benefits pulse survey to get your feedback on the changes and improvements made to the benefits offering.

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, you will receive an email invitation with your unique link to the survey. The email will be sent from Qualtrics, our survey platform, with the subject, “Share your opinions about our benefits program!”

The survey may take up to 10 minutes and your responses are confidential. After the survey closes, the University of ��ɫ����Ƶ Human Resources team will use the findings to improve overall employee experience.

If you have questions about the survey, please contact the UA Benefits team at ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

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FY24 Wellness Program is Underway
Employees enrolled in a UA Choice Medical Plan are eligible to participate in the UA Wellness Program. Spouses/FIPs can participate if they are on a UA Choice Medical Plan, too. To earn the incentive of $600, a Health Risk Assessment and Biometric screening must be completed along with 6 other activity points. For additional details on the program, please review our Wellness webpage.  

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Resources

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October 10th is World Mental Health Day

In honor of World Mental Health Day, the UA benefits team would like to provide you with the resources available to you as a UA employee.

1. FREE! Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offered through ComPsych. This benefit offers a variety of services designed to assist you and your family in resolving work/life issues in order to live happier, healthier, more balanced lives. The EAP provides employees and their family members who are living in the employee’s household up to 8 free counseling sessions per issue. Most importantly, these services are free, completely confidential, and can be easily accessed by calling the 24/7 toll-free helpline at 1-888-969-0155. 

The with several resources including two webinars and multiple exercises on practicing good mental health. 

2. Talkspace | Virtual Therapy

Talkspace is available to employees on a UA Choice Health Plan.​ With Talkspace, you can easily connect to therapists and psychiatrists by video, phone call, and text for about the same cost as an in-person visit. To access this service, , get matched with the best therapist for you, and start messaging your therapist right away.

3. Brightline | Parent/Child Relationships

Feeling like your child is stressed, depressed, anxious, or having to navigate tough transitions? Interested in more resources or skills to build as a parent or caregiver? Brightline provides confidential video visits with licensed clinicians, coaching programs to help tackle everyday challenges, and on-the-go access to content, resources, and chat with a coach. UA employees covered on a UA Choice Health Plan are eligible to use Brightline. Get started today!

Step 1:
Step 2: Create an account and access your premium Connect+ membership
Step 3: Answer a few questions to get the right care
Step 4: Schedule your first appointment

If you have any questions, reach out directly to the Brightline team at 1-888-224-7332. 

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Wait, what does that mean?
Health plans can be confusing. But they make a lot more sense when you know a few basic terms.

• Deductible: The amount you pay each year for covered healthcare services before your health plan starts to pay.
• Coinsurance: The percentage of covered expenses you pay after you have paid your deductible.
• Copayment/Copay: A fixed amount you pay for each healthcare service. Copays can vary for different services, and they do not count toward meeting your deductible. 
• Out-of-pocket maximum: The most you would have to pay for covered services in a plan year. Your out-of-pocket maximum includes the amounts you spend on deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

Need a bit more information? Call over to TouchCare and they can help apply these ideas directly to your plans!

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Protect your health with an annual flu shot
Getting a flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself from getting sick. The flu virus changes every year, so you should get the vaccine each year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, everyone over the age of 6 months should get a flu shot. You can get a flu vaccination at almost any in-network pharmacy or doctor. If you go to an in-network doctor or pharmacy, your flu shot is free*.

* If the flu shot is your only reason for your office visit, the visit will be fully covered. If you have other care or services as part of the office visit, you may be responsible for all or part of the cost of the visit. You may need to pay up-front at your pharmacy. Go to to download and submit a medical claim form to be reimbursed.

Need help finding an in-network location? Call over to TouchCare and they can help direct you to an in-network facility!  

Newsletters sent on September 7th and September 26th

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Week of September 11th -
September 20th -
September 27th - Benefits Survey emailed out to employees via Qualtrics
October 3rd - 
October 4th -
October 11th -
October 16th - Premera customer service survey sent (complete by October 31st)
October 19th -
October 25 -

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This months news contains information on…

1. FINANCIAL HEALTH
• TIAA in-person meetings
• Invest with Fidelity? Check your Financial Wellness!
• Write your next chapter: 5 steps to setting your retirement date
2. HEALTH & WELLNESS
• Premera Card Updates
• Premera Customer Service Survey
• Electronic Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
• The Eye Guys (October)
• The Eye Guys (September)
• NEW! Livongo - Weight Management Program
• Order your FY24 Biometric Home Test Kit
3. WEBINARS
• Headache to Headway: Understanding & Managing Migraines webinar
• TIAA October Webinars (October)
4. REMINDERS
• Benefits Website
• Medical, Dental, and Vision - Coverage Begin and End Dates
• The FY24 Wellness Plan year is here!
• Order your FY24 Biometric Home Test Kit
• FSA and HSA - what can I actually use these funds for?
5. RESOURCES
• Benefit Highlights - Who is in your corner?
  

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Financial Health

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Do you invest with Fidelity? Check your Financial Wellness!
Did you know that if you invest with Fidelity, you can check on your current financial wellness? Log into your portal with your Fidelity login information and take the quick 15 minute quiz to see where you stand with your current financial goals. See where potential gaps may be in your planning strategy and review the ways you can improve. Needing more guidance? Speak with a planning consultant with Fidelity today by calling 1-800-420-2363!

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Write your next chapter: 5 steps to setting your retirement date
October 3 @ 12pm ��ɫ����Ƶ | .

For anyone starting to think seriously about when to retire, this webinar takes you through five steps to deciding when the time is right, including estimating retirement expenses, closing any income gap and understanding key milestones that can impact your retirement finances. We’ll help you think through how to:

• Estimate what you’ll need
• Adjust as needed
• Consider key milestones
• Protect your savings

Join TIAA on October 3 to better understand where you are on your retirement journey. This is open to all UA employees - not just those who invest with TIAA. !

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TIAA In-person Meetings
During the week of September 11th, 2023

No matter where you are in life - just getting started or planning for retirement - a session with Ivana Stanisic or Scott Rethfort can help you create a plan for your goals. These meetings are provided at no cost as part of your retirement plan. You will get an in-depth answer to these questions and more:

• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to meet my goals?
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

TIAA will be on campus at UAA, UAF, and UAS during the week of September 11th, 2023. You do not need to be invested with TIAA to take advantage of these in-person sessions. If you cannot make it in person during this time, you can use this same link to sign up with a TIAA representative and meet virtually at another time.

