Preparing for 2010 Annual Enrollment

Accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone at anytime.  Misfortune is never planned, but understanding your benefits will prepare you if something happens.

Are you spending enough time gathering information on your options?  Who do your health care choices impact? It’s never too early to start planning for your benefit elections for 2010.

While 2010 will not bring many changes to the benefit programs offered, there are still some important changes that may affect your decisions.  Details regarding plan changes and rates will be provided in your Annual Enrollment package, but a short preface is available below:

• Enrollment period:

Enrollment packages will be mailed to State Farm retirees the week of October 12; they should be postmarked and returned by November 11.  Retirees actually have until November 30 to submit their changes; however, we ask that forms be returned by November 11 in order to allow time for the changes to be updated in the system.

• Non-Required Enrollment
  2010 will be a non-required enrollment year.  2009 benefit elections will be carried over into 2010 unless you make changes. 

More information will be available in the coming months, but now is a good time to start thinking about your benefits for this year and to consider any changes or events that might change your elections for 2010.

Hardship always seems to surface when it’s least convenient.  Don’t be caught off guard!  A little extra time dedicated to your benefits enrollment now could give you more time to deal with those unexpected events.