Benefits
Open Enrollment
Select a section below to learn more. You can also view the DHRM 2022-2023 Open Enrollment page.
About Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to change or enroll in health insurance and flexible spending accounts. The Open Enrollment period is from May 2 to May 16, 2022.
The Open Enrollment period is from May 2 to May 16, 2022.
During Open Enrollment, you may
- Enroll or change your health insurance
- Add or remove family members
- Enroll in the Health or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, or both
- Waive state health coverage
- Enroll in the Premium Rewards to receive the premium discount. The Premium Rewards not automatically renew. For more information on premium rewards, view the Premium Rewards tab.
Important Notes
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): The FSAs do not automatically renew. You must re-enroll in the FSA every year to continue participation for the next plan year. Additional FSA details are available in the FSA Sourcebook.
Dependent Care FSA: You do not have to enroll in the Dependent Care FSA during open enrollment. The IRS allows you to enroll in/change your Dependent Care FSA election within 60 days of a change in your dependent care costs. For example, if you enroll your child independent care in the fall, you may enroll in the Dependent Care FSA at that time. Please plan accordingly. Please review the Qualifying Mid-Year Event page on the DHRM website for additional details.
Premium Rewards: You must enroll or re-enroll every year during the open enrollment period to earn the premium reduction July 1. If you miss completing the health assessment during open enrollment, you must wait until the new plan year starts, complete the assessment on the vendor's website at that time, and in six to eight weeks begin receiving the premium reduction. Please see page 7 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for details on accessing the Health Assessment.
What's Different About my Plan?
Please see page 1 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for some of the highlights of the plan changes.
Are Premiums Changing?
Please see page 3 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for the new plan year premiums (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023).
The current plan year premiums (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022) are available on the DHRM website.
When Do the Changes Take Effect?
- All changes and FSA enrollments are effective July 1, 2022.
- Semi-monthly payroll deduction changes are effective July 15, 2022 paycheck.
- Bi-weekly payroll deduction changes are effective July 8, 2022 paycheck.
- All 9-month faculty (both 9/9 and 9/12) deduction changes are effective September 16, 2022.
If you have open enrollment questions after reading the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter, please attend one of the sessions listed below or contact us at benefits@gmu.edu.
Please note that masks will be required at all in-person sessions.
Open Enrollment General Information
| Date | Time | Location | Spaces Limited? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 4 | 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Merten Hall 2001* | Yes - Register now |
| Friday, May 6 | 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. | Zoom | No |
| Tuesday, May 10 | 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Merten Hall 2001* | Yes - Register now |
| Wednesday, May 11 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Zoom | No |
| Friday, May 13 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. | Zoom | No |
Kaiser Permanente Information
If you are interested in learning more about Kaiser Permanente coverage, please join us for a virtual visit from a Kaiser Permanente representative on May 12.
Thursday, May 12 at 12:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: 986 8761 8510
Passcode: 276676
Making Changes
Detailed instructions for Cardinal HCM were emailed to your Mason email April 18, 2022. This email included your unique Cardinal HCM employee ID number that you will use when you register and log into the new Cardinal HCM employee self-service system.
For instructions on how to enroll in Cardinal HCM before Open Enrollment, please reference the Cardinal Registration Quick Start Guide.
During open enrollment, you can submit health plan changes and enroll or re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) using Cardinal HCM, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s online portal.
Cardinal HCM is available from May 2, 2022, through 11:59 p.m. on May 16, 2022. You must re-enroll in the FSA to participate in the July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, plan year. Your 2021-2022 FSA elections do not roll over to the 2022-2023 plan year.
Detailed instructions for Cardinal HCM were emailed to your Mason email April 18, 2022. This email included your unique Cardinal HCM employee ID number that you will use when you register and log into the new Cardinal HCM employee self-service system.
Instructions on Enrolling in Cardinal and Making Changes to Your Health Plan
- To enroll in Cardinal HCM before Open Enrollment, please reference the Cardinal Registration Quick Start Guide.
- To make changes to your health plan, please watch this tutorial video by the Cardinal Project.
Submitting Supporting Documentation
- You must submit supporting documentation if you are adding family members to your plan for your enrollment or election change to be approved.
