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2018 Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is an annual process that provides you with the opportunity to enroll in new benefit plans or make changes to your existing coverage effective January 1, 2018. This year's Open Enrollment period will be from November 1 – 30, 2017.

If you are not changing your health benefits elections, you do not need to re-enroll, and your current 2017 health benefits will remain in effect through December 31, 2018 – except for Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plans, which you must re-enroll every plan year. You are able to roll over up to $500 each year in the Healthcare FSA, but any balance above $500 is subject to forfeit. For 2018, the Healthcare FSA limit is $2,650 as determined by the Internal Revenue Service.

All enrollments and/or changes for 2018 must be completed through the Benefits Service Center's web-based enrollment system by November 30, 2017. This enrollment system is accessed through DrexelOne.

  • Log in to DrexelOne and select the Employees tab.
  • In the bottom right corner click on the link to the Benefits Service Center.
  • Once in in the system, you will see the Open Enrollment Welcome Page and the Enroll Online button that you will click to review your current elections and/or to make changes for 2018.
  • Remember to update your beneficiaries.
  • If you have any questions or problems, please contact the Benefits Service Center at 1.888.971.0101.
  • For information that we are required to distribute annually, such as Summary Annual Reports and Summaries of Benefits and Coverage, please see the Human Resources Compliance webpage.

Open Enrollment Benefit Fairs

To learn more about your benefits and how to use them effectively, please attend one of the Open Enrollment Benefit Fairs. These fairs will be held on all campuses and will include massage therapy, vision screenings, raffles and prizes. Representatives from Human Resources, benefit providers and the Drexel Recreation Center will be in attendance.

  • Nov. 8: Queen Lane Campus, in the Atrium, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Nov. 9: University City Campus, in the Recreation Center lobby, 11:30 a.m – 1 p.m.
  • Nov. 16: The Academy of Natural Sciences, in the Commons, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Nov. 17: Center City Campus, in the Geary Lobby, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

What's New in Benefits for 2018

  • Drexel University will be transitioning prescription coverage from Express Scripts to OptumRx effective January 1, 2018. Details are outlined below in the Plan Information section.
  • There is a new, additional short-term disability plan available to faculty and professional staff members. The enhanced plan will pay 60 percent of your salary after a 14-day elimination period, or the exhaustion of your sick time, whichever is later. The standard plan remains available with a 60-percent benefit payable after a 30-day elimination period, or the exhaustion of your sick time, whichever is later. Enrollment into the new plan is voluntary, and must be completed during Open Enrollment. If an employee is already enrolled in the standard plan, they are not required to re-enroll unless they want to switch from the standard plan to the enhanced plan. An employee cannot be enrolled in both the standard and enhanced plans.

    Drexel Standard and Enhanced Voluntary STD Plans with Salary and Rate Examples
    Yearly Salary Weekly Covered Salary Standard Plan Monthly Rate Enhanced Plan Monthly Rate
    $35,000 $403.85 $8.88 $12.52
    $50,000 $576.92 $12.69 $17.88
    $75,000 $865.38 $19.04 $26.83
    $100,000 $1,153.85 $25.38 $35.77
    * This chart is for illustrative purposes. Your individual premium can be viewed in the Benefits Service Center.
  • In 2018, all medical plans and prescription coverage will have a 5-percent increase. Each plan's premiums have increased for both employee and employer contributions. Vision and Life benefits will remain with our current vendors with no plan design changes and no rate increases.
  • Dental benefits will remain with the same vendor, however, after a number of years with no rate changes, the 2018 plan year will have a 6-percent increase for both Basic and Preferred plans.
  • The Wellness Incentive Program is entering its second year and is still available to all full-time and part-time benefit eligible faculty and professional staff for 2018. Along with having access to this wellness program, full-time employees who enroll in benefits or opt out will be eligible to earn up to a $400 premium credit throughout the year. The Wellness Incentive Program is designed to help you improve your health and wellness, increase workplace wellness and cultivate a culture of health.
  • Drexel provides many Voluntary Benefits to employees, but as we look for ways to improve our offerings, the Human Resources Benefits Team needs your feedback. Please click below on VOTE NOW and select what type of voluntary insurance coverage you would like for the new year. Once the survey is complete, Drexel will host a separate Open Enrollment for our faculty and professional staff to enroll. Stay tuned!
    VOTE NOW
  • Hyatt Legal will be moving to the Drexel Voluntary Benefits platform at drexelvoluntarybenefits.com effective January 1, 2018. During this year's open enrollment period, Hyatt Legal will no longer appear as an option in the election process through the Benefits Service Center. If you are currently enrolled, there is no action needed as your benefits will roll over to the Drexel Voluntary Benefits platform. Should you be interested in enrolling into the Hyatt Legal plan, please visit drexelvoluntarybenefits.com, or call their customer service line at 1.888.935.9595.

