The Office of Human Resources (OHR) has learned from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that a series of health benefit changes are anticipated for FY 2013, taking effect on July 1, 2012. The most significant change is the establishment of a ?coinsurance? for all members of the State?s PPO and POS health plans, including both active employees and retirees. The coinsurance will cover most health plan services that do not now have a copayment, including, for example, in-patient hospital, laboratory, and radiology services. This coinsurance will require the employee to pay a percentage of the amount for the service owed under the employee?s health plan. The specific coinsurance percentages and deductibles depend upon whether the services are delivered by in- or out-of-network providers. Please note that the coinsurance requirements will apply to employees and retirees enrolled in a PPO or POS plan, and not to EPO plan participants.
In addition, copayments for specialist visits, urgent care and emergency room services will increase for all state health plan members as of July 1, 2012.
Please go to the following links for more information regarding specific copayment increase amounts, coinsurance percentages and deductibles, the services that will be subject to coinsurance, the coinsurance billing process, and other important information regarding these changes:
Proposed Changes to State Health Benefits Plans 7/1/2012 (Summary) {http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Documents/MedPlanChangesInfoSheet.pdf}.
Proposed Changes to State Health Benefits Plans 7/1/2012 (Detail) {http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Documents/BenefitPlanChanges2012.pdf}.
In addition, we will be providing detailed information regarding these changes and other aspects of the State?s health plan through new Benefit Bulletin announcements on Daily Digest when Open Enrollment takes place. Open Enrollment for Plan Year 2012-2013 is tentatively scheduled to start on April 17 and run through May 1, 2012. During that time, you will have the opportunity to change your health plan for the year starting on July 1, 2012, when the above changes will take place.
Questions should be directed to Dave Curtis at x4-6018 and {dcurtis@towson.edu} or Gail Price at x4-6017 and {gprice@towson.edu}.
