Author: deeringk

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))

ADA Accommodation Process Improvements

The Office of Human Resources is pleased to share some process improvements for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodation requests. Historically, all accommodation requests have been funded directly by the employee’s primary department.  In an effort to promote the value and support of requesting a reasonable accommodation, University Leadership has approved the creation of a central pool of dollars that can be used for ADA accommodation requests.

Benefits to this new central pool for ADA accommodations include:

  • Creating less need for those outside of the employee (and direct supervisor as applicable) to have information about the particular ADA accommodation.
  • Allowing the Office of Human Resources to retain ownership of equipment upon departure of an employee so that equipment can be reused as needed.
  • More consistency between how employee accommodations and student accommodations are handled at the institution.

Central funding for accommodation requests is effective on July 1, 2022, the start of the 2022-2023 fiscal year.  In addition, the Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities website has been updated with additional information and resources for employees and supervisors.

Please contact Human Resources at hr@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2390 with any questions.

Annual Bank Vacation Period for Academic Staff & Limited Appointees

Academic Staff and Limited Appointees with a 12-month appointment have an annual opportunity to bank unused vacation after completing 10 or more fiscal years (July 1 through June 30) of continuous service. The deadline to bank unused vacation allocated in fiscal year 2021-22 is September 30, 2022.

Instructions for viewing your leave balances and banking unused vacation are available in the Banked Leave Conversion Tipsheet. Vacation and carryover balance hours that are eligible to be banked may be viewed beginning July 1.

How Much Vacation Can You Bank?

Years of Continuous Service Hours That Can be Banked *
First 10 Years 0
10+ to 25 Years 40
25 Years and Over 80

* The amount of vacation that can be banked is prorated for part-time employees.

There is no limit to the total number of hours (balance) that can be retained in your Banked Leave account. Once vacation is banked the hours do not expire.

When Can Banked Leave Be Used?
With your supervisor’s approval, banked leave hours may be used whenever you are allowed to use paid leave.

What If You Terminate Employment?
Unused banked leave hours will be paid to you at your wage rate at termination.

Resources:

If you have questions, contact Human Resources at payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Resources for Mental Health Well-Being

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also affects how we manage stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Mental health well-being is important from childhood through adulthood.

Take a moment to think about your mental health well-being. Below are early warning signs that suggest you may benefit from reaching out to a mental health expert.

• Eating or sleeping too little or too much
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Experiencing mood swings
• Arguing consistently with family or friends

Improving your mental health well-being may help you realize your full potential, cope effectively with stress, work productively, and make meaningful contributions to your community.

SilverCloud, a self-guided mental health resource implemented in 2020 will no longer be available to employees and students as of June 30, 2022.  Review the UW System Mental Health Resources to understand the benefits programs available to UW System employees that include mental health support services.

You can get more information about mental health at www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth.

Source: UW System Human Resources