We have just completed the negotiations with the insurance companies for our plan year which goes into effect August 1, 2018, and we have some updates we're excited to share this year.

PLAN CHANGE HIGHLIGHTS:

• We are continuing with United Healthcare, and are offering three health plan options: Base Plan, Buy-Up Plan, and High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HDHP/HSA).  (Please see attached Enrollment Memo for plan details.)
• Employee premiums for the HDHP/HSA and Buy-Up health plans remained the same this year. The premiums for our Base Plan health coverage are reduced for the 2018/2019 plan year.
• NEW! We’ve now added Enhanced Preventive Prescription Drug Coverage to our HDHP/HSA health plan, where many common prescription drugs are covered 100%. This addition could change the economics of the HDHP/HSA plan versus the Base and Buy-up plans. See the Open Enrollment Memo for more details.
• The deductible for the HDHP/HSA health plan is now embedded at $3,000 per individual family member. So for Employee/Spouse, Employee/Child(ren), or Family coverage, even if you haven't met the full $6,000 deductible, if any one individual has met the $3,000 limit, then that individual has met the deductible for the plan year.
• Primary Care for children aged 0-19 is now covered with a $0 co-pay under the Base and Buy-Up health plans.
• The co-pay for Urgent Care under the Buy-Up health plan has been reduced from $75 to $50.
• We’re switching our dental coverage to United Healthcare. Our new dental plan includes Orthodontia coverage for children under the age of 18 and has increased annual and rollover maximums. 
• UHC is honoring existing dental rollover credits from 2017/2018 Guardian plans.
• As we switch our Dental plan to UHC, dental deductible and limits will reset on August 1, 2018; however, they will reset again, with new deductibles and limits, again on January 1, 2019. 
• Our Guardian Long-Term Disability (LTD) maximum benefit has increased to $7,500 per month.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR ALL UHC HEALTH PLANS:

• United Healthcare has added a $500 per occurrence deductible (in addition to the plan deductible) for inpatient care, as well as for outpatient care if provided outside an ambulatory surgical center or physician’s office.

Please read the attached Open Enrollment Memo that details the benefits and what, if any, actions are required on your part.  

Also, we have worked with Hill, Chesson & Woody to provide a web presentation highlighting Highmark's benefits for the 2018/2019 plan year. The link to this presentation is included in the memo, or you may watch it here: https://www.brainshark.com/hcwbenefits/vu?pi=zHWzCguT4zNYyBz0 

WHAT'S NEXT?

Carefully review the attached Open Enrollment Memo and attachments that you receive via email. After you complete all the necessary forms, please return them to Denise Byrd (dbyrd@highmarkcompanies.com)  no later than June 29, 2017.  If you are faxing your forms, please use our electronic fax number 919-869-1800.