Open enrollment deadline is Nov. 30
Representatives from each of the plans were available to answer questions from individual members.
November 30 is the deadline for open enrollment. If you have previously enrolled and are not making any changes, no action is necessary. Your coverage will continue automatically.
October 24 Workshop: Health plans for University Retirees
Tue, October 24 2017, 1:30pm
Campus Club, Fourth Floor, Coffman Memorial Union
Retirees who purchase supplemental health insurance from the University of Minnesota, and any new U of M retirees who are considering doing so, will surely want to attend the Health Benefits Workshop following the UMRA luncheon on October 24.
A representative from the University of Minnesota Office of Human Resources will give an overview of the benefits offered by the University and provide comparisons between the different plans available for retirees. A representative from each of the health plans will also be available to answer specific questions.
All pre- and post-65 retirees should be receiving the 2017 Benefits Enrollment guide from the University in their postal mailboxes by mid-October. The 36-page guide includes new rates for the coming year and open enrollment periods.
Our workshop on October 24 will give us an opportunity to compare the benefits offered by each of the plans and address any concerns or questions we may have. Similar workshops provided by Human Resources in previous years have been well attended, and many of those attending thought the information provided was helpful to them in selecting plans best suited to their personal circumstances.
Join us after the UMRA luncheon on Tuesday, October 24, for this important workshop beginning at 1:30 p.m., and encourage your fellow U of M retirees to attend, too. UMRA workshops are free and open to everyone.
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.