2008 Group Health Insurance
Open Enrollment

Important Information For 2008 Open Enrollment

• All State of Kansas Employees can enroll in any of the available health plans.  You are no longer limited by county of residence or geographic area.
• The 2007 HMO and PPO plans (Coventry HMO, Coventry PPO and Kansas Choice PPO) will not be offered in 2008. 
• Two new medical plan designs will be offered – Plan A and Plan B. 
• Three providers will be available for Plan A and Plan B – Coventry, Preferred Health Systems and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
• The Qualified High Deductible Plan with Health Savings Account will be offered in 2008.  There are no changes to this plan.
• You must “enroll” in either Plan A or Plan B or the High Deductible Plan since the current  HMO and PPO plan options are no longer available.
• Rates are changing in 2008 – see rate comparison chart.
• HealthyKIDS – All persons currently enrolled in HealthyKIDS must REAPPLY for 2008.

Group Health Insurance Open Enrollment

Changes made during open enrollment will be effective January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. Employees with open enrollment changes must make them on the Internet site by Wednesday,

October 31, 2007.  Employees must use the “Employee Self Service Center” at the Internet site to do the following:

• enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts;
• enroll in a medical plan – Plan A, Plan B or the Qualified High Deductible Plan;
• add, change or drop your coverage;
• add or drop vision coverage;
• add or drop dependents from medical, dental or vision coverage;
• change your pretax payment status.

PlanSelect

PlanSelect is a new online tool to help you make a decision about which medical plan and providers best fit the needs of your and your family.  The tool compares various benefit options, estimates the amount you will spend on health care for the year and how much you should contribute to your flexible spending account.

How to Access Open Enrollment on the Internet

Open enrollment for group health insurance and flexible spending accounts for Plan Year 2008 will be in October on the Internet via the access Kansas web site - http://www.accesskansas.org/employee/ -  through the Employee Self-Service Center. 

Employees will need their State of Kansas (SOK) Employee Identification Number to log in (this is not your PSU ID number).  Employee will find this 11-digit alpha/numeric ID on their paper pay stub or their electronic pay stub on GUS.  Information regarding your password is contained in the Open Enrollment memo dated September 28, 2007 or may be received by contacting HRS by phone (Ext. 4187 or Ext. 4121).  HRS will not provide the password to employees by email.

If you have problems logging in, call the Employee Self Service Help Desk toll free at 1-866-999-3001.

Group Health Insurance Providers – Employees can choose from three medical plan designs – Plan A, Plan B or the Qualified High Deductible Plan with Health Savings Account.  Plan A and Plan B have three medical provider networks to choose from – Coventry, Preferred Health Systems or Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  The provider network for each company will be the same for Plan A and Plan B.  However, ancillary services may differ on Plan A and Plan B.  A comparison chart of the medical plans is available in the booklet.  Following is a summary of the plan highlights and changes.

Plan A – Coventry Plan A or Preferred Health Systems Plan A or Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plan A:

• Replaces the HMO plan design.
• Combines the features of an HMO and a PPO.
• Primary Care Physician (PCP) replaced by Medical Home which consists the following types of physicians – General Practice, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Geriatrics and Physician Extenders (Physician Assistants and Advance Registered Nurse Practitioners).
• Does not include the use of the LabCard.

• Non-Network Providers
Deductible $500 per person or $1,500 per family
No Office Visit Copays
50% Coinsurance
Coinsurance Maximum $3,650 per person or $7,300 per family
Preventive Care Services not covered

Plan B - Coventry Plan B or Preferred Health Systems Plan B or Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plan B:
• Replaces the 2007 PPO plan design.
• Out of Pocket costs are reduced when using a Medical Home which consists the following types of physicians – General Practice, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Geriatrics and Physician Extenders (Physician Assistants and Advance Registered Nurse Practitioners)
• Includes the voluntary LabCard which covers certain lab tests at 100%

Plan B Plan Design

• Network Providers
No Deductible
$20 Copay for Medical Home Office Visit
$40 Copay for Specialist Office Visit
35% Coinsurance
Coinsurance Maximum $2,200 per person or $4,400 per family
Preventive Care Services covered at 100%

• Non-Network Providers
Deductible $500 per person or $1,500 per family
No Office Visit Copays
50% Coinsurance
Coinsurance Maximum $3,650 per person or $7,300 per family
Preventive Care Services not covered

Qualified High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (QHDHP)

• No medical plan changes.
• HSA maximum employee contribution has increased.  See the rate comparison for details.

Dental

• No changes.

Prescription Drug

• Reduced Coinsurance for Diabetic and Asthma Medications
• Generics – 10% to a maximum of $10
• Preferred Brands – 20% to a maximum of $20

Vision Plan

• No changes.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Enrollment

Employees must enroll on the Internet to participate in either the Dependent Care or Health Care Flexible Spending Account(s) in 2008 by Wednesday, October  31, 2007.  Employees must enroll in FSA each year to participate.

For Dependent Care FSA, this is a calendar year program for services received January 1 to December 31, 2008. 

For Plan Year 2008, Health Care FSA will have a “grace period.” Therefore, expenses eligible for reimbursement are those incurred from January 1, 2008, through March 15, 2009.   Reimbursement requests must be received by April 30, 2009.

Deductions for FSA will be semi-monthly as well.  After you have estimated your annual amount, divide that amount by the appropriate number of deductions to get the paycheck deduction amount.

• 12-month employees – divide by 24 deductions
• 9, 10 & 11-month employees  - divide by 16 deductions

Health Care account minimums and maximums:  For 2008, the maximum amount has increased from $3,480 to $5,000.  Employees must select a semi-monthly amount to be deposited into a health care flexible spending account.

Dependent care account minimums and maximums: For 2008, employees must select a semi-monthly amount to be deposited into a dependent care flexible spending account.

*Subject to tax filing status

HealthKIDS Program

This program helps eligible state employees with the cost of children’s health insurance coverage.  Eligible employees will have 90% of the children component of dependent coverage paid by the state.  Eligibility guidelines are established by the HealthWave program.   Please see the Open Enrollment booklet for income guidelines.

If you believe you are eligible for HealthyKids, you must complete an application and submit the application with appropriate documentation to the address on the form.  Employees who are currently HealthyKids participants will be required to reapply for approval for 2008.  The form must be received by October 31, 2007.  HRS will be notified if you qualify for the program, and premium adjustments will be made.

Health Insurance Default Plan

If you do not enroll in Plan A or Plan B or the High Deductible Plan during Open Enrollment, the following actions will be taken.