    While there are no changes to the plan, participants will no longer see their deductions as "Legal Fund" on the check/direct deposit advice. Instead, the deduction will be labeled as "Voluntary Benefits." If you already have active voluntary benefit deductions, the cost of your coverage through Hyatt Legal will be added to your current deduction.

2018 Benefit Highlights Sessions

Human Resources will be hosting "2018 Benefit Highlights" sessions throughout the month of November. Join us to learn more about your short- and long-term disability plan options, your medical plan options – including the High Deductible Health Plan, Health Savings Accounts – and other benefit topics.

  • Nov. 10: Center City Campus, in room 103-104 of the Bellet Building, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Nov. 13: Queen Lane Campus, in room A-7, 12 p.m – 1 p.m.
  • Nov. 14: The Academy of Natural Sciences, in The Commons, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 15: University City, in Hill Conference Room (Lebow Engineering, Room 240), 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Nov. 27: University City, in Hill Conference Room (Lebow Engineering, Room 240), 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Plan Information

Prescription Drug Coverage: Drexel University will be transitioning prescription coverage from Express Scripts to OptumRx effective January 1, 2018. Faculty and professional staff will continue to have access to the same wide network of pharmacies available today, and you will still be able to acquire a 90-day supply at your local pharmacy. There will be no changes to the prescription copays.

  • New prescription identification cards will be mailed for January 1, 2018 use. OptumRx also allows members to print an ID card on their website and/or display their card through a mobile application.
  • Home delivery of specialty medications will change from Accredo to BriovaRx. Members who use specialty medications will call BriovaRx or register online in January (1.855.4BRIOVA or briovarx.com/newpatient). A representative will then contact the physician and make all necessary arrangements. More information can be found in the Transitioning to OptumRx PDF document below.
  • Transitioning to OptumRx [PDF]
  • Welcome to OptumRx [PDF]
  • OptumRx 2018 Formulary [PDF]
  • OptumRx Mail Order Form [PDF]

Keystone POS and Personal Choice Medical Plans:

High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP): The Drexel HDHP is a high-quality, low cost medical plan, with a higher deductible than the Keystone POS and Personal Choice plans and is offered in conjunction with a Health Savings Account (HSA).

An HSA is a tax-advantaged medical savings account owned by the faculty or professional staff member and designed to be used in conjunction with a federally qualified high deductible health insurance plan. Money contributed to the account is not subject to federal tax at the time of deposit (pre-tax dollars). Unlike amounts in flexible spending accounts that are forfeited if not used by the end of the year, unused HSA funds remain available for use in later years, are portable and can grow tax-free through investment earnings, just like an IRA.

HSA funds can be used to save for future medical expenses or help bridge the gap to benefits until the annual health plan deductible is met. The University will contribute up to $500 to each HSA account with individual coverage or $1,000 for those with family coverage based on the effective date of their enrollment.

Effective Date of Coverage Employee Only Coverage Employee + Dependent Coverage
January 1 – March 31 $500 $1,000
April 1 – June 30 $375 $750
July 1 – September 30 $250 $500
October 1 – December 31 $125 $250
* Employer funding will be credited in your HSA account after your first medical premium deduction.

Waiving Medical Coverage: Full-time benefit-eligible employees scheduled to work 40 hours per week, and who have coverage through a spouse or other source (other than Medicare), may elect to waive Medical/Rx coverage and receive a monthly waiver bonus. To receive the waiver credit, log in to the Drexel Benefits Service Center through DrexelOne, waive your medical coverage, and then submit the Medical Waiver (Opt-Out) Form (linked below) with a copy of the front and back of your current medical card. Employees that have waived their Medical/Rx coverage are required to submit a new waiver form each year.

Dental: Cigna remains our preferred dental carrier, and there are no plan changes but a slight rate increase in premiums for both employer and employee (as explained above). Coverage remains available for eligible dependents up to age 26.

Vision: Davis Vision remains our preferred vision carrier, and there are no plan design changes and no rate increases for 2018. Coverage remains available for eligible dependents up to age 26.

403(b) Retirement Program: Although changes can be made at any time, now is a good time to think about increasing your contribution to the 403(b) Plan and how your funds are invested. To increase your contribution, go to the Employees tab of DrexelOne and select the "403(b) Plan Management" link. To review your asset allocations and beneficiaries, contact your retirement plan provider directly. For more information, please see the Retirement Plan webpage.

Long Term Care Insurance: Learn more about Long Term Care Insurance at an educational webinar hosted by Genworth. View this PDF flyer for more details.