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The University of Louisville wants its employees to be healthy –
and to make the right health care choices during Open Enrollment,
which is taking place now through Friday, Oct. 30.
I’m Patricia Benson, Director of Get Healthy Now.
I would like to share with you some of the changes
in this year’s health insurance benefits.
During open enrollment, faculty and staff can switch health plans;
change the people covered on their health, vision or dental plans;
begin or continue participation in Get Healthy Now; and sign up for
a flexible spending account. They also can waive coverage under a UofL
health plan. UofL employees should pay attention to the following:
Health insurance costs remain steady, but some benefits have changed
We have initiated an exciting new program called Cardinal Care that
can save you money while gaining access to Louisville’s best physicians
Participation in Get Healthy Now is more attractive than ever
Flexible Spending Accounts are still a good deal
And you have only until Friday, Oct. 30 to make your decisions
Health insurance rates remain steady for 2010, but some benefits have
changed. UofL will continue to offer the EPO/HMO, PPO,
PCA and non-network plans. However, the employee's
responsibility no longer is a flat rate, but is a percentage of the cost for service.
People who are hospitalized may pay more than they would have under
the old plan design, but keep in mind that all plans have an annual
out-of-pocket maximum to protect you by putting a cap on those costs.
Remember, too, that employees can purchase dental and vision coverage
during open enrollment.
The Cardinal Care EPO plan is a new option this year. The network is
comprised exclusively of UofL physicians and University Hospital.
This plan helps our employees benefit from our own outstanding physicians
who are leaders and experts in their fields. It also provides the convenience
of physicians on campus at the UofL Outpatient Care Center at Chestnut and
Preston and at Cardinal Station, beside the Jim Patterson baseball stadium.
Under Cardinal Care, there are no co-pays for primary care visits.
Of course, our goal is to keep all our employees as healthy as possible. So
we’ve made participation in our Get Healthy Now program more attractive
than ever. Get Healthy Now provides on-campus resources
for health management, including classes, workout facilities and activities.
It also provides health coaching via telephone or e-mail.
Participation in Get Healthy Now will entitle you to a $40 premium incentive
on your health insurance each month. That’s double the savings we offered
last year.
Employees also can take advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts.
. FSAs let you pay for many health expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Eligible expenses include co-payments, deductibles, dental and vision
expenses, prescriptions and many over-the-counter medications.
It saves you money. And it’s definitely worth a look.
Open enrollment is a great opportunity for faculty and staff to
evaluate their benefits and make choices that are best for their health and
wallet. We recommend that employees look at all of UofL's health plan
choices and choose one that best suits their needs.
Remember, you have only until Friday, Oct. 30, to choose your
insurance program, join Get Healthy Now and enroll in an FSA.
We encourage you to take these actions as soon as possible.
Our goal is to provide you with the most comprehensive and affordable
health care plans possible. For more information, please visit
http://louisville.edu/hr/benefits/openenrollment.