Information on Health Insurance

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day!  We all have lots of important people to remember.

Here is some information that Tom Ward sent out to a few retirees that he had e-mail addresses for.

"It appears those that have left the University and are retired haven't received this message. I thought you'd like to know."

~Tom

May 25, 2011

To:  Faculty and Staff Members

From:  James P. Davito, Executive Director, University Payroll and Benefits (UPB)

Subject:  FY2012 Benefit Choice (NESSIE) Enrollment Period May 1st - June 17th

The State Department of Central Management Services (CMS) has announced the final decision regarding the managed care contracts for FY2012.  The original award as announced on April 5, 2011 has been upheld.  Therefore, effective July 1, 2011 the following carriers will be available:

HMO Illinois: www.bcbsil.com/stateofillinois

Blue Advantage: www.bcbsil.com/stateofillinois

PersonalCare Open Access Plan (OAP): www.personalcare.org

HealthLink OAP: www.healthlink.com

Quality Care Health Plan:  http://provider.healthcare.cigna.com/soi.html

Refer to the coverage map in the Benefit Choice Option Booklet to determine what carriers are available in your county.  Premium rates have not changed from FY2011 and are located in the Benefit Choice Booklet along with other managed care information at:  https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/pdf/benefits/BC_Booklet.pdf.

All employees in the following discontinued health plans must make an election by midnight June 17 to avoid being defaulted into the Quality Care Health Plan.

*PersonalCare HMO*, Health Alliance HMO,   Health Alliance Illinois, Humana Health Plans, Humana-Winnebago

(*A special note to PersonalCare HMO members: If you want to switch to the new PersonalCare OAP you must make an election on NESSIE.  Otherwise, if you make no election, you will be defaulted into the Quality Care Health Plan.*)

If you take no action, the State of Illinois will make the choice for you and you will be defaulted into the Quality Care Health Plan.  Health insurance coverage is a personal choice; please take the time to choose what is best for you and your family.  It is your choice!

Open Access Plans (OAPs) provide three different levels of coverage:  Tier I is an HMO network option, Tier II is a PPO network option and Tier III is an Indemnity Plan option.

For changes to health, dental, life and adding or dropping dependents, the NESSIE Benefit Choice enrollment form will be available on May 27 and will continue to be available until midnight on June 17, 2011.  Employees may make elections to their State health and life plan enrollments, opt into or opt out of the State group health insurance plan (if you have other non-state group coverage), opt into or opt out of the dental plan and enroll or re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).  You may also add (documentation is required) or drop dependents.  Changes will become effective on July 1, 2011.

Please note that any Benefit Choice FSA enrollments, which you have already submitted can be changed during the remainder of the Benefit Choice period until midnight June 17, 2011.  If you have not enrolled in and wish to participate in the Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) or the Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) you must enroll or re-enroll on NESSIE by the end of the Benefit Choice period.  Enrollment in MCAP/DCAP is required each year in order to participate the next plan year.

Beginning May 27, you can access the “Benefit Choice” option in NESSIE at  https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/cf/benefits/index.cfm?Item_ID=10, to make benefit changes online.  Information on other changes for Benefit Choice FY2012 is listed in the email sent on April 29, 2011, which can be reviewed on News & Announcements in NESSIE.  If you need assistance in NESSIE, select the Help link that appears on every screen for answers to common questions and phone numbers to call for assistance.

The Urbana and Springfield campuses are in the process of scheduling additional Benefit Choice outreach sessions.  New sessions will be posted on the OBFS Training website as they are confirmed.  To register for one of the sessions go to the OBFS Training website at:  http://training.obfs.uillinois.edu/index.cfm?campus=5  ***.

Chicago campus business managers and human resource representatives may contact UPB Benefits Services at 312-996-1848 to schedule departmental Benefit Choice sessions.

If you have any questions about your benefit plans or options, please contact your campus UPB Benefits Services office or send e-mail to benefits@uillinois.edu.

UPB Benefits Services – Urbana:  (217) 333-3111

UPB Benefits Services – Chicago:  (312) 996-6471

UPB Benefits Services – Springfield:  (217) 206-7144

UPB Benefits Services (Toll-Free):  (866) 669-4772, Select Option #1

Dependent and OPT OUT Documentation fax:  (217) 244-3135