HR will be hosting a Retirement Workshop Series providing one session per month presented by our retirement vendors. Please view the HR Training calendar to view at http://www.uh.edu/hr/training/hrtraining.htm and sign up in PASS to participate in these very informative sessions.
Register early as space is limited.
When: March 29, 2012 10-11:30am (light snacks and beverages provided)
Where: HR Training Room 341 McElhinney
Who should attend: This course is open to all employees
Presenter: ING Financial
Requirements: None
How long: 1 hour
Topic: Retirement Planning: The Sandwich Generation
Learn how to financially plan for:
ERS emailed News About Your Benefits to employees with email addresses on file. Topics included:
If you received Short-term or Long-term Disability Insurance payments in 2011, you should have received a W-2 in January from Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company (FDL). More>>
Texa$aver education counselors travel the state to demonstrate how Texa$aver can help you save for a brighter future. To see when they will be in your area, see the Texa$aver Events Calendar or sign up for Texa$aver event updates.
On February 21, 2012, the ERS Board of Trustees agreed to enter into contract negotiations with United HealthCare Services, Inc. to serve as the third party administrator (TPA) for the self-funded HealthSelectSM of Texas health plan. United HealthCare Services, Inc. call center and claims processing unit is located in San Antonio, Texas.
ERS rebids Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) contracts regularly to ensure members get quality benefits at a reasonable cost. United was selected after a rigorous eight-month selection process. “We [ERS] made a careful decision considering the importance of the health plan to the 438,570 employees, retirees, and their dependents who are members of the plan. United was selected for their winning combination of programs, services, and low administrative fee.” said Ann Bishop, Executive Director of ERS. “The program savings benefit members by offsetting ever increasing medical costs.”
HealthSelect is a self-funded managed care point-of-service (POS) plan. This allows the ERS Board of Trustees to control the benefits covered by HealthSelect within the funding available. Because ERS controls the plan design, a change in administrator does not mean that the benefits will change. The HealthSelect administrator is contracted to pay claims, provide customer service, offer health and wellness programs, and manage the HealthSelect provider network.
The new contract is expected to save $41 million. Saving money for the program benefits all HealthSelect members. It helps to offset the rising cost of medical care. While it can help to lower the rate of contribution increases and the need for design changes that shift costs to members, it will not prevent these types of changes.
Network disruption is expected to be minimal as well. ERS projects that about 2% of HealthSelect members might want to choose a new primary care physician (PCP) if their current PCP decides not to join. HealthSelect members can link to the online search tool for the United HealthCare Choice Plus network (9th option) to find out if their doctor is in the network.
The prescription drug plan stays the same and continues to be administered by Caremark.
HealthSelect members do not need to take any action. They will automatically receive a new HealthSelect ID card before the next plan year starts on September 1, 2012.
We will post monthly updates on the ERS website throughout the transition period, with full details provided during Annual Enrollment. We also posted some frequently asked questions and answers on the ERS website with more information.
Has your dentist told you to floss regularly, but you don’t know how? Follow these instructions:
Remember to see your dentist regularly. Check your gums for signs of redness, puffiness, pain, or bleeding. Avoid tobacco and limit alcohol. See the HumanaDental and American Dental Association websites for more information on good dental health.
Some employees may be confused about what a switch in the third party administrator (TPA) for HealthSelectSM of Texas could mean to the HealthSelect plan. There is a list of frequently asked questions online with ERS. ERS will continue to expand the document throughout the transition. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, nor United HealthCare, determines plan benefits. ERS designs the plan, including such things as co pays, coinsurance, and eligibility rules. The role of the TPA is to administer the plan according to the plan design and policy given to them by ERS. The TPA manages the provider network. To make it easier for employees to confirm if their doctor is in the network, ERS is working with United to launch a provider search feature on March 7 that does not require the employee to select a network. That search feature will replace the current link from the ERS website. Employees should continue to use the HealthSelect link for benefits- related information.
The 2011 ERS at a Glance booklet provides a statistical snapshot of ERS retirement, health insurance, investments, and more. It also features state employees and retirees who have done remarkable work for the State of Texas during their careers. Facts in the booklet from Fiscal Year 2011 include:
Share your state employee story with us at storyideas@ers.state.tx.us or post it to Facebook at www.facebook.com/ersoftexas.
HealthSelect coinsurance maximums and non-network deductibles started over January 1, 2012.
Remember that HealthSelectSM of Texas coinsurance maximums and non-network deductibles are based on the calendar year, January 1 to December 31. At the start of each calendar year, participants are responsible for any applicable deductible or coinsurance amounts. These amounts do NOT carry over from the previous calendar year.
The Dental Maximum Benefit is the amount of benefits the State of Texas Dental Choice PlanSM will pay in a calendar year. Once participants reach the Maximum Benefit, they must pay all additional expenses. The annual dental maximum is $1,500, and it “starts over” each January 1. This means that as of January 1, 2012, participants had access to another $1,500 for dental expenses through December 31, 2012. The annual maximum applies for each covered person. Remember, this is only for the Dental PPO not the Dental HMO as it has no maximum.
For State of Texas Dental Choice PlanSM participants, any covered dental expenses that applied to their deductible during the last three months of 2011 will apply to their 2012 deductible. Participants can see the Carryover Credit deductible on the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) they receive after obtaining services.
The "accumulations toward deductibles," which starts in October of the prior year, means participants don’t have to satisfy a deductible at the end of one year and a deductible at the start of another year. For Plan Year 2012, it will run from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.
Example: If Sam has individual coverage and met the $50 out-of-network deductible for Diagnostic & Preventive services in November 2011, he won’t have to pay a deductible for these expenses again until January 1, 2013.
Participants can see the deductible on their EOB from HumanaDental. This carryover also applies to the combined deductible for Basic & Major Services.
