The spring 2005 Open Enrollment period for all Maryland state insurance benefits is now underway and will continue through Wednesday, June 15.
OE offers all eligible faculty and staff, including eligible direct pay employees (contingent staff, part-time faculty and lecturers) and retirees, the opportunity to examine and evaluate their current coverage and compare with the coverage and costs for the new plan year July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006. Changes can be made during Open Enrollment usually without any special enrollment restrictions (except for term life and Long Term Care insurance) and will be effective on July 1, 2005. This Open Enrollment is voluntary, therefore no action will be necessary if no changes or correction are needed–unless a regular employee wants to have flexible spending accounts during the new plan year.
Rate Changes
Comparing the bi-weekly rates from January 1, 2005-June 30, 2005 with the new ones to be effective as of July 1, 2005, the following increases/decreases will take place (unless otherwise noted, all changes indicated are increases):
Health Care
CareFirst BC/BS PPO
One Person: $4.27; Two Persons: $7.70; Three+ Persons: $10.68
MLH Eagle PPO
One Person: $2.93; Two Persons: $5.28; Three+ Persons: $7.32
Aetna POS
One Person: $3.50; Two Persons: $6.29; Three+ Persons: $8.73
CareFirst BC/BS POS
One Person: $4.29; Two Persons: $7.72; Three+ Persons: $10.73
MD IPA Preferred POS
One Person: $3.34; Two Persons: $6.01; Three+ Persons: $8.34
CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
One Person: $1.02; Two Persons: $2.14; Three+ Persons: $2.64
Kaiser HMOM
One Person: $1.80; Two Persons: $3.61; Three Persons: $4.52
Optimum Choice HMO
One Person: $2.08; Two Persons: $4.32; Three+ Persons
Prescription/Dental
CaremarkPCS Prescription
One Person: -$2.16; One w/ Child: -$2.87; One w/ Spouse: -$3.58; One w/ 2+: -$4.32
Dental Benefits Provider DHMO
One Person: $0.06; One w/ Child: $0.11; One w/ Spouse: $0.12; One w/ 2+: $0.19
United Concordia DHMO
One Person: $0.05; One w/ Child: $0.08; One w/ Spouse: $0.09; One w/ 2+: $0.13
United Concordia DPPO
One Person: $0.23; One w/ Child: $0.44; One w/ Spouse: $0.46; One w/ 2+: $0.86
The new rates for Direct Pay Employees that reflect the changes on a monthly basis, are available on the MD Department of Budget and Management?s (DBM) Web site, which can be accessed via the State of Maryland Open Enrollment link on the OHR home page ({http://wwwnew.towson.edu/adminfinance/hr/}) under News and Announcements or upon request from the Towson OHR.
Where To Find Information
In addition to rates, other pertinent OE information, including details concerning changes to the Prescription Drug plan and dependent eligibility requirements, are available on the DBM Web site referenced above.
Additional information will be included in future Daily Digest updates.
Questions or concerns should be directed to Dave Curtis, x4-6018 or {dcurtis@towson.edu}, or Gail Price, x46017 or {gprice@towson.edu}, in the TU Benefits Unit.
