Update: The PowerPoint slides used in these presentations are available – click to view.
Email uihr@uillinois.edu with any questions about the sessions or to share your feedback.
The following message was sent on behalf of Robert Barish and Walter Knorr to faculty and staff who are eligible for the State Employees Group Insurance Program.
We write to draw your attention to important information regarding proposed health care benefit changes for University of Illinois employees, and to invite you to attend an informational meeting.
Eligible university employees participate in the State Employees Group Insurance Program (”SEGIP”) as provided for by the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. The SEGIP provides for group health insurance and other employee benefits, and is administered through the State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS).
The university has become aware of possible significant adjustments being proposed by the state to the employee health care benefit coverages and related costs.
The state negotiates with the state’s AFSCME union for employee benefits and extends the bargained program of benefits to non-bargained state employees, including university employees. However, this year there has been a dispute in the AFSCME negotiations in which the state is requesting the Illinois labor board to declare an impasse, including the negotiation of health care benefit coverage and costs. Resolution of the labor board proceedings is not anticipated until later in the year, but changes to coverage and related costs may be retroactive to July 1, 2016.
President Tim Killeen has convened the Employee Group Benefits Task Force with faculty and staff members from all three campuses. This task force has been asked to examine the proposed changes and proactively inform employees. To that end, the task force will conduct a series of campus meetings to provide information and begin a discussion. The meetings will begin with a short presentation on the state’s proposed changes to the benefit plans and costs and the impact on employees, followed by an open session for questions and input from attendees.
The campus meetings will be as follows:
Chicago
Date: Monday, June 27, 2016
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Location:
- Chicago Campus: PHARM 134, College of Pharmacy, 833 South Wood Street
- Rockford Regional Campus (videoconference): Auditorium (E207b), 1601 Parkview Avenue
- Peoria Regional Campus (videoconference): Video Conference Room, One Illini Drive
Live webcast: http://uiswowza1.uis.edu/uislive/ (Link Updated 6/22)
Urbana
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Location: Lincoln Hall Theater, 702 South Wright Street
Live webcast: go.illinois.edu/live
Springfield
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2016
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Location: Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza
Live webcast: http://www.uis.edu/technology/wp-content/uploads/sites/123/misc/live/
These meetings are approved events under Civil Service Policy and Rules, Rule 11.12. Employees who are SEGIP-eligible may be released from work to attend one of the sessions, University operations permitting, and subject to prior supervisor approval.
Understanding the changes proposed for the state’s health benefit plans and the potential impact on university employees is an imperative and we invite you to attend one of the these campus meetings.
Sincerely,
Robert Barish, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs
Walter Knorr, Vice President/CFO and Comptroller
Co-Chairs, Employee Group Benefits Task Force