** If you are having trouble signing up online, please call Scott directly at 775.686.2451. He will assist you with scheduling an appointment during one of the time slots below **

UAA | Bragaw Suite 102 from 10am - 5pm
September 11 - 13th, Ivana
September 14 - 15th, Scott

UAF | Butrovich 109C from 8am -5pm
September 11 - 13th, Scott

UAS | Room 115 of the Eagan Classroom wing from 10am - 5pm
September 14 - 15th, Ivana

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Health and Wellness

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Premera Card Updates
Premera will be sending new cards to everyone on a UA Choice Plan. The only update to the new cards that you will receive is to the plan names: Premium, Basic, and HDHP. This will align the plan names on the Premera cards with our new FY24 plan names. If you have any questions, please email ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

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Premera Customer Service Survey
Look for an email from premeramarketresearch@premera.com on October 16.

On October 16, 2023, Premera will be conducting a survey for those who have contacted the Premera Customer Service department within the past six months. Your participation in the survey will help Premera improve the service they provide us. Be on the lookout for the survey from Premera’s Market Research Department (premeramarketresearch@premera.com). If you have any questions, please reach out to ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

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Electronic Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ would like to remind employees that electronic EOBs are available for all our UA Choice Plan members - this includes your spouse/FIP and children on the plan! Go paperless and save time and money! 

You can sign up for electronic EOBs with Premera. Enrolling is easy:

1. Log into your premera account at
2. Click on “my account” in the upper right corner and select “account settings”
3. In the “Preferences” box, switch the Paperless Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to “on”
4. Enjoy more room in your mailbox!

There are several benefits for enrolling in the electronic EOBs:

1. All your EOBs will always be in one place. You can log into your secure Premera account and view current or previous EOBs. This makes referencing your documents a breeze. 
2. You will receive an email notification anytime a new EOB is generated and ready for you to access online. Always know when EOBs are complete.
3. You will have immediate access to completed EOBs (both current and past). No more waiting for EOBs to come via mail.
4. Enrolling in electronic EOBs will help the university mitigate administrative costs on our health care plan.

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NEW! Livongo - Weight Management Program
Livongo has expanded their program to include (1) diabetes prevention, (2) diabetes management, (3) hypertension management, and now (4) weight management! 

The Weight Management Program connects you with a certified health coach who helps make living healthy and tackling your weight challenges easier. You will get personalized tips and techniques for you to improve your nutrition, exercise, weight loss, and sleep.

This program is available through your UA Choice medical plan with Premera. If you are eligible for the program, there is no cost to you! To see if you are eligible for any of the four (4) Livongo programs, please call 800-945-4355.

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The Eye Guys (October)
Through a WellVision Exam, The Eye Guys will get a better view of your eyes and overall health. They’ll look for eye health problems, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. They’ll also look for signs of health conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Plus, you can discuss day-to-day concerns like allergies or digital eye strain. 

All locations will be open from 9am-6pm. Appointments are appreciated! Schedule by calling 907-376-3917.

• Akiachak - IRA Building - October 1st - 2nd
• Kwethluk - Old High School Building - October 4th - 5th
• Napakiak - City Hall Building - October 6th - 7th
• Tok - Old Tok Clinic - October 12th - 13th
• Delta Junction - Diamond Willow Inn - October 15th - 16th
• Glennallen - Cross Road Medical Clinic - October 18th - 19th
• Valdez - Valdez Conc. & Civic Center - October 21st - 23rd
  
  
• Utqiagvik - Inupiat Heritage Center - September 3 (8am-6pm)
• Haines - The Chilkat Tower - September 6th - 8th
• Skagway - 1325 State Street Airbnb - September 10th - 11th
• Kake - Keex Kwann Lodge - September 13th - 14th
• Seward - Harbor 360 Hotel - September 18th - 20th
• Cordova - Cordova Center - September 22nd - 24th

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Order your FY24 Biometric Home Test Kit
Biometric home test kits are now available to order. Remember - the biometric screening is one of the required activities in order to be eligible for the rebate. Please review the instructions on our Wellness Program webpage for more information on how to order.

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Webinars

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Headache to Headway: Understanding & Managing Migraines
Wednesday, September 20th, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ (2:00 p.m. Eastern)

Are debilitating headaches or migraines disrupting your daily life? This month's TouchCare webinar is designed to help you understand and manage these common neurological conditions. TouchCare will be joined by Dr. Regina Krel, MD, FAHS, Neurologist at Hackensack Meridian Health to discuss underlying causes, triggers, and treatment options for headaches and migraines.

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Reminders

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Benefits Survey
University of ��ɫ����Ƶ Human Resources is conducting an employee benefits pulse survey to get your feedback on the changes and improvements made to the benefits offering.

On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, you will receive an email invitation with your unique link to the survey. The email will be sent from Qualtrics, our survey platform, with the subject, “Share your opinions about our benefits program!”

The survey may take up to 10 minutes and your responses are confidential. After the survey closes, the University of ��ɫ����Ƶ Human Resources team will use the findings to improve overall employee experience.

If you have questions about the survey, please contact the UA Benefits team at ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

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Benefits Website
The Benefits website has been updated to reflect all new plan year information. Please review our website and pay special attention to our new and our updated benefits:

New Benefits

• Benefit Enhancement Program - Powered by Corestream
• Short-term Disability
• Parental Leave

Updated Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage (unbundled coverage)
• UA Pension Plan (increased base wage)
• Basic Life Insurance (increased)
• Supplemental Life Insurance (added spouse/FIP and child(ren) coverages)

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Medical, Dental, and Vision - Coverage Begin and End Dates
For FY24, coverage and deduction dates for all healthcare (Medical, Dental, and Vision) align with pay periods. Please review the information below and reference to understand when coverage will begin or end.

 

 

 

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The FY24 Wellness Plan year is here!
There have been a few minor changes to the FY24 Wellness Program. Employees now need 8 points total - a required Health Risk Assessment, a required biometric screening, and 6 additional points to qualify for the rebate. Review the Wellness Program webpage for more information.

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Order your FY24 Biometric Home Test Kit

Biometric home test kits are now available to order. Remember - the biometric screening is one of the required activities in order to be eligible for the rebate. Please review the instructions on our Wellness Program webpage for more information on how to order.

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Invite your Spouse/FIP to the Wellness Plan!

