Healthcare
is a serious subject. After all, whats more important than your health and the
health of your family? Yet maintaining quality healthcare has become a
challenge, as costs have been steadily on the rise here in Florida and across the country.
Thats where
the partnership between our college and the Florida Community Colleges Risk
Management Consortium (FCCRMC) has been able to make a difference as group
purchasing power and working together with BlueCross Blue Shield of Florida
(BCBSF) have resulted in cost increases that are lower than the national
average. Most recently, FCCRMC member colleges have worked together to develop
a long-term approach designed to support the availability of quality healthcare
resources at a cost you and the college can afford. That approach requires
smart healthcare buying and a focus on good health and includes tools and
resources to help make that happen.
In making these changes, our goal is
to support you and your families in managing your health and your healthcare
expenses. We are excited about what our partnership can do. As another added
measure of assurance, the college will hire a consultant to conduct a review of
the insurance programs to ensure that we provide our employees with the best
quality coverage. In addition, the
existing PPO, BlueChoice, will be maintained for one year to allow a transition
period to the new plans.
For 2007,
you will see some changes as part of this evolving long-term strategy:
- A new BCBSF PPO network and plan: The BlueOptions PPO offers broad access to quality
NetworkBlue doctors, hospitals and providers who provide services at a
lower cost than the PPO network in place today. Overall, FCCRMC expects a
10-15% reduction in costs by implementing this new plan. You are likely to
see those savings reflected in your out-of-pocket cost when you receive
care, and in what you are asked to pay for dependent medical coverage.
With the new PPO, you still will have freedom to choose any provider. And,
you benefit from direct claim filing, some savings on the cost of care,
and freedom from balance billing (requiring you to pay amounts over
BCBSFs approved charges) when you use the traditional BCBSF network.
- Expanded medical plan choices: In addition to the BlueOptions PPO
(and the HMO offered in some areas), you will have a new, customized BlueOptions HRA
(available to full-time employees and COBRA participants onlynot
available to retirees) plan to consider. The HRA plan also uses NetworkBlue.
With the HRA plan, youll have:
§
A
higher deductible $1,000 per person or $3,000 per family and you will pay a
percentage of the cost for the care you receive instead of set dollar
copayments.
§
A
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) funded through FCCRMC by the college.
The HRA is a personal account you can use to pay healthcare expenses tax-free
in 2007 or the future.
§
An
even lower cost to buy dependent coverage than you will with the BlueOptions
PPO.
- Added tools and resources: Our partnership with FCCRMC and
BCBSF already includes great tools to help you manage your health
including health risk assessments to help you identify potential health
issues, and myBlueService, an
online resource with a wealth of medical information. Between now and
2007, that information will be expanded to help you manage what you spend
on healthcare with tools to help you compare medical options, select a
hospital or doctor, and understand the cost of the care your doctor
recommends.
Although
the overview meetings have taken place, this will not be your only opportunity
to learn about 2007 benefits; we will provide many more educational
opportunities and a detailed look at your choices from August through mid-October
with enrollment meetings, materials and an expanded myBlueService web site to support your choice of plans for 2007.
Enrollment will take place September through November.
If you have
questions, you may contact Laurie Youngman at x8116, Linda Marcia at x8038, or
Barbara Luse at x8045.
HR Notes #60
June,
2006
Faculty & Staff