Deductible Individual Limit
Diagnostic & Preventative Services:
The Family Limit is three times the individual deductible per calendar year. Once your family reaches these limits, the deductible for your entire family will be satisfied for the calendar year.
For State of Texas Dental Choice PlanSM participants, any covered dental expenses that applied to their deductible during the last three months of 2011 will apply to their 2012 deductible. More>>
Please join us for an open house at Minnesota Life's Austin Service Office. Stop by to enjoy refreshments and meet the staff that supports the ERS group life insurance plan.
Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Address: 600 Congress Avenue, Suite 2160, Austin, TX 78701
Please RSVP by January 25 to the Austin Branch Office at 1-877-494-1716.
Public parking is available in the building's ramp at $6 per hour. Enter on 7th Street.
The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) has a fiduciary responsibility to manage health care costs and control fraud. Ineligible dependents increase the cost of health care to the State; therefore, removing ineligible dependents from the ERS insurance plan saves the state money in contributions and claims costs.
In February 2010, a Request for Proposal was issued to solicit bids from qualified auditing firms for a 100% dependent eligibility audit of ERS participants. ERS awarded the contract to Hewitt Associates L.L.C. (Hewitt) for a customized dependent eligibility audit, designed to deliver a fair, efficient, and accurate verification process.
To help members prepare for the audit, ERS began sharing audit information in June 2010. ERS launched the Dependent Eligibility Audit in four phases between March 16 and June 24, 2011.
As of November 1, 2011, roughly 11,530, or 5.3% of dependents covered previously, are no longer part of the program. They were either voluntarily or involuntarily removed from the health plan because they did not meet the eligibility requirements.
The audit has a rate of return of about 5.7%. The health care cost for the individuals dropped was about $25.5 million. ERS will lose the contributions from these individuals, however, which totaled about $10.7 million, meaning the overall value of this audit to the plan was about $12.2 million of net expense.
Preliminary results show a 3 to 1 return on the $2.5 million investment in the audit.
Our group Long-Term Care Insurance provider John Hancock Life Insurance Company recently informed ERS that enrollment for this coverage will be discontinued effective January 1, 2012. John Hancock will not accept new enrollments after December 31, 2011.
Closing enrollment to new enrollees does not in any way affect employees or dependents who already have Long-Term Care Insurance coverage through John Hancock. If you have questions about this decision or your Long-Term Care Insurance coverage, please call John Hancock at (800) 400-9396.
ERS will issue a Request for Proposal for a new Long-Term Care Insurance provider later in the year.
The University of Houston has available to its employees Universal Life Long Term Care through Trust Mark, a sponsored product of MetLife. You may obtain additional information about MetLIfe at: http://www.uh.edu/hr/benefits/optionalbenefits.htm You may also contact our MetLife representative, Christopher Moore at 713/963-4114 (cnmoore@metlife.com) for more information about University Life Long Term Care.
The contribution maximums for each of the Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Plans* have increased $500 to $17,000 for the 2012 calendar year.
The Over Age 50 Catch-up Provision, offered by both the 401(k) and 457 Plans, won’t increase in 2012. The provision allows employees to contribute an additional $5,500 above the allowed maximum to each plan.
The 457 Plan (but not the 401(k) Plan) lets employees who are getting close to retirement increase their contributions through a three-year Catch-up Provision. In 2012, this provision allows employees to use unused contributions (years in which they have not contributed to the plan) to save up to a limit of $34,000. Employees can participate in this catch-up provision in the three years before they reach retirement age. The three-year catch-up cannot be used at the same time as the Over Age 50 catch-up.
Minnesota Life is life insurance carrier effective January 1.
On January 1, Minnesota Life Insurance Company became the new provider for Basic Term Life Insurance; Optional Term Life Insurance; Dependent Term Life Insurance; and Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. You may access the Minnesota Life online Plan Overview booklet at: https://web1.lifebenefits.com/public/lbwcm/F75102-7_pr8.pdf
Use Disability Insurance EOI form for Short- and Long-term Disability applications.
Dearborn NationalTM will continue as the carrier for Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance. Employees can apply for Disability Insurance during Annual Enrollment or within 31 days of a qualifying life event during the plan year. They can use the Evidence of Insurability Application for Disability Insurance to apply.
Employees enrolled in our ERS medical insurance health plan who use tobacco or have a covered member who uses tobacco are responsible for certifying their tobacco use. They should sign in to their account or call ERS toll-free at (866) 399-6908. The HR Service Center can assist you in certifying your tobacco use in room 325 McElhinney. Because there is no paper certification form required by ERS, you can print the tobacco certification screen for verification and for your records.
See more information on tobacco. Employees who contact ERS for insurance-related transactions will be asked to verbally certify as a tobacco user, or non-tobacco user.
For HealthSelectSM of Texas participants, your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements are available anytime, anyplace. Get your EOBs for claims from the past 18 months, a summary of out-of-pocket expenses, a temporary ID card, and more at www.bcbstx.com/hs. Log in to Blue Access for MembersSM from your computer or smart phone.
Each year, "Quit Smoking" and "Lose Weight" are among the top New Year’s resolutions. HealthSelect wants to help you help your employees keep these resolutions in 2012, so they’ve developed a New Year’s Resolution Toolkit that includes resources for weight loss and tobacco cessation. You can use them in a variety of ways:
Please view http://www.bcbstx.com/hs/wellness/coordinator.html We hope these ready-to-go resources will help you manage your time and work load.
When having a newborn or adopting a child, you MUST add them to your medical insurance within their first 30 days of birth/adoption. To add a new dependent (newborn/adopted child) to your insurance, please log into ERS at: www.ers.state.tx.us and click on “Family Status Change” and follow the prompts. You DO NOT have to have their child’s social security number (SSN) to add them to your insurance within their 1st year of age; however, you will be required to provide the SSN within several months after adding them to your insurance.
