Employees enrolled in NAU’s Blue Cross Blue Shield benefits plan will see modest increases when the new benefits year begins Jan. 1.
The total cost of the health plan will increase by about 8.6 percent with most of the increase covered by the university. A small increase in premiums and slight adjustments in some co-pays will impact participants. The NAU rates should not be confused with the other state insurance plans.
Employee-only coverage will change from $25 a month to $30 a month. Employee-plus-one coverage will change from $75 to $85 a month, and employee-plus-family coverage will increase from $125 to $140 a month.
Co-pays and prescription drug cost also are changing. See below for some details.
Enrollment details for other plans offered by the state of Arizona will be announced in the next month. Those rates can be found at benefitoptions.az.gov.
Employees’ premium rates for this plan last increased in October 2006.
The current benefits plan year will be extended through Dec. 31 instead of ending Sept. 30 as in most years. Participants currently enrolled do not need to do anything for coverage to be extended through Dec. 31. The new open enrollment period for making changes to your 2011 benefits will be Nov. 1 to 19.
If you have questions, contact a member of the Benefits Team at HRBenefits@nau.edu.
BCBS plan fees (effective January 1, 2011) | ||
The employee cost of premiums | ||
| • | Employee only: Coverage will change from $25 to $30 per month | |
| • | Employee plus one: Coverage will change from $75