Insurance costs set to increase
By Crystal Forester
Staff Reporter

For the past seven years, Andrea Heitz has worn an insulin pump to give her insulin 24 hours a day instead of giving herself shots.

“I cannot tell you how much healthier I am on the pump instead of the shots,” said Heitz, a researcher in advancement.

Heitz, 36, has had to live with diabetes since she was 10 years old.

Insurance pays for half the cost of the pump, which costs between $1,000 and $2,000, and all the cost of supplies that accompany the pump, Heitz said.

Without the help of insurance, Heitz said, she would not have been able to afford her medical care.

The cost of university health insurance is rising in January because the price of medical insurance is rising, Oakley said. Depending on which plan an employee wants, it could cost them between $50 and $180 every other week.

During an open enrollment period, TCU employees can sign up or make changes to their health and dental insurance for the next calendar year, said Susan Oakley, employee benefits manager.

“This gives employees the opportunity to make the needed changes to their benefits,” Oakley said.

Open enrollment is important for employees because they can look at the coverage and find out what is best for their family, said John Weis, associate vice chancellor of human resources.

Employees may add or drop a family member to their policy, or they may change the type of insurance plan they are participating in, Oakley said.

Employees who work at least 30 hours a week and are not temporary are eligible to enroll for insurance, she said.

To reduce their taxable income, employees can also sign up for a flexible spending account, which takes money out of employee paychecks before taxes are taken out and puts it into an account, Oakley said. Then the money may be used for medical items that are reimbursable, she said.

This year, the government is allowing money from flexible spending accounts to be used for over-the-counter medication, Oakley said.

An employee may take $50 out of his or her paycheck and put it in a flexible spending account and then get reimbursed for cold medicine, Oakley said.

Weis said the number of employees participating in open enrollment has been about the same as last year, but there has been an increase in people enrolling in the flexible spending plans.

Money from employees’ flexible spending accounts may also be used for dependent care, he said. Examples of dependent care include day-care costs and the costs of caring for elderly parents, he said.

“Employees can put their money aside, before taxes, for their dependents and use it when they need it,” Weis said.

Open enrollment packets must be turned in by 5 p.m. today at the Human Resources Office, 3100 W. Berry St.