Open enrollment for benefits selection continues. The new deadline to enroll is Friday, Nov. 16. The extension allows more time for employees who are still considering their preferred health plan provider.

During the open enrollment period, all employees who are currently enrolled in Aetna or in the Inter Valley Health Plan must complete a new benefits form designating their choice between the existing Kaiser health plan and a newly-added Blue Cross plan. Failure to do so will result in employees not having health benefits for the 2002 calendar year, as the IVHP and Aetna plans will no longer be offered. The new Blue Cross plan offers HMO, POS (point of service) and out-of-area coverage options. Because premiums for Blue Cross are significantly more expensive than the existing IVHP plan, a 20 percent increase in the current College's health plan subsidy has been approved.

Claremont McKenna College benefits specialist, Christine Lowe, will be on campus to answer benefits questions on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at Bauer North, room 108— located on the lower level.

The new "plan year" is effective Jan. 1, 2002 through Dec. 31, 2002.