If you have a spouse/FIP that is on your UA Choice Medical Plan with you, you can now send them an email to invite them to the program! Remember, spouses/FIPs can earn up to a $600 rebate on medical plan premiums, too, if they complete the program themselves. If you and your spouse complete the program - that's up to $1,200!

To invite your spouse/FIP, log into the Wellness Program Portal using your single-sign on. Then, on the right side of the home page, you will see a box where you will type the first name, last name, and email of your spouse/FIP for them to receive the invitation!

As a reminder, the rebates are paid out in November of each year. To qualify, you must 

(1) complete the program by the previous June 30, 
(2) be on a UA Choice MEDICAL plan when the rebate pays out
(3) be a current employee when the rebate pays out.

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FSA and HSA - what can I actually use these funds for?
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are earmarked accounts that eligible employees can contribute to in order to help pay for qualified medical expenses. But, have you ever found yourself at the pharmacy holding bandages and cough drops wondering if they are qualified? ASIFlex (our FSA vendor) has a new feature available to allow you to quickly search hundreds of items and services to see if they are FSA eligible, HSA eligible, or both!

No login is required. Simply go to !

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Resources 

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Benefit Highlights - Who is in your corner?

TouchCare - FREE to use!
TouchCare is your health care advocate and works directly with UA employees on medical, dental, and vision questions - whether it is what plan to enroll in, explaining the differences between plans or pre-tax health accounts, assisting with billing issues or questions, price transparency, finding a provider and more.​ Give them a call at 1-866-486-8242!

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - FREE to use!
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offered through ComPsych. This benefit offers a variety of services designed to assist you and your family in resolving work/life issues in order to live happier, healthier, more balanced lives. These services are free, completely confidential, and can be easily accessed by calling the 24/7 toll-free helpline at 1-888-969-0155. 

LifeWorks - FREE to use!
Securian has partnered with LifeWorks to offer university employees access to professional services for a variety of needs ranging from legal and financial matters or coping with loss. LifeWorks offers comprehensive web and mobile resources and consultations. This benefit is free of charge and available to all university employees.

Newsletters sent on August 15th and 29th

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August 23rd at 10am -
August 29th at 12pm -
August 30th at 10am - TIAA webinar -
Week of September 11th -
(on demand)

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This month's news contains information on…

1. TIAA in-person meetings and webinar
2. Unum leave training
3. Two additional TouchCare webinars
4. Checking your benefits on UAOnline
5. Medical, Dental, and Vision termination dates
6. Deductions and arrears process
7. Pension Plan updates
8. New leave benefits as of July 1, 2023
9. Benefits website updates
10. The Eye Guys are coming to ��ɫ����Ƶ (August/September dates)
11. FSA/HSA eligible expenses tool
12. The FY24 Wellness Plan year has begun!
    

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Webinars

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TIAA In-person Meetings
During the week of September 11th, 2023

No matter where you are in life - just getting started or planning for retirement - a session with Ivana Stanisic or Scott Rethfort can help you create a plan for your goals. These meetings are provided at no cost as part of your retirement plan. You will get an in-depth answer to these questions and more:

• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to meet my goals?
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

TIAA will be on campus at UAA, UAF, and UAS during the week of September 11th, 2023. You do not need to be invested with TIAA to take advantage of these in-person sessions. If you cannot make it in person during this time, you can use this same link to sign up with a TIAA representative and meet virtually at another time.

UAA | Bragaw Suite 102 from 10am - 5pm
September 11 - 13th, Ivana
September 14 - 15th, Scott

UAF | Butrovich 109C from 8am -5pm
September 11 - 13th, Scott

UAS | Room 115 of the Eagan Classroom wing from 10am - 5pm
September 14 - 15th, Ivana

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TIAA Webinar - Take Control of Your Financial Life
Wednesday, August 30th at 10am ��ɫ����Ƶ

Join TIAA as they go over steps to managing money and debt, improving day-to-day financial skills, and learning how to manage money and balance priorities to help enjoy life and save for the future.

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Unum Training
Tuesday, August 29th at 12pm ��ɫ����Ƶ

Unum invites you to attend their training where they will be going over Family Medical Leave (FML), Short-term Disability (STD), and Long-term Disability (LTD). This training will go over the basics of these leaves including how to request a leave, how to record a leave, and general responsibilities for supervisors and employees. This training is recommended for all supervisors and employees to gain an understanding of the responsibilities you may have serving in each role.

This training will be recorded and provided on our Unum training website.

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Understanding Cancer Screenings (live)
Wednesday, August 23rd at 10am ��ɫ����Ƶ

Cancer screenings play a vital role in identifying cancer at its early stages when treatment options are most effective. We’ll be joined by Dr. Heather Thompson Mackey, DNP, ANP-BC, AOCN®, Senior Director, to uncover everything you need to know about preventive screenings: when to get them, age benchmarks, genetic factors, and more. .

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Breaks, Breathwork & Burnout Prevention (on demand)
In last month’s webinar, we were joined by Habit Disruption Founder Kevin Munhall, a functional breathing and stress resilience coach and consultant for a deep dive into this often overlooked facet of burnout prevention. Kevin shared what to do during your breaks to optimize recovery, boost mental focus, and increase your energy levels. .

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Resources & Reminders

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Check your Benefits

Please take a few minutes to log into to check the benefits you are currently enrolled in. If there are any discrepancies, or if you have any questions about your current enrollment(s), please email ua-benefits@alaska.edu for review.

To check your benefits, log in to > Employee Services > Benefits and deductions.

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Medical, Dental, and Vision Termination Dates

As of July 1, 2023, we have made updates to our Medical, Dental, and Vision start and stop dates. Please review the information below to understand when coverage will begin and end.

• New employees - Coverage can now begin on an employee’s first day of employment. To have first-day coverage, a new employee must submit their health care form no later than 5:00pm ��ɫ����Ƶ on the Thursday prior to the end of their first pay period. If a form is submitted after that, coverage will begin on the first day of the pay period immediately following submission. New employees will still have their full 30 days to select coverage.
  
  
• Life event employees (enrolling in coverage) - Coverage for a life event will begin on the day of the life event or the day the form is submitted to Benefits - whichever is the later date. Forms must still be submitted within 30 days of the life event (60 days after the birth, adoption, or placement of a child).
  
  
• Life event employees (dropping coverage) - Coverage will end at the end of the pay period in which the life event occurs. Forms must be submitted within 30 days of the event.
  
  
• Separating employees - Coverage for separating employees will end at the end of the pay period in which an employee separates from the University. COBRA coverage will be offered for those enrolled in a UA Choice Plan and, if elected, this coverage will begin on the next day (there will be no gap in coverage). 
  

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Deductions and Arrears

As of July 1, 2023, all employees - regardless of contract length - will now be on a 26 pay period (12 month) deduction schedule. This means that employees who work less than 26 pay periods in a fiscal year (9, 10, and 11-month employees) will accrue arrears for missed deductions.

Arrears will be paid biweekly when you return on-contract at a rate of 40% of the current deduction(s) until the arrears balance is paid.

1. Health care
2. Dental
3. Vision
4. Supplemental Life
5. AD&D

Arrears will be paid biweekly when you return on-contract at a rate of 100% of the current deduction(s) until the arrears balance is paid.

1. FSA medical care
2. Corestream

Arrears will not be collected for...

1. HSAs
2. FSA dependent care accounts
3. Pet insurance (Pet insurance payments are made directly with ASPCA and are not included in payroll deduction. Employees are responsible for these premiums.)

You can view your arrears balance at any time on by clicking on "Employee Service" > "Benefits & Deductions" > "Arrears Balance."

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UA Pension Plan Update

Employees who are eligible for the UA Pension Plan will see an increase in UA contributions this year. The Pension Plan has increased to 7.65% of an employee’s salary up to a $52,000 base wage. The maximum contribution any employee will receive in a fiscal year is $3,978. 

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New Leave Benefits

There are two new leave benefits for FY24 - (1) Parental Leave and (2) Short-term Disability (STD). Please review an overview of the leaves on our webpage. If you have any questions on the leaves, please email ua-benefits@alaska.edu.

Please note that STD has replaced the Leave Share Program. STD provides a more comprehensive and inclusive benefit to UA employees.

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Benefits Website

The Benefits website has been updated to reflect all new plan year information. Please review our website and pay special attention to our new and our updated benefits:

New Benefits

• Benefit Enhancement Program - Powered by Corestream
• Short-term Disability (STD)
• Parental Leave

Updated Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage (unbundled coverage)
• UA Pension Plan (increased base wage)
• Basic Life Insurance (increased)
• Supplemental Life Insurance (added spouse/FIP and child(ren) coverages)

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The Eye Guys

Through a WellVision Exam, The Eye Guys will get a better view of your eyes and overall health. They’ll look for eye health problems, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. They’ll also look for signs of health conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Plus, you can discuss day-to-day concerns like allergies or digital eye strain. 

All locations will be open from 9am-6pm. Appointments are appreciated! Schedule by calling 907-376-3917.

• Ketchikan - The Landing Hotel - August 14th - 16th
• Wrangell, Stikine Inn - August 18th - 19th
• Petersburg, Scandia House - August 21st - 22nd
• Hoonah, Icy Strait Lodge - August 24th - 25th
  
• Utqiagvik - Inupiat Heritage Center - September 3 (8am-6pm)
• Haines - The Chilkat Tower - September 6th - 8th
• Skayway - 1325 State Street Airbnb - September 10th - 11th
• Kake - Keex Kwann Lodge - September 13th - 14th
• Seward - Harbor 360 Hotel - September 18th - 20th
• Cordova - Cordova Center - September 22nd - 24th

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FSA and HSA - what can I actually use these funds for?

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are earmarked accounts that eligible employees can contribute to in order to help pay for qualified medical expenses. But, have you ever found yourself at the pharmacy holding bandages and cough drops wondering if they are qualified? ASIFLex (our FSA vendor) has a new feature available to allow you to quickly search hundreds of items and services to see if they are FSA eligible, HSA eligible, or both!

No login is required. Simply go to !

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General Wellness Activities

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The FY24 plan year is here!

There have been a few minor changes to the FY24 Wellness Program. Employees now need 8 points total - a required Health Risk Assessment, a required biometric screening, and 6 additional points to qualify for the rebate. Review the Wellness Program webpage for more information.

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NEW! Invite your Spouse/FIP to the Wellness Plan!

If you have a spouse/FIP that is on your UA Choice Medical Plan with you, you can now send them an email to invite them to the program! Remember, spouses/FIPs can earn up to $600 back, too, if they complete the program themselves. If you and your spouse complete the program - that's up to $1,200!

To invite your spouse/FIP, log into the Wellness Program Portal using your single-sign on. Then, on the right side of the home page, you will see a box where you will type the first name, last name, and email of your spouse/FIP for them to receive the invitation!

As a reminder, the rebates are paid out in November of each year. To qualify, you must 

(1) complete the program by the previous June 30, 

(2) be on a UA Choice MEDICAL plan when the rebate pays out

(3) be a current employee when the rebate pays out.

Newsletter sent on July 18th

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Welcome to FY24!

July 19th at 10am
(on demand)

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This month's news contains information on…

1. Two webinars
2. Update to Parental Leave Effective Date
3. Update to UA Pension Plan
4. Benefits Website
5. The Eye Guys - August locations
6. Your EAP
7. Electronic EOBs

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Webinars

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July 19th, 2023 | 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶn

We all know that taking breaks is important to prevent burnout, but do you know how frequently, how long, and what to do during your breaks to optimize recovery, mental focus and your energy levels? Join TouchCare and Habit Disruption Founder Kevin Munhall - a functional breathing and stress resilience coach and consultant - for a deep dive on this often overlooked facet of burnout prevention.

Burnout is rarely caused by one giant stressful event, but rather the accumulation of low-grade everyday stressors that build up slowly overtime until overwhelm hits. This session will teach you how to intervene more frequently to de-stress from these micro-stressors throughout your day and optimize your body’s natural rhythms of focus and attention.

You’ll walk away with a better understanding of the root cause of burnout, a game plan for implementing breaks throughout your workday, and specific research supported breathing exercises to help you de-stress right at your desk.

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(On Demand)

Last month’s TouchCare webinar focused on skin protection & health was a great success! TouchCare was joined by Dr. Lakshi Aldredge who shared effective strategies for skin protection, how to recognize suspicious mole or skin changes, and how to adopt a proactive approach when it comes to skin health.

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Resources & Reminders

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UPDATE! Parental Leave Effective Date

What is Parental Leave?
Parental Leave is available to employees who are on approved FML for the birth, adoption, or placement of their child. Employees will receive five (5) days of paid leave. As an example, this equates to 40 hours of paid Parental Leave for an employee that is scheduled to work 80 hours in a pay period. This leave is for use in the first six months of birth, adoption, or placement. Please review the Parental Leave webpage for detailed information on the program.

