Skip to main content

IU employees: Learn what’s new, different for this year’s open enrollment period

Oct 25, 2017
Needles, pens, bandages and other health care items on a table.

Heads up, Indiana University employees: Open enrollment is from Nov. 6 to 17.

During the open enrollment period, IU employees can make changes to their medical and dental insurance, add or remove eligible dependents, determine their use and savings needs for their Health Savings Account contribution, decide whether to save money by using the Tax-Saver Benefit plans, and review and change their personal accident insurance coverage.

Employees also are encouraged to sign a Tobacco-Free Affidavit for themselves and their spouse each year to receive a reduction in premium costs.

Information booklets began arriving in campus mail starting Oct. 25, and open enrollment information is also available from Human Resources.

Employees and their family members are encouraged to attend any campus information session or webinars. A list of times and locations of the open enrollment information sessions as well as the times and topics for webinars are available on the Human Resources website and in the open enrollment booklets.

What’s new for 2018? Here are a few highlights:

All medical plans

The Pharmacy Benefits Manager will transition from Express Scripts to CVS Caremark. There will be a new preventive drug list and a new drug formulary, but employee prescription drug coinsurance/copays will remain the same for all plans. A special page with information on the transition to CVS is available to help employees. While most prescriptions will still be available for employees with no action required, CVS will be sending out letters to some employees who may need a new prescription to transfer their medication.

Also, starting Jan. 1, 2018, for all medical plans, non-emergency services will not be covered when treated in an emergency room if more appropriate settings are available. If a member’s claim for emergency services is denied, the member will be responsible for the charges.

Employees on all medical plans will receive new medical ID cards for 2018. The Anthem card is a combination medical and pharmacy card. However, those on the IU Health High Deductible Health Plan will receive a new medical plan card and a separate prescription plan card. Employee should show the new ID card at their pharmacy to ensure prescriptions will be covered.

Anthem PPO High Deductible Health Plan

For the Anthem PPO High Deductible Health Plan, the in-network deductible will increase to the IRS minimum for 2018 of $1,350 for employee-only coverage and $2,700 for all other coverage levels. The out-of-network deductible will increase to $2,700 for employee-only coverage and $5,400 for all other coverage levels.

The in-network out-of-pocket maximum will increase to $2,700 for employee-only coverage and $5,400 for all other coverage levels. The out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum will increase to $5,400 for employee-only coverage and $10,800 for all other coverage levels.

Anthem PPO $500 Deductible Plan

For the Anthem PPO $500 Deductible Plan, the in-network prescription out-of-pocket maximums will increase to $4,250 for employee-only coverage and $6,100 for all other coverage levels. Medical expenses do not count toward the prescription out-of-pocket maximum.

Health Savings Account

There are no changes to the university’s contributions to Health Savings Accounts in 2018. The contribution for the IU Health High Deductible Health Plan will be $1,600 for employee-only and $3,200 for all other coverage levels. For the Anthem PPO High Deductible Health Plan, the university’s contribution will be $1,300 employee-only and $2,600 for all other coverage levels.

The annual IRS contribution maximums will increase to $3,450 for employee-only coverage and $6,900 for all other coverage levels.

Also, most employees enrolled in a Health Savings Account will receive a new debit card this year. Employees with cards set to expire in December 2017 will automatically receive a new set of debit cards this year, with no action required. Just like with other debit cards, Nyhart will automatically issue a replacement set for those with expiring cards.

Tax Saver Benefit

The IRS maximum contribution limit will increase to $2,600 for the Tax Saver Healthcare Account. The Tax Saver Dependent Care account remains at a limit of $5,000 per household.

IU Dental Plan

Beginning this year, the benefit has changed to allow employees to increase their annual limit if they maintain their preventive cleanings. For each member who receives at least one preventive cleaning/exam per calendar year, their annual benefit will increase by $100 in each subsequent year, up to a maximum of $1,500. So, for employees who receive the preventive cleaning in 2018, the 2019 annual limit will increase to $1,300.

The child orthodontia lifetime maximum will increase to $1,000.

And don’t forget: Selections made during the open enrollment period cannot be changed after the period ends unless you experience an IRS-defined Qualifying Life Event. Certain life events, such as marriage, divorce or the birth of a child, allows a corresponding change to your elections, but only within 30 days of the event. An exception is that you can make changes to your HSA contribution amount at any time during the year.

IU offers many other benefits that can be changed year-round, however, and are not restricted to the open-enrollment season. At any time during the year, employees can:

  • Change contribution levels for supplemental retirement plans.
  • Adjust life and long-term-disability insurance coverages.
  • Learn more about the 24-Hour Nurse Line, Care.com, IU Employee Assistance Program, Weight Talk Program, Quit for Life Tobacco Cessation Program, Castlight Health and Anthem’s “Live Health Online” offerings.
  • Make sure beneficiary information is up to date in retirement plans, HSA, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment plans.

Author

IU Newsroom

Bethany Nolan

Executive Director of Internal Communications

More stories

Administration,Arts and Humanities,Health and Wellness,Science and Technology

IU secured $772M in sponsored research awards in 2023

News at IU  
News at IU