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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Health Insurance UpdateMoghannam, Kathleen ]From: Sent: To: Subject: CountywideNotification Thursday, August 16, 2012 4:45 PM All Departments 2013 Health Insurance Update Good afternoon everyone - I wanted to take the opportunity to pass on news in advance of the Benefits Open Enrollment period (which will run September 10t" through October 5t"), with regard to health insurance premiums for the 2013 calendar year. The CaIPERS Board voted on, and approved the following rates increases for the plans offered in o~ir region far 201.3: • Blue Shield HMO +10.47% • PERS Choice PPO +16.19% • PERS Select PPO - 0.03% • PERS Care PPO +5.24 If you would like to see the exact projected rates for the various plans in 2013, please go to the following link: http:/f www.calpers.ca.eovLeip-dots/member/health/201.3-health-info/rates/other-northern.pdf The contribution that the County makes towards medical premiums has been fixed for a number of years now, meaning that any increases to premiums are the responsibility of employees. The rate increases for a couple of the plans are certainly significant, and disappointing. While we (the County and all labor groups) have looked at alternatives to CaIPERS Health plans in the past, there hasn't been a strong push to make a move away from CaIPERS Health. With the rates continuing to escalate, a review of our alternatives for calendar year 2014 is certainly still an option. This idea was discussed at the Benefits Review Committee meeting with all the labor groups on August 8th; if this is something that you would like to see done, please work with your labor organization. We wanted to get this information out to everyone as soon as possible so all employees would have more time to truly evaluate what their individual/family medical needs are. Everyone's medical situation is different and unique. Some of us very well may NEED to stay in the HMO plan ar the PERS Choice plan, for a number of reasons. Some of us may find that the PER5 Select plan is an alternative plan that will not only meet our needs, but also save us a significant amount of money. Bottom line -everyone really should evaluate our families individual medical needs and take the time to really understand the difFerences in plans. As previously stated -our open enrollment for the 2013 plan year is September 10th through October 5t". During this period, you all will have the opportunity to make changes to your health plan far 2013, should you elect to do so. For information regarding the differences in the plans-on line resources are available: Blue Shield - WMO: htt s: www.blueshieldca.com bsca home homes Blue Cross PPO: htt : Jwww.anthem.cam/ca/health-insurance/home/overview PORAC: http://porac.org/ Also, a side by side comparison of the plans are available at the following link: http:j/www.calpers.ca.eov/eip- docs member health 2012-health-info ubs health-benefit-summa df Human Resources is certainly happy to assist in answering any questions you may have regarding the different plans. Brian Ring Director - Human Resources County of Butte 3 - A County Center Drive Oroville, CA 95965-3387 {530) 538-7099 brng~,buttecounty.net "CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: "COUNTY OF BUTTE E-MAIL DISCLAIMER: This e-mail and any attachment thereto may contain private, confidential, and privileged material for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any review, copying, or distribution of this e-mail {or any attachments thereto) by other than the County of Butte or the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. if you are NOT the intended recipient, please contact the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copies of this a-mail and any attachments thereto."