Represented employees should refer to their respective Collective Bargaining Agreement or reach out to their union representative.

What updates have been made?
UA Benefits is updating the effective date. Previously, the birth, adoption, or placement had to occur on or after July 1, 2023 (the start of our plan year). At this time, we are expanding the effective date of this leave to include employees who have had an event date within the last 6 months.

To be eligible for the leave under this update, employees must:

1. Currently be on approved FML for the birth, adoption, or placement of their child
2. Use the leave within 6 months of birth, adoption, or placement
3. Have an event date within the last 6 months

Moving forward, Benefits will review FML reporting on a regular basis and provide the leave to employees who are eligible.

What do I need to do to access the leave?
UA Benefits will be completing a NextGen form that is routed to payroll so that the leave can be loaded for those eligible. Eligible employees will receive a copy of the NextGen form letting them know they are eligible for the leave and the final day that the leave can be used.

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UA Pension Plan Update

Employees who are eligible for the UA Pension Plan will see an increase in UA contributions this year. The Pension Plan has increased to 7.65% of an employee’s salary up to a $52,000 base wage. The maximum contribution any employee will receive in a fiscal year is $3,978.

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Benefits Website

The Benefits website has been updated to reflect all new plan year information. Please review our website and pay special attention to our new and our updated benefits:

• New Benefits
  • Benefit Enhancement Program - Powered by Corestream
  • Short-term Disability (STD)
  • Parental Leave

• Updated Benefits
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage (unbundled coverage)
  • UA Pension Plan (increased base wage)
  • Basic Life Insurance (increased)
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (added spouse/FIP and child(ren) coverages)
    

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The Eye Guys

Through a WellVision Exam®, The Eye Guys will get a better view of your eyes and overall health. They’ll look for eye health problems, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. They’ll also look for signs of health conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Plus, you can discuss day-to-day concerns like allergies or digital eye strain.

All locations will be open from 9am-6pm. Appointments are appreciated! Schedule by calling 907-376-3917.

• Ketchikan - The Landing Hotel - August 14th - 16th
• Wrangell, Stikine Inn - August 18th - 19th
• Petersburg, Scandia House - August 21st - 22nd
• Hoonah, Icy Strait Lodge - August 24th - 25th
  

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Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Personal setbacks, emotional conflicts or just the demands of daily life can affect your work, health and family. With help from your GuidanceResources program, they don’t have to. This company-sponsored benefit is available to you and your family members at no cost and gives you someone to talk to when life’s challenges threaten to overwhelm you. The program is staffed by highly trained, caring clinicians who are available by phone or online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call any time with personal concerns, including: 

• Stress, anxiety and depression
• Marital and family conflicts
• Alcohol or drug use
• Job pressures
• Dealing with change
• Grief and loss
  

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Electronic Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ would like to remind employees that electronic EOBs are available for all our UA Choice Plan members. This is your opportunity to go paperless for your EOBs - saving time and money!

You can sign up for electronic EOBs with Premera. Enrolling is easy:

1. Log into your premera account at
2. Click on “my account” in the upper right corner and select “account settings”
3. In the “Preferences” box, switch the Paperless Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to “on”
4. Enjoy more room in your mailbox!

There are several benefits for enrolling in the electronic EOBs:

1. All your EOBs will always be in one place. You can log into your secure Premera account and view current or previous EOBs. This makes referencing your documents a breeze. 
2. You will receive an email notification anytime a new EOB is generated and ready for you to access online. Always know when EOBs are complete.
3. You will have immediate access to completed EOBs (both current and past). No more waiting for EOBs to come via mail.
4. Enrolling in electronic EOBs will help the university mitigate administrative costs on our health care plan.

Are you ready? The FY24 plan year is almost here!

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This month's news contains information on…

• Check your benefits on
• UA Benefits Website -
• Paid Parental Leave
• Short Term Disability (STD)

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1. Check your benefits on

If you have any questions about your plans as they appear on UAOnline, or if you see any discrepancies, please email ua-benefits@alaska.edu. 

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2. UA Benefits Website -

We are in the process of updating our website for FY24. We will send another communication out once our website is ready for our next plan year. 

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3. Paid Parental Leave

The Overview

Five (5) paid days of Parental Leave will be granted to benefit-eligible employees who are parents of a newborn or newly placed/adopted child in the first six (6) months from birth or placement/adoption. As an example, this equates to 40 hours of paid Parental Leave for an employee that is scheduled to work 80 hours in a pay period. Employees must be on approved FML for birth or placement/adoption through Unum in order to access paid parental leave.

Parental Leave is a separate leave that is loaded which is different from any other accrued/paid leaves. If you are not approved for this leave, or have exhausted the 5 days, this will automatically cascade through your paid sick leave, annual leave or Faculty Time Off, any applicable personal holidays, and finally, leave without pay.

Do I need to take action?

Yes. If you believe you may experience an FML event for the birth or placement/adoption of your child, please contact Unum at 866-779-1054 to set up your FML. 

Outside of applying for FML through Unum, there is no further application required by the employee to receive Parental Leave. UA HR will review all active FML directly with Unum and process the leave hours into parents’ leave balances.

The leave will automatically be usable on the date of birth or placement/adoption and end six (6) months after the birth or placement/adoption. Any unused leave will not be available beyond this six (6) month time frame. There will be no rollover of this leave.

How do I use this leave if I am approved?

Employees who are approved for this leave allotment, will use earnings code 605, Parental Leave, on their timesheet. If you have not received an approved notice from Benefits that your leave has been loaded, or you have exhausted the 5 days, the Parental Leave code will automatically pull from available sick leave, annual leave or Faculty Time Off, any applicable personal holiday, and finally, leave without pay.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible, employees must...

Be in a benefit-eligible position and be on-contract or in a paid status. Represented employees should refer to the applicable collective bargaining agreement. 

Be on an approved Family and Medical Leave (FML) through Unum for the birth, placement, or adoption of their child in order to receive Parental Leave. Parental Leave will be loaded into a unique leave bucket.

Have a birth/child placement/adoption on or after July 1, 2023, when this program takes effect.

FAQs

What happens to unused leave at the end of six months?

The leave will no longer be available to use and does not roll over. You cannot donate or transfer the leave to another employee. 

