Full-time benefits-eligible faculty and staff members enrolled in the state’s health insurance plan may soon notice an increase in their monthly rates.

The Employee Retirement System of Texas recently announced a 5.13 percent across-the-board rate hike starting Sept. 1 for individuals who are enrolled in HealthSelect insurance with dependents. Faculty and staff members are enrolled under single coverage will not be affected by this increase.

Rates for the state’s two dental insurance plans, the Dental Indemnity Plan administered by GEHA and the Dental HMO Plan administered by AETNA, will not increase.

Beginning Sept. 1, the HealthSelect monthly rates will be:

Member & Spouse
Premium: $675.89 State pays: $495.73 Member pays: $180.16

Member & Child(ren)
Premium: $556.82 State pays: $436.19 Member pays: $120.63

Member & Family
Premium: $917.15 State pays: $616.36 Member pays: $300.79

The rate increase stems from the rising costs of healthcare in the United States, said Robert Herrington, assistant vice-president for human resources.

Benefits-eligible faculty or staff members interested in making changes to their current health or dental benefits can do so during open enrollment, which runs from July 26 – Aug. 20. Dependents may be added to or removed from coverage during this period. Also, faculty and staff may add or remove coverage options such as optional term life, short-term disability and long-term disability.

For additional information on the rate increases, visit the Employee Retirement System of Texas Web site at http://www.ers.state.tx.us/. To learn more about open enrollment at UH, call the university’s benefits office at (713) 743-5764.

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu