State Health Plan Annual Enrollment is Now Open

It’s important to review your benefit options each year so you can choose the benefits that are right for you. State Health Plan Annual Enrollment is the perfect time to review your benefits options and ensure you are enrolled in the right plans for you and your family. The more you know, the more you will be prepared. That’s why we encourage you to take advantage of the tools and resources available through the State Health Plan and NCFlex. You may learn your best choice for 2018 may be different from your current plan.

Beginning Sept. 30, you may enroll at http://unch.hrintouch.com.

For more information on enrollment assistance sessions and more, visit https://jobs.unchealthcare.org/pages/benefits.

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What’s New for 2018?

HEALTH BENEFITS

• The Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) will no longer be offered. Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) must be used by Dec. 31, 2017
• There is no increase to premiums for child/ren or family coverage
• There is no increase to copays and deductibles in either the 80/20 Plan or the 70/30 Plan
• You will only have to complete the tobacco attestation credit in order to receive a reduction to your medical premium
  • The 80/20 Plan will have a $50/month employee-only premium (with tobacco attestation)
  • The 70/30 Plan will have a $25/month employee-only premium (with tobacco attestation)

NCFLEX BENEFITS

• NCFlex is now offering Accident Plan that pays benefits for specific injuries and events resulting from a covered accident
• If you enroll in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can roll over up to $500 of unused funds into the next plan year; minimum $25 balance
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) has increased the annual election to $2,600.
• Starting in 2018, you can use the NCFlex Convenience Card to pay for eligible dependent day care expenses, up to the balance in your Dependent Day Care FSA. The card can be used for both the Health Care FSA and the Dependent Day Care FSA
• Premium rates for the Dental High Option PPO will be lower in 2018
• EyeMed Vision Care replaces Superior Vision as the new vision plan administrator
• Premium rates for the Vision Basic and Enhanced plans will be lower in 2018
• The vision plan offers a new and larger network of providers for 2018
• Under vision coverage, the Enhanced Plan will have a higher frame allowance ($200) and contact lens allowance ($175)

METLAW BENEFITS

• October is the time to enroll or cancel your coverage in this program for the coming calendar year.
• Premiums are increasing to $8.25 per paycheck (currently $7.87).

To learn more about your options, visit http://www.shpnc.org for information about your health benefits, http://www.ncflex.org for information about your NCFlex benefits, and click here for MetLaw.

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What You Need to Know and Do

• If you are enrolled for health coverage under the State Health Plan, you and your eligible dependents will be automatically enrolled in the Traditional 70/30 Plan. If you want to enroll in the Enhanced 80/20 Plan, you must actively enroll through eEnroll during Open Enrollment at http://unch.hrintouch.com.
• If you want to reduce your premium and qualify for Health Benefit Special Pay under any of the plans offered by the State Health Plan, you MUST complete your tobacco attestation by October 31, 2017. If you fail to take action during Open Enrollment, your monthly premiums will be considerably higher in 2018.
• The Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) require re-enrollment every year, so if you want to participate in either or both of the FSAs, you must make your election during Open Enrollment:

1. The Health Care Flexible Spending Account maximum annual contribution limit is $2,600.
2. The Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account maximum annual contribution is $5,000.

• If you aren’t enrolled currently in Vision coverage, you can enroll in the Core Vision Plan at no cost. It provides a wellness exam for $20 plus discounts on materials.

• The NCFlex Program provides $10,000 of Core AD&D coverage at no cost to you, but you must enroll to have coverage. If you are already enrolled, you do not need to re-enroll.
• If you enroll in Group Term Life Insurance, your rate will be based on your age as of January 1, 2018. If you move up in an age bracket during 2018, you will see the new rates appear in your January 2018 paycheck.
• Group Term Life Insurance allows you to enroll each year for $20k policy on both you and your spouse with no questions asked. If you have an existing policy, you can increase your coverage by $20k with no questions as well. Increases are only allowed until you reach the guaranteed issue amount of $200k for employee coverage, or $50k for spouse coverage. Coverage elections/increases above the guaranteed issue amount require a full medical evaluation.

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If You Do Nothing

HEALTH BENEFITS

If you do nothing, you and any currently covered dependents will be automatically enrolled in the 70/30 PPO under the State Health Plan. In addition, you will pay a higher premium for failing to attest that you do not use tobacco (or certify you will enroll in QuitLineNC by 12/31/2017), there will be a base premium for employee-only coverage, and you will not receive Health Benefit Special Pay for all of 2018.

NCFLEX BENEFITS

You generally will receive the same coverage in 2018 as you have in 2017 (provided that coverage is available to you and your dependents), except for Flexible Spending Accounts. To participate in either FSA, annual re-enrollment is required, even if you currently participate in one.

METLAW BENEFITS

If you do nothing you will maintain your current enrolled status for all of 2018. Remember, rates are increasing to $8.25 per paycheck starting January 1, 2018.

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Would you like more information? There are a number of different ways to find out more:

• This guide, produced by UNC General Administration
• This decision guide, produced by the State Health Plan
• This video, also created by the State Health Plan, which runs through some of the changes for next year
• 2018 NCFlex Booklet
• If you have questions contact the UNC Health Care Benefits office at benefits@unchealth.unc.edu.