Please add your newborns/adopted children within 30 days or you will have to wait until open enrollment (July) in order to do so. ERS does not allow any exceptions to this rule. Please call the HR Service Center if you need additional assistance at 713/743-3988.
An employee may ask you to send a physician’s statement or affidavit to ERS that states the employee (or dependent) cannot stop using tobacco products so that the employee will not have to pay higher health insurance premiums. The information in that statement or affidavit is considered Protected Health Information (PHI), and you should not fax it for the employee. If you wish to send a physician’s statement or affidavit to ERS that states you (or your dependent) cannot stop using tobacco products so that you will not have to pay higher health insurance premiums. The information in that statement or affidavit is considered Protected Health Information (PHI), and Human Recourses is NOT able to fax it for you. Therefore, you may fax, mail, send via overnight delivery, or deliver the statement or affidavit to ERS in person.
| Fax: |
Write "Tobacco Cessation Program" on the fax cover sheet and fax it to (512) 867-3380. |
| Mail: | ERS Attention Tobacco Cessation Program P.O. Box 13207 Austin, TX 78711-3207 |
| Overnight Delivery: | ERS 200 E. 18th Street Austin, TX 78701 |
| In Person: | ERS 200 E. 18th Street Austin, TX 78701 |
There is a secure drop box on the left side of the front door that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ERS can be reached at 877/275-4377 if you have any concerns about this process. REMEMBER: TOBACCO USER CERTIFICATION GOES THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2011.
Health Select coinsurance maximums and non-network deductibles start over January 1.
Don't forget that HealthSelectSM of Texas coinsurance maximum and deductible for non-network services are based on the calendar year, January 1 to December 31. At the start of each calendar year, participants are responsible for any applicable deductible or coinsurance amounts. These amounts do NOT carry over from the previous calendar year.
Effective January 1, 2012, Minnesota Life will be the new carrier for optional life insurance which includes:
• Basic Term Life Insurance (automatic with ERS health enrollment)
• Optional Term Life Insurance
• Dependent Term Life Insurance
• Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
Note: Life insurance premiums and coverage levels will not change.
All employees enrolled in one of these products will get an announcement from Minnesota Life and ERS to inform them of the carrier change. If you have an email address on file in ERS OnLine, the notification will be sent to the email address. If there is no email address in ERS OnLine, the announcement will be sent through regular mail.
The elective deferral (contribution) limit for employees who participate in 403(b) or the 457 TexaSaver Plans is increased from $16,500 to $17,000 per year. The catch-up contribution limit for those aged 50 and over remains unchanged at $5,500. In the event you wish to maximize your elective retirement contributions, please proceed to the Retirement Manager at www.myretirementmanager.com to change your monthly contributions. For additional information, you are encouraged to attend the next Retirement 101 Session scheduled for Thursday, December 8th at 10:00am by registering on line: http://www.uh.edu/hr/training/hrtraining.htm .
Please feel free to call the HR Service Center if you have additional concerns about elective deferral contributions (TDAs) at 713/743-3988.
TexFlex resources include the TexFlex page on the ERS website. Employees can also call PayFlex (the company that administers the TexFlex program) at (866) 353-9839.
From November 7 to December 9, employees and retirees enrolled in an Employee’ Retirement System of Texas (ERS) health plan who use tobacco or have a covered family member who uses tobacco should sign in to their accounts at www.ers.state.tx.us or call (866) 399-6908 toll-free to certify the tobacco use. More information, including screen shots and processing steps, is coming soon. Individuals who don’t use tobacco and who don’t cover family members using tobacco don’t have to do anything; their premiums won’t increase. Individuals who are not enrolled in a ERS health plan don’t have to do anything.
Under state law, tobacco users will pay higher premiums for their health insurance coverage starting January 1, 2012. Monthly fees are shown below.
| Tobacco Users | Monthly Fee |
| Member only | $30 |
| Spouse only | $30 |
| Child (if member or spouse do not use tobacco) | $30 |
| Member + spouse | $60 |
| Member + child* | $60 |
| Spouse + child* |
$60 |
| Member + spouse + child* (Family) | $90 |
*The charge for a child is the same regardless of how many children in the household use tobacco.
The ERS website includes more information, such as the definition of a tobacco user and a list of products that will be considered tobacco.
Employees and retirees can get help to quit tobacco so they don't have to pay more for health insurance. Certain prescription tobacco cessation drugs—Zyban, its generic Bupropion, and Chantix—are now covered for the cost of a copay (once the $50 annual prescription deductible is met).
Under state law, tobacco users in the GBP will pay higher premiums for their health insurance coverage starting January 1, 2012. The ERS website includes more information, such as the definition of a tobacco user and a list of products that will be considered tobacco.
Employees and retirees can get help to quit tobacco so they don’t have to pay more for health insurance. Certain prescription tobacco cessation drugs—Zyban, its generic Bupropion, and Chantix—are now covered for the cost of a copay (once the $50 annual prescription deductible is met).
Getting diabetes reminders and diet tips is as easy as using your mobile phone.
We all could use a little help remembering things—especially when it comes to managing diabetes. More>>
The ERS Board of Trustees approved a new secondary statewide health insurance plan for retirees and their spouses who are covered by Medicare. While you must continue to pay for Medicare Part B premiums, the Humana Medicare Advantage Plan replaces both traditional Medicare and HealthSelect as your primary and secondary coverage. The new option lowers out-of-pocket premium contribution costs when compared to HealthSelect and offers additional benefits, such as gym memberships and discounted health and wellness services. The prescription drug benefit for the Medicare Advantage Plan will be provided by Caremark with the same formulary, coverage deductible and co-pays as HealthSelect.
