Benefits Open Enrollment for UF Health Shands employees begins Nov. 1 and closes Nov. 30. Be sure to review your current plan to ensure you are enrolled in the benefits that best satisfy your and your family’s health needs for the upcoming 2019 plan year.

Look for the UF Health Shands Human Resources Benefits Newsletter in your home mailbox the week of Oct. 22 — it outlines changes to this year’s benefit plans and guides you through the enrollment process.

Complete your Benefits Open Enrollment online or in person with an enroller.

Visit the Bridge homepage, hover over “Employee Services,” click on “HR Gainesville – Shands,” then “Self-Service,” then “Visit HR Self-Service Now.” You will log in using your Shands ID and password. Be sure to hit “submit” if you make any changes to your plan or the changes will not save. Please print or save your confirmation sheet.

Visit enrollers in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium and at offsite locations for assistance in choosing the right benefits plan. Employees must contact their supervisors to schedule a one-on-one consultation with an enroller.

“Open Enrollment is the only time that employees can make changes to their benefits package,” said David Thaxton, vice president of The Elan Group, an employee benefits firm that will staff our enrollment events. “Enrollers are there to help employees navigate the system. We can give guidance on how to choose the proper plan that fits each employee’s needs.”

Enrollers can inform you about voluntary plans — including accident plans, cancer policies and life insurance — to help you decide if they are right for you. Pharmacy vendors and medical third-party administrators will also be available to answer questions during the annual benefits fair the week of Nov. 13.

Be sure to stay up to date on your benefits plan; there are changes for the upcoming plan year.

Please be aware of automatic enrollment. If you previously waived GatorCare coverage, you must waive coverage again each year or you will be automatically enrolled in Prime Plus employee-only coverage.

A note about other elections: Flexible spending accounts (HCRA and DCRA) must be elected every year — these plans do not roll over to the new year and they require a new election.

On Dec. 16, HR will ask employees to review their benefits summary for their 2019 plan year elections. If there are any discrepancies in your plan, please visit Bridge.UFHealth.org/Shands-HR or call the UF Health Shands Benefits office at 352-265-0043.

Open Enrollment Timeline:

Week of Oct. 22— Check your home mailbox for an Open Enrollment newsletter.

Nov. 1 – Open Enrollment begins online.

Nov. 1-30 – Excluding Holidays, Enrollers in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium and at offsite locations will answer questions and provide guidance.

Nov. 13-15 – Benefits Fair in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium.

Nov. 16 – Benefits Fair at UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital and UF Health Shands Psychiatric Hospital.

Nov. 30 – Open Enrollment closes to allow time for requests to be processed. Last day enrollers will be in the Atrium.

Dec. 16 – 2019 benefits elections will be available to review on Bridge.