Author: deeringk

Annual Benefits Enrollment – Virtual Benefits Sessions

Virtual benefit sessions are being offered by a number of benefit vendors throughout the annual open enrollment period (9/26-10/21). Vendors will be providing information and an opportunity to ask questions in a group setting.  Click here to see a list of live benefit sessions being hosted by the vendors during ABE.  Vendors include the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF), Health Insurance Carriers, Delta Dental, DeltaVision and Optum (FSA/HSA).

Annual Benefits Enrollment Open Lab Sessions

The Office of Human Resources & Workforce Diversity will be offering Benefit Open Lab Sessions during the Annual Benefit Enrollment period (September 26 – October 21) at the following times and locations.  Please mark your calendar to stop by and get your questions answered or receive help with the online benefits election process from one of our Benefits Specialists.

UW-Green Bay Open Labs Sessions

    • Thursday, September 29th – 3:00-4:00 p.m.
    • Wednesday, October 5th – 10:00-11:00 a.m.
    • Friday, October 7th – 8:00-9:00 a.m.
    • Tuesday, October 11th – 9:00-10:00 a.m.
    • Thursday, October 13th – 11:00-12:30 p.m.
    • Thursday, October 20th – 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Location: Instructional Services, IS1129E

Benefits staff will also be on the additional campus locations throughout the open enrollment period.  Employees can schedule one-on-one in-person meetings using the following links:

Sheboygan Campus – Thursday October 6th

Manitowoc Campus – Wednesday, October 12th

Marinette Campus – Friday, October 14th

Please click here for additional information on virtual benefits counseling options.  If you have any other questions, please contact HR at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

Annual Benefits Enrollment – Virtual One-on-One Sessions

Need assistance as you review your current benefits and make changes for 2023?  Have a question or two that you would like to talk through with a benefits specialist?  Register here for a 15-minute appointment.

Can’t make one of the individual session times or have a question that you would like answered now?  Submit your questions directly to hr@uwgb.edu and one of our benefits specialists will respond back to you as soon as possible.

2023 State Group Health Plan Fair

Employees eligible for the State Group Health Insurance are encouraged to attend the 2023 State Group Health Plan Fair.

When: Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Where: University Union, Phoenix Room A

State Group Health plan carriers with networks located across Northeast Wisconsin will be on-site and available to talk to during this fair.  Health plan carriers attending include:

    • Dean Health Plan –
      • Prevea 360 East
      • Access Health Plan administrator for 2023
    • Robin with HealthPartners
    • Network Health Plan
    • Common Grounds Healthcare Cooperative (new network area for 2023)
    • Medicare Advantage & Medicare Plus by UnitedHealth (available for retirees)

Delta Dental will be attending and available for information related to both the dental and vision plans offered to UW employees and retirees.

Well Wisconsin/WebMD will also be attending, to help with questions about wellness and the wellness incentive.

Questions?  Please contact us at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390.

Annual Benefits Enrollment: 2023 State Group Health Insurance Premiums

The State Group Health Insurance premiums will be increasing slightly in 2023.  The health plan designs (health plan vs. high deductible health plan) and most health plan components will remain the same (for example, deductibles, copays, coinsurance). There will be health plan carrier changes (WEA Trust will no longer be available) and covered services enhancements.  2023 Health Plan Provider Directories are now available on ETF’s website:  https://etf.wi.gov/its-your-choice/2023/health-plan-search/state 

Premium changes will be effective January 1, 2023 with deductions beginning on the 12/15/2022 paycheck. More information pertaining to the State Group Health Insurance program can be found on the UW System Annual Benefits Enrollment website.

 

 

2023 Benefits Highlights

The Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period is September 26 – October 21, 2022. This is your annual opportunity to enroll in or make changes to most benefits for the upcoming calendar year. Changes made during ABE are effective January 1, 2023. Below are some benefits highlights for 2023.

State Group Health Insurance
The health plan designs (health plan and high deductible health plan), and most health plan components (deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) will remain the same. Employee premium information will be available prior to ABE.

Health Plan and High Deductible Health Plan
As previously announced, WEA Trust will no longer be a carrier option in the health insurance program for 2023. This includes WEA Trust East, WEA Trust West – Chippewa Valley, WEA Trust West – Mayo Clinic.

These health insurance carriers will be additional options available to you for 2023. Each will offer a health plan and a high deductible health plan option.

    • Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative
    • Dean Health Plan – Prevea360 West & Mayo Clinic Health System
    • Group Health Cooperative (GHC) of Eau Claire – River Region
    • HealthPartners – Southeast
    • Security Health Plan

Some health insurance carriers will have name changes.