The new plan is known as a Medicare Advantage plan. The Board awarded the contract to Humana Insurance Company. Humana will administer the plan, including coordinating Medicare benefits. Most retirees who are Medicare eligible will be automatically enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Plan effective January 1, 2012.
ERS chose Minnesota Life Insurance Company to provide term life insurance to its participants beginning January 1, 2012.
"Minnesota Life has demonstrated that they have the experience and capability to administer a plan of our size," said Ann S. Fuelberg, ERS Executive Director. "We were very pleased with their willingness to open an office in Austin to provide local service to our participants."
Minnesota Life, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, also insures state employees in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, and other states. Minnesota Life has provided group life coverage for more than 90 years and, with more than $682 billion of group life in force, is among the largest group life insurers in the country. Minnesota Life, a subsidiary of Securian Financial Group, Inc., is highly rated by the major independent agencies that analyze the financial soundness and claims-paying ability of insurance companies. For more information, visit www.lifebenefits.com.
Employees can save on out-of-pocket prescription expenses for maintenance medications (medications taken regularly for chronic conditions or long-term therapy) by filling them in 90-day supplies through the Mail Service Pharmacy. HealthSelectSM of Texas members can also fill 90-day supplies at participating Extended Days Supply (EDS) retail pharmacies.
What’s the savings?
If employees do not use Mail Service or EDS HealthSelect pharmacies, their maintenance medication is not covered in 90-day supplies. However, they can purchase maintenance medication in 30-day supplies at retail for their co-pay plus a retail maintenance fee. They can save money with Mail Service or EDS by not paying the retail maintenance fee.
Example: Once a HealthSelect member meets his $50 annual prescription deductible, he can fill his Tier 3 maintenance medication at a non-EDS retail pharmacy and pay a $60 co-pay (for a 30-day supply) plus a $15 retail maintenance fee for a total of $75. Over a three-month period (or 90-day supply), he will pay $225.
If the HealthSelect member purchases the same medication in a 90-day supply at Mail Service or through an EDS pharmacy, he will pay only $180 with no retail maintenance fee. In this example, buying maintenance medication in 90-day supplies at Mail Service or through an EDS pharmacy saves $45 every 90 days, or $180 on just that one prescription for the year.
| Tier 3 medication |
|
| 30-day supply at retail for 3 months = $60 co-pay + $15 retail maintenance fee times 3: | $225 |
| 90-day supply at mail service or EDS pharmacy = $60 co-pay times 3: | $180 |
| Savings for 3 months: | $45 |
| Savings for 1 year: | $180 |
HealthSelectSM of Texas members do not have to go to a CVS pharmacy for their short-term medication (taken for a short period of time) or their maintenance medication (taken regularly for chronic conditions or long-term therapy).
HealthSelect members are not limited to a specific pharmacy for their prescriptions. They can purchase short-term medication and maintenance medication at ANY licensed pharmacy. However, to save money they should use one of the 54,000 retail pharmacies in the HealthSelect pharmacy network for short-term medication and use Mail Service or an Extended Days Supply (EDS) retail pharmacy to purchase maintenance medication. At this time, CVS is not part of the EDS network. Employees can find participating pharmacies, inquire about Mail Service, or find EDS retail pharmacies by going to the Caremark website or by calling (888) 886-8490 or (800) 231-4403 for TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) users.
Also, some pharmacies have special programs offering generic medications at discounted rates. By using one of these programs, employees may be able to get their medications for less than the regular co-pay amount. Programs vary by pharmacy.
The University Eye Institute will waive the $40 co-pay for one examination per year for UH benefits-eligible employees with Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Select. For more information, check out their flyer.
Keep in mind that employee drug benefits are a part of the health benefit. If employees opt-out of the health plan, they are also giving up the prescription coverage. By waiving coverage, employee would no longer have the Basic Term Life coverage that is part of the health benefit.
Employees cannot participate in the Health Insurance Opt-Out Credit if they are not eligible for the state contribution toward their health insurance premium, such as a COBRA participant, surviving family member, or an adjunct faculty member. Members who have TRICARE can receive the credit due to a change in federal legislation.
Effective September 1, 2011, the UH contract with the UT EAP organization was not renewed. This decision was made based on budget and employee utilization. HR is in the process of finalizing a contract for reduced EAP services for mandatory counseling only. In the interim, managers that identify a need for mandatory counseling should contact their HR Generalist.
Employees that need non-mandatory counseling services have two options. First, benefits eligible employees also have health counseling resources available through your health insurance with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas at: http://www.bcbstx.com/hs/wellness/participant/overview.html Second, limited counseling resources are available to employees through the University of Houston Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), for specific services provided and fees go to http://www.caps.uh.edu/services-fees.aspx
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas launched the mobile version of the HealthSelect website, www.bcbstx.com/hs . The new mobile site provides access to interactive online tools through the HealthSelect website –designed for viewing and navigating on your smartphone. The mobile site includes Blue Access for MembersSM and other features that HealthSelect participants use most often.
From a smartphone, employees can:
For more information go to www.bcbstx.com/hs
If you have coverage under more than one health plan, including Medicare or Medicaid, remember to show the ID cards from both plans when you get medical care. This helps the health plans coordinate your copays.
You are encouraged to subscribe to news updates from ERS by going to their website at:
https://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=TXERS_45
Resources for Employees Facing Separation
We understand that separation from UH is a difficult time for employees. In an effort to ease your transition, HR has compiled resource information to assist you. Information includes resources for the following areas: Retirement; Benefits; Job Search; Bills; Legal and Medical; and Frugal Living.
