Important Benefit Reminders for 2023

University Human Resources encourages benefit-eligible employees to review the benefit information below. This information is relevant for the 2023 benefits plan year and may affect your payroll deductions. 

State Health Plan, NCFlex, UNC System and University Benefits

• Any benefit election you made during annual enrollment for the State Health Plan, NCFlex, UNC System and university benefit programs took effect Jan. 1, 2023. Remember to review your January paycheck to ensure that the plans you elected are reflected on your pay stub and that the deductions for those plans are correct. 
• You can review your pay stubs online by going to MyPack Portal and clicking the “Pay Check” tile under “Employee Self Service.”
• To see if your payroll deductions are accurate for your State Health Plan, vision, accident, flexible spending and TRICARE benefits, compare the deducted amounts on your pay stub for those plans to the confirmation statement on the state benefits enrollment website. To view your confirmation statement:
  1. Go to Employee Self Service in MyPack Portal.
  2. Select “Benefit Details” and then “My State Employee Benefits.” From there, you’ll be able to access the state benefits website.
  3. On that site, under “My Documents” click “Confirmation Statement.”

• To see if your payroll deductions are accurate for your cancer, critical Illness, accidental death and dismemberment (core or voluntary) and UNC life insurance (Securian) plans, compare the deducted amounts on your pay stub for those plans to amounts listed on your benefits profile in the UNC System benefits portal. To view your profile:
  1. Go to Employee Self Service in MyPack Portal.
  2. Select “Benefit Details” and then “My UNC Benefits.” From there, you’ll be able to access the UNC System benefits portal.
  3. On that site, click “Current Benefits.”
• State Health Plan deductions are withheld one month in advance of the coverage effective date (e.g., December deductions pay for January coverage).
• You will receive a new State Health Plan ID card from the State Health Plan. You also can download a card online. Go to the University Human Resources website for instructions on how to do so.

UNC Voluntary Life Insurance and AD&D (Securian)

• If you’re enrolled in the UNC System’s voluntary life insurance program through Securian, you may see a change in your payroll deduction beginning with your January paycheck as a result of your NCFlex life insurance coverage being mapped to the UNC System plan. Be sure to review your coverage and premiums. NC State employees enrolled in the UNC System life insurance program will have a special opportunity Feb. 1-17 to make changes to their insurance coverage.
• Any NCFlex voluntary accidental death and dismemberment coverage you had was mapped to the UNC System plan at the exact same level of coverage you previously had under the NCFlex plan.
• Voluntary life insurance premiums are based on your age as of Jan. 1, 2023.
• NCFlex spousal life insurance coverage was moved to UNC System plan and premiums are based on the employee age not the spouse age. 
• For more information about the UNC System life insurance program, go to the UNC System website.

Critical Illness (Voya)

• If you’re enrolled in this NCFlex plan, remember you have a new vendor: Voya.
• You may see a change in your payroll deduction beginning with your January paycheck. Any adjustments to your premium are based on your age as of Jan. 1, 2023.
• Don’t forget about the new wellness benefit for 2023. If you’re enrolled in this benefit and you complete a health screening test between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, you will receive $50. If your spouse and/or children are covered on your plan, they also can file for a wellness benefit payment for a covered health screening test. The benefit is $50 for spouses and 50% of your wellness benefit amount for children.
• For more information about Voya’s critical illness plan, go to the Office of State Human Resources website.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account

• If you were enrolled in a health care flexible spending account for 2022, eligible health care expenses must have been incurred by Dec. 31, 2022. You have until March 31, 2023, to submit 2022 claims for reimbursement. You can roll over up to $550 of your unused account balance into 2023, as long as you have a minimum balance of at least $25. Any funds exceeding this amount will be forfeited. The rollover will not count toward the 2023 maximum election amount, which is currently $2,850 for 2023. This rollover feature only applies to the health care FSA.
• If you enrolled in a health care FSA for 2023, you must incur eligible health care expenses between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, to be eligible for reimbursement. You have until March 31, 2024, to submit claims for reimbursement.
• For more information about health care flexible spending accounts, go to the Office of State Human Resources website.

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account

• If you were enrolled in a dependent day care FSA for 2022, eligible dependent day care expenses must be incurred by March 15, 2023, provided that you remain actively employed through Dec. 31, 2022. You have until March 31, 2023, to submit 2022 claims for reimbursement. Any unused funds will be forfeited.
• If you enrolled in the dependent day care FSA for 2023, you must incur eligible dependent day care expenses between Jan. 1, 2023, and March 15, 2024, to be eligible for reimbursement. You have until March 31, 2024, to submit claims for reimbursement.
• For more information about dependent day care flexible spending accounts, go to the Office of State Human Resources website.

Retirement Plan Limits for 2023

• The limit on contributions to a 403(b)/401(k) plan for 2023 is $22,500. If you are over the age of 50 or will turn 50 by Dec. 31, 2023, you are eligible for an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution.
• The limit on contributions to a 457(b) plan for 2023 is also $22,500. If you are over the age of 50 or will turn 50 by Dec. 31, 2023, you are eligible for an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution.
• Employee contributions to 403(b) and 401(k) plans are combined together when determining that employee’s maximum contribution; however, employees can maximize saving opportunities by contributing to a 457(b) plan. Employee contributions to a 457(b) plan are not combined with the employee’s 403(b) and/or 401(k) contributions when determining the employee’s maximum contribution limit.
• Employee contributions to the mandatory retirement plans (Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System and Optional Retirement Plan) are not factored into these retirement plan limits, and can not be changed from the state mandated 6% contribution. 
• For more information about retirement plans, go to the University Human Resources website.

Form 1095-C

• Under the Affordable Care Act, employers are required to report any qualifying medical coverage that you and your dependents were enrolled in during the previous calendar year. You will receive a Form 1095-C, which includes information about the health coverage offered to you by the university, for this reporting purpose. You will receive the form in the mail sometime during the first quarter of 2023. You will not need to attach or file your Form 1095-C with your 2022 federal income tax return; however, you may need to use the information on the form when you complete your tax return.

Questions?

If you have questions about any of the information presented above, you can contact Benefits, Employee Wellness and Work Life in UHR at 919-515-2151 or hrsbenefits@ncsu.edu. You also can submit a question through HRNow by completing the “Benefits Insurance Inquiry” form. After you complete and submit the form, a staff member will contact you.