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Penn Benefits Open Enrollment: April 17-April 28

Benefits Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to make changes to your healthcare elections.

This year, Open Enrollment is Monday, April 17 through Friday, April 28. Penn Benefits provides you with a valuable range of options to help meet your particular needs. Now is a great time to begin considering if you want to make changes to your current healthcare coverage and which options will work best for you in the coming plan year. Please note that this information applies to active full-time or part-time benefits-eligible faculty and staff only.

Plan Changes as of July 1, 2017

Penn Is Doubling the Health Savings Account Seed Money

Effective July 1, 2017, Penn will double the employer contribution (seed) amount for Health Saving Account (HSA) enrollees in the Aetna High Deductible Health Plan.

The seed money will increase from $500 to $1,000 for the single tier, and from $1,000 to $2,000 if any dependents are covered. This money will fund your HSA account whether or not you decide to make additional contributions on your own. The deductible will remain the same under the single and family tier. This means that there will be more dollars for you to use, invest and/or save for future health expenses.

There will be presentations on the High Deductible Health Plan and the Health Savings Account on April 12 and April 24.

Copay Changes for PennCare/Personal Choice PPO, Aetna POS II, and Keystone/AmeriHealth HMO

Lower Retail Clinic Copays

Effective July 1, 2017 the retail clinic copay will decrease. Under the Personal Choice tier, the retail clinic copay will decrease from $30 to $25. The Aetna POS II retail clinic copay will decrease from $40 to $30, and the Keystone HMO retail clinic copay will decrease from $35 to $25.

Specialist Copay Changes

Effective July 1, 2017, the specialist copay will increase. Under the PennCare tier, the specialist copay will increase from $30 to $40. Under the Personal Choice tier, the specialist copay will increase from $40 to $50. The Aetna POS II specialist copay will increase from $40 to $50 and the Keystone HMO specialist copay will increase from $35 to $45. This change also impacts spinal manipulations for all three plans, as well as routine x-ray/radiology for the Aetna POS II plan.

Laboratory/Pathology Copay Change for PennCare/Personal Choice PPO Plan and Keystone/AmeriHealth HMO Plan

Effective July 1, 2017, a $25 copay will apply to laboratory/pathology under the PennCare/Personal Choice PPO Plan and the Keystone HMO plan.

New Health Care Flexible Spending Account Limit

The IRS has increased the limit from $2,550 to $2,600. A flexible spending account is a special account you put pre-tax money into that you use to pay for certain IRS eligible out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

Introducing Penn Care Connects

University of Pennsylvania employees now have easy access to new patient appointment scheduling through a concierge line. Find a Penn Primary Care Physician closer to work or home with an appointment time that meets your needs. Appointments are available within two weeks. Call (267) 414-2208.

Part-Time Healthcare Benefits

Regular part-time faculty and staff are eligible for the same healthcare plan offerings as full-time faculty and staff. The entire cost is paid by the member. Effective July 1, 2017, current part-time faculty and staff will also be eligible to enroll in the ACA plan. Administered by Aetna, Penn’s ACA plan doesn’t require a primary care provider or referral. The plan has in-network or out-of-network coverage. The individual deductible is $900 and the family deductible is $2,000.

It is important to note that the cost of the single coverage ACA plan is partially subsidized by the University. The cost of all other plans for part-time employees will still be paid by the member.

Specialty Medication

In addition to CVS Pharmacies and CVS Specialty Mail Service, specialty drug prescriptions can also be filled at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania Pharmacy, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Pharmacy, Pennsylvania Hospital Pharmacy and Penn Medicine at Radnor Pharmacy.

Surgery Coverage

Sexual reassignment surgery coverage is available under all plans effective July 1, 2017.

When Are Changes Effective?

Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective as of July 1, 2017. New rates for all plans will be reflected in your July 2017 paycheck.

Attend a Presentation

Learn details and ask questions at one of the upcoming presentations. Presentations will run for 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A session. The April 12 and April 24 sessions will include information about the High Deductible Health Plan and the Health Savings Account.

Date Time Location
Wednesday, April 5 11a.m.-1 p.m. Houston Hall, Golkin Room
Tuesday, April 11 noon-2 p.m. The ARCH, Room 108
Wednesday, April 12 noon-2 p.m. Perelman School of Medicine, Blockley Hall, Room 118C 
Wednesday, April 19  noon-2 p.m. Irvine Auditorium, G-16 
Thursday, April 20 11a.m.-1 p.m. Irvine Auditorium, G-16
Monday, April 24 11a.m.-1 p.m. Houston Hall, Hall of Flags
Tuesday, April 25 11a.m.-1 p.m. Houston Hall, Golkin Room

Attend a Fair

Representatives from Penn’s healthcare providers and administrators will be onsite to share information. Learn about medical plans, prescription drug coverage, dental plans, vision coverage, flexible spending accounts and the Penn Benefits Center.

At the Open Enrollment and Wellness Fair at Houston Hall on Tuesday, April 18, you can also take advantage of free health screenings and other wellness activities.

A Focus On Wellness

Be in the Know, Penn’s Wellness Campaign

Penn’s Be in the Know wellness campaign supports you in reaching your health and wellness goals. Participants earn points toward cash incentives when they complete the Core Actions (a biometric screening and online health assessment) and Bonus Actions. The more you do, the more points and cash you’ll earn—up to $200 (less applicable payroll taxes). Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow for more information.

Penn’s Behavioral Health Benefits

Penn’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides eligible faculty and staff and their immediate family members access to free, confidential counseling and referral services for personal and professional life issues. EAP services are available by phone, online and through face-to-face sessions. Call Penn Behavioral Health 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-321-4433, or visit the EAP website.

Health Care Rates for 2017–2018

  Full-time
Weekly Paid
Full-time
Monthly Paid
  Single Coverage Employee & Spouse Employee & Child(ren) Employee & Family Single Coverage Employee & Spouse Employee & Child(ren) Employee & Family
MEDICAL
PennCare $ 47.08 $ 117.46 $ 79.15 $ 146.08 $ 204.00 $ 509.00 $ 343.00 $ 633.00
Aetna Choice POS II $ 32.31 $ 83.08 $  54.69 $ 103.15 $ 140.00 $ 360.00 $ 237.00 $ 447.00
Aetna HDHP $ 21.00 $ 54.92 $ 35.31 $ 68.77 $ 91.00 $ 238.00 $ 153.00 $ 298.00
Keystone HMO $ 22.15 $ 59.31 $ 37.38 $ 73.38 $ 96.00 $ 257.00 $ 162.00 $ 318.00
DENTAL
PFPP $ 8.39 $  16.46 $ 18.56 $ 26.18 $ 36.35 $  71.32 $ 80.41 $113.43
METLIFE $ 5.98 $ 11.95 $ 13.16 $ 17.94 $ 25.91 $ 51.80 $ 57.02 $77.74
VISION
Davis Vision $ 1.09 $ 2.36 $ 1.77 $ 3.00 $ 4.73 $  10.22 $ 7.65 $13.01
VSP $ 1.51 $ 3.27 $ 2.46 $ 4.17 $ 6.56 $ 14.17 $ 10.66 $18.07
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