For more information go to: http://www.uh.edu/hr-communications/separated-employees/
FEATURED TRAINING: Personality Plus on 9/22: What makes you who you are? What motivates you, distracts you, disturbs you, makes you happy, and pushes your buttons? When we can begin to understand these things about ourselves, we can begin to understand how to cultivate more harmonious and productive relationships with others. This session will assist you in identifying your basic personality type and how you relate to others. We will explore better modes of communication, work habits and the value you bring to the team as well as what you can expect from others.
PUBLIC TRAININGS: Personality Plus on 9/22; Business Etiquette and Civility on 9/28; Marketing Yourself in the Workplace on 9/29; Cougar Ally Training on 9/30.
BENEFITS TRAINING: Retirement on 9/21; Family Medical Leave on 9/21; Be Benefits Wise on 9/22.
To enroll or to see more options check out the following resources:
HR Training calendar at http://www.uh.edu/hr/training/hrtraining.htm in addition
SkillPort eLearning at http://www.uh.edu/infotech/php/template.php?training_id=23 offers a robust selection of on-line training, books and certifications.
The Human Resources Team is here to assist you with all your HR needs. In an effort to serve you better, please use the Customer Service Center as your start point when coming to HR. All appointment check-ins, information inquiries and employment document finalizations should start at the Customer Service Center in 325 McElhinney, located as you exit the elevator on the 3rd floor. Representatives will assist you directly or make sure you are directed to the right person.
Contact Information: Phone 713-743-3988 or EMAIL at CSC@uh.edu
Customer Service Feedback: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HRCustomerServiceFeedback
Communications and Updates: http://www.uh.edu/hr-communications/index.php/#custservice
Please contact the HR Customer Service Center for any questions 713-743-3988 or via email at CSC@uh.eduu . Angie, Mindy and Jose are ready to assist you or direct you to the appropriate resource.
Under state law, tobacco users will pay higher premiums for their health insurance coverage starting January 1, 2012. If you or a covered family member uses tobacco, you will pay $30, $60, or $90 more each month in additional health insurance premiums, depending on how many tobacco users you cover.
Common questions about the program
Remember that from September 1 to August 31, you and each of your covered dependents must pay separate $50 deductibles before the plan begins to cover drug costs. For example, if you have two dependents, you would have a total family deductible of $150 per plan year for prescription medications if all of you fill at least $50 worth of prescriptions.
One of the best ways to save money on your health care is to make sure you take generic drugs whenever you can. Always consult your doctor before switching medications. New generic drugs come into the market all the time. It’s important to know when generics become available, because they generally cost less, and they have the lowest copay. Plus, if a generic is available and you buy the brand-name drug instead, you will pay the generic copay plus the difference between the cost of the brand-name and the generic drug.
ERS announced that preventive health care services as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will not go into effect until September 1, 2012, for Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP).
The services will make several preventive health care services payable at 100% (i.e. at no cost to the member), depending on how the physician bills the service and the physician’s diagnosis. In some cases, health plan members will still be responsible for payment on some services. Preventive care follows established health screening guidelines. Some possible preventive services include mammograms, screenings for cervical cancer, contraception, well-woman visits, and breastfeeding equipment.
For answers to specific questions or feedback contact ERS at 877-275-4377
When employees are approved for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) sends out two letters:
Either letter can be used to drop children from the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS). Approval for CHIP is a qualifying life event. The event date (‘Effective Date’ on the job row) is the date on either letter. Employees will have 31 days from that date to drop the children from the GBP. Employees can keep their CHIP-approved children enrolled in ERS dental and dependent life coverage.
Please note that the Welcome letter is not a confirmation of enrollment in CHIP, but only a notification that the employee’s dependent(s) are approved. If the member wants to wait until receiving confirmation that his or her child(ren) are enrolled in CHIP before dropping them from ERS, then the employee will need to wait until he or she receives the CHIP Enrollment Confirmation Notice before dropping the children. If a child is dropped from the ERS using the Welcome Letter and does not end up becoming enrolled in CHIP, then the child would have neither CHIP or GBP coverage.
These insurance rates are set by the Employees Retirement System (ERS) of Texas, Group Benefit Plan (GBP). The University of Houston System and all UH components are participating employers in the ERS GBP that is the provider of state insurance benefits to our eligible employees and retirees.
Humana Dental DHMO: There will be no change in the contribution rates currently in place for this plan. Under this plan, you must use a participating dentist in the DHMO network. Note: Some participating dentists are not accepting new patients and dentists are not required to remain a participant through the entire year.
State of Texas Dental Choice Plan (Administered by HumanaDental): The ERS Board approved a 5% increase to this plan in order to support the increase in the cost of services and the rate individuals are accessing those services. In this plan you may choose any dentist. You may receive higher benefits if using a dentist through the preferred provider network in the Dental Choice Plan.
| Plan Year (PY) 2012 ERS Premium Rates Effective September 1, 2011 - DENTAL INSURANCE | ||||||
|
|
Current PY11 HumanaDental DHMO Premiums | New PY12 HumanaDental DHMO Premiums | Change | Current PY11 State of Texas Dental Choice Plan Premiums |
New PY12 State of Texas Dental Choice Plan Premiums |
Change |
| Member Only | 8.52 | 8.52 | 0 | 22.46 | 23.58 | 1.12 |
| Member & Spouse | 17.05 |
17.05 | 0 | 44.92 | 47.16 | 2.24 |
| Member & Child(ren) | 20.45 | 20.45 | 0 | 53.90 | 56.60 | 2.70 |
| Member & Family | 28.98 | 28.98 | 0 | 76.36 | 80.18 | 3.82 |
• No change to premium rates for the Short- and Long-Term Disability.
• Active and Retiree Basic Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance rates will not change.
• Rates for Dependent Term Life will also stay the same.
