If you’ve been dragging your feet regarding renewal of your health benefits, drag them no more.

All new, current and returning benefit-eligible employees have until 5 p.m., Oct. 31, to enroll in a medical, dental and vision plan for Jan. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2014.

This process is called “Open Enrollment,” and it ends at that time. Enroll online in the PEBB.benefits system, print forms online or pick them up from University of Oregon Human Resources at 677 E. 12th Ave. Learn more in the September newsletter of the Public Employees’ Benefit Board.

Forms must be received by human resources by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, or the PEBB online system will be available until midnight that day.

“We encourage employees to complete the process as soon as possible to avoid potential last-minute system overloads,” said Cindi Peterson, of the UO Benefits Office.

Employees who don’t enroll will pay an additional $100 medical deductible per person and a tobacco use surcharge – even if they don’t use tobacco. Those premiums will begin with the December paycheck because they’re paid a month in advance.

- from the UO Office of Strategic Communications