Post Docs Open Enrollment Benefits Overview

NEW! Critical Illness – Voya

The selection of voluntary benefits will expand with the addition of Voya’s critical illness insurance beginning January 1, 2024. Plan participants who elect the insurance coverage will be provided a lump-sum payment if there is diagnosis of an unexpected covered medical condition for you or an eligible family member. Claims and documentation of the medical condition that meet the policy and certificate requirements will need to be provided directly to Voya.  

Critical Illness insurance will complement, not replace your medical coverage, and will be paid directly to you in addition to GW’s medical and disability benefits (if eligible and enrolled). You select your coverage amount from $10,000 or $20,000. Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage is also available in an amount equal to the selected employee benefit. Dependent coverage is available at 50% of the selected employee benefit. Additionally, covered plan participants receive an annual wellness benefit of $50 for completing an eligible health screening test. Critical Illness insurance will complement, not replace your medical coverage, and will be paid directly to you in addition to GW’s medical and disability benefits (if eligible and enrolled). For more information on cost and coverage review the Voya Critical Illness brochure.

Enroll* online via the GW benefits enrollment system during 2024 Open Enrollment!

*Please Note: Enrollment is restricted to open enrollment, new hire, and life events.

NEW! Hospital Indemnity - Voya

Hospital Indemnity administered by Voya is another new addition to the GW voluntary benefit options beginning January 1, 2024. With this insurance, you’ll receive a fixed daily benefit if you or an eligible family member have a covered stay in a hospital, intensive care unit, or rehabilitation facility that occurs after your coverage effective date. Benefit amounts are dependent on the type of facility and number of days of confinement. Claims and documentation that meet the policy and certificate requirements will need to be provided directly to Voya. No medical questions or tests are required for coverage.

Hospital Indemnity insurance is not health insurance and doesn’t replace your medical coverage; instead, it complements it. The benefit payments go directly to you to be used however you’d like rather than straight towards medical bills and treatments you may need. Choose this supplemental health insurance for added protection and to get yourself back on track financially should a covered hospitalization occur. For more information on cost and coverage review the Voya Hospital Indemnity brochure.

Enroll* online via the GW benefits enrollment system during 2024 Open Enrollment!

*Please Note: Enrollment is restricted to open enrollment, new hire, and life events.

NEW! Group Legal – Legal Resources

Beginning, January 1, 2024, GW will offer a group legal program, provided by the Legal Resources® Plan, which is designed to give you access to a nationwide network of over 11,000 professional attorneys and provide protection against high legal fees. If you enroll in this benefit, you, your spouse/domestic partner and your eligible dependent children will have access to a broad range of legal services covered under the monthly fee of $18. Many legal matters like will preparation, traffic violations, divorce/legal separation, review of personal legal documents, real estate (buying/selling a home) are covered at 100%.  Legal matters not fully covered (e.g. child support, personal injury, immigration, bankruptcy, contested family law issues) will be at a 25% attorney fee discount, with one hour of free consultation. Please Note: You may not cancel your membership in the plan until the annual open enrollment following 12 months of participation. Mid-plan year qualifying life event changes are not permitted for both enrollment and coverage termination.  
 

Tools, Information, and Services Available to You

The annual Open Enrollment period is a time of opportunity. As you review the 2024 benefit programs and changes, you are welcome to include your family in the planning process, if applicable.

Several resources and information sessions are made available to you during the weeks leading up to and during Open Enrollment. We encourage you to attend our open enrollment events, including in-person Fests* and virtual Postdoc Coffee Chat to ask questions as you choose plan(s) and benefits that are the best fit for you and your family.

*Register for the dental pop-up clinic held at the 10/12 Fest by visiting go.gwu.edu/2024oeevents.

View the Open Enrollment Events

Virtual Coffee Chat with Benefits 

Join GW Benefits and Gallagher Benefits for an upcoming virtual coffee and chat session as we provide an overview of your 2024 benefit offerings including our new vendor partners and benefit programs, introduce our re-imagined Open Enrollment Guide and enrollment deadlines, highlight important features of the GW Benefits enrollment system and recap well-being programs available to you and your family. 

Grab a coffee on us! Registrants for each session will be entered into a coffee gift card raffle.  
Friday, September 29, 2023 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET  
Webex registration information is available at go.gwu.edu/2024oeevents.

Flu Shots

• Plans are underway for flu vaccine clinics at the Foggy Bottom Campus and Virginia Science and Technology campus (VSTC). Details will be announced once finalized.
• Employees covered by a GW medical plan can also visit area pharmacies and convenience care clinics to receive a flu shot at no cost.
• If you are not covered on a GW medical plan, please verify costs with your health insurance company. Most plans will cover the full cost of seasonal flu shots.

Please note: If you require a high dose flu shot, generally recommended for those over age 65, please consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacy in advance regarding availability.

The GW Benefits Enrollment System

Beginning October 9, 2023, Postdocs may log in to the GW benefits enrollment system to review, change or select your benefits options. You are allowed to log in to the enrollment system and make changes as often as you would like during the three-week Open Enrollment period.

The deadline to make changes is 8 p.m. (ET) on October 27, 2023. Please remember that most changes made during the Open Enrollment period become effective January 1, 2024.

In the coming weeks:

• You will receive more detailed information regarding 2024 Open Enrollment.
• The new 2024 Open Enrollment Guide will be available prior to the Open Enrollment period and linked as a quick reference in the enrollment system.
• If you have any questions in advance of the 2024 Open Enrollment period, please contact the Benefits Call Center at (833) 698-0324 or email [email protected].

Please contact the Benefits Call Center at
833-698–0324 with any questions
you have in advance of the Open Enrollment period.