HealthSelect of TexasTM increased the premium rates by approximately 6%. No changes were made to the insurance plan. Full-time, benefits eligible employees will continue to have fully paid health insurance. During this annual enrollment only, no evidence of insurability (EOI) will be required to add self or qualified dependents to the medical insurance. Dependents who turn 25 before August 1, 2011 will be dropped from health coverage. You can add these dependents back on your coverage during annual enrollment and they will remain covered until age 26 regardless of their marital status.
Preventative Care: The Affordable Care Act mandates that preventive care be paid at 100% by health care carriers. Starting September 1, 2011, employees will no longer pay 20% co-insurance for preventive care services. Preventive care services include: Annual physical, Mammography, Colonoscopy, Health screenings: newborn, childhood, adolescent, cancer & adult, Immunizations: regular childhood shots, flu shots, tetanus shots, and Health counseling.
Tobacco User Fee: Beginning January 1, 2012, tobacco users will pay a monthly Tobacco User Fee of $30 per person, up to a maximum of $90 for covered dependents. A tobacco user is defined as a person who uses any form of tobacco, including cigarette, pipe, cigar, or smokeless tobacco. Use of nicotine chewing gum, patches, or electronic cigarettes is not considered tobacco use. More information on the Tobacco User Fee will be available this fall.
Tobacco Cessation Programs: Beginning September 1, 2011, all GBP health plans will cover some prescription drugs used to help members stop smoking. The member will still be responsible for the prescription co-pay.
| Plan Year (PY) 2012 ERS Premium Rates Effective September 1, 2011 - FULL TIME EMPLOYEES | |||||||
| Health Select of Texas | Current PY11 Premium | Current PY11 State Pays | Current PY11 Member Pays | New PY12 Premium | New PY12 State Pays | New PY12 Member Pays | Change |
| Member Only | 411.04 | 411.04 | 0 | 438.30 | 438.30 | 0 | 0 |
| Member & Spouse | 883.72 | 647.38 | 236.34 | 939.78 | 689.04 | 250.74 | 14.40 |
| Member & Child(ren) |
727.56 | 569.30 | 158.26 | 774.10 | 606.20 | 167.90 | 9.64 |
| Member & Family | 1,200.24 | 805.64 | 394.60 | 1,275.58 | 856.94 | 418.64 | 24.04 |
Plan Year 2012 ERS Premium Rates Effective September 1, 2011 - PART TIME EMPLOYEES |
|||||||
Health Select of Texas |
Current PY11 Premium | Current PY11 State Pays | Current PY11 Member Pays | New PY12 Premium | New PY12 State Pays |
New PY12 Member Pays | Change |
| Member Only | 413.26 | 206.63 | 206.63 | 438.30 | 219.15 | 219.15 | 12.52 |
| Member & Spouse | 885.94 | 324.80 | 561.14 | 939.78 | 344.52 | 595.26 | 34.12 |
| Member & Child(ren) | 729.78 | 285.76 | 444.02 | 774.10 | 303.10 | 471.00 | 26.98 |
| Member & Family | 1,202.46 | 403.93 | 798.53 | 1,275.58 | 428.47 | 847.11 | 48.58 |
Based on pending legislation, we expect the State Kids Insurance Program (SKIP) to end August 31, 2011. Recent federal legislation will allow state employees to apply for CHIP or Children’s Medicaid.
Both programs let employees pay reduced premiums for their children age 18 or younger. Employees can apply for CHIP through the Texas Department of Health and Human Services at www.chipmedicaid.org or by calling (877) 543-7669.
Health and Day Care Accounts: you will be automatically re-enrolled in your TexFlex account at the same contribution amount unless you make a change during the Annual Enrollment period.
During annual enrollment only, no Evidence of Insurability (EOI) will be required to add self or qualified dependents to the medical insurance. EOI will still be required through Fort Dearborn Life for all other optional benefits (optional term life, dependent term life, short and long-term disability). On June 1, Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company (also known as Dearborn National™) began accepting Evidence of Insurability (EOI) applications for Plan Year 2012 coverage. Applications must be postmarked by August 5. The EOI application is available on the following link (press the control button and click on link): Evidence of Insurability (EOI)
As a result of the ERS Dependent Audit through Aon Hewitt, dependents who were removed from GBP coverage due to the Dependent Audit will still show as a dependent in ERS OnLine; however, they will not be enrolled and the Enroll box will be grayed out. During Annual Enrollment and throughout the plan year, neither the member nor the HR Benefits Section will be able to enroll a dependent in coverage who has a grayed out Enroll box.
There may be instances when the ineligible dependent becomes eligible and the member wants to re-enroll the dependent in coverage. In these cases, the member MUST contact ERS directly. ERS will work with the member to verify the dependent’s eligibility and determine enrollment opportunities.
Through a partnership with Aflac and MetLife’s sponsored product, Trust Mark, we are offering the following optional benefits products:
Aflac: Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness and Hospital Protection*
MetLife: Universal Life with Long-Term Care Plan
* employees may purchase one, two, three or all four of these products
The open enrollment period for these new optional benefits is scheduled for May 2 through August 5, 2011. All active, benefits-eligible employees are invited to participate. Once open ends August 5th, the opportunity to participate will not be available until open enrollment July, 2012.
On Thursday, July 14, 2011 from 9am – 3pm we will have a representative from Aflac, Cindy Slebodnik, who will be on campus in the HR Department (Room 325 McElhinney) to meet with you to discuss the products offered by Aflac.
Please schedule your personalized consultation for July 14th please by contacting: Ms. Slebodnik of Aflac at 713/206-9529
MetLife can be reached at 1/866-998-2915 to schedule an individual appointment to discuss their product.