- The supporting documentation must be sent to Benefits using the secure and confidential forms upload portal to approve the election request or to add new dependents to the health plan.
- See page 9 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for documentation.
- If you do not have your documentation before the Open Enrollment deadline on May 16, 2022, documentation can be submitted later. Please contact benefits@gmu.edu if you have questions or need assistance.
No action is required if you:
- have no health plan-related changes
- are not enrolling or RE-ENROLLING in the Premium Rewards program
- are not enrolling or RE-ENROLLING in the Flexible Spending Account
You must submit supporting documentation if you are adding family members to your plan for your enrollment or election change to be approved.
The supporting documentation must be sent to Benefits using Mason's secure forms upload portal to approve the election request or to add new dependents to the health plan. Haga clic aquí para instrucciones para enviar documentos en línea.
See page 9 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for documentation.
If you do not have your documentation before the Open Enrollment deadline on May 16, 2022, documentation can be submitted later. Please contact benefits@gmu.edu if you have questions or need assistance.
You may make election changes during the plan year based on certain life or qualifying mid-year events (QMEs). In most cases, the request must be on account of and consistent with the event. These include events such as a birth, marriage, or divorce.
You must submit your election change request and supporting documentation within 60 calendar days of the event. The countdown begins on the day of the event. If you do not have the documentation, do not miss your deadline. The documents can be submitted later.
For qualifying mid-year events and the supporting documentation that DHRM requires, please review the Qualifying Mid-Year Events page on DHRM’s website.
Not sure which health plan is the best for you? Talk to ALEX, your online benefits counselor. ALEX evaluates your input and recommends a plan tailored just for you!
Visit ALEX on the ALEX website. If you want to check ALEX on your smartphone, use ALEX-GO.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
The new Cardinal system is set up to show the annual target, which is different than in past years. If the annual target is $1,200, Cardinal will automatically divide by 12 to show a monthly amount of $100. This is a quirk of the Cardinal system that Mason cannot change or control.
When the data is uploaded into Mason’s payroll, it will be uploaded as per pay period amount, or $50. As long as your annual targeted amount in Cardinal is correct at $1,200, the Mason payroll deductions will be correct. Please note that an FSA admin fee ($2.10) will be deducted once per month.
The first payroll deduction for the new plan year will be July 15 (Semi-Monthly) and July 8 (Bi-Weekly). Be sure to check your paystub in PatriotWeb for accuracy and report any discrepancies or questions to benefits@gmu.edu immediately.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
The FSAs do not automatically renew.
You must re-enroll in the FSA every year to continue participation for the next plan year. Additional FSA details are available in the FSA Sourcebook.
Dependent Care FSA
You do not have to enroll in the Dependent Care FSA during open enrollment.
The IRS allows you to enroll in/change your Dependent Care FSA election within 60 days of a change in your dependent care costs. For example, if you enroll your child independent care in the fall, you may enroll in the Dependent Care FSA at that time. Please plan accordingly.
Please review the Qualifying Mid-Year Event page on the DHRM website for additional details.
Please review page 11 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for more in-depth information.
If you have questions about enrolling in Dependent Care FSA, you can reach out to benefits@gmu.edu to discuss your situation.
You must re-enroll each year to continue participating in the FSAs.
The Health FSA annual limit is $2,850 per plan year. The Dependent Care FSA annual limit is $5,000 per plan year depending on your tax filing status.
You are not required to enroll in the Dependent Care FSA during open enrollment. If you have a change in your dependent care costs, you are allowed to make a corresponding change within sixty days. If you enroll your child in dependent care in the fall, you may enroll in the Dependent Care FSA at that time. Please plan accordingly.
The FSA ends June 30, 2022, and you have until September 30, 2023, to file for reimbursement and resole outstanding card transactions.
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- If your account is active for only part of the year, you have three months from the date your coverage ends to submit and resolve reimbursement claims.
- Cova HealthAware Members: Remember when planning for a Health FSA that health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) pays first for certain eligible medical expenses.
For more detailed information, please see page 8 in the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) and the Flexible Spending Account Sourcebook.
