Having recently completed our 2014 Benefits Open Enrollment, the University of Miami continues to offer employer-sponsored healthcare to all eligible employees. Faculty, staff and their family members who are eligible for the UM/Aetna plans need not look to the Health Insurance Marketplace for health coverage.

For many others in our community, including friends and extended family members, the launch of the Affordable Care Act and its new Health Insurance Marketplace poses many questions about choosing the right health coverage. Members of the community who want access to UHealth’s top-ranked physicians and state-of-the-art facilities should be aware that UHealth has relationships with the following insurance providers:

•        Cigna – All 11 plan options on the Health Insurance Marketplace include UHealth services.

•        Humana – All six plans are covered, but Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital is excluded.

•        Florida Blue – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida — 24 Blue Options Plans and 23 Blue Care Plans are included, but not Blue Select.

•        Coventry Health Care – Coventry covers UHealth services only with a referral from the member’s primary care physician.

Open enrollment for the new Health Insurance Marketplace plans ends March 31, 2014.  For more information about plans and enrollment, please visit www.healthcare.gov.

Hugo Delapenha, Alex Irastorza, and Justin Renfrow deliver turkeys.

Six University of Miami football players served up turkeys, not touchdowns, on Tuesday at Overtown’s Greater Mercy Missionary Baptist Church, delivering 48 Thanksgiving dinners to needy residents from the community.

Church pastor Willie Williams greeted players as they arrived and was very appreciative of the Hurricanes’ special delivery. All 48 Thanksgiving dinners were handed out within an hour.

Players delivering Thanksgiving meals included seniors Akil Craig, Justin Renfrow, and Alex Irastorza; juniors Ryan Williams and Hugo Delapenha Jr.; and sophomore Herb Waters. Director of Player Development Ryan McNamee organized the trip along with Kelly Golden, Diona Kehoe, Valerie McNamee, and Inika Vance.

The Department of Finance and Treasury’s annual Silent Auction may have ended, but the bidding continues. Finance and Treasury will hold a one-week mini-auction as one final push for the 2013 United Way Campaign. The mini-auction will run December 4-10. Visit www.miami.edu/unitedwayblitz, or contact Travel Management at [email protected] for more information.

The new music trivia app supports UM’s marine research and conservation efforts.

University of Miami marine biologists have partnered with a mobile game development company to launch a new music trivia game for mobile devices that tests the music knowledge of players while promoting and supporting marine conservation efforts. Developed by Good World Games Inc., in partnership with UM’s R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Musingo is a free app ready for download from iTunes for iPhones and iPads.

“Our goal is to bring marine conservation to the masses,” said Neil Hammerschlag, director of the R.J. Dunlap Program, who approached the gaming company dedicated to “Gaming for Good” about creating an app that would appeal to just about anyone while supporting marine research and education. “People are going to play Musingo because it’s fun. The conservation messaging is subtle.” Read the full story

Sebastian was detained for two hours for stepping on the University seal.

Poor Sebastian. When the beloved mascot was captured on camera stepping on the University seal, the Department of Real Estate and Facilities filed a complaint with University of Miami Police, who took him into custody on Thursday, November 21, not far from the scene of his audacious act in front of the UC Bookstore. But thanks to the generosity of students, staff and faculty who donated to his bail fund, Sebastian was sprung just two hours later. Impressed by the outpouring, facility managers have ripped up the complaint and are sending all bond proceeds to the United Way.