The 5th Annual Human Resources Benefits Fair is scheduled for July 13, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Houston Room in the University Center. Our theme for this year is “‘Navigating Through the World of Benefits.” Come by to visit with benefit representatives, UH department representatives, register for prizes, and get lots of freebies including the 2011 Benefits Fair T-Shirt.
You may have heard about the recent possible exposure of state employees’ and retirees’ personal information. In addition, a state employee reported that someone falsely claiming to be an ERS employee called to ask for a Social Security number. If anyone representing ERS calls you and asks for your social security number, please hang-up and call ERS at 1-877-275-4377 or (512) 867-7711, in the Austin area.
As a result of this exposure, you can get one year of free credit monitoring and internet surveillance from CSIdentity. In addition, the Comptroller’s office will provide identity restoration services if your personal information was misused as a result of the data posting, paid for by Comptroller Susan Combs' campaign fund. The comptroller’s office has set up a website with more information at www.TXsafeguard.org. Concerned individuals may also call 855-474-2065 beginning April 12.
Due to the increase in inquires surrounding retirement eligibility such as:
Do I qualify to retire? When will I qualify to retire? What should I know now to plan for my retirement?
The HR Benefits Section is hosting a workshop for employees who want to:
• gain a greater understanding of ORP and TRS retirement benefits including vesting;
• have a better understanding of TRS retirement eligibility and TRS service credit;
• understand the requirements to qualify for continued insurance benefits at retirement,
• learn how to calculate your TRS retirement benefits, and
• become familiar the rules for employment-after-retirement
We invite you to register for one of the Retirement 101 sessions scheduled for June 22nd or July 27th both are scheduled from 10 – 11am in the HR Conference Room (341 McElhinney). Please save your seat by registering in P.A.S.S.
CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO REGISTER FOR COURSES
CLICK HERE TO LOGON ON TO PASS TO REGISTER
During Annual Enrollment, employees can enroll children who turned 25 before September 1, 2011, or children under age 26 who are married. This includes children currently in COBRA. Participants did not have to cover their children through the GBP previously to enroll them during this summer’s Annual Enrollment.
Evidence of insurability (proof of good health) is not required to enroll these children in the GBP during Annual Enrollment. Their coverage will begin September 1.
Annual Enrollment for Plan Year 2012 is July 11 through August 5. During this time, you can change your benefits and enroll eligible dependents in coverage, effective September 1. You will receive more information in the mail. See the Annual Enrollment Fair schedule.
Have you moved or changed your phone number or email address?
Update your new contact information in your ERS account by June 3, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. so you can receive benefits information from ERS this summer:
Aon Hewitt, the independent company conducting the dependent verification audit for ERS, is following a number of processes to ensure the security of your documents.
Aon Hewitt will send you an audit letter and email reminder asking you to send copies of documents to prove that the dependents you cover in health insurance in the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) are eligible. Please don't send your documents to Aon Hewitt before you get your letter.
When you send the requested dependent documents, remember to black out Social Security numbers, monetary amounts, and account numbers on the copies. Don't send the original documents, because Aon Hewitt will destroy all documents when the audit is complete.
If you do not wish to mail, fax, or upload your documents, you may bring them and your Aon Hewitt request letter to the ERS office, 200 E. 18th Street, Austin, TX 78701 starting May 2. Specially trained Aon Hewitt staff will be at ERS to scan your documents into the Aon Hewitt system from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday for a limited time.
Please note: Some employees have indicated that they would like Aon Hewitt to contact them about the audit. Individuals who request a call from Aon Hewitt have given them a telephone number and the best time to call. Aon Hewitt will not ask the individuals for any portion of their Social Security number in connection with these calls.
If you have questions about the audit, or if you need to drop an ineligible dependent at any time, call Aon Hewitt toll-free at (800) 987-6605 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT. To learn more, go to the ERS website.
The ERS website has changed with hopes to educate, inform, and engage their stakeholders: YOU. Through focus groups and usability studies, ERS has learned they need to use less jargon and an easy-to-use structure to help you find information on their website. They updated and redesigned the website to improve our experience, including:
• Content divided by visitor groups (employees, former employees, retirees),
• A common tasks section called “I want to…” located on the homepage,
• An events and milestone section to help you with transitions in your life,
• A better, faster search engine to help you find information, and
• Self-service tools, such as:
• Service purchase request form
They hope you find the new site useful. Let them know what you think!
The University of Houston System is partnering with Aflac and MetLife to sponsor several optional benefits plans for System benefits-eligible employees through payroll deduction. These supplemental benefits are in addition to the benefits currently offered by the Employees Retirement System of Texas; however, the cost of each product will be the employee's sole responsibility and will not be supplemented in any way by the university or System. In addition, these supplemental benefits will be available for coverage of domestic partners.
The products being offered are Aflac's Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness and Hospital Protection plans, and MetLife's Universal Life with Long-Term Care plan.
For more information and the information session schedule, go to the main HR Benefits page.
ERS is partnering with an independent company, Aon Hewitt, to conduct a 100% dependent eligibility audit. The audit will ask each employee and retiree who covers a dependent in the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) to provide copies of documents to prove the dependent is eligible. Aon Hewitt will conduct the audit in three phases beginning in March through August 2011. The dependent audit for higher education employees will start in March.
During the audit, employees will receive letters from the vendor (Aon Hewitt) to remind them to take action and provide the appropriate documents. Employees who have an email address on file with ERS (www.ERS.State.Tx.Us ) will also receive emails that contain the same information. The emails will come from donotreply@plan-smart.com.
If you have an email address on file with ERS, you will also receive a reminder email. The email will come from donotreply@plan-smart.com. Please do not email or respond to the reminder emails from donotreply@plan-smart.com.
