Faced with significant changes to the health care landscape and a steady rise in Dartmouth's cost of coverage, the College's top administrative executive, Richard Mills, has announced a series of forums to begin discussions about changes to employees' coverage options in the coming years.

A series of health care forums will be held in September.

Mills, the executive vice president, has invited all Dartmouth employees and their families to attend one of four health care forums he is conducting in September to discuss the changing health care picture and what this means for the College and its employees in 2015 and beyond.

Following Mills' overview discussions, Dartmouth's open enrollment period will begin, running from Oct. 20 through Nov. 3. Beginning Sept. 29, the Dartmouth benefits team will host group and one-on-one sessions to help employees understand their coverage options. All employees will be asked to choose their 2015 health benefits during the open-enrollment period.

"Our goal is to navigate the rapidly changing health care landscape, find a responsible way to manage health costs, and maintain the best possible coverage for our employees and their families," Mills says.

Mills' presentation will offer an overview of possible changes over the next three years based on the phasing in of the Affordable Care Act, industry cost trends, and factors affecting the College's insurance pool.

The health care forums hosted by Mills are scheduled as follows:

• Thursday, Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. to noon at Kemeny 006
• Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to noon at Kellogg Auditorium
• Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Auditorium F
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to noon at 41 Centerra Room 334

Employees are invited to register for one of the sessions at www.dartgo.org/healthcareforums. In addition, at least one of the sessions will be taped and available to view online.

The HR Benefits Team will host one-hour education sessions in which employees can learn more about the 2015 benefit plan changes. The sessions begin Sept. 29. Registration is available at www.dartgo.org/openenrollmentsessions.

One-on-one meetings with a representative from the benefits team will also be available beginning Oct. 20 to help answer specific questions and to assist with the enrollment process. Registration is available at www.dartgo.org/oe1on1sessions.

Heading into 2015, following the open enrollment period, the College will host a session on how to save money on health care, supplemented by a direct mail campaign on the same topic.