BenefitMe! Q2 2025 Newsletter
“Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.” William Shakespeare
Your quarterly resource for university benefits news and updates
Check out this month's issue for upcoming events to help you manage your financial future, understand your retirement benefits and health coverage options and learn how to get tax benefits while saving for your own or another person's education. We hope to see you there!
The Choices You Make Today…Protect Your Loved Ones Tomorrow
In 2025, we encourage all employees to review and confirm their beneficiary choices. Updating your beneficiaries is an important step in protecting your loved ones and managing your financial future.
What Is a Beneficiary?
Your beneficiary is the person (or people) or trust you decide will receive a benefit in the event of your death. You likely chose beneficiaries when you were hired or first became eligible for benefits. But life events — like getting married or divorced, having a baby, or losing a loved one — can change what you want to happen to your benefits.
How do I confirm my beneficiaries?
Different vendors manage different university benefits, meaning you make separate beneficiary designations for your retirement savings plans (university-sponsored and supplemental), life insurance and the health savings account (HSA). To review or update your beneficiaries, please contact each vendor directly. More information.
Join a PERSI Info Sessions
Join PERSI (Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho) representatives for a webinar or in-person information session to better understand your retirement benefits. PERSI is the mandatory retirement plan for U of I classified employees. These sessions are especially helpful for newer employees or those approaching retirement. Add a session to your calendar below.
Webinars:
- Retiring with PERSI — 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9
- Early in Your PERSI Career — 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 10
- Vested in PERSI — 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 10
In-person sessions — Aurora Room, ISUB, Moscow Campus
- Early in Your PERSI Career — 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6
- Vested in PERSI — 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6
- Retiring with PERSI — 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6
Meet with Fidelity Representatives
A Fidelity representative will be on the Moscow campus monthly, offering in-person appointments where you can review your retirement account, ask questions and discuss financial planning. Upcoming dates:
- April 7-8
- May 15-16
- May 29
- June 10-11
- June 25
In-person appointments will be held in the Human Resources Building, 415 W. Sixth St. in Moscow. Appointments are also available via phone or video conference. To schedule, call 800-642-7131 or visit fidelity.com/schedule and select Idaho State Board of Education as your employer.
Explore Your Retirement Health Plan Options
U of I has partnered with 90 Days From Retirement, an organization that provides advice on Medicare and Medicare supplemental plans. Join Benefit Services and 90 Days for a joint info session that covers both Medicare options and retiree health coverage options available through U of I, to help you make the most informed choices about your coverage options when planning for retirement.
Session dates:
All sessions will be held in a hybrid format at Human Resources, 415 W Sixth St. in Moscow, and on Zoom. To attend in person, please register as space is limited. To attend on Zoom, no registration is required. Contact benefits@uidaho.edu with questions.
Learn about IDeal — Idaho’s 529 College Savings program
U of I employees can choose to direct a portion of their paycheck to a tax-advantaged education savings account through IDeal. Funds can be used for K-12 tuition, 2- and 4-year colleges, universities and technical schools, apprenticeship programs and more. Join IDeal for a webinar to learn more about the Idaho state tax deduction for contributions, how tax-deferred growth can help you meet your college saving goals and how to use the plan for any accredited program in any state.
- 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 20
- 1 p.m. Thursday, May 22
Also, learn how to open an account and receive a $50 boost from IDeal!
Supervisors: Review how to support employees on medical leaves and accommodations
The next session of the HR Connect and Collaborate: Supervisor Training Series will focus on how the university manages medical leaves and accommodations legally and confidentially. Join us at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15, to review Family Medical Leave, ADA accommodations, sick leave and how supervisors can navigate medical requests and disclosures from employees. Add to calendar.
Employee Benefits Orientation Available On-Demand
New employees can now access an employee benefits orientation on the Benefit Services website. This on-demand delivery provides information in a more timely manner during the onboarding process. New employees can access the orientation video at any time convenient to them and can submit questions or make an appointment with a benefits specialist if they need further guidance.