It’s that time of year! The annual Benefits Open Enrollment period has begun, and will end at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12. Your Open Enrollment packet, which will be sent Monday, October 28, through campus mail, contains documents that will assist you in making decisions for your 2014 benefits. You also are encouraged to attend one of the following scheduled Open Enrollment Sessions to learn more about this year’s changes:
Tuesday, October 29:
10:00–11:00 a.m. / GH 105
2:00–3:00 p.m. / PB 106
Wednesday, October 30:
7:30–8:30 a.m. / JH 242
4:00–5:00 p.m. / GH 106
Wednesday, November 6:
3:00–4:00 p.m. / JH 141
Friday, November 8:
11:00 a.m.–noon / GH 108
As described at September’s Healthcare Benefits Forums, several factors were taken into consideration before changes were finalized for 2014 healthcare plans. These included claims trends for the current year, forecasted claims for the upcoming year, scope of plan benefits, general growth of medical costs outside of Butler’s control, and external benchmarks. Also impacting healthcare plans for 2014 is federal healthcare reform, which impacts plans through both fees and taxes that the University must pay. Also as a result of healthcare reform, Butler is offering a larger scope of no-cost benefits to participants, placing additional economic pressure on the plans.
If no changes were made to current healthcare plans, the average premium increase in 2014 would be 13.8 percent, 3 percent of which is a direct result of fees and taxes associated with healthcare reform. In an effort to keep plan increases below 10 percent and continue offering all four healthcare plans, the following changes will take effect in 2014:
- Premium increases for medical plans:No premium increases for dental or vision plans.
- CDHP (Consumer Driven Health Plan): 4 percent
- Core Plan: 8.5 percent
- Buy-Up Plan: 9.5 percent
- Plus Plan: 9.75 percent
- Increase emergency room co-pays from $150 to $175; urgent care co-pays will increase from $50 to $75.
- Increase deductibles ($250 individuals; $625 family) and out-of-pocket maximums ($250 individuals; $500 family) for all PPO plans.
- Increase office and specialist visit co-pays by $5-$10 for the Plus Plan.
- Decrease co-insurance by 5 percent for Core and Buy-Up and 10 percent for Plus.
- Increase Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions for CDHP ($150 individual; $300 family).
- HSA Authority is the new provider for Health Savings Accounts.
- One America is the new provider for life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, travel assist, and the employee assistance program.
Key Enrollment Information
- If you take no action during the open enrollment period, your current 2013 elections will be your 2014 elections at the 2014 premium rates.
- Re-enrollment is required every year to participate in Flexible Spending, Dependent Care, and Health Savings Accounts.
- On the enrollment form, please note that there is a question regarding tuition remission. This is for planning purposes only.
- Enrollment for life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, travel assist, and the employee assistance program will take place at a later date. One America will be Butler’s new service provider beginning January 1, 2014.
If you have questions during Benefits Open Enrollment, please stop by the Human Resources office in Jordan Hall, room 144, or call ext. 9355.
Butler’s Focus on Wellness
Our number one goal is to equip our faculty, staff, and their families to be healthier and better-educated consumers of healthcare; therefore, the following initiatives will continue in 2014:
360 Degree Health Programs through Anthem
Includes 24/7 NurseLine, My Health Advantage, Future Moms, MyHealth@Anthem, ComplexCare, and ConditionCare.
A Healthier Butler U
This wellness blog for faculty and staff covers topics pertaining to a person’s entire wellbeing.
Castlight Health
This tool provides you with the ability to access a health provider shopping service by web, phone, or mobile app that empowers you to select providers based on cost, quality, and convenience.
Health Advocate
Your go-to expert for one-on-one help with any healthcare or insurance-related issue, this program helps you work through the complex maze of healthcare and identify ways to stay healthy.
Healthy Horizons
This wellness program assists each employee and their spouse or domestic partner with improving their health, provides ongoing information and health education programs, and helps to identify health risks and ways to reduce those risks.
We hope to see you at one of the upcoming Open Enrollment Sessions!
