University Staff Advisory Council September 11, 2001 Meeting Location: 189 Sarratt Meeting Time: 8:30 - 10:00   Attendees: Phil McGovern, F. Clark Williams Paula McGown Bill Randles Cathy Smith Pat Rice John Brassil Terrie Spetalnick Sheri Reynolds Kristi Elkins Willa Dean Martin Lola Fitzpatrick Judy Thompson Faye Binkley Dawna Wagoner Bill Corbin Karen Cunningham Amy Smith Janet Hirt Brenda McKee Linda Faye Johnson Libby Whittaker Kathaleen Jantz Sue Davis Alyce Dobyns-Ladd Scott McDermott Gwendolyn Simpkins Donna Smith Jennifer Mayer Marva Dale Greenwood Sue King Suzanne Pendergrass Beth Clark Tammy Boclair Samuel Branch Judith Dawson Nancy Jackson Burt Augst Kevin Davis Marcia Dillard Kay Donigian Mary Lou Edgar Skip Anderson Crystal Laster Patsy Sanders Anna Parish   Regrets Mary Marler Sharon Stanley Richard Murray Andrew Atwood Sharon Crawford Arliene Dearing   Visitors Darlene Lewis Jane Bruce Donna Thomas Veronica Burns Ginny Featherston Betsy Carroll The meeting was called to order at 8:30.   Announcements Dawna Wagoner requested volunteers for the annual Project GRAD Nashville Walk for Success, which will be held on Saturday, October 6. Project GRAD Nashville exists to make the dream of a college education a reality for inner city students. Volunteer will be asked to visit homes of Pearl Cohn freshmen and 5th grade students from Bass and McKissick middle Schools to explain Project GRAD and to review with families how they can support students' academic success. For more information, call 343-7073 or visit www.projectgradnashville.org and click on "Make a Difference." Jen Mayer, who is this year's Homecoming Committee co-chair, requested volunteers from the Vanderbilt Community to assist in the construction of storage sheds for two Habitat for Humanity homes. Construction will take place on Alumni Lawn October 10, 11, and 12. For more information, call 322-3963 or e-mail Melinda.k.dalgarn@vanderbilt.edu. Phil McGovern gave a brief description of upcoming guest speakers. Frances Kovac from Traffic and Parking will be the guest in October to discuss parking on campus. Jerry Fife will be the guest in November to discuss the results from the recently conducted staff satisfaction survey. Chancellor Gee will be the guest in December.   Open Enrollment 2001: Jane Bruce, Human Resource Services, Director of Benefits Jane presented an overview of the benefit options for this year's open enrollment. All faculty and staff are requested to complete and turn in an open enrollment form.   Health Plan Changes There are two new health plans offered this year. Blue Cross Preferred: a PPO with in and out-of-network benefits Vanderbilt Preferred: a PPO with in and out-of-network benefits that will be use the same Signature Health Alliance network that was used by Blue Cross 400 and will be administered through Managed Med Two former health plans have been removed. Blue Cross 400 HMO Blue Plus Some things remain the same. United Healthcare will again be offered. Faculty and staff members with coverage from another source can waive coverage through Vanderbilt. The default plan will continue to be the least expensive coverage, which this year is Blue Cross Preferred individual coverage. NOTE: New hires who do not choose a health plan or waive coverage receive the default plan. Faculty and staff who currently have coverage through one of the plans that have been removed will be defaulted into the Blue Cross Preferred individual plan if they do not complete an open enrollment form and choose a health plan.   Other Plan Changes: Delta Dental will no longer be offered due to increasing rates of 40-83%. A new dental plan similar to Delta Dental called Protective Life (Pro-3) will be offered. There will be no waiting period for those who go directly from Delta to Pro-3 this year. Pet insurance will be offered through Veterinary Pet Insurance. This is a voluntary insurance and Vanderbilt will not pay any portion of the premiums. Premiums are age-rated and there is a pre-existing condition clause in the policy. The group auto/homeowners insurance will be removed. Current payroll deductions and coverage will continue until the next renewal date.   