Open Enrollment has officially begun. Your annual opportunity to enroll or make changes to medical, dental, flexible spending, and short-term disability benefits begins today and runs through Friday, November 2. As part of a weeklong Open Enrollment event lineup, University of Miami employees are invited to attend the Benefits Fair today in the Coral Gables Wellness Center’s Centre Court at 12:30 p.m. Sebastian the Ibis will lead a special Well ’Canes Energy Break and visit with faculty and staff.

If you are unable to attend, please be sure to visit the 2013 Benefits Fair any day this week to learn more about your benefit options for next year. While at the fair, be sure to enjoy a free massage and healthy snacks at the ’Canes Café. You can also enter to win raffle prizes and giveaways, and receive your free flu shot.

Log on to myUM to make your elections for 2013 benefits, as many of your current elections will not roll over. (Note: University Miami Hospital employees should visit www.gallagherbenefits.com/mybenefits for benefit information and to enroll). Your current elections for the medical plan, smokers’ surcharge, spousal surcharge, and Flexible Spending Account will not roll over. If you do not take action and either enroll in or decline medical coverage, you and your covered dependants will be placed in the Aetna HRA medical plan, and smokers’ and spousal surcharges will apply. During the next few weeks, please take the time to learn more at a Benefits Fair, information session, or webcast.

For more information on 2013 Open Enrollment, including the Benefits Fair and information session schedules, please visit www.miami.edu/benefits.

If you have any questions, contact a benefits representative online at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask or by phone at 305-284-3004.

The University of Miami is required to provide participants in the Employees’ Retirement Plan (ERP) an Annual Funding Notice. This notice is for informational purposes only; no action is required. The Annual Funding Notice reports the funded status of the ERP for the plan year beginning June 1, 2011 and ending May 31, 2012. The notice describes how the plan assets are invested and outlines the benefits that are guaranteed by an agency of the federal government called the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). To view the ERP Annual Funding Notice for the 2012 plan year, including a list of frequently asked questions and a glossary of terms, click here. Also included in the Annual Funding Notice is the Pension Funding Relief Notice, which communicates the election of pension funding relief for the plan year beginning June 1, 2011 and ending May 31, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact HR-Benefits at www.miami.edu/benefits/ask.