What happens if I use the earnings code before the Parental Leave is loaded?

This earnings code is set up to cascade through paid leaves. If you use the earnings code before the Parental Leave is populated, it will automatically pull from your available sick leave, then annual leave or Faculty Time Off, any applicable personal holiday, and finally leave without pay. If you have questions about when your Paid Parental Leave begins and ends, please reach out to ua-benefits@alaska.edu. 

Both my spouse and I are employees of UA. Do we both get access to our own parental leave?

Yes, if each parent is in a benefit-eligible position and on approved FML for the birth/placement/adoption of the child, then they will receive their own entitlement of Parental Leave.

Can I donate my Parental Leave to my spouse or other eligible employees?

No, you may not donate your Parental Leave to your spouse or to any other employee. 

Can I cash out my Parental Leave?

No, you may not cash-out your Parental Leave.

Do I get paid out the Parental Leave after my University employment ends?

No, this leave is not paid out upon separation. 

I don’t have any children and I’m not adopting. Will Parental Leave be available on my timesheet?

You will see the earnings code on the drop down menu on your timesheet. However, the leave will only be loaded if you qualify and have an approved FML through Unum for birth/placement/adoption. If you select this leave on your time sheet and do not have any leave loaded into this bucket, it will automatically cascade through sick leave, annual leave or Faculty Time Off, and any applicable personal holiday, followed by leave without pay.

How do I know when my Parental Leave is populated and ready for me to use?

You will receive a copy of a NextGen form that Benefits and Payroll complete together. This will show your start date and end date for the leave. The balance of your Parental Leave hours will also be available to you by going to and clicking on “Employee Services” > “Time Off Current Balances and History.”

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Short Term Disability (STD)

The Overview

Short Term Disability (STD) helps prevent loss of income when you need to be out of work for a short period of time. STD will cover 60% of your income up to a maximum benefit of $800 per week. Benefits begin after a 14-day elimination period and extend through 11 weeks. 

Do I need to take action?

Yes. If you believe you may experience a STD event, please contact Unum at 866-779-1054.

How do I use this leave if I am approved?

Employees will use earnings code 622 on their time sheet. This is an unpaid leave code. This means earnings code 622 on your time sheet will not generate any pay from UA. This is because Unum will be providing payment directly to you for the time you are on STD. 

It is very important that you complete your timesheet correctly while on STD to ensure you receive the correct pay. 

Do not use earnings code 622 unless you have been approved by Unum for STD. Earnings code 622 will not generate any pay.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for STD, employees must…

Be in a benefit-eligible position. Represented employees should refer to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Have applied for and been approved for STD through Unum.

Meet the required 14-day Elimination Period before the STD benefits begin. This means you must be out of work due to the disability for 14 days before STD benefits can begin paying.

Have a date of disability after the plan takes effect on July 1, 2023. Those that have a date of disability earlier than July 1, 2023, are not eligible for STD. Long-term Disability (LTD) may be reviewed in those cases. Please reach out to ua-benefits@alaska.edu if you have any questions. 

May 1-5
May 1-19
May 15-16 (Fairbanks)
May 16-17 (virtual)
May 18-19 (Anchorage)

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Webinars

In-Person Retirement Meetings!

• Pave the way toward your retirement readiness and a lifetime of financial well-being. Let's make sure you're on the right path. We have in-person meetings with TIAA representative Scott Rethford! 
  • May 15-16, 2023, in Butrovich 109c (Fairbanks)
  • May 18-19, 2023, at 1815 Bragaw St, Suite 102 (Anchorage)
• ! 
  • If you invest with TIAA use your TIAA login credentials
  • If you do not have a TIAA user ID/password and would like to register for an on campus appointment, they can go to and select “Register for guest access”
  • You do not need to be an investor with TIAA to meet with a TIAA financial advisor 

Retirement Readiness with Empower

• If you are a member of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Tier IV or Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Tier III Defined Contribution (DC) plans, there are virtual meetings available to schedule a 1:1 with a financial advisor from Empower on May 16th and 17th, 2023. To enroll, go to the and:  

1. 1. Select “University of ��ɫ����Ƶ (Virtual)
   2. Select “State of ��ɫ����Ƶ Public Employees' Tier IV Defined Contribution Retirement Plan” toward the middle of the list -or- select “State of ��ɫ����Ƶ Teachers' Retirement System Tier III Defined Contribution Plan” toward the bottom of the list
   3. Select a time slot!

• Additional time slots will be added based on demand.
• If you are a member of the PERS or TRS DB plans and would like to speak with someone about your retirement plan and readiness, please complete the questionnaire on the to schedule an appointment.
• If you are a member of the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), reach out to your financial advisor directly or to your fund sponsor (Fidelity, Lincoln, VALIC, TIAA). 
• Unsure what plan you’re in? Confirm your retirement plan on by clicking on “Employee Services” at the top, then “Benefits and Deductions” followed by “Retirement Plans.”

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Resources & Reminders

Electronic Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

• The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ would like to remind employees that electronic EOBs are available for all our UA Choice Plan members. This is your opportunity to go paperless for your EOBs - saving time and money!
  
  
•  You can sign up for electronic EOBs with Premera. Enrolling is easy:

1. 1. Log into your premera account at
   2. Click on “my account” in the upper right corner and select “account settings”
   3. In the “Preferences” box, switch the Paperless Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to “on”
   4. Enjoy more room in your mailbox!

• There are several benefits for enrolling in the electronic EOBs:

1. 1. All your EOBs will always be in one place. You can log into your secure Premera account and view current or previous EOBs. This makes referencing your documents a breeze. 
   2. You will receive an email notification anytime a new EOB is generated and ready for you to access online. Always know when EOBs are complete.
   3. You will have immediate access to completed EOBs (both current and past). No more waiting for EOBs to come via mail.
   4. Enrolling in electronic EOBs will help the university mitigate administrative costs on our health care plan.

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General Wellness Activities

- April 24 - May 19, 2023

• The objective of this challenge is to experiment with new exercises, encourage healthy fitness habits, help participants to think outside of the box and add some variety to their daily routine. Exercises must start with each letter of the alphabet beginning with A and ending with Z, and can be either cardio, resistance training, or any other commonly-known exercise.
  • TO REGISTER:
    • Login to PreventionCloud.com following the link and instructions on the bottom of the
    • Click on "Challenges"
    • Click on "Join Challenges" and select "ABCs of Fitness Challenge
    • Start the ABCs of Fitness Challenge

• • TO RECEIVE CREDIT:
    • Each participant must fill in the exercise that they completed for each letter of the alphabet on PreventionCloud. Participants must log onto PreventionCloud every week to mark off 7 days of challenge completion.