Premium Information Vanderbilt currently pays 89% of the monthly rate and the faculty/staff member pays 11% of the monthly rate for individual coverage. For dependent coverage, Vanderbilt currently pays 83% of the monthly rate and the faculty/staff member pays 17% of the monthly rate. According to a survey conducted to compare VU's monthly employee contributions with employee contributions in hospitals with over 500 employees, colleges and universities, southern employers with over 500 employees, and national employers, Vanderbilt faculty and staff members contribute less in both percentages and amounts than the other groups. Health insurance rates have increased in response to higher health care costs and increased utilization of health insurance by faculty and staff. DentiCare rates will not increase. AD&D rates will not increase. 2002 monthly employee contribution rates:     Blue Cross Preferred   United Healthcare   Vanderbilt Preferred   Protective Insured (Pro-3) dental   Individual   $26   $29   $30   $23.86   Individual + Spouse/Partner   $84   $94   $98   $47.22   Individual + Children   $68   $76   $79   $57.14   Family   $120   $134   $140   $80.50   Other Comments   Rates 15-20% over previous HMO Blue Plus rates   Rates increased 34-40% depending on coverage   Rates increased 40% over Blue Cross 400   Resources to help you manage health care costs: HEALTH Plus Wellness Profiles offered online beginning1/2002 HEALTH Plus bi-monthly newsletter mailed to all homes Optum Nurseline: 1-877-365-7922 Websites www.vanderbilt.edu/HRS/hrs/htm www.bcbst.com www.uhc.com www.signaturehealth.com www.protectivedental.com   Dates to Remember Open Enrollment Packets mailed to homes 9/17 Benefits Fair held in Rooms 2701-2704 TVC September 26 and 27 Open Enrollment 10/1-10/19 Department meeting held first two weeks of October (to request, call Tammy Boyd in the Benefits office at 28303) Open Forums held 10/1, 10/3, 10/4 Open Enrollment Deadline 10/19 at 5:00pm (there will be a drive through set up in front of the Peabody Administration Building 10/18 and 19)   Committees: Phil McGovern 1) Ad Hoc Committees of the Council A) Executive Committee meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 11:30-12:30 in the Branscomb conference room. F. Clark Williams said they met in August and would be meeting again next week with Jerry Fife. B) Hardship Fund Committee meets Mondays at 12:30 in the Employee Assistance Program office, Room 010 Medical Arts Building C) Special Events Committee report by Ginny Featherston: Tailgate will be held September 22. There was a good response to the request for volunteers. Faculty and staff members must RSVP to ensure tickets and must present an ID badge to get into Tailgate and to pick up tickets. D) Medical Center Staff Advisory Council Liaison is still needed (let Phil know if you are interested). The MCSAC meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 2:00-3:00 in 206 PRB (MRB II). E) Reapportionment Committee meets as needed. Terrie Spetalnick said the next big change would come with the reorganization of Student Life. 2) University Committees: USAC members serve on several university committees that deal with issues pertaining to staff members. These committees include Benefits, Special Events, Campus Security, Equal Access, Status on Women and Minorities, and Traffic & Parking. A) Terrie Spetalnick reported on the Tuition Benefits committee. They met 9/10/01 and reviewed the third draft of the planned changes to the tuition benefits program. B) Sue Davis reported on the Commodore Award Committee. The recipients for this year's awards have been chosen and will be honored at the Service Awards in October. C) Status on Women and Minorities Committee: A request was made that a committee member be invited to report at a future USAC meeting. Burt Augst will send Phil a list of the members of this committee.   Meeting adjourned at 9:40 due to the World Trade Center disaster. The next meeting will be October 9 in Room 189 Sarratt. Topics will include discussion and voting on USAC goals for 2001-2002 and a presentation by Francis Kovac.