WKU News

Dear WKU Benefits-Eligible Employees,

Open Enrollment for 2027 benefits starts today and runs through October 23. All benefits-eligible employees must complete online enrollment every year — even if you don’t wish to make any changes, opt out of medical coverage, or you’re a new hire and recently completed enrollment for 2026 benefits.  

At minimum, each year you must:

• Accept or decline the Top Life Wellness Pledge
• Attest to tobacco usage
• Elect or decline HSA/FSA contributions
• Complete the Benefit Enrollment Authorization

If you don't enroll by Friday, October 23:

• You will be enrolled in the PPO 1,600 with the same coverage level as your current health plan or if you are currently waiving the health plan, you will be assigned the same waiver coverage.
• You'll lose eligibility for wellness credits and discounted premiums
• You'll be subject to the $50 per month tobacco surcharge

What’s Changing in 2027? 

• Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). WKU's pharmacy benefits move to SmithRx, replacing Express Scripts. Your medical plan nor the administrator, Anthem BCBS, are not changing. You'll receive a new ID card with SmithRx information on it, and you'll need to present it at the pharmacy beginning January 1, 2027. Additional member education sessions are scheduled this week — See our 10/7 email for details. Reference the SmithRx announcement flyer and introduction video attached. 
• Saver 3,400 plan deductible. Due to federal regulations, the deductible associated with the HSA-eligible HDHP must increase by $100. The Saver 3,400 plan will change to the Saver 3,500 plan. 
• University/Employee Contributions. To accommodate this mandatory increase, university and employee contributions will increase 3.0% each. The WKU business unit rate will increase $31 per employee per month (PEPM), and employee contributions will increase $7 PEPM across all plans and coverage levels. The university/employee split in funding is 84%/16%. Employee monthly rates are reflected in the 2027 Benefits Guide.

While you're enrolling, update your contact information in TopNet.

Enrolling and updating your contact information are two separate steps. Your new Anthem medical & prescription drug ID card and any transition mailings from Anthem or SmithRx will be sent to the address on file in TopNet, not to the address in your enrollment system. Please log in to TopNet and confirm your mailing address and phone number are current while Open Enrollment is top of mind.

Go to WKU TopNet

1. Click Personal Information
2. Click View/Update Personal Information.
3. Click the pencil icon to edit your Mailing/Permanent Address and Home (Primary) Phone Number.

Recommendation:

To make the best choices for you and your family’s needs, we highly recommend you review the following items before making your elections:

·         2027 Benefits Guide. A print-friendly PDF and e-flipbook are posted here. The PDF is attached for convenience.

·         2026 Employee Benefit Summary Report. Log in to the Benefits Portal, click Enroll/Change Benefits, hover over ‘Benefits’ in the upper right corner, then click on ‘Employee Summary Report’.

·         Claims History. Log in to Anthem.com and hover over ‘Claims & Payments’ in top menu, then click on ‘Claims’. Although not a reliable standalone predictor, prior medical expenses can be a useful indicator of future costs. 

Plan Documents and Employee Notice:

·         Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). The SBC for each plan (Saver 3500, PPO 1100, PPO 1600) can be found in the Benefits Portal. Hover over Benefit Resources in the top menu and select Plan Documents Center.  

·         Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notice. The attached notice explains how our prescription coverage compares to Medicare and is important to keep for your records, especially if you or a family member are (or will soon be) eligible for Medicare. This and other important employee notices can be found here.

Book a One-On-One Enrollment Assistance Meeting with Benefits Staff:

·         In-Person Meeting: Book time with Wade Pinkard

·         Virtual Meeting: Book time with Erin Heil