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As Queens employees transition to Ƶ employment and benefits, questions are expected. This page provides answers to common questions about enrollment, health and retirement benefits, payroll, time entry and other topics related to the transition. Information will continue to be updated as additional details become available.

Important: Employees currently taking prescription medications should review the FAQs labeled with a prescriptions icon (Prescription Icon) in the Medical & Pharmacy section to avoid potential interruptions in coverage or medication access during the transition.

Overview of the Transition / Enrollment

Where should I go to enroll in the Ƶ benefits and when should I complete enrollment by?

Employees should enroll through the Ƶ Benefits Hub. The enrollment window is June 8th – June 16th. Please complete your elections by the deadline.

When do my new Ƶ benefits start?

Coverage under Ƶ’s benefit plans begins July 1, 2026. Your Queens’ coverage will end on June 30, 2026. Please ensure you are providing your new Ƶ ID cards and insurance information to providers as of July 1, 2026.

Do I need to enroll in Ƶ’s benefits?

Yes, you are required to elect benefits during the enrollment window of June 8th – June 16th. If you do not take action you will not have coverage as of July 1, 2026.

What happens if I don’t take action to enroll in Ƶ’s benefits?

If no action is taken by the June 16th deadline, you will be defaulted into not having any benefits coverage. It is imperative you complete your enrollment by June 16th.

Can I use this opportunity to change my coverage and/or add dependents?

Yes. This transition is considered a special enrollment opportunity, allowing you to choose new plan options and add or remove dependents. An exception to this is the Medical Flexible Spending Account. Please refer to question 35 for more information.

When does the Ƶ benefits plan year run?

The Ƶ benefits plan year runs from January 1 through December 31, just as Queens benefits do. This means July 1 is a mid‑year entry into the Ƶ plan.

Where can I go to find more information about Ƶ’s benefit offerings?

Please visit the Ƶ HR benefits webpage. There you can find detailed information on the benefit offerings.

Who can I contact with questions?

For questions about Ƶ’s benefit offerings or assistance enrolling, Benefit Counselors through the Ƶ Benefits Call Center are available beginning June 8th, Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm EST at 1-877-382-9808.

The Ƶ Office of Human Resources is also available to assist and can be reached at 336-278-5560.

Medical & Pharmacy

Queen’s medical coverage is through Cigna and pharmacy is through Express Scripts (ESI) via Cigna.  Ƶ offers medical coverage through BCBS of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and has a separate pharmacy vendor, OptumRx. Employees who elect coverage through Ƶ during this transition will receive a new BCBSNC medical ID card. That card will also contain the OptumRx details needed to fill scripts at retail pharmacies.

Will my deductible and out‑of‑pocket maximum reset when I move to the new plan?

No. Any amounts you paid toward your 2026 plan year medical deductible and out-of-pocket maximum (OOPM) under the Queens medical plan will be credited to the Ƶ medical plan.

What medical expenses will be credited?

Expenses covered under the Queens medical plan that were incurred between January 1st, 2026 and June 30th, 2026, and were applied toward your medical deductible and/or out-of-pocket (OOPM) maximum with Cigna/ESI will carry over to the new Ƶ medical plan.

How will the deductible and out-of-pocket credits be applied?

Your 2026 plan year deductible and OOPM payments from the Queens medical plan will be transferred administratively to the new Ƶ medical plan. Once complete, your new plan will reflect:

  • Remaining deductible (if any)
  • Remaining out‑of‑pocket maximum for the rest of the year (if any)

Please note, this process may take up to 90 days to complete after July 1st so a delay is expected. In the event any claims need to be reprocessed, your provider will be notified.

Do I need to submit receipts or claims to receive the deductible and out-of-pocket credits?

Generally, no. The deductible and out-of-pocket credits will be applied to the Ƶ medical plan using claims data provided by the Queens medical carrier, Cigna. However, if you believe something is missing or incorrect, you may be asked to provide more information.

Can I change medical plan options (HSA to PPO or vice versa)?

Yes. You may move from a Queens HSA plan to an Ƶ PPO plan or from a Queens PPO plan to the Ƶ HSA plan, if eligible.

What happens if I switch plan options—do deductible and out-of-pocket credits still apply?

All deductible and out of pocket credits will be applied to the new plan you have elected regardless  if you transition from a Queens PPO plan to the Ƶ HSA plan or vice versa.

Are the Ƶ medical plan benefits exactly the same as the Queens plan?

Not necessarily. While deductible and OOPM credits carry over, the plan design, network, and covered services under the Ƶ plan may be different.

Employees are encouraged to review:

  • Plan summary documents for covered services
  • Provider networks to ensure your current doctor is in-network under BCBS
  • Prescription formularies to ensure your current drugs are covered

How can I check if my doctor is in-network with BCBSNC?

