Open Enrollment Toolkit for HR reps
Use the following tools/resources to help you prepare for and answer questions about Open Enrollment (October 1-31, 2024).
Where to Find Open Enrollment Resources
Visit the Open Enrollment webpage on the HR website to find the most updated information, including links to the following tools/resources. We suggest you bookmark this page on your browser so you can easily find Open Enrollment information throughout the month of October.
- Open Enrollment guides for faculty, academic, and support staff
- Detailed instructions on how to participate in Open Enrollment through the EBS Portal
- A how-to-enroll video
- Instructions for how to add a family member or dependent
- Details about the MSU Benefits Fair and HR Site Labs
- Online Benefit Provider Resources
Notable 2025 Plan Year Reminders
While there are no significant changes to the benefit options for faculty, academic, and support staff for the 2025 plan year, employees can reference page 6 of the appropriate Open Enrollment guide to view all notable reminders for the 2025 plan year.
Here are some highlights:
- Spouse/Other Eligible Individual (OEI) Affidavit: Employees must review and complete the spouse/other eligible individual (OEI) affidavit in the EBS Portal each year to continue coverage for a spouse/OEI.
- Review Voluntary Benefits: Please note voluntary vision, legal, and critical illness insurance require employees to enroll in, make changes, or cancel during the Open Enrollment period. If employees are already enrolled in a plan, their enrollment will continue automatically unless they cancel.
MSU Benefits Fair and Site Labs
Benefits Fair (In-person)
October 3 | Noon – 7:00 p.m. | Breslin Student Events Center
MSU benefit providers and MSU HR staff will be available to answer questions and/or help employees enroll in their benefits on-site at the Breslin Student Events Center.
Learn More: Please visit the HR Benefits Fair webpage to find more details about the fair.
HR Site Labs
October 10 (In-person for IPF)| 2:00-3:00 p.m. and 10:00-11:00 p.m. | 1147 Chestnut Rd, Room 27, East Lansing MI 48824
October 16 (Virtual) | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
October 17 (In-person) | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | CHM Benefits Resource Fair, Secchia Center, 15 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503
October 17 (In-Person) | 2:00-5:00 p.m. | MSU Fall Extension Conference, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids MI 49503
October 22 (In-person) | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | International Center, 427 N. Shaw Ln, Spartan Rooms B and C, East Lansing, MI 48824
October 23 (In-person for SLE) | 1:00-4:00 p.m. | 1855 Place, 550 S. Harrison Rd, Main entrance, East Lansing, MI 48823
October 31 (In-person) | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | HR Building, 1407 S. Harrison Rd, Room 125, East Lansing 48823
Employees have the ability to participate in an HR Site Lab to receive assistance with enrollment or ask questions about benefit options. We are offering a virtual option, along with two in-person options at different locations on campus.
Learn More: Please visit the HR Site Labs webpage to learn more about how to participate in the HR site labs.
Online Benefit Provider Resources
The Online Benefit Provider Resources webpage offers a variety of resources from our MSU benefit providers that employees can review online at any time. Resources include brochures, videos, contact information for further questions, and more. This is a great resource if employees are unable to attend the in-person benefits fair.
An Open Enrollment Checklist
Do you have employees that need extra guidance navigating Open Enrollment? Consider sending them a link to this Open Enrollment Checklist article (link coming by September 11), which helps employees ensure they are choosing the best benefit plans for their needs.
Special Instructions for New Hires During Open Enrollment
New hires that start prior to Open Enrollment still need to complete Open Enrollment to do the following:
- Continue coverage for a spouse or OEI in the 2025 plan year.
- Enroll in plans that need to be renewed each plan year (i.e. flexible spending accounts).
- Make changes to current 2024 plan year selections for the 2025 plan year.
New hires that start during or after Open Enrollment still need to complete Open Enrollment if they want to enroll in plans that need to be renewed each year (Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA) or make changes to plan selections made for the 2025 plan year. If they cover a spouse/OEI, they do not need to complete a new affidavit. Please have the new hire fill out the Open Enrollment Offline Enrollment/Change form.
New hires that start on or after December 1 do not need to contact HR for an Open Enrollment link to enroll in FSA plans. FSA plans elected in the new hire enrollment will begin the first of the month after the enrollment date.
Special Instructions for ACA-Mandated Employees
ACA-mandated employee eligibility must be re-evaluated to determine if they are eligible to enroll or continue in the MSU health plan. In case these employees see other Open Enrollment materials, we wanted to remind you that currently they may not participate in Open Enrollment.
At the end of their measurement period they will be given an opportunity to enroll in, change, or cancel their health care benefits. If they are eligible, an email will be sent to their msu.edu email account explaining their enrollment period and plan options.
Special Instructions for Employees on an Unpaid Leave of Absence
Employees on an unpaid leave of absence during Open Enrollment cannot complete Open Enrollment online. Please refer to the Special Enrollment Guide for information on how to participate in Open Enrollment and what changes are allowed.
