September 27, 2022
2023 Benefit Updates, Changes and Open Enrollment
Open enrollment for the calendar year 2023 benefits starts October 1, 2022, and ends at midnight on October 31, 2022. This is the time when all benefits-eligible faculty and staff must sign in to their Membership Administration Portal to complete their enrollments.
As in recent years, the State Employee Health Plan will require all employees to make a health care plan election even if they do not intend to make changes to their current plan or coverage level. The 2023 Enrollment Guide has been published by the state to learn more about the 2023 offerings. If you are an employee that has waived coverage you will remain waived unless you complete enrollment.
The state has announced several changes to the overall benefits packages, which faculty and staff should consider before finalizing their elections:
Medical insurance
- There will be no increase to employee premiums in 2023 regardless of the plan or level of coverage.
- Plan A deductibles for individual coverage will decrease from $900 to $800 and those covering dependents will see a decrease from $1,800 to $1,600.
- Plan A primary care office visit copays will reduce from $30 to $20 and specialist copays from $60 to $40.
- To comply with updated IRS regulations, the first deductible, those covering either a spouse or child(ren) under Plans C and N, will change from $2,800 to $3,000 — but employer contributions to health savings accounts and health reimbursement accounts will increase to offset the increase.
Dental Insurance
- Individual dental insurance will be offered at no employee cost and premiums for those covering dependents will decrease accordingly.
HRA/HSA/FSA updates
- Health savings account contribution limits have increased to $3,850 for individual coverage and $7,750 for those covering dependents. These updated limits apply to contributions made by the employer, employee and HealthQuest reward dollars earned.
- The state of Kansas has announced two new flexible spending account options, a Mass Transit FSA and a Parking FSA. Neither, however, may benefit most K-State employees since parking costs are already pre-tax payroll deductions. These benefits are available for all state employees and would only generally apply if you pay out-of-pocket for mass transit and/or parking that is not reimbursed or deducted by K-State.
- Annual flexible spending account contribution limits have been established at $2,850 for health care FSAs and limited-purpose FSAs. Dependent care FSAs will have a $5,000 limit and the parking and mass transit limits are set at $280/month. NueSynergy will remain the vendor for all FSA accounts.
The in-person 2022 Benefits Fair will be 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, October 5, in the Grand Ballroom at the K-State Student Union and will feature a variety of vendors, presentations, and enhanced services from Lafene Health Center, which may require separate registrations. A virtual Benefits Fair will be available Thursday, October 6, featuring many of the same vendors. Each session will include time for Q&A following the presentations. Resources, including on-demand video content, will be available on the SEHP website.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at marygatza@ksu.edu.