April 17 - May 5

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Our communications for the month of April targeted Open Enrollment. Please review the Open Enrollment communications above for a history of April's communications. 

March 1-31 Fidelity
March 7 at 8 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ
March 9 at 8 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ
March 15 at 10 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ
March 15 at 10 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ
March 22 at 8 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ

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Webinars

Fidelity - Women Talk Money

• Fidelity’s Women Talk Money is a month-long series featuring an all-star lineup of women who will share stories, tips, and ways that we can be role models for each other and the next generation of women.
  
  • Marquee events with special guests Jessica Alba and Venus Williams
  • Roundtable discussions to inspire change
  • Weekly workshops and live Q&As on money moves employees can make today
  • How-to-guides and additional resources to take the next step
• To view the events and register, visit the . You do not need to be a Fidelity member to access these resources. 
  
  

TIAA Webinars

• TIAA will be hosting a series of webinars in the month of March. You do not have to be a TIAA member to participate in these webinars. Brief descriptions and links to register are provided below. 
  1. Invest for Success: 5 principles you need to know |  March 7 at 8:00 am ��ɫ����Ƶ
     No matter where you are in your career journey, this webinar can help you understand the key principles of investing for retirement.
     
     
  2. Opening Doors to the Future: Save in a 529 college savings plan | March 9 at 8:00 am ��ɫ����Ƶ
     You can learn how 529 college savings plans work and how to invest in one for a child, grandchild, yourself or another loved one.
     
     
  3. Cyber: Help protect you, your family, and your money | March 15 at 10:00 am ��ɫ����Ƶ
     Are you concerned about identity theft and your family’s security online? TIAA’s Information Security team will discuss how you can protect yourself and your family from cybercriminal social engineering.
     
     
  4. Charting Your Course | March 22 at 8:00 am ��ɫ����Ƶ
     Women can face unique financial challenges. You can discover tailored approaches to saving for retirement and tips to make your money work hard. .
     
     

| TouchCare Webinar (live) | Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 10 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ

• Colorectal cancer can impact you at any age and is the third leading cause of death in young adults. The chance of surviving colon cancer goes up with early detection and treatment—but only 40% of colon cancers are found in the early stages. In partnership with the Colon Cancer Coalition, TouchCare is discussing how to identify symptoms, reduce risks, and the importance of preventive screenings. 
  
  

| TouchCare Webinar (recorded)

• Since 2020, there's been a huge focus on immune health. 1 in 5 Americans have tried a new service or treatment to support their immune health such as incorporating a healthy diet & exercise, IV therapy, vitamins & supplements, and more. But which of these are the most effective strategies to support our immune system? Join TouchCare to discuss the do's and don't of maintaining an optimized immune system.
  
  

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Training with Unum

• Unum hosted an FMLA training for all employees, supervisors, and HR Coordinators on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶn. This training went over new changes to the FML process and gave an opportunity for a Q&A. A recorded version of the training can be found on our
  
  

with TouchCare

• TouchCare has provided a recorded training for on-demand review that goes over basic health care industry terminology. This is a great way to begin preparing for Open Enrollment. Test your knowledge by completing the !

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Resources & Reminders

COMING SOON! Open Enrollment | April 17 - May 5, 2023*

• As we continue to prepare for Open Enrollment, we want to highlight a benefit enhancement that will be available to UA employees beginning July 1, 2023. More Open Enrollment information will be in our next newsletter. Stay tuned!
  

  • TRAINING! UA partners with TouchCare - your health care advocate. TouchCare is here to assist you - whether understanding which plan to enroll in, explaining the differences between plans or pre-tax health accounts, assisting with billing issues or questions, price transparency, and more.​ TouchCare will be providing several training sessions during our Open Enrollment this year to go over our plan changes. . 

    Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m ��ɫ����Ƶ | April 4, April 11, April 18, April 25, May 2
    Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | April 6
    Fridays at 9:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ | April 14, APril 21, April 28, May 5

     TouchCare has provided a recorded training for on-demand review that houses basic health care industry terminology. This is a great way to begin preparing for Open Enrollment. Test your knowledge by completing the !

• Open Enrollment reminders from our last newsletters:

1. 1. Mark your calendars! Open Enrollment begins on April 17 and ends on May 5, 2023*.
   2. Medical, dental and vision will now be unbundled - this means you can elect just medical, just dental or any combination of the three. Get the exact coverages you need!
   3. Because our plans will be unbundled, all benefit eligible employees will be required to submit a form. In previous years, we required forms only from employees who are making changes to their coverage/dependents or electing a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). This year, if you are a UA employee who is in a benefited position, we require you to submit an open enrollment form. We want to be sure that employees are familiar with the changes for this upcoming plan year and that everyone is given an opportunity to enroll in the exact coverage they need for their family.
   4. TouchCare will be hosting several live benefit overview sessions to go over the changes with the UA population. The schedule is being finalized and will be released in the next few weeks. 
   5. ENHANCED BENEFIT! Our Basic Life Insurance will be increasing from $50,000 to $100,000 beginning on July 1, 2023. Remember, this is a UA paid benefit so there is no cost to you! Basic Life Insurance is automatically provided to all benefit eligible employees.**

• *Correction on end date - May 6 was published in our last newsletter. Open Enrollment will end at the close of business on Friday, May 5, 2023.
  
• ** Basic Life Insurance is a taxable benefit since it is an employer paid benefit that exceeds the IRS non-taxable limit of $50,000.

Electronic Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

• The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ would like to remind employees that electronic EOBs are available for all our UA Choice Plan members. This is your opportunity to go paperless for your EOBs - saving time and money! You can sign up for electronic EOBs with Premera. Enrolling is easy:

Fidelity - How You Money

• Fidelity has launched a new platform with short videos covering topics on debt, savings, retirement, investing, and more. You can search through their catalog on their . Videos include:
  
• And so much more. Visit Fidelity’s to search for topics that interest you. You do not need to be a Fidelity member to access these resources.

TIAA - Are you on track with your retirement savings?

• TIAA has an interactive webpage that allows you to check where you are with your retirement planning and saving. Follow the prompts for a quick snapshot of where you are with tips on how you can improve your savings and meet your retirement goals. . You do not need to be a TIAA member to access this benefit.

