UI employees concerned about recent health-insurance carrier changes have had little recourse but to wait for news updates.
The same goes for Jim Davito, the interim executive director of University Payroll and Benefits.
“We haven’t gotten any more formal information recently,” he said April 18.
According to Davito, officials may not get new information until the annual Benefit Choice Seminar of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services set for the end of this month. CMS administers state employees benefits programs.
So far, everyone has had to keep informed through news reports.
It was announced earlier this month that Health Alliance and PersonalCare HMOs would not be part of the enrollment choices for UI employees for the coming year. The two were dropped after the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services awarded fiscal year 2012 health-insurance contracts for state employees.
The offerings include two new HMOs through Blue Cross-Blue Shield and two open-access plans through HealthLink and PersonalCare, as well as the Quality Care Health Plan. (As things stand today, of the current health plans, Quality Care Health Plan and HealthLink OAP are the only plans that will be available next year for UI employees.)
Health Alliance and Humana have appealed the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ decision, though state officials have supported the open-bidding process used in the selection and say the new configuration could save the state $1 billion.
UI President Michael Hogan sent a letter to the IDHFS and to Gov. Pat Quinn April 12 “to communicate the impact of this decision upon the university.”
Davito said the uncertainty has caused challenges, not only for his office, but also for the thousands of UI employees covered under the eliminated plans.
“About all we know is that the Benefit Choice period will begin May 1 and our employees will be given ample time to make informed decisions regarding their insurance coverage,” Davito said.
Davito said his office has little choice but to wait for more news from the state.
“As soon as we get information we’re intending to share it,” he said. “I guess the only advice I can give right now is, ‘stay tuned.’ “
