Author: sipiorsk@uwgb.edu

Would you like the ability to seek basic medical care from the comfort of your own home?

If so, the telemedicine services in the State Group Health Insurance Program may allow you to do so. With flu season just around the corner, now may be a good time to learn about telemedicine.

What is telemedicine/telehealth (used interchangeably)?

The remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of electronic communication. This means that for non-urgent medical care, you may be able to access care through video chat or a virtual house call. Through telemedicine, a doctor may be able to recommend treatment, prescribe medication, refer you to a specialist or tell you, based on your symptoms, if you should see a doctor in-person.

Note: These services vary among insurance carriers in the State Group Health Insurance Program.

Why should you consider telemedicine services?

You may receive care quicker and it may be more convenient than going to your doctor’s office or to urgent care. They are also typically less expensive than an office visit or urgent care visit.

How will your telemedicine service be covered by your State Group Health Insurance?

This will depend on which plan design you are enrolled in.

• Health Plan: Telemedicine services are covered at 100%.
• High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP): Telemedicine services are covered at 100% after you meet your deductible. This is necessary to comply with Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility requirements as well as coverage mandates per the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

How can you obtain additional information regarding telemedicine services?

Generally, health plans offer telemedicine services through their online portals. If you’re unable to find telemedicine information through your health insurance plans online portal, contact your health insurance plan directly by calling the tollfree number on your health insurance ID card.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Effective January 1, 2020, there will be four main benefit plan changes:

• Preventive Dental Insurance (new plan)
• Accident Insurance (new plan)
• Vendor Change (TASC to ConnectYourCare)
• Security Health Plan (no longer available)

Additional information regarding 2020 benefit plan changes (including premiums) will be communicated closer to the Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period (September 30 – October 25, 2019).

Preventive Dental Insurance

Currently, preventive dental services are only offered under the State Group Health Insurance Plan with Uniform Dental. For 2020, a standalone Preventive Dental Insurance Plan through Delta Dental will be available to employees who either waive the State Group Health Insurance Plan or choose the State Group Health Insurance Opt-Out Incentive. This means all benefits eligible employees will have access to preventive dental services in 2020.

Note:  The Supplemental Dental Plans will continue to be available in 2020. These plans provide coverage for major services such as crowns and implants.

Accident Insurance

In 2020, an Accident Insurance Plan will be available to eligible employees. The plan provides a cash payment directly to you in the event of an accident. Covered accidents may include injuries, emergency care, hospital care, surgery and an accidental death & dismemberment* benefit. The cash payment amount differs based on the severity of the accident. You may use the cash for anything you’d like to help provide some financial protection when the unexpected happens.

*The Accident Insurance Plan includes an accidental death & dismemberment benefit. You may enroll in both, the Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Plan and the new Accident Insurance plan.

Vendor Change (TASC to ConnectYourCare)

The Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Dependent Day Care Account and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) will be administered by ConnectYourCare (CYC). TASC will no longer be the administrator as of December 31, 2019.

How will the vendor change affect current participants?

Communications will be sent to current participants prior to ABE to explain the transition from TASC to CYC. Additionally, the 2020 Vendor Change page will be updated to keep current participants informed of communications, key dates and who to contact with questions.

Note:  Employees currently enrolled in an FSA and/or HSA that want to participate in the plans in 2020 are required to re-enroll during the ABE period, September 30 – October 25, 2019.

Security Health Plan (no longer available)

Security Health Plan–Central and Security Health Plan–Valley will no longer be available effective January 1, 2020. Resources will be provided closer to the ABE period to help affected employees select a new health insurance carrier during the ABE period.

Additional information regarding 2020 benefit plan changes and premiums will be communicated during ABE. Please contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu with any immediate questions.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Traveling this summer? Don’t forget to take Securian’s Lifestyle Benefits with you – you already have them. All State employees and their dependents automatically have these Lifestyle Benefits at no cost.

Securian offers a travel assistance program that includes pre-trip planning and emergency services. If you’re traveling abroad, receive important passport and visa information, and immunization requirements. With Securian, you don’t even have to notify them that you’re traveling.

Other Securian Lifestyle Benefits include:

• Legal, financial and grief resources
• Legacy planning resources
• Beneficiary financial counseling

Learn more about Securian’s Lifestyle Benefit program by viewing this brochure.

Source: ETF

What are Summer Prepay Deductions?
If you are a 9-month employee returning to UW employment in the fall of 2019, or a 12-month employee with a contract that does not include work for one or more summer months, then additional insurance premiums should have been deducted from your April 1, May 1 and/or May 31 paychecks to continue your insurance coverage through the summer months. These additional insurance premiums are referred to as summer prepay deductions and are taken along with your regular monthly insurance deductions.

You must be expected to either return for the fall 2019 semester or continue employment in a summer service/summer session appointment to continue benefits coverage during the summer contract break.

Note: Employees in the United States working on a Visa, MUST maintain health insurance coverage during the summer months, or risk losing Visa eligibility. If you have questions about this requirement, contact Human Resources.

Confirming Your Summer Prepay Deductions
Check your spring 2019 earnings statements to verify if you had summer prepay deductions taken from your paychecks. Summer prepay deductions appear as a lump sum on earnings statements.

Deductions taken pre-tax (most medical-related premiums and a portion of State Group Life Insurance premiums) will be added together under ‘Prebtx’ and deductions taken post-tax (most life insurance premiums) will be added together under ‘Preatx.’ Regular benefit deductions for the month will continue to be listed under the plan name.

