OHR benefits workshop drew a crowd
The October benefits workshop gave UMRA members an opportunity to discuss 2020 plan options with OHR and vendor representatives.
The University Office of Human Resources (OHR) and vendor representatives gave an audience of more than 70 UMRA members a preview of the latest information on the University’s health care and retirement savings plans during UMRA's October benefits workshop. Retiree medical plans will continue from last year with relatively minor changes in costs and coverage. However, dental plans will be offered from only one vendor, Delta Dental.
Details about next year’s medical and dental plans can be found online in the 2020 Benefits Annual Enrollment Guide (also to be mailed to retirees in late October) and at the Benefits Fairs held on campus November 6 and 7. This year’s open enrollment period runs from November 1 to December 2.
The University is making a major change in its retiree savings plans, switching the administration of these plans from Securian to Fidelity, which will offer a new and different portfolio of investment options. Securian options will be mapped to corresponding Fidelity options. The Securian General Account and General Account Limited funds will still be offered as before, even though they will be administered by Fidelity.
Before the funds switch over on April 1, 2020, OHR will offer many ways to learn about the changes and new options, including mailings, workshops, videos, web pages, and individual consultations.
—Ron Matross, chair, Workshop Committee
October workshop will feature OHR's annual benefits update
Tue, October 22 2019, 1:30pm
West Wing Dining Room, Campus Club, Coffman Memorial Union
Ken Horstman, OHR's senior director of Total Compensation, and his team will provide a comprehensive update and be available for questions.
Our October workshop will be the annual update from the University’s Office of Human Resources on retiree health benefits, plus an update on changes in the retirement investment system to be implemented next spring. The workshop will be held in the West Wing Dining Room to accommodate the large attendance we anticipate.
We have also expanded the allotted time, to allow for more questions and for the retirement plan update. Our thanks in advance to Ken Horstman, senior director of Total Compensation, and his team for providing this timely, important, and comprehensive review.
Health Programs Manager Ryan Reisdorfer will give an overview of 2020 health benefit changes, and a representative from each of the four medical plan vendors—BlueCross BlueShield, HealthPartners, Medica, and UCare—and Delta Dental will give short presentations highlighting their plans and any 2020 changes.
The medical and dental plan representatives will also be available afterward for individual questions.
Retirement Plans Program Manager Krisann McMahon will provide an update on the transition to Fidelity for the Faculty Retirement Plan, the Optional Retirement Plan, and the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. Again, there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. Please come!
—Bill Donohue
Upcoming Events
We are fortunate to have UMRA member and former Minnesota Landscape Arboretum director Peter Moe to lead this approximately 3.7-mile hike at the Arboretum on Monday, May 6. Plan to have lunch together after the hike at the Eatery café inside the Oswald Visitor Center.
This session will continue the discussion begun in the May 8, 2023 session. See that article for details.
If you currently live in your own home or apartment, have you looked ahead to when you might want to consider a senior living option? Do you have any idea what those options might be? How much they cost? What they provide? UMRA’s May 14 workshop will provide an overview of the world of senior living and the basic information you need.
You’re invited to join the final Family History Interest Group meeting for 2023–24. This will be an opportunity to ask questions related to family history, share insights, talk about recent projects, and suggest topics for next year.
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by best-selling author Mary Roach when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.