Retiree Benefits Ombudsperson Announcement
December 4, 2020
Dear UMS Retiree,
In an effort to provide as much information as possible in support of your enrollment for University of Maine System-sponsored supplemental health care benefits for 2021, please note the following important updates.
Tracy Bigney Appointed Special Ombudsperson
As promised, UMS has designated an ombudsperson to assist and support retirees and their qualified dependents in the 2021 health benefit enrollment process.
Tracy Bigney, former Chief Human Resources Officer and Clerk of the Board of Trustees will serve in this capacity. Well known to many of you, Tracy is herself a retiree who also teaches part-time for the Maine Business School. Independent of Aon Retiree Health Exchange®, UMS Human Resources, and all plans offered through Aon and Aetna®, she will partner with HR to address specific needs of retirees in this transition.
Authorized to work on behalf of retirees for the University of Maine System, Tracy can help address Aon, insurance carrier or Human Resource concerns. Tracy will report directly to the Chancellor and Board of Trustees. Her role also calls upon her to keep them informed about both the kinds and numbers of problems retirees encounter and any barriers to receiving benefits.
Of particular interest to Tracy will be resolving issues encountered by retirees in obtaining the correct choice for their health plan, enrolling or un-enrolling in coverage through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, re-enrolling in the Aetna plan, or receiving benefits of the $1,500 cap on out-of-pocket prescription costs for those who elect coverage through Aon.
Please note, the Ombudsperson does not replace the Employee Benefits Center as a source for general information and routine procedural assistance. The EBC remains your first and most important connection in finding out more about your choices and the process to implement them in time to meet important deadlines.
Contact the Employee Benefits Center at:
benefits@maine.edu or 1-207-973-3373
For assistance with specific difficulties or concerns, you may contact:
Tracy Bigney
Email: retiree.ombuds@maine.edu
Phone: 1-207-581-1233.
Disregard Aetna Disenrollment Letter
I want to bring to your attention recent correspondence you received from Aetna indicating your coverage was being discontinued due to the transition to the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. Due to the timing of this outreach, there is some confusion over whether this applies to past or current status within Aetna benefits. Please disregard this communication. It is no longer valid and does not reflect the recent adjustments allowing retirees to either return to or retain their Aetna benefits. We apologize for the confusion this may have caused.
Understanding the University of Maine System HRA and how it works
For those retirees who have elected to enroll in health benefit plans through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, some helpful webinar presentations are available. On December 9 and again on December 10, please join Aon’s David Rew for an opportunity to learn more about Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA), and the process through which members of new plans will be able to gain reimbursement for qualified medical and pharmacy costs.
Register for one of these two sessions if your 2021 health coverage comes as a result of enrolling in a new plan through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange:
- Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
- Thursday, December 10, 2020, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
For more information, visit the event webpage (External Link).
How to Keep Current with the Enrollment Process for 2021
To monitor updates and information, review the latest FAQs, view an instructional video or walk through a helpful infographic, please visit the University of Maine System Benefits Center webpage.
To document your status within the Aetna benefit plan and Cigna Dental Plan if applicable, University of Maine System Human Resources will mail confirmation by December 21, 2020. For anyone who chooses to cancel their election on the Aon Retiree Health Exchange after December 7 and before December 31, please allow up to two weeks to receive your 2021 Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan (and Cigna Dental Plan, if applicable) re-enrollment confirmation. All retirees, spouses, and eligible dependents will receive new Aetna insurance cards directly from Aetna.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this important process together and wishing you and yours a very safe and healthy holiday season.
Best Regards,
Carol Corcoran
Chief Human Resources Officer
University of Maine System