Vision Plan Open Enrollment -
State Drops VSP and Adds Two New Vendors
The vision insurance plan that the University participates in through the State of Iowa has an open enrollment effective now through February 29, 2008.
The State of Iowa has determined that they will no longer offer the current VSP plan. The current VSP plan ends on March 31, 2008.
Effective April 1, 2008, the State of Iowa will offer two competing vendors for their vision plan. One vendor is AVESIS and the other is EyeMed. The AVESIS program is accepted in Wal-Mart and other local providers. EyeMed includes providers such as Lens Crafters, Sears, Pearl Vision, JCPenney, Target, and other local providers. If a particular provider is important to you, it is important you review and select the vendor that best meets your needs.
Please note that once enrolled, a life event or the annual open enrollment are the only ways you have to make a change or drop from the plan coverage. You are making a commitment for a one-year period of time.
Once you understand the options that are offered and you wish to enroll with one of the vendors, you must enroll online through the following web site: www.benefitiowa.com. With the change in vendors, all individuals must enroll in the coverage in order to be covered under the vision plan for 2008. The final date for enrollment is February 29, 2008. There are no exceptions to this cutoff date. For those who enroll in the plan, coverage and payroll deductions will begin April 1, 2008.
This plan is voluntary. There is no University of Iowa contribution. These premiums cannot be paid with pre-tax dollars, nor, can they be paid from an individual’s health care spending account. For claim questions, location of providers, and any reimbursement questions, you should contact the appropriate vendor. If you have any questions concerning enrollment, you should contact Two Rivers Insurance Services at 1-800-728-9620, extension #8422. Two Rivers Insurance Services is the local agency for the State of Iowa’s vision plan.
A hardcopy version of this information along with brochures from each of the vendors will be sent to all employees during the coming weeks.
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