What's New for This Year's Open Enrollment
Where you go to enroll
You will only use eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to make your 2024 elections for health coverage through the State Health Plan. You will use the UNC (Empyrean) platform to make all other 2024 benefit elections, including all NCFlex and UNC System benefits.
Both the eBenefits and Empyrean platforms can be accessed from the UNC System Open Enrollment webpage. Look for the Appalachian State University button to log into each platform. Login using your App State username and password. Your Duo fob or Duo app is required to authenticate your login.
70/30 Plan and 80/20 Plan
No significant changes to health plan design. Review the plan summaries on www.shpnc.org for the most up-to-date plan details.
Click here for detailed information about 2024 benefit options
Highlights and Changes
Health Plan
Health Plan Highlights for this year’s Open Enrollment:
- No premium increases for the 6th year in a row!
- Members who select a Clear Pricing Project Provider as their Primary Care Provider will continue to enjoy $0 copay.
- Members will continue to enjoy a reduced copay when visiting a Clear Pricing Project Provider.
- Preferred and non-preferred insulin continue to have $0 copay for a 30-day supply.
- Preventative Services remain covered at 100% - no copay or deductible on either plan.
- No significant benefit changes for 2024. The formulary (drug list), which determines what medication are covered and what tier they fall under, changes on a quarterly basis, so there is a possibility that you will have changes in your prescription coverage in 2024.
There are no significant changes to the health plan design for 2024. Review the plan summaries on
Click here for NCFlex benefit details
www.shpnc.org for the most up-to-date plan details.
NCFlex
Dental Plan | Premiums are increasing. |
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) | The Health Care FSA maximum annual contribution is increasing to $3,050. |
Critical Illness Insurance | There are some enhancements to covered illnesses and an increased benefit for Carcinoma in Situ. |
Accident Plan | The names for the two Accident Plan options are changing.
There are no changes to plan design. In addition, contact information for Voya Travel Assistance is changing. In 2024, you will visit https://imglobal.com/member or call 317‑659‑5841 (Referral Code: VOYATRAVEL). |
Learn more
Click here for more Open Enrollment information. You can also visit www.shpnc.org for details about your health benefits, https://myapps.northcarolina.edu/hr/benefits-leave/income-protection-benefits/ for details about your UNC income protection plans, and www.ncflex.org for details about your NCFlex benefits.
Questions about enrolling?
- eBenefits (Benefitfocus): During the Open Enrollment period of October 9-27, the Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center will have extended hours to help you with any enrollment questions you may have. Call 855‑859‑0966, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., ET, and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET.
UNC (Empyrean): Call the University of North Carolina Benefits Service Center at 833-862-1490, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., ET.
Recap of Enrollment To-Dos
- If you are currently enrolled in Dental, Vision, Accident, and TRICARE Supplement coverage through NCFlex, your current elections will automatically roll over to the UNC (Empyrean) platform and remain in effect for 2024. We recommend you log into the UNC (Empyrean) platform during Open Enrollment to confirm your coverage converted correctly. You can also make changes to your coverage if needed.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) require re-enrollment every year, so your benefit election from last year will not roll over to the UNC (Empyrean) platform. If you want to participate in either of the FSAs, you must make an election on the UNC (Empyrean) platform during Open Enrollment. Keep in mind that the 2024 Health FSA maximum annual contribution limit has increased to $3,050. The 2024 Dependent Day Care FSA maximum annual contribution limit remains unchanged at $5,000.
- Any elections you made through the UNC (Empyrean) enrollment platform last year—UNC life insurance, UNC voluntary AD&D, UNC supplemental disability, cancer and specified disease, and critical illness—will remain in effect for 2024 unless you decide to make a change during Open Enrollment.
- If you enrolled in the Enhanced PPO Plan (80/20) through the State Health Plan during 2023 and want to participate in that option in 2024, you must enroll for coverage on the eBenefits (Benefitfocus) platform during Open Enrollment.
- If you want to reduce your premium under any of the plans offered by the State Health Plan, you MUST complete your tobacco attestation on the eBenefits (Benefitfocus) platform. If you fail to take action during Open Enrollment, you will not receive the $60 monthly wellness credit in 2024.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T ENROLL BY OCTOBER 27
Health Benefits
If you are currently enrolled for coverage under the State Health Plan, you and any currently covered dependents will be automatically enrolled in the Base PPO Plan (70/30). To reduce your premium by $60 (via the tobacco attestation) or to enroll in the Enhanced PPO Plan (80/20), you must take action during Open Enrollment.
NCFlex Benefits
You’ll have the same coverage as 2023 with one important exception: You will not have Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). To participate in either FSA (Health Care or Dependent Day Care), you must make an active election, even if you currently participate in one.