Campus & community, Campus news

Pet insurance and more - Open Enrollment is on

By Public Affairs

If you’re one of over 70 million pet owners in the U.S., you know that caring for them can be expensive, especially when they are injured or get sick. And now UC Berkeley staff and faculty can now sign up for pet insurance as a benefit of employment.

It’s one of a few changes that employees will notice as they start to navigate Open Enrollment, the annual benefits window, which started today.

Also new this year: If you are in a domestic partnership, you may have more options for enrolling family members in health and welfare coverage next year. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, UC will offer access to benefits based on the same eligibility criteria for all domestic partners.

Enrollment in most benefits will remain open until Nov. 20. But you can enroll in pet insurance any time of year, not just during Open Enrollment. Employees are being offered preferred pricing through Nationwide. Plans are available for most house pets – dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, even exotic pets such as reptiles. Animals categorized as livestock (including horses) are not eligible.

Go to the Open Enrollment website