The University of Oregon benefits office is hosting a virtual benefits fair Oct. 5-9 as part of this year’s open enrollment. The fair includes virtual booths from various vendors, who provide information and resources about their benefits options. Benefits-eligible employees can download resources, watch videos and chat with representatives.

Vendors participating in the benefits fair include Providence Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente, Moda Health, Delta Dental, ASI Flex, retirement plan providers and many more. Tour the benefits fair virtual booths on the HR website. The vendor booths will remain available through the end of October.

During the week of Oct. 5-9 many of the benefits fair vendors will be offering live webinars and a chance to ask questions with virtual office hours. Some of the webinars require registration and some do not. The format will be first come, first in the Zoom meeting room. Recordings of the webinars will be posted in vendor virtual booths the following week for employees that were unable to attend or if the spots for that webinar were full. Visit the webinar schedule for a complete listing as well as registration and meeting login information.

Annual benefits open enrollment began on Thursday, Oct. 1. If an employee wants to update any of their coverages, add or remove dependents, enroll or reenroll in a flexible spending account or change their Health Engagement Model status, they must take action no later than Oct. 31 to make changes during open enrollment.

Public Employees Benefits Board has decided, for this year only, to make open enrollment voluntary. Employees do not have to do anything if they are happy with their current coverages and insurance plans, including their current participation in the Health Engagement Model. This means that 2020 plan choices will remain intact for 2021.

The open enrollment webpage provides employees with instructions, information and quick links to everything needed to understand this year’s passive open enrollment process. Contact the benefits office at hrbenefits@uoregon.edu for open enrollment questions and assistance.