You do not have to enroll in the Dependent Care FSA during open enrollment.
The IRS allows you to enroll in/change your Dependent Care FSA election within 60 days of a change in your dependent care costs. For example, if you enroll your child independent care in the fall, you may enroll in the Dependent Care FSA at that time. Please plan accordingly. Please review the Qualifying Mid-Year Event page on the DHRM website for additional details.
Please review page 11 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for more in-depth information.
If you have questions about enrolling in Dependent Care FSA, you can reach out to benefits@gmu.edu to discuss your situation.
When enrolling in Flexible Spending Account(s) using Cardinal, you should also enroll in the administrative fee. The administrative fee will be deducted monthly (from the first paycheck of each month on a pre-tax basis for one or both FSAs).
Premium Rewards
Premium rewards are health plan premium incentives for COVA Care and COVA HealthAware plan participants who complete a health assessment. An employee or their enrolled spouse can receive an incentive of $204 annually or $408 annually for both employee and spouse, if they fulfill the requirements to earn a premium reward during Open Enrollment.
Premium rewards are reductions in health plan premiums for employees and spouses enrolled in COVA Care or the COVA HealthAware plan and complete the online health assessment.
To earn a reward beginning July 1, 2022:
- Visit your plans website or mobile app to access your health assessment.
- Complete the health assessment between May 2 and May 16, 2022.
- Health assessments completed before May 2 will not count for the new plan year.
- The premium reward renews each year and the health assessment must be completed each year to continue receiving the reduction in health plan premiums.
- When you finish the health assessment you will get a confirmation.
If you don’t complete the Health Assessment between May 2 and May 16, 2022:
- You can still earn a Premium Reward.
- Visit your plans website or mobile app to access your health assessment.
- When you finish the health assessment you will get a confirmation.
- You will receive your premium rewards in six to eight weeks after completing the health assessment.
Reward Eligibility
- Remember, you must be active and enrolled in COVA Care or COVA HealthAware to be eligible for a reward.
- Enrolled employees and spouses must register with a separate account to submit a health assessment.
- Employees and/or spouses enrolling for the first time in COVA Care or COVA HealthAware during Open Enrollment may have to wait until July 1, 2022 to complete a health assessment.
- Current COVA Care or COVA HealthAware members who may be changing their plans for July 1, 2022, will need to complete their assessment with their current administrator.
For more comprehensive and detailed information and instructions, see page 7 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits The Premium Rewards program is entirely voluntary.
You must UPDATE your Premium Rewards Health Assessment each new plan year.
To earn a reward beginning July 1, 2022, visit your plan’s website or mobile app to access your health assessment. Complete or update your health assessment between May 2 and May 16, 2022. Health assessments submitted before May 2, 2022, will not count for the new plan year. Be sure to keep a copy of your confirmation.
Remember, you must be active and enrolled in COVA Care or COVA HealthAware to be eligible for a reward. Enrolled employees and spouses must register with a separate account to submit a health assessment. Employees and/or spouses enrolling for the first time in COVA Care or COVA HealthAware during Open Enrollment may have to wait until July 1, 2022 to complete a health assessment. Current COVA Care or COVA HealthAware members who may be changing their plans for July 1, 2022, will need to complete their assessment with their current administrator.
If you miss completing the health assessment during open enrollment, you can wait until the plan year starts, complete the assessment at that time, and in six to eight weeks begin receiving the premium reduction.
Please see page 7 of the Spotlight on Your Benefits Newsletter (English / español) for details on accessing and completing the Health Assessment.
If you don’t complete the Health Assessment between May 2 and May 16, 2022:
- You can still earn a Premium Reward.
- Visit your plans website or mobile app to access your health assessment.
- When you finish the health assessment you will get a confirmation.
- You will receive your premium rewards in six to eight weeks after completing the health assessment.
The Cardinal website will not reflect premium rewards until the new plan year begins on July 1, 2022. Premium Rewards effective on this date will be seen on your paycheck on or after July 15, 2022.
After you complete your Health Assessment, you will receive a confirmation email. Please keep this email for your records in case there are any future issues with your reduction.
For more information, please refer to the Premium Rewards FAQ.