Dear Roadrunners,
The days are growing shorter, and the fall semester is past the halfway point, which means it’s almost time for Metropolitan State University of Denver employees to review and update their benefits selections for the upcoming year.
MSU Denver’s annual benefits open-enrollment period for professional staff and full-time faculty will run from Nov. 4 to Nov. 22. While many benefits will automatically roll over, employees with a Flexible Spending Account will need to reenroll to continue their coverage in 2025.
Meanwhile, employees will see modest increases to their contributions to medical and dental plans. The University’s Total Rewards team has worked hard to keep premiums as low as possible amid rising health care costs, and the University is also increasing its contribution to insurance premiums in an effort to stem costs to employees.
This year’s increases are half of what we saw last year. Here’s a look at what’s new for 2025:
Medical plans
- Rate increase: Employees will see a 5.9% overall increase in premiums, or between $7 and $22 depending on the plan and tier.
- Increased employer contribution: MSU Denver will cover 75% of premium costs, up from 74.5% last year.
- Plan design: No changes to the medical-plan structure.
Dental plan
- Rate increase: Overall premiums will increase by 5.2%, but employees will see a decrease in the amount they pay, ranging from 61 cents to $1.58 per month, because MSU Denver is contributing a bigger share of the overall premium.
- Increased employer contribution: MSU Denver will now contribute 70% toward dental premiums, an increase from the previous 67%.
- Plan design: The dental-plan structure will remain the same.
Vision plan
- No rate increase: Vision premiums will stay at their current rates.
- Plan design: No changes to the vision-plan structure.
For more information on these updates and other benefits options, keep an eye on the Early Bird and your inbox. The Total Rewards team will be emailing benefits details throughout the open-enrollment period and posting information on the HR Sharepoint site. Meanwhile, review your current benefits selections carefully to ensure that they align with your health and wellness needs for the year ahead.
Get your free flu and Covid-19 vaccines on campus before Nov. 20
Speaking of health and wellness, as we move into cold and flu season, and as Covid-19 circulates widely, it’s more important than ever to prevent illness from spreading on campus. I encourage you to consider getting your free flu and Covid-19 shots through the Auraria Health Center immunization clinic. It’s a convenient way to protect yourself and others this season. And if you’ve got questions about this season’s vaccines and other ways to stay healthy, check out this Early Bird Q&A with Health Center Medical Director Ruben Zorilla, M.D.
Make your voice heard — vote!
Election Day is almost here, and I encourage you to take part in the democratic process. You can find a ballot drop box right here on campus in front of the Tivoli Student Union Starbucks. For those who need other options, this link provides details on additional voting and drop-box locations across Denver. And MSU Denver offers a comprehensive Ballot Guide, where you’ll find detailed information on the myriad constitutional amendments and propositions that Colorado voters will see on their ballots.
I know that the political climate can sometimes bring additional stress, so I want to remind everyone that MSU Denver offers multiple counseling resources to employees and students, and additional support is available through the State Employee Assistance Program.
Human Resources has developed a postelection tool kit for managers, posted on the HR SharePoint site, with tips on how supervisors can better support their teams.
Additionally, two events have been scheduled for postelection self-care, providing a place to destress and unwind.
Post-Election Day Peace Space for tri-institutional faculty and staff
8 – 11 a.m.
Nov. 6 in Tivoli 440-540
Post-Election Day Peace Space for faculty, staff and students
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Nov. 6 in Tivoli 320
Nov. 7 in Tivoli 444
Lunch With Larry, Friday at noon
Finally, I hope you’ll join me for the next Lunch With Larry session Friday from noon to 1 p.m. This month’s session will be virtual, and as always, it’s an open forum for discussion. I’d love to hear from you, whether it’s about work or upcoming events or just to say hello. Join the meeting here.
Thank you for all you do to support our University community. I look forward to seeing you at one of these events or around campus.
Sincerely,
Larry Sampler
Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Administration
Metropolitan State University of Denver
