Having a robust variety of employee benefits means that sometimes, you’ll have questions.

Where should you start with inquiries about your U-M benefits, including health plans, retirement savings plans, career/professional development, and more?

At Your Fingertips…

The Human Resources website was designed to be a first resource for benefit questions. You’ll find user-friendly details about all U-M benefits, as well as videos to help expand your knowledge, forms and documents you might need, and even virtual fitness streaming services through MHealthy.

If you need further clarity, the Shared Services Contact Center (SSC) is U-M’s one-stop shop. SSC representatives offer one-on-one service to employees, dependents, retirees and survivors.

Now You Know x 3

To help employees learn more about their benefits, SSC will periodically share its top questions/answers. View the top three inquiries for January:

I enrolled in a dental/vision plan for 2023. When will I get my membership card?

No card is needed for services, so you won’t get one. Your UMID number is the ID number for dental and vision services. If you have questions about coverage, go to:  
Dental: hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness/health-well-being/dental-plan

Vision: hr.umich.edu/benefits-wellness/health-well-being/vision-plan

I enrolled in a new health plan. Will I receive a membership card? Can I get another card to replace a lost one?

If you enrolled in a new health plan, you will receive a membership card from the medical insurance company, if you haven’t already. Go to our health plan contact page for more information. You can get replacement cards as often as you need them.

When can I access the funds in my 2023 Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)?

If you enrolled in a Health Care FSA for 2023, your pledge amount was available Jan. 1, 2023.

Your Dependent Care FSA pledge amount, however, is not the same. If you pay on a monthly basis, contribution amounts are reported to PayFlex at the end of the month in which the payroll deduction is taken. 

If you are paid biweekly, deductions are taken from the first two paychecks each month and reported at the end of the month. For example: January 2023 Dependent Care FSA deductions will reflect in the PayFlex system in February 2023. 

View more information about Health and Dependent Care FSAs.

You Ask; SSC Answers

Still need some clarity or a second set of eyes to check what you read on the HR website? SSC representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The team breaks from 1-2 p.m. daily for lunch.

Here's how to connect with the SSC:

• Call 5-2000 from the Ann Arbor Campus, (734) 615-2000 off campus, or (866) 647-7657, toll-free.
• Email [email protected].
• View the SSC website.