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Open enrollment is the only time of year—other than a change-of-status event, such as a marriage or birth—when employees can update their benefits selections. Employees can enroll online via PeopleSoft eBenefits now through Nov. 25 to make their selections. Changes made during open enrollment will take effect Jan. 1, 2015.
There are a few changes that will apply to pre-tax plans for 2015:
Medical Plan Subsidy Change: Currently, BWH pays 90 percent of the health insurance premium cost for pre-tax medical plans for full-time employees who have worked here for more than 12 months. Employees pay the remaining 10 percent through payroll deduction. To continue to offer high-quality plans at current co-pay levels, employees’ share of the contributions for the pre-tax medical plan will increase from the current 10 to 12 percent in 2015. This is the first year of a five-year system-wide transition plan to increase employee contributions slightly over time to ensure costs remain manageable for employees and the hospital and keep up with the normal medical plan inflation rate. Even after this transition, employee medical plan contributions will remain competitive.
New prescription drug benefit provider: Starting in 2015, prescription drug coverage for pre-tax medical plans will move from Medco/Express Scripts to CVS/caremark. The CVS/caremark network consists of 67,000 retail pharmacies nationwide, including the BWH and MGH pharmacies, chain and independent pharmacies and CVS/pharmacy stores. Costs are not expected to change, but those who regularly take prescriptions will be required to purchase their medications in a 90-day supply through Caremark online, mail or at a CVS pharmacy. There will also be a new prescription drug out-of-pocket maximum that limits co-pay costs, based on salary and level of medical coverage (individual or family).
Boston Children’s Hospital: Starting in 2015, specialty and inpatient care at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) will be covered at the Plan level ($40 co-pay; $50 for Partners Value) under all “In-Area” medical plans. Coverage for primary care providers at BCH will remain the same, with a $15 co-pay ($35 for Partners Value). Employees whose dependents are receiving specialty or inpatient care at BCH can call the Benefits Office to request temporary coverage at the Partners Preferred level if they wish to transition care to a Partners Preferred provider.
Social Security Numbers: The government now requires BWH to collect social security numbers for all dependents who are enrolled in employees’ benefits. Make sure to enter your dependents’ social security numbers in eBenefits during open enrollment.
During open enrollment, employees are invited to attend Benefairs, where they can meet with representatives from many of the companies that provide benefits, and drop by QuickStops, where Benefits and Human Resources staff will be available to answer questions. Additionally, employees can attend a meeting to learn more about the new CVS/caremark prescription drug benefit. View the complete schedule at BWHPikeNotes.org.
For more information, call or email:
BWH weekly-paid employees: 617-726-8133, ibenefits@partners.org
BWH monthly-paid professional staff: 617-713-2259, BWHprofstaffbene@partners.org
BWPO monthly-paid professional staff: 617-582-1117, BWPOprofstaff@partners.org