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General Wellness Activities

Wellness Calendar

• We have a calendar of events at the bottom of our wellness program page. These are local events that you can participate in - and possibly earn points for the program. Review the calendar and program details on our . For questions on the program, reach out to Victoria Carver at victoria.c@zomohealth.com.

February 14 at 8 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ webinar
February 15 at 8 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ webinar

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Webinars

|TouchCare Webinar (live) | Wednesday, February 15 at 8 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ

• Since 2020, there's been a huge focus on immune health. 1 in 5 Americans have tried a new service or treatment to support their immune health such as incorporating a healthy diet & exercise, IV therapy, vitamins & supplements, and more. But which of these are the most effective strategies to support our immune system? Join TouchCare to discuss the do's and don't of maintaining an optimized immune system.
  
  

| TouchCare Webinar (recorded)

• TouchCare brought in Manisha Parulekar, M.D, FACP, AGSF, CMD from Hackensack Meridian Health. Dr. Parulekar shared helpful tips on how we can successfully adapt to the changes that come with aging.
  
  

| TIAA Webinar (live) | Tuesday, February 14 at 8 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶ

• For anyone halfway down the road to retirement, this webinar is a critical checkpoint. It takes you through the keys to successful money management, how to juggle competing financial demands and retirement saving strategies that can help put you on the path to lifelong financial security.  

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Resources & Reminders

COMING SOON! Open Enrollment | April 17 - May 6, 2023

• We have many exciting changes happening to our benefit plans for the 2024 plan year. Below are the highlights of some of the changes. We are working on all our open enrollment materials, communication schedule, and a dedicated website and want to share some high level information while we prepare. More information will be coming on February 21st! 

Electronic Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

• The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ would like to remind employees that electronic EOBs are available for all our UA Choice Plan members. This is your opportunity to go paperless for your EOBs - saving time and money! You can sign up for electronic EOBs with Premera. Enrolling is easy:

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ offers an EAP through ComPsych. The program provides confidential emotional support, legal guidance, financial guidance, and work-life guidance. The service is available whenever and wherever you need it. These services are free, completely confidential, and can be easily accessed by calling the 24/7 toll-free helpline at 1-888-969-0155. The benefit is extended to anyone living in your household, too. More information can be found on our .
  
  

LifeWorks

• The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ has partnered with Securian to provide LifeWorks to UA employees. Many services provided by this program are free of charge and include financial, legal, and grief counseling services. More information can be found on our .

TouchCare

• TouchCare is our third party patient advocacy program available to all UA employees free to charge. TouchCare can help you determine what plan(s) work best for you and your family, assist with billing questions, finding in-network providers, cost-comparisons, price transparency, and more. More information can be found on our .
  
  

Additional Premera Programs

• Premera offers several additional programs to UA employees enrolled in a UA choice plan. We have telehealth providers, mental and behavioral health programs through TalkSpace and Brightline, substance use disorder assistance through BoulderCare and WorkIt Health, and diabetes and hypertension management through Livongo. To learn more about these additional programs and see if you qualify, please review our .

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General Wellness Activities

Wellness Calendar

• We have a calendar of events at the bottom of our wellness program page. These are local events that you can participate in - and possibly earn points for the program. Review the calendar and program details on our . For questions on the program, please reach out to Victoria Carver at victoria.c@zomohealth.com.

January 8, 2023 Maintain Don't Gain wellness challenge ends
January 10, 2023 at 10am FML Training with Unum

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Webinars

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Training with Unum

• Unum hosted an FMLA training for all employees, supervisors, and HR Coordinators on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ��ɫ����Ƶn. This training went over new changes to the FML process and gave an opportunity for a Q&A. A recorded version of the training can be found on our .

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Resources & Reminders 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ offers an EAP through ComPsych. The program provides confidential emotional support, legal guidance, financial guidance, and work-life guidance. The service is available whenever and wherever you need it. These services are free, completely confidential, and can be easily accessed by calling the 24/7 toll-free helpline at 1-888-969-0155. The benefit is extended to anyone living in your household, too. More information can be found on our .
  
  

LifeWorks

• The University of ��ɫ����Ƶ has partnered with Securian to provide LifeWorks to UA employees. Many services provided by this program are free of charge and include financial, legal, and grief counseling services. More information can be found on our .
  
  

TouchCare

• TouchCare is our third party patient advocacy program available to all UA employees free to charge. TouchCare can help you determine what plan(s) work best for you and your family, assist with billing questions, finding in-network providers, cost-comparisons, price transparency, and more. More information can be found on our .
  
  

Additional Premera Programs

• Premera offers several additional programs to UA employees enrolled in a UA choice plan. We have telehealth providers, mental and behavioral health programs through TalkSpace and Brightline, substance use disorder assistance through BoulderCare and WorkIt Health, and diabetes and hypertension management through Livongo. To learn more about these additional programs and see if you qualify, please review our .

Updates to the HSA and 403(b) from the IRS

• The IRS has released the updated amounts for calendar year 2023 for the Health Savings Account (HSA) and the 403(b). These increased rates are available beginning January 1, 2023.
  
  • HSA Single $3,850 -
    HSA Family $7,750 -
    403(b) $22,500 (with an additional catch up $7,500 for those over the age of 50) -
    

Pharmacy Updates

• There are pharmacy updates beginning January 1, 2023, that may affect specific employees on a UA Choice Health Plan. Between now and December 2, 2022, Premera will be sending out notices to those affected with the action items to ensure continued prescription coverage with no disruption. Please keep an eye out for this information to be delivered to your HR address. To review a list of in-network pharmacies, please go to . For questions regarding this update, please reach out to Premera by calling the customer service number on the back of your ID card or by logging into your account at . 

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Activities

• The goal of this challenge is to concentrate and maintain weight during the holiday season while practicing healthy habits. Log and track your weight throughout the entire challenge from November 21, 2022 through January 8, 2023. This challenge is available to all UA employees on a UA Choice Health Care Plan. Remember - spouses and Financially Interdependent Partners (FIPs) can participate if they are on a UA Choice Health Care Plan, too! 
  
  

Wellness Calendar

• We have a calendar of events at the bottom of our wellness program page. These are local events that you can participate in - and possibly earn points for the program. Review the calendar and program details on our . For questions on the program, please reach out to Victoria Carver at victoria.c@zomohealth.com.