December 12, 2007

Dear Colleagues:

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation and feedback during this year’s benefits Open Enrollment, and I would also like to thank members of the Employee Benefits Advisory Council for their hard work. This note is to remind you about your 2008 medical care plans and upcoming UMatter events. 

Open Enrollment went far smoother this year than last. In total, 97 percent of faculty and staff with medical coverage participated in online Open Enrollment. In addition, approximately 3,100 employees attended the Benefits Open Enrollment Fair, and Benefits Administration conducted more than 70 information sessions.

During Open Enrollment, 25 percent of faculty and staff elected the HMO1 plan; 49 percent elected HMO2; 7 percent elected PPO 550; and 19 percent elected CoverageFirst 1500. As we head into the new year, let me remind you of some of the features of the new medical plans:

• All members will be receiving a new 2008 Humana I.D. card in the mail at your home address during the last two weeks of December.
  
  
• All of the medical plans are open access. The HMOs do not require a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist. Still, it is usually a wise practice to consult with your primary care physician before choosing to see a specialist.
  
  
• Both the HMO1 and HMO2 plans have a new network called HMO Premier. This network is currently expanding throughout Humana's HMO national service areas. As areas begin to offer the HMO Premier network, you will be able to use providers in these areas. The PPO and CoverageFirst plans have a new network called National POS-Open Access. This is a national network with more than 440,000 physicians and over 3,100 hospitals. For instructions on how to locate an in-network provider, click here. 
  
  
• All of the plans include lower copays when using a UM provider. Services at the new University of Miami Hospital (UMH), formerly Cedars Medical Center, will include these lower copays. Humana is working to contract with UMH physicians so you can have lower copays as if you were seeing a UMMG physician. We will update you on the status of the UMH physician-contracting project as we receive information from Humana.
  
  
• You can schedule an appointment with a UMMG provider by calling the UM-dedicated UMMG appointment line at 305-243-CARE. To locate a UMMG provider, go to www.umdoctors.com.
  
  
• Beginning in May, all members will receive quarterly Humana SmartSummary personal health finance and benefits statements. These new statements will help you manage your health care finances. Click here to view a sample SmartSummary statement.
  
  
• In January you will receive two helpful medical plan publications via interoffice mail. The Health Care Employee Desk References will provide information on your medical plan costs and features, and the UMatter Preventive Care Wallet Cards will list 2008 UMatter Preventive Care Benefits that are available at no cost to the member. Keep both of these with you throughout the year for easy access to medical plan information.
  
  
• The UM-dedicated Humana customer service team will have a new number. You can reach the team at 1-888-778-8389 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST beginning January 1, 2008.
  
  
• The UMatter Preventive Care Benefits offer a number of free wellness and preventive screenings, including an annual mammogram (for screening or diagnostics) for women age 35 and older.
  
  
• As you visit your health care providers this year, keep in mind that the University self insures for its employee health care plans, which means that our medical plan premiums reflect the health and health care usage of our employees and their dependents.

As I have mentioned in past communications, a major focus in 2008 will be on partnering with you to promote wellness. In January we will host the first annual UMatter Wellness Fair, and many more events will be scheduled throughout the year. Detailed information will be forthcoming.

One of our top priorities is to offer faculty and staff continuing education on key benefits. We will be hosting lunch-and-learn sessions on flexible spending accounts and financial and retirement planning throughout the spring. Please feel free to email a benefits expert by completing the online form at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask to suggest any benefits educational sessions you would like to see offered next year. I hope you will take advantage of all the University has to offer.

In addition, you will be receiving a new personal 2007 total compensation statement in February. The statement will include a summary of calendar year 2007 compensation and benefits.  

We continue to seek opportunities to engage faculty and staff. In that regard, please take a moment to complete the online Open Enrollment Survey and to offer your comments and suggestions. The deadline to complete the survey is this Friday, December 14. Your opinions matter and feedback is given serious consideration. You can also send comments to me at umbenefits@miami.edu.

Joe Natoli
Senior Vice President for Business and Finance
and Chief Financial Officer