Please don’t forget to send copies of your documents when you receive the letter from Aon Hewitt back to Aon Hewitt not ERS nor HR Benefits . Do not send originals; they will not be returned. If you have questions about the audit, please call the phone number provided in the letter, not your benefits coordinator. If you don’t cooperate with the audit, your dependents will be dropped from coverage.
If you have questions about the audit, please call the phone number provided in the letter, not your HR Department. If you don’t cooperate with the audit, your dependents will be dropped from coverage. To reach Aon Hewitt directly, call toll-free at (800) 987-6605 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time and Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central Time.
The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) has set the Annual Enrollment period for Plan Year 2012. Enrollment will start Monday, July 11 and end Friday, August 5. ERS is starting enrollment later this year because of the uncertainty surrounding the state budget funding that will be available for the ERS Texas Employees Group Benefits Program.
Until ERS knows what funding will be available, they cannot finalize insurance contribution rates or benefit design. The ERS Board will meet in May and June to consider these issues.
ERS has prepared a handout that details how the health insurance program could be affected if it doesn’t receive the funding requested in the Legislative Appropriations Request.
More than half of all Texa$aver* participants have not selected a beneficiary. It is important for 457 participants to select an individual to receive their Texa$aver account balances if they die. Texa$aver is mailing a beneficiary form and pre-paid postage envelopes to 457 participants who do not have beneficiaries on file.
Beneficiaries for your life insurance are separate from Texa$aver beneficiaries. Texa$aver participants designate their Texa$aver beneficiaries on a Texa$aver form NOT through the University of Houston.
To update a beneficiary, participants must complete the form and return it directly to Texa$aver. You can return the form three ways:
1. Mail the form in the pre-paid postage envelope you receive in the mail;
2. Scan and email the form to texasaver@gwrs.com; or
3. Fax the form to Texa$aver at (866) 745-5766.
Participants don’t have to wait for the letter. You can update their Texa$aver beneficiaries today using the Beneficiary Designation Governmental 457(b) Plan Form.
If you have questions, call Texa$aver toll-free at (800) 634-5091, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.
If you received Short-term or Long-term Disability Insurance payments in 2010, you should have received a W-2 in January from Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company (FDL). This W-2 reflects any taxable and nontaxable amounts paid under the ERS disability plan.
You should include this W-2 with all other documents you provide to your tax preparer. Consult with your tax advisor regarding the tax implications of any benefits you received. After consulting with your tax advisor, if you wish to initiate or change the withholding of federal income taxes from your monthly Long-term Disability benefit, please contact your Claims Representative at (855) ERS-LIFE (377-5433) and request a copy of form W-4S.
If you wish to enroll a common law spouse in our health insurance and other coverage (e.g. dental, dependent life, Flexible Spending Account (TexFlex) or long term care) under the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) after January 1, 2011, you must file a Declaration of Informal Marriage at your county courthouse.
Before this rule, employees and retirees could use utility records, bank statements, and the Declaration of Informal Marriage as proof of a common law marriage for GBP coverage. Now, GBP coverage requires you to file a Declaration of Informal Marriage before enrolling in coverage. Filing a Declaration of Informal Marriage is a qualifying life event which allows you to add your common law spouse to your benefits at that time.
As in the past, if you cover a common law spouse on your insurance, and later want to remove the dependent spouse from coverage, you must present a divorce decree, except during Annual Enrollment. You may also have to present a divorce decree for this marriage if you want to add another spouse to your GBP coverage in the future.
If you have a dependent who turns 25 this year, ERS knows you are eager to learn how your dependent will be affected by the Affordable Care Act.
Dependents who turn 25 before September 1, 2011 will be dropped from health coverage. In order to stay insured, they can elect to have COBRA coverage.
The future of the Affordable Care Act is still uncertain, so we cannot provide final information at this point. However, ERS’ initial policy, unless something changes with federal or state legislation, is that health plan participants will be able to enroll dependents under age 26 in coverage without evidence of insurability (proof of good health), regardless of COBRA coverage. The enrollment period may coincide with the Annual Enrollment period in July, or there may be a special enrollment period. The re-enrollment would be effective September 1, 2011.
Please keep in mind that federal health care reform is subject to several state and federal law revisions, which may affect how the health plan complies with this provision.
The Texas Legislature has proposed a bill that could affect our longevity pay. This House Bill (HB 3168) proposes the elimination of longevity pay for state employees and the creation a structured merit pay program. The bill is still in the legislature being considered by House. You may view the bill at the website of the Legislative Budget Board.
We will let you know if there are any changes to your longevity pay.
The Retirement Manager website has been updated and we are pleased to announce several new and easy ways to manage and learn about your retirement benefits.
With this Retirement Manager upgrade you are able to:
• Further protect your financial data by creating your own unique User ID, and selecting security questions and images customized to your preferences.
• Navigate easily to important tasks related to your retirement plans.
• Quickly locate retirement plan information and investment provider contacts.
• Access important financial topics and information about current market trends.
Please be assured that these changes do not require any action on your part, and your existing Retirement Manager website address will not change.
You may access a Quick Reference Guide by clicking on the “Retirement Manager Demo” link on the website. This Guide has been designed as a “road map” to assist in exploring the new features on Retirement Manager. This Quick Reference Guide will also be available on the Retirement Manager website in the “Help” section. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the HR Service Center at 713/743-3988 and we would be happy to assist you.
Employees, retirees, and their immediate families can use the site to get discounts on many products and services, from computers to theme park passes. There's no sign-up fee, registration, or cost to you. Visit today to start saving. For additional information click here.
Have questions? Review the discount purchase program frequently asked questions.
Click the links below for additional information:
Due date to spend TexFlex funds
Next step for HumanaDental DHMO members
Texa$aver (457) What is asset allocation?
A Convenient & secure way to manage your UH Retirement Accounts
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