The annual health benefits open enrollment provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to make changes to current benefits which become effective January 1, 2015. The open enrollment period will be October 15 thru 5:00 pm on November 14, 2014.
Please read below for the most frequently asked open enrollment questions.
Q: Why is the state introducing a new wellness program?
A: The goals of the wellness program are to encourage our faculty and staff to get healthy or stay healthy, preserve our current level of benefits, and promote more informed use of health care services by participants. The program requires employees and their enrolled spouses to complete wellness activities; dependent children are not required to complete wellness activities.
Wellness tools such as weight management, nutrition education, and tobacco cessation programs will be provided at no cost for employees; all lab services and x-rays will be covered 100%, with no copay or coinsurance when you visit an in-network provider; and those who complete the healthy activities requirements for each year will be eligible for wellness rewards.
Q: What are the healthy activities described above; what actions must I take?
A: In 2015, all state employees and their covered spouses must complete two healthy activities*:
- Designate a Primary Care Physician (PCP) when you enroll for medical coverage. A PCP is your regular medical doctor. This is the physician you see most often. A PCP can be a general practitioner, a doctor who practices family medicine or internal medicine, an OB/GYN, GYN, a pediatrician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner. If you are already enrolled in a plan that is being offered in 2015 and are not changing your medical plan, you must also designate a PCP. You may log into the health plan’s website or call the plan to designate your PCP.
- Complete a Health Risk Assessment and discuss the results with your PCP. A Health Risk Assessment is a questionnaire that asks about your age, your diet, how much you exercise and whether you use tobacco or alcohol. No matter which medical plan or carrier you elect, you can access their Health Risk Assessment via their website or the state of Maryland, Employee Benefits Division’s website (EBD). Or, you can call your plan to request the questionnaire. Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, you’ll receive a report that will provide an overview of your current health and identify potential health risks. It’s important to discuss these results with your physician to make sure you’re taking steps to improve your health or maintain your good health.
Once you complete both healthy activities for 2015, you’ll receive a wellness reward in 2015—your PCP visits will be covered WITHOUT a copayment. Both healthy activities for 2015 must be completed by September 30, 2015. If you do not complete both healthy activities in 2015, you will pay $50 more for medical coverage in 2016. There are no surcharges in 2015.
*Exceptions may be permitted due to medical, religious, or cultural reasons. Refer to the 2015 Benefits Guide for details about the exceptions and additional wellness requirements in 2016 and beyond.
Please view the YouTube video below, Your New Wellness Program, for more information.