    • Dean Health Plan – Prevea360 will change to Dean Health Plan – Prevea360 East
    • Group Health Cooperative (GHC) of Eau Claire will change to GHC of Eau Claire – Greater Wisconsin
    • HealthPartners will change to HealthPartners – West

All other health insurance carriers will continue to be offered for 2023.

Access Plans
The Access Health Plan and Access High Deductible Plan which offers nationwide coverage will continue to be available. Dean Health Plan is the new carrier for the Access Plans replacing WEA Trust.

Uniform and Preventive Dental Insurance Plans
These plans provide coverage for preventive dental services, most basic dental services, and orthodontia services (up to age 19). Both plans will continue to be offered. Employee premium information will be available prior to ABE.

Supplemental Dental Insurance Plans
The Select and Select Plus plans provide coverage for major and restorative dental services. One of the plans (Select Plus) covers orthodontia services for children and adults. You may enroll in one supplemental dental insurance plan. Employee premiums will remain the same for 2023.

Vision Insurance Plan
The vision insurance plan provides coverage for an annual eye exam and materials (contacts and/or glasses). Employee premiums will remain the same for 2023.

Accident Insurance Plan
This plan will help cover expenses by providing a lump sum payment to you for specific injuries due to an accident. For 2023, cash benefit payment amounts for most covered injuries due to an accident will increase. In addition, cash benefit payments will be added for surgical anesthesia, joint replacement, and modifications to home and/or vehicle. This plan includes an Accidental Death & Dismemberment component. Employee premiums will remain the same for 2023.

Pre-tax Spending and Savings Accounts
Below are the pre-tax spending and savings accounts maximum contribution amounts for 2023.

    • Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): $2,850
    • Dependent Day Care Account: $2,500 or $5,000 (depending on tax filing status)
    • Parking & Transit Accounts: $280 (monthly amount)
    • Health Savings Accounts: $3,850 for single health insurance; $7,750 for family health insurance

The Healthcare FSAs and Parking & Transit Accounts will have an annual minimum contribution requirement of $50 starting in 2023.

The Healthcare FSA carryover limit will increase to $570. The Dependent Day Care Account does not have a carryover provision. The Parking & Transit Accounts and Health Savings Account have unlimited carryover.

Next Steps
Watch for emails in September for more information including action required, premiums, and other benefits available to you. Virtual benefits sessions will be available to help you understand the changes and your options for 2023.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Group Insurance Board Approves State Group Health Insurance Premiums & Plan Choices for 2023

The Group Insurance Board has approved a modest health insurance premium increase and expanded service areas and provider networks for the State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program in 2023. Despite the departure of WEA Trust from the program, members will have more health plan choices.

Concerned about the impact of a significant premium increase on members and employers, the Board approved using surplus funds from past program cost savings and investments to reduce rate increases in 2023.

“Primary drivers of the rate increases are medical costs for ongoing care and the effects of delayed care for acute or chronic health conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to Eileen Mallow, director of the Office of Strategic Health Policy at the Department of Employee Trust Funds. “Increased pharmacy costs – particularly for specialty drugs – were also a contributing factor.”

2023 Health Insurance Premiums

The overall state health insurance premium increase for plan year 2023 is 4.0%. The Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management determines both the state employee contribution to the premium and the employer contribution to the Health Savings Account. Those amounts will be available prior to the annual open enrollment period, September 26 – October 21, 2022.

2023 Health Plan Changes

WEA Trust will no longer offer health insurance as of December 31, 2022. This change affects approximately 52,000 members who will need to select a new health plan for 2023 during open enrollment.

“ETF worked with health plans to provide all members with more choices in 2023,” said Mallow. “The expanded service areas and provider networks should fill the gaps created by the departure of WEA Trust from the program.”

The Board approved the following changes effective January 1, 2023:

  • Dean Health Plan will offer the Access Plan and State Maintenance Plan.
  • UnitedHealthcare will offer Medicare Plus.
  • Security Health Plan will be a new plan serving west central Wisconsin with access to the Marshfield Clinic Health System.
  • Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative has partnered with Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire to serve eastern Wisconsin.
  • GHC of Eau Claire River Region is a new coverage option in west central Wisconsin.
  • Dean Health Plan – Prevea360 West and Mayo Clinic Health System have partnered to serve western Wisconsin.
  • HealthPartners Southeast will provide coverage in southeastern Wisconsin.

See Upcoming Health Plan Changes for more information and resources. ETF will offer vendor and health benefit webinars during open enrollment to assist members in making benefits decisions.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.  Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu with any questions.

Source: ETF (GIB Approves Premiums and More Plan Choices for Members in 2023 | ETF (wi.gov))