Benefits

Retirees

Summary of 2008 Enrollment Information Retiree Health Plan Choices Community Blue PPO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Transition Plan (BCBSM) Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Traditional Plan (BCBSM) Physicians Health Plan (PHP) Caremark Prescription Drug Plan  Health Plan Cost Sharing MSU Health Plan Coverage for 23-25 year old Dependents Spousal and MSU Recognized Same-Sex Domestic Partner Access to MSU Health Plan Coverage	More About 2008 Benefits Open Enrollment Health Plan Comparison  Online Enrollment Guide Make Open Enrollment Changes Online Open Enrollment 2008 Retiree FAQ
Retiree Health Plan Choices The chart below describes the health plan choices available to MSU Retirees as of July 1, 2008:   Health plans available to retiree and all enrolled family members when they all have Medicare Health plans available to retiree and all enrolled family members when they all do not have Medicare Health plans available when there is a mix of Medicare and non-Medicare enrolled family members Community Blue PPO N/A1 YES N/A1 BCBS Traditional Plan YES N/A2 N/A2 BCBS Transition Plan N/A3 N/A3 YES Physicians Health Plan4 (PHP) YES YES YES 1 This program is only available to retirees when the retiree and all covered family members are not enrolled in Medicare. 2 This program is only available to retirees when the retiree and all covered family members are enrolled in Medicare. 3 This program is only available to retirees when there is a mix of Medicare and non-Medicare family members on their coverage. 4 PHP coverage is available to retirees regardless of enrollment in Medicare.
Community Blue PPO: Community Blue will continue as a health plan option for all retirees without Medicare. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Traditional Plan (BCBSM) This program is only available to retirees when the retiree and all covered family members are enrolled in Medicare.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Transition Plan (BCBSM) This plan is only available to retirees when there is a mix of Medicare and non-Medicare enrolled family members on the plan or when there is a sponsored dependent rider with Medicare. Physicians Health Plan (PHP) PHP will continue as a health plan option for all retirees. However, retirees electing PHP coverage will pay the difference in premium cost between PHP and the BCBSM plan for which they are eligible.
Prescription Drug Plan (Caremark): Caremark will continue to provide pharmacy benefit management services to MSU. As a reminder, prescription drug co-pays are as follows: Rx Tier Type Retail 34-Day Supply Mail 90-Day Supply 1 Generic $10 $20 2 Brand Preferred (Formulary) $20 $40 3 Brand Non-Preferred (Non-Formulary) $40 $80 4 Bio-Tech Drugs (new tier) $50 $100 When a non-formulary brand prescription is prescribed and there is no other formulary equivalent, the formulary brand co-pay will apply. If you have any questions regarding which drugs are covered under the new bio-tech drug tier, please contact Caremark at 800-565-7105. An annual $1,000 single and $2,000 family maximum limit for retiree out-of-pocket payments will apply per calendar year. Co-pays for prescriptions filled according to a “Dispense as Written ” physician order will be consistent with the drug dispensed.
Health Plan Cost Sharing: There are differences in cost between the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) health plans and Physicians Health Plan (PHP). Currently, all active employees and retirees pay the difference in these costs if they choose the higher cost plan. Depending on the applicable plan, the retiree monthly premium contributions will be as follows: Retirees With No Family Members Enrolled in Medicare: 2008-09 Monthly Retiree Contribution*  Coverage Tier Community Blue PHP Retiree Only $7.64 -0- 2 Person $16.03 -0- Family $18.66 -0- *Assumes full university contribution - prorated for part-time. Retirees Where Some Family Members Are Enrolled in Medicare: 2008-09 Monthly Retiree Contribution * Coverage Tier BCBS Transition PHP Faculty Staff 2 Person, 1 with Medicare -0- $195.46 $193.68 Family, 1 with Medicare -0- $179.53 $179.53 Family, 2 with Medicare -0- $72.43 $72.43 *Assumes full university contribution - prorated for part-time. Retirees Where All Family Members Are Enrolled in Medicare: 2008-09 Monthly Retiree Contribution * Coverage Tier BCBS Traditional PHP Faculty Staff Retiree with Medicare -0- $47.53 $45.59 2 Person, both with Medicare -0- $95.53 $90.85 Family, all with Medicare -0- $148.68 $142.87 *Assumes full university contribution - prorated for part-time.
Spousal and MSU Recognized Same-Sex Domestic Partner Access to MSU Health Plan Coverage: To be eligible to enroll in MSU health plan coverage, spouses or MSU recognized same-sex domestic partners of MSU retirees who have access to coverage elsewhere must purchase single coverage through their own employer if his/her annual premium cost for that coverage is $800 or less. You MUST participate in Open Enrollment by May 12, 2008 in order to maintain health coverage in an MSU health plan for your spouse or MSU recognized same-sex domestic partner (not employed by MSU). If you do not cover a spouse or MSU recognized same-sex domestic partner and do not wish to make benefit changes, or increase your life insurance coverage, you are not required to participate in Open Enrollment.
MSU Health Plan Coverage for 23-25 year old Dependents: Coverage for dependents will cease at the end of the calendar year they turn age 23. Employees may purchase continued coverage for these dependents through a plan rider or COBRA, in accordance with applicable eligibility criteria, by contacting MSU Human Resources Benefits. However, for those dependents covered as of 7/1/02 and who reached age 24 or 25 prior to January 1, 2003, coverage may continue until the end of the calendar year they turn age 25.
Employee-Paid Life Insurance: During Open Enrollment you may increase one level of coverage without an Evidence of Insurability Form by accessing the Benefits Enrollment/Changes link on the eHR Web site. You will also be able to see the cost of increasing coverage by accessing this Web site.