Enroll in Benefits
Enrolling in benefits can be both exciting and overwhelming. This page guides you through how to submit forms to sign up for benefits, as well as the dates and deadlines you must meet to ensure we are able to process your requests. Visit the all benefits page for an overview of benefit eligibility for each employee class, or browse the list of benefits offered at VCU.
Visit the new employees page for information about orientation and getting started at VCU. For more information including definitions of commonly used terms and frequently asked questions, see the Benefits Glossary and FAQ.
MyAlex
Signing up for benefits? ALEX is here to help! ALEX for VCU is the interactive benefits counselor for faculty members and University and Academic Professionals. Chat with ALEX about health coverage, flexible spending, retirement benefits, life insurance, and disability coverage.
Return Forms
Employees are responsible for returning benefits election forms to VCU HR Benefits by the applicable deadline. We make it easy for employees to return benefits election forms in one of many ways:
- Submit a service request that includes your forms and supporting documents
- Email benefits@vcu.edu with your forms and supporting documents attached
- Upload your forms and supporting documents to VCU Filelocker and share then with benefits@vcu.edu
- DocuSign forms automatically route to VCU Human Resources when you click “Finish”
- Returning forms by hand delivery, campus mail, or postal mail can significantly delay processing. If you choose to return forms in this manner, please ensure sufficient time for your forms to be received by your enrollment deadline.
- Visit www.anthem.com/cova to register your membership online, search for network
providers, and access forms and brochures. - Allow 2-3 business days from the date your enrollment form is processed before you attempt to register online. It takes this long for your information to transmit from the state benefits eligibility system to the Anthem system.
- To register your account online at www.anthem.com/cova, you will need your COVA Care or COVA HDHP member ID that begins with FVI.
- To get your COVA Care ID, Replace the first two zeroes in your Cardinal ID number with FVI and the last two zeroes in your Cardinal ID number with XU. For example, if your Cardinal ID number is 00123456700 your Anthem health plan ID number is FVI1234567XU. For your Delta Dental ID, remove the FVI prefix.
- Once you're logged in at www.anthem.com/cova, you can print a temporary ID card, manage your claims, and do much more. You can also use your registered username and password with the Anthem app to display an ID card on your Apple or Android smartphone.
- Plastic ID cards are mailed to your home address of record within 10-15 days of your membership record establishment in the the health plan company's system. COVA Care and COVA HDHP do not issue individualized cards for family members. All cards contain only the employee's name, but can be used by any covered family member to access to coverage. To order more cards in your own name, call 1-866-587-6713.
- For more assistance, contact Anthem at 1-800-552-2682.
- Visit www.covahealthaware.com
to register your membership online, search for network providers and to access forms and brochures. - Allow 2-3 business days from the date your enrollment form is processed before you attempt to register your membership online. It takes this long for your information to transmit from the state benefits eligibility system to the Aetna system.
- To register your account online at www.aetna.com, you will need your COVA HealthAware member ID
- To get your member ID, Remove the last two zeroes from your Cardinal ID number.
- For example, if your Cardinal ID number is 00123456700, your ID number is 001234567 for Aetna, Delta Dental, and Anthem Pharmacy/IngenioRX. .
- Once you have registered at www.aetna.com, you can use your registered username and password with the Aetna app to display an ID card on your Apple or Android smartphone.
- Your pharmacy benefits are in a separate place online. Register at www.anthem.com using your COVA HealthAware member ID to access your pharmacy benefits online.
- Your dental benefits are in a separate place online. Register at www.deltadentalva.com using your COVA HealthAware member ID or Social Security number to access your dental benefits online
- Plastic ID cards are mailed to your home address of record within 10-15 days of your membership record establishment in the health plan company's system.
- For more assistance, contact COVA HealthAware at 1-855-414-1901.
Enroll during the first 30 calendar days of eligible employment, during annual open enrollment, or within 60 days of a qualifying mid-year event. Make allowable changes during open enrollment or within 60 days of a qualifying mid-year event.
- Review health plan options, 2024-2025 monthly premiums (PDF), and Benefits At A Glance.
- Use the ALEX decision tool to help choose a plan.
- Enroll online using the state plan's Cardinal system (see registration instructions and enrollment instructions). Submit eligibility documents (PDF) to VCU Human Resources for each family member you elect to cover.
- If you are unable to enroll online, complete the Health Benefits Enrollment Form (under Health care and wellness forms) and attach eligibility documents (PDF) for each family member you elect to cover.
- If you are enrolling due to a qualifying mid-year event, submit documentation to VCU Human Resources substantiating the event (e.g. new family member, loss of other coverage). See Changing your benefits for details.
- If you are transferring to VCU from another Commonwealth of Virginia agency that participates in the state health benefits program, see Transferring from another state agency.
Contact Us
For questions about your benefits, please submit a help ticket through the HR Service & Support Tool. You can also contact benefits@vcu.edu or call (804) 827-1723.
Your HR Professional may also be able to answer some benefits related questions.