Visit the and use the provider search tool. If your doctor is out of network, your costs may be higher.

Can I keep seeing my current doctors if I am in the middle of treatment with an in-network provider through Cigna who is out-of-network with BCBSNC?

If you are being treated for an ongoing special condition with a provider who was in-network under the Queens Cigna medical plan but is out-of-network under the Ƶ BCBSNC medical plan, you may be eligible for continuity of care (CoC). CoC is provided for a specified amount of time to allow members the opportunity to transition to a participating provider.  You will need to complete and submit the CoC form found on the Transition to Ƶ webpage for review and approval. Please ensure this is done as soon as possible, no later than August 14, 2026. Ongoing special conditions include:

  • Serious and complex conditions
    • Acute illness (required specialized medical treatment to avoid death or permanent harm)
    • Chronic illness (life threatening, degenerative, potentially disabling, or congenital requiring treatment over a prolonged period of time)
  • Course of institutional or inpatient care
  • Scheduled to undergo nonelective surgery, including receipt of postoperative care with respect to such a surgery
  • Pregnant and undergoing a course of treatment for the pregnancy
  • Terminally ill

What do I need to do if I have a planned procedure (i.e. MRI, x-Ray, surgery) taking place after July 1, 2026 that Cigna has already approved?

You will need to alert your provider to submit a prior authorization to BCBSNC for the procedure.

Prescription Icon Will there be any delays in getting my prescriptions filled through the new Ƶ plan as of July 1, 2026.

There could be delays. We highly recommend filling your prescriptions under the Queens plan prior to the transition taking place on June 30th. You may even be able to ask for an early refill in certain scenarios.

Prescription Icon Will my current prescriptions still be covered?

Most prescriptions will remain covered, but:

  • Formularies will differ so your drug may no longer be covered
  • Copays or coinsurance may change
  • Prior authorizations may be required

You can view Ƶ’s OptumRx formulary list by visiting the . If your drug is on the list it will show you what coverage tier it falls into. Please refer to the 2026 Ƶ Benefits Guide for copay/coinsurance amounts. If your drug is not on the list, it will not be covered under the Ƶ plan and you will need to discuss an alternate therapy with your doctor.

Prescription Icon If I am currently getting a prescription that requires a prior authorization from Cigna/ESI, will this prior authorization transition over?

Ideally, yes, every effort is being made to transfer documentation of your approval to fill a script requiring prior authorization to OptumRx as soon as possible. However, there may be delays. Please make sure to fill your script before June 30th in order to avoid potential interruption of treatment.

Prescription Icon I have a maintenance medicine I currently receive through mail order under the Queens plan. Is there anything I need to do to continue to receive that prescription?

Every effort will be made to transfer any open mail order prescriptions from ESI to OptumRx. However, you may need to initiate the transfer by calling OptumRx. Please make sure to fill your script before June 30th in order to avoid potential interruption of treatment.

Does Ƶ have a wellness premium differential for the medical plan similar to Queens?

No, the Ƶ plan does not have a wellness premium differential. The payroll deductions are the same for all employees. Please refer to the 2026 Benefits Guide for premium amounts.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Queens Health Savings Accounts are through Bank of America. Ƶ’s HSAs are through HealthEquity. 

If I am currently enrolled in a Queens HSA plan, what happens to my HSA funds?

HSA balances are always yours to keep.

If you enroll in an Ƶ PPO Plan or waive medical coverage, your HSA funds can remain in the current Bank of America account for you to access, however under IRS rules you may no longer contribute to that HSA. Refer to IRS guidance for more information. Bank of America will also likely begin charging you an administrative fee for your account.

If you enroll in the Ƶ HSA Plan C, a new Health Savings Account (HSA) through HealthEquity will be set up for you. As of July 1st, your payroll deducted HSA contributions along with any employer HSA contributions will be deposited into the HealthEquity account. You may leave your existing HSA funds in Bank of America or transfer them to HealthEquity. If you wish to transfer them you will need to complete and submit the HealthEquity Transfer Request form found on the Transition to Ƶ webpage. Please note that Bank of America may begin charging you administrative fees if you leave your HSA funds in that account.

If I enroll in Ƶ’s HSA Medical Plan C, will I receive any employer funds into my account for the rest of the year?

If you enroll in Ƶ’s HSA Medical Plan C during this transition for July 1, Ƶ will contribute $250 for employee only coverage and $500 for family coverage into your HSA. Please note when completing enrollment in Benefits Hub, you will not see an option to contribute to the HSA. Ƶ Benefits Team will be reaching out separately to capture your HSA contribution election. It is your responsibility to ensure you do not overcontribute, taking into consideration the funds contributed by you and your employer under both the Queens and Ƶ plans. 2026 IRS maximums – $4,400 Individual / $8,750 Family.

