NIU Today

President Doug Baker emailed NIU faculty and staff updating the health care benefits situation. To Our Staff and Faculty: In my last memo regarding the health care benefits situation in the State of Illinois, I mentioned that we were looking for alternatives for our faculty, staff and their families in the event that reimbursement of...

The Illinois State Supreme Court ruled Thursday that state-subsidized health care premiums for retired state employees are protected under the Illinois Constitution. The 6-1 decision centers on a 2012 law that allowed the state to charge retired workers for health care insurance premiums. Prior to then, many retirees did not have to pay, depending on...

NIU faculty and Supportive Professional Staff (SPS) hired with an effective date of Aug. 16, 2013, face a deadline of Monday, Aug. 26, to enroll for State of Illinois benefits. Employees who fail to complete the required forms within the 10-day period will be defaulted into the state’s Quality Care medical and dental plans. Their eligible...

A downstate judge ruled Tuesday that health care for retired state workers is not constitutionally guaranteed. A long-standing benefit had allowed retirees with 20 or more years of service to retire with full health insurance coverage (for themselves, but not dependents) without paying premiums. A series of lawsuits filed in Sangamon County sought to preserve...

Human Resource Services will offer two more informational sessions for employees affected by the Health Alliance Illinois medical insurance change. Sessions will be offered at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16. The meetings will be held in the Sandburg Auditorium of the Holmes Student Center and are expected to last 90 minutes. The...

Human Resource Services will hold informational sessions for employees impacted by the Health Alliance Illinois medical insurance change. All sessions will be held in the Sandburg Auditorium of the Holmes Student Center. No reservations are required. The sessions will provide an overview of the available medical plans and assist employees in completing the special enrollment...

The Associated Press is reporting today that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn “has signed a law that ends free health care for state retirees and requires them all to contribute to the cost of health care, based on their ability to pay.” Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax begins its coverage this way: “We still don’t know how...

Central Management Services has announced a Special Enrollment Period that will allow employees to switch their insurance coverage if they so desire. During the Special Enrollment Period, from Monday, Oct. 10, through Friday, Oct. 28, members wishing to change their health plan must complete the Special Enrollment Form, available on the benefits website, sign it...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is wise to receive a flu shot as soon as it is made available in your community: The flu season can begin as early as October, but commonly peaks in January or February. Flu vaccine provided in September will give protection throughout the season. Coordinated...

In Springfield … Gov. Pat Quinn today signed Senate Bill 2185, known as the Illinois DREAM Act (now Public Act 97-0233). This act is intended to make college more affordable for undocumented immigrants. It allows anyone with a Social Security number to enroll in a state-administered college savings program. It also establishes an Illinois DREAM Fund Commission...

The state of Illinois late Thursday announced that the Benefit Choice Election Period has been extended to Monday, June 20.  The previous Benefit Choice election deadline had been Friday, June 17.  Employees will have an opportunity to submit a new enrollment form and change their election until the close of business on Monday, June 20....

Late Wednesday afternoon Central Management Services notified NIU that the state has reached 90-day agreements with the following carriers: HealthLink OAP Health Alliance Illinois Health Alliance HMO As a result, Human Resource Services will now be able to accept enrollment forms with these selections. The state continues to investigate the possibility of 90-day agreements with...