In the fall, 9-month employees’ regular insurance premium deductions will resume on the October 1, 2019 paycheck. Regular insurance premium deductions for 12-month employees will resume upon return from their summer work break.

What if I Did Not Have Summer Prepay Deductions Taken?
If you did not have summer prepay deductions taken and are returning in fall 2019, contact Human Resources immediately. If your insurance premiums are not collected through summer prepay deductions, you must be set up in benefits billing by Human Resources so a bill is generated for you.

Once your bill is generated, you must remit timely premium payments to continue your insurance coverage. If you do not take the steps to set up benefits billing, a bill will not be generated. If you do not pay for your insurance, it will be cancelled due to non-payment.

What Happens if You Have a ‘Status Change’ During the Summer?
Are you getting married this summer, adopting a baby, terminating employment? If you anticipate a status change during the summer, contact Human Resources immediately about the impact to your insurance benefits.

For example, if you are getting married and need to change from single to family health insurance coverage, you must submit a new health insurance application to your human resources office within 30 days of the date of your marriage. Your new spouse (and family) will be covered as of the date of the marriage. The new rate will be deducted from your prepayments according to the new level of coverage, and you may have to pay an additional portion of the premium if the coverage increases.

If your anticipated fall 2019 employment status changes, refunds may be issued for premiums paid beyond your coverage end date. Your coverage will end at the end of the month in which your employment terminates.

If you will be terminating employment, and will not return in the fall, contact Human Resources immediately to determine when your insurance coverage will end.

Source: UW Service Center

Saving for post-high school education may seem daunting, but with Edvest, Wisconsin’s 529 College Savings Plan, you can start making small contributions today for the future. Anyone – parents, grandparents, extended family members and friends – can set up an account for anyone else. An account can also be used to save for one’s own continuing education.

Edvest makes saving easy by offering low fees, a low minimum contribution of $15 per pay period, and tax deductions for Wisconsin residents (limitations apply). Distributions from Edvest funds are exempt from federal income tax when used for qualified expenses. You may have contributions to Edvest allocated from your paycheck as a direct deposit. Payroll deduction is not available.

Any individual can use these funds at universities, colleges, professional schools, technical colleges, and graduate programs across the country and even at some institutions abroad. Funds can cover tuition, books, room and board, computers, tablets, and many other expenses.

For more information and to open an account, visit the Edvest website.

Source: UW System Human Resources

Are family responsibilities, extra-curricular activities or work-related projects keeping you busy? With so much going on, it can be difficult to keep track of your preventive care or remember what resources are available to help manage your benefits. With that in mind, this article lists several reminders and tips to help you manage your benefits.

Health Insurance

• Preventive health services are provided at no cost under the State Group Health Insurance plans. Review the services and schedule your preventive visit with your doctor.
• If you are enrolled in State Group Health Insurance, you and your spouse (if covered) are eligible for the Well Wisconsin Incentive of $150 by completing three requirements by October 11, 2019. Get started today!

Pharmacy Benefits

• Did you know that you can obtain up to a 90-day supply of some medications for just two copays through the mail order service? Visit the Pharmacy Benefits webpage for additional information regarding the various cost savings pharmacy benefits programs.
• Create an online account with Navitus to view your medication history, locate participating pharmacies and/or compare costs of prescriptions at different pharmacies.

Dental Insurance
Did you know that oral diseases have been linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke?

• Diagnostic and preventive services are covered by the Uniform Dental Benefits at 100% if you are enrolled in State Group Health Insurance with dental. Find an in-network dentist and schedule a preventive visit for you and your covered dependents.

Vision Insurance
Eye exams can detect common vision problems and eye diseases that often have no early warning signs.

• If you are enrolled in State Group Health Insurance, you and your covered dependents are eligible for an annual eye exam. Locate an in-network provider and schedule your appointment. Note: Out-of-pocket expenses will apply depending on your health insurance plan selection.
• If you are covered by the vision insurance plan, you are eligible for additional vision benefits such as glasses and/or contact lenses. Locate an in-network provider and schedule your vision appointment today!

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• View your FSA balance and file claims timely with TASC (the plan administrator). The last day to incur expenses is December 31, 2019.
• Up to $500 will carry over to the next plan year (Health Care and Limited Purpose FSA’s only).
• Login to your TASC account to determine if you have outstanding health care or limited purpose FSA claims that require documentation (substantiation). If so, substantiate them timely.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

• If you are enrolled in the high deductible health plan, view your HSA balance online through your TASC account.
• Furthermore, if you have outstanding balances with your health, dental and/or vision providers for qualifying health, dental and/or vision expenses, you may use your HSA debit card to pay those out-of-pocket expenses.
• Since the HSA allows for a triple tax advantage (contributions, distributions and investment earnings), increase your HSA contribution anytime by submitting an HSA Contribution Change Form.

Retirement Savings Programs
Are you on track saving for your future? Below are the retirement savings programs available to you through the UW System.

• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
• Tax-Sheltered Annuity 403(b) Program
• Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) Program

Review the information and enroll or make changes to your retirement savings contributions today!

Remember, ALEX can help you understand the benefit plans offered to you through the UW System or visit the Employee Benefits webpage to learn more!  Contact Human Resources at (920) 465-2390 or payrollandbenefits@uwgb.edu with any questions.

Source: UW System Human Resources