Most insurance rates decrease
Some plans increase; open enrollment lasts through October
When it comes to health insurance rates for KU employees, it's a topsy-turvy world. Though many employees will see decreases in their rates for plan year 2007, some will see increases. All insured employees with dependent dental coverage will see their dental rates increase, but the Superior vision premiums are holding steady.
Open enrollment for health insurance and flexible spending accounts started Oct. 1 and will run through the end of this month. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff who wish to change health insurance elections or who wish to participate in the 2007 flexible spending account plan or in the HealthyKIDS program need to participate in Web open enrollment, which can be accessed at www.hreo.ku.edu. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend an open enrollment meeting to get additional information about plan changes for plan year 2007. They are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Big XII Room of the Kansas Union.
Kansas Choice, a PPO plan, will post decreases in rates for all member-only and dependent plans in the four designated salary tiers. The most significant decrease in terms of percentage, 26.58 percent, will be for those enrolled in member-only plans who earn less than $27,000 annually. All Kansas Choice salary tier levels and coverage options will decrease at least six percent. Thirty-five percent of Lawrence campus faculty and staff elected Kansas Choice coverage during 2006.
Premier Blue will see increases in premiums for most plan enrollees, though there are a few decreases. There will be premium decreases for those with member-only coverage earning less than $27,000 annually, 4.65 percent; and for those earning $27,000 to $47,000, 1.16 percent. The other salary tiers and coverage options will have premium increases, though the jumps will not be dramatic. The other premiums will increase from as little as .72 percent to as much as 2.63 percent.
Coventry is showing across-the-board increases in its HMO coverage, but uniform decreases in PPO coverage. The HMO coverage includes increases of 164.45 percent, $19.06, and 120.65 percent, or $19.16 in the member-only categories for the two lowest salary tiers. However, the same brackets in PPO coverage are showing decreases at or above 40 percent.
Premiums for both Superior Vision plans, basic and enhanced, will remain unchanged from a year ago. Delta Dental premiums will increase about 10 percent for those with dependent coverage.
Aside from the peaks and valleys in rate fluctuations, there are several changes added for plan year 2007. Among them:
Participants in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account will not have a "grace period" for plan year 2007. Claims will need to be incurred from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007, and claims must be filed by April 15, 2008.
The Coventry Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (QHDHP) premiums will decrease across the board and deductibles will not change, and in 2007 there will be an employer contribution to the Health Savings Account (HSA). The QHDHP has a lower premium but higher deductible and out-of-pocket limits than the other health plan options. The associated HSA requires money to be set aside, pre-tax, for medical expenses. Those who elect coverage under the QHDHP will be required to participate in the HSA and will not be eligible to participate in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account.
In dental coverage, composite, or white, resin fillings will be covered and limited coverage will be available for dental implants. Routine colonoscopy screenings will be covered as a preventative allowance on all plans and copay and coinsurance will be waived on HMO plans.
For retirees, open enrollment will run from Nov. 1 to 30. Kansas Health Policy Authority in Topeka will send information directly to retirees who are participating in the state's health insurance program. Two open enrollment meetings for retirees are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15, at the 4-H County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper, building No. 21.
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