UI employees clamoring for health-insurance information will have to continue to clamor.
As of May 2, the second day of the Benefits Choice enrollment period, no news had surfaced on appeals filed by two insurance carriers whose popular HMO plans were dropped by the state.
The Health Alliance and PersonalCare HMOs were replaced with two HMO plans from Blue Cross-Blue Shield and two open-access plans through HealthLink and PersonalCare.
Jim Davito, interim executive director of University Payroll and Benefits, said his office is trying to promote a “business as usual” approach, though he admits it’s nothing of the sort.
“People continue to be anxious for a decision from the state,” he said. “Hopefully, we won’t be waiting for much longer.”
In the meantime, Davito said he has tried to keep UI employees regularly updated with news through regular email updates. (The Benefits Choice Options booklet, with limited information, is online.)
Davito’s office has scheduled a series of informational sessions for employees, though specific dates have not been set. He said the sessions will likely start in mid-May and include NESSIE registration assistance.
“Additional sessions will be added once health contracts are finalized,” he said, adding the state’s Central Management Services has promised to give employees ample time to make health benefits choices.
No health insurance enrollment forms will be offered until the state finalizes the provider selection list. Forms to enroll in either of the Flexible Spending Accounts –
the Medical Care Assistant Plan and the Dependent Care Assistance Plan – are now available online.
“For changes to health, dental, life and adding or dropping dependents, the NESSIE Benefit Choice enrollment form will not be available to you until the health plan contracts are finalized,” Davito said in an April 29 email to employees.
He said employees would be notified when the forms become available – which will happen after the state renders its coverage decisions.
Outside of coverage selection, Davito said there will be other changes when the coverage period begins July 1.
For one, dependent children less than 26 years old are eligible for health, dental and life insurance coverage through parents’ policies. And there is a change in the Quality Care Dental Plan’s claim administrator and adjustments in life insurance premiums.
Davito said there is no choice but to wait for the state to finalize the health insurance plan.
“They haven’t established an end date (to enroll),” he said of state officials. “Once they establish that, it will have been a delay, but hopefully not a long delay. Everyone is suffering the same difficulties.”
