Frequently Asked Questions

2024 Annual Enrollment opens Monday, Oct. 16, and ends at midnight Pacific time, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

• Blue Cross of Idaho Medical Plans
  • Rate increases vary from $1.84 - $21.71 per pay period depending on the plan and coverage level you choose
• Standard PPO Medical Plan annual prescription drug cost-share maximums
  • Employee-only coverage: $4,825 ($350 increase)
  • Family coverage: $9,750 ($700 increase)
• Willamette Dental
  • Rate increases vary from $1.48 - $5.94 per pay period
• Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution maximums (employee and U of I combined) will increase, per 2024 IRS limits
  • Employee-only coverage: $4,150 ($300 increase)
  • Family coverage: $8,300 ($550 increase)
• No rate increases for the following benefits: Delta Dental Standard or Plus, Vision, Disability and Life Insurance.

Vision Plan Enhancements from VSP: Improvements to the VSP vision plan will reduce your cost for eyecare and prescription eyewear.

• The allowances for retail frames and contact lenses will each increase to $175.
• A new $60 maximum copay will apply for a contact lens evaluation and fitting exam, providing greater savings than the current discount. If your provider charges less than $60 for the exam, you'll pay the lower amount, but if the charge is more than $60, the most you will pay is $60.

When you're ready to enroll or make changes to your current coverage, log in to VandalWeb > Employees > myBenefits.

If you work full time and do not enroll by the deadline, most 2023 elections will roll over to 2024 at 2024 contribution rates. Your elections for contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Dependent Care Spending Account (DSCA) will not roll over to 2024.

If you work less than full-time and do not enroll by the deadline, you will be placed in waived coverage in 2024. Any benefit elections you made in 2023 will not roll over.

To contribute to an HSA, FSA or DCSA in 2024, you must enroll by the deadline. Even if you have an account this year, your contribution elections will not roll over.

Each year you have the opportunity to change your benefit elections during the Annual Enrollment period. If you do not enroll, re-enroll or make changes during the Annual Enrollment period, you will not be able to change your benefit elections again until the next Annual Enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying life event.

To be covered under a university dental or vision plan, you must be enrolled in a university medical plan. However, your eligible dependents can be covered under a university dental or vision plan as long as you (the employee) are enrolled in a university medical plan.

Yes, if you are adding a dependent who is not currently covered on the plan, you will be required to provide proof of relationship to verify eligibility for coverage. Acceptable forms of documentation include marriage license, birth certificate, adoption papers, tax records, financial interdependency documents, etc. You can also provide a single tax document, like a tax return, as long as it lists all dependents you want to cover.

Documentation must be uploaded to the benefits portal at VandalWeb > Employees > myBenefits > View/Upload Required Documents by Jan. 31, 2024.

An Other Eligible Adult is defined as someone who is:

• Age 18 or older and mentally competent to consent, and
• Not legally married to anyone, and
• Has resided together continuously with the employee for the previous six months, and intend to do so indefinitely, and
• Is financially interdependent with the employee, as demonstrated by joint leases, utility bills, bank accounts, etc.

Other Eligible Adults and their dependent children are eligible for University of Idaho coverage. Learn more.

Once you elect your benefits and provide all required documentation, your Annual Enrollment will be finalized and your enrollment information will be sent electronically to the carriers. This process can take several weeks.  

Medical - Blue Cross of Idaho

• Insurance cards will be mailed directly to you. Dependents are not issued separate cards and they are not listed on your cards. They will use the same card you use. 
• Additional copies can be printed from the Blue Cross of Idaho website.

Prescription Drug - CVS Caremark

• Insurance cards will be mailed directly to you. Dependents are not issued separate cards and they are not listed on your cards. They will use the same card you use. 
• Additional copies can be printed from the CVS Caremark website.

Dental - Delta Dental

• Insurance cards will be mailed directly to you. Dependents are not issued separate cards and they are not listed on your cards. They will use the same card you use. 
• Additional copies can be printed from the Delta Dental website.

Dental - Willamette Dental

• Insurance cards will not be mailed to you. When making appointments you will provide the information necessary for them to identify you and your dependents in their system.

Vision - VSP

• Insurance cards will not be mailed to you. When making appointments you will provide the information necessary for them to identify you and your dependents in their system.

If you need to see a doctor before your cards arrive, please give the provider your SSN or Vandal number with the V replaced with a 9 and the insurance carrier can be billed. In some cases, it may be necessary for you to pay for the services out of pocket and submit receipts for reimbursement from the insurance carriers once your eligibility has been processed.

Benefits coverage for your child will end on the last day of the month in which they turn age 26.