NIU Today

The DeKalb County Health Department is conducting outreach and enrollment in the health insurance marketplace and Medicaid for DeKalb County residents. In-person marketplace counselors will provide unbiased information to help consumers determine eligibility, understand coverage options and enroll in affordable health insurance plans. The service is free and made possible from funding by the Illinois...

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...

University employees and annuitants currently enrolled in the Health Alliance Illinois insurance plan must select a new insurance carrier by Jan. 31. Among the options available is Health Alliance HMO, a plan that is almost identical to one being eliminated – including health care providers, prescription drug plans, etc. The only substantive difference is that...

The Illinois Department of Central Management Services has announced that it has extended insurance coverage provided by all current carriers at least until supplemental managed care contracts have been procured. The provision specifically affects those who are insured through Health Alliance HMO, Health Alliance Illinois and Coventry HMO. According to the announcement, those contracts could...

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...

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....

The state announced Thursday morning that it has  reached 90-day agreements with two more insurance carriers,  bringing the total number of choices available to eight. The new carriers are: PersonalCare HMO Carrier Code: AS FY2011 Map Applies, (800) 431-1211 (217) 366-5551 (TDD/TTY) PersonalCare OAP Carrier Code CH FY2012 Map Applies, (800) 431-1211 (217) 366-5551 (TDD/TTY) As a...

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...

The insurance situation for state of Illinois employees and annuitants remains in flux. Actions taken Tuesday, June 14, by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability have potentially opened the door to a flood of new options before the June 17 Benefits Choice deadline. Here is a recap of what is known at this time....