Can I contribute up to the IRS HSA maximum for 2026?

You may contribute the IRS maximum if you are eligible under IRS rules. Eligibility depends on whether you are enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan (QHDHP). Refer to IRS guidance for confirmation. It is your responsibility to ensure you do not overcontribute, taking into consideration the funds contributed by you and your employer under both the Queens and Ƶ plans. 2026 IRS maximums – $4,400 Individual / $8,750 Family.

Dental

Queens’ dental coverage is through Delta Dental of North Carolina. Ƶ also offers dental coverage through Delta Dental of North Carolina. Even though both Universities use the same carrier, employees who elect dental coverage during the transition will receive a new dental ID card.

How can I check if my dental provider is in-network with Delta Dental?

Queens’ and Ƶ’s dental plans are both through Delta Dental so there is no change to the network. To confirm your provider is in-network or locate a new in-network provider, visit the and use the provider search tool. If your provider is out-of-network, your costs may be higher.

Will claims paid year to date that applied to the Queens dental plan move over to Ƶ’s plan?

Yes, historical dental claims information will be captured for the transition from Queens to Ƶ. However, please expect a delay in this information being applied to the new Ƶ plan.

Vision

Queens’ vision coverage is through Aetna. Ƶ offers vision coverage through VSP.  

How can I check if my vision provider is in-network with VSP?

Visit the and use the provider search tool. If your provider is out of network, your costs may be higher.

Will claims paid year to date that applied to the Queens vision plan move over to Ƶ’s plan?

No, historical vision claims information will not be captured for the transition from Queens to Ƶ.

Medical Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Dependent Care Accounts

The Medical FSA and Dependent Care Accounts administrator will be changing from BofA through Queens to Flores and Associates through Ƶ.

What is the process for moving my Medical FSA balance?

After June 30, 2026 your Bank of America funds will no longer be able to be accessed and there will be a blackout period while the funds are transitioned over to Flores & Associates. During this period if you incur expenses that you wish to apply towards your 2026 account, you will need to pay out of pocket and then submit for reimbursement once your Flores account is active.

Once on the Ƶ plan, how do I submit Medical FSA and Dependent Care expenses for reimbursement?

You can submit for reimbursement by visiting Flores247.com or via the Flores mobile app. You will need to register.

Will I receive a new debit card in the mail for my Medical FSA?

Yes, you will receive a new debit card in the mail from Flores shortly after the July 1, 2026 transition date.

What if I have expenses that I incurred prior to July 1, 2026 but have not been reimbursed for through my Queens Bank of America Medical FSA?

As of July 1, 2026, Flores will handle reimbursement for any costs you already incurred but have not been reimbursed by BofA. Even if that cost was incurred prior to the July 1st transition date.

Can I change my Medical FSA election as a part of this transition?

If you are currently enrolled in the FSA through Queens, you may not make any changes to your election under Ƶ’s plan. If you elected to waive coverage under Queens for the 2026 plan year, coverage will continue to be waived through Ƶ.

Can I change my Dependent Care election as a part of this transition?

Yes, you may use this opportunity to enroll in the Dependent Care Account through Ƶ. It is your responsibility to ensure you do not overcontribute for the year.

Retirement

Do I have to take any action to enroll into the plan?

If eligible, you can enroll proactively, however it is not required. If no action is taken, the first contribution will enroll you into the plan as a “default” enrollment.

Will I need to create new login information with TIAA?

No, your MyTIAA experience will be bridged, and you will not need an additional login for TIAA’s portal. However, your credentials may be different at Ƶ.

Will my money move with me automatically?/Do I have to take action to move my account?

At this time, your money will not move from one account to another. You may do so online or by calling TIAA. However, the plans differ in their offerings, and you do not have to move your assets if you do not want to at this point in time.

Will I have the same investments as I do in my Queens plan?

No, each retirement plan has different investment offerings.

Can I meet with someone to review my account?

Yes, you may meet by scheduling an in person or virtual appointment or meet on demand with financial consultants at your convenience.

Other Benefits

Is there anything I should consider when evaluating Ƶ’s Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity offerings compared to Queens offerings?

Queens Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity plans are through Unum. Ƶ offers similar plans through Wellfleet.

When considering enrollment in the Ƶ Wellfleet plans, please keep in mind that for the Critical Illness and Cancer policies, your diagnosis date must be after July 1, 2026 in order to receive a benefit through Wellfleet. Therefore, in certain circumstances it may benefit you to port or convert your current coverage through the Queens Unum Critical Illness plan.