In California and across the country, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have gone up again and are projected to rise significantly, well into the future. Most individuals covered by an employer's group health insurance plan will continue to see double-digit increases in their costs and contributions.
The University of California's (UC) key objectives for 2011 were to innovate with regard to plan design and control costs while continuing to provide faculty and staff with high-quality and high-value health and welfare benefits. As a result, with this year's offerings, more than 53% of our workforce will see increases of less than $10 per month. You can view the 2011 employee rates in Related Information.
Additional Health Net Option
This year, Health Net will offer a new value option: UC's Health Net Blue & Gold HMO. This custom network is being offered exclusively to the University of California, in addition to the standard Health Net HMO. The Blue & Gold HMO network provides the same excellent coverage as our standard Health Net HMO, but uses Health Net’s most efficient providers as a way to lower premium costs for University of California employees and their covered dependents.
The standard Health Net HMO is still available, but those who elect the UC/Health Net Blue & Gold HMO custom network can take advantage of physicians and hospitals at lower employee costs. The new plan's network includes 13 of our 20 largest provider groups, including the UC medical centers and medical groups. In all, health care providers for more than 60% of our current Health Net members are in the Health Net Blue & Gold HMO network.
The list of medical groups participating in the Health Net Blue & Gold network is available Related Information. The list of providers is also posted on the Health Net website.
New Anthem Plan
Replacing the increasingly expensive CIGNA Choice Fund plan is the new Anthem Lumenos PPO with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). Anthem Lumenos is designed for employees who are willing to take a more active role in managing their health care costs and usage. This plan has the potential for high out-of-pocket expenses, so it may not be for everyone.
Health Care Reform
As a result of health care reform legislation enacted earlier this year, you will see changes in medical benefits, including preventive services at no charge and the elimination of lifetime limits on medical coverage.
In addition, faculty and staff will be able to enroll their adult children, up to age 26, in their UC medical plan. UC has added extra value for employees by going further than federal health care reform legislation by expanding coverage of children up to age 26 to include dental, vision, legal, life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
Open Enrollment October 25 — November 23 at 5 p.m.
Because of the new benefit plans and rate changes for 2011, it is extremely important to participate in the upcoming Open Enrollment period if you want to make any adjustments in your health care plan.
For your convenience, an Open Enrollment Fair for campus employees and retirees will be held at the UCLA Faculty Center on October 27. The Retiree Fair is from 8:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. The Employee Fair is from 1 p.m. — 4 p.m. For Health System staff, a fair will be held on October 28 at the Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center, B-Level, from 7:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. and at the Santa Monica UCLA Hospital Cafeteria from 2:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
Campus Human Resources, Benefits Services
Phone: (310) 794-0830 | Fax: (310) 794-0835
UCLA Healthcare Human Resources
Phone: (310) 794-0500 | Fax: (310) 794-0620
