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Columns::October 1, 2001
Annual Russell Symposium focuses on international security
UGA musical groups celebrate Spirit of America’
New portrait of Rogers will be added to presidential collection
Woodwork: UGA researchers conduct studies to determine strength characterstics of timber
Remediation process begins over site of former UGA landfill
A message to the university community
Campus Closeup
Biological and ag engineering head will direct UGA faculty of engineering
College of Pharmacy names assistant dean
Kudos
And the beat goes on. . .
Campus News
Open enrollment periods begins Oct. 15 for insurance plans
By Larry B. Dendy
ldendy@uga.edu
The annual enrollment period for choosing health insurance coverage, and decreasing or canceling dental coverage, for next year  begins later this month, and university employees and retirees will hear some familiar refrains: new options and higher premiums.
Last year, employees and retirees had to choose a new health insurance plan from among several options, including Preferred Provider Organization and Health Maintenance Organization plans, and the indemnity plan administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield. A new prescription-drug coverage plan also was implemented.
The new insurance programs, which went into effect last January, were mandated by the University System Board of Regents in an effort to reduce a huge deficit in insurance coverage for system employees.
David Williamson, director of employee benefits in Human Resources, says the university system has made some improvements to those programs for next year. The system also approved new rates that will slightly increase monthly premiums for health and dental insurance coverage next year.
In addition, Williamson says, the IRS has relaxed some rules governing when, and under what conditions, people can make changes to pre-tax insurance plans.
The annual enrollment period for making choices about insurance coverage is Oct. 15-Nov. 15. During this time, employees can enroll in, change or cancel health insurance coverage, decrease or cancel dental insurance coverage, enroll in, change or cancel coverage for accidental death and dismemberment, and apply for optional life insurance and supplemental retirement programs. Retirees will be able to change the type of health insurance plan they now have.
Decisions can also be made on enrolling in the Med-Flex and dependent care programs for 2002, and enrolling in or changing allocations to the Optional Retirement Program.
Those who don’t want to make any changes in health or dental coverage need take no action during the open enrollment period.
Next week, Human Resources will send faculty, staff and retirees detailed information about insurance coverage options and the new premium rates. A number of informational meetings are also scheduled on and off campus over the next month (see “Schedule of informational meetings,” this page).
In addition to the scheduled meetings, departments can also arrange for information sessions at certain times during the weeks of Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. To schedule a session, call Williamson at 542-1814.
All decisions made during the enrollment period will go into effect Jan. 1, 2002.
The health insurance program has been expanded to include a national PPO network for people who have coverage under the PPO plan. The national network includes more than 354,000 physicians, 3,400 hospitals and ancillary providers and a chiropractic network.
The national network includes all zip codes in the United States other than those covered by MRN/Georgia First, the provider for the university system PPO plan in the state of Georgia.
Members will still need to use the MRN/Georgia First network to get the highest level of coverage. Providers for the national program that are located in the MRN/Georgia First service area will be considered to be out-of-network if a MRN/Georgia First provider is available.
Most services that are covered at 90 percent under the university system PPO are covered at 80 percent in the national PPO network. Services provided out-of-network for both the MRN/Georgia First and national program are covered at 60 percent of the university system PPO rate, subject to deductible and balance billing.
Williamson says the national PPO will be most beneficial to people with out-of-state college students and to retirees living outside Georgia.
The regents did not make any changes to the HMO and indemnity plans, Williamson says.
The pharmacy insurance coverage administered by Express-Scripts has been revised to cap monthly out-of-pocket payments for generic and preferred brand-name prescription drugs. Maximum monthly out-of-pocket payments will be $100 for an employee only, and $200 for both employee and one dependent, and family coverage.
When the maximum out-of-pocket payment is met, co-payments will be waived for the rest of the month for additional generic and preferred brand-name medicines. Co-payments will resume at the start of the next month and continue until the limit is again met. Co-payments for non-preferred brand-name medicines won’t apply to the monthly maximum.
Monthly premiums for all health and dental insurance coverage will increase under new rates approved by the board of regents. Williamson says fees will rise an average of 10.6 percent for the indemnity plan, 9 percent for the HMO, 5.5 percent for the PPO, and 3.3 percent for dental coverage.
According to information from the university system, the increases are in line with a national rise in insurance rates “due to the increased utilization of health insurance benefits along with an increase in the overall cost of health care.”
A new IRS guideline will allow UGA employees to change their insurance coverage because of changes in their spouses’ coverage under a different plan. For example, Williamson says, a UGA employee may have a spouse who doesn’t work here and is covered by an insurance plan provided by the spouse’s employer. If the spouse’s plan were terminated, or the premium raised so high as to cause a financial burden, the spouse could be added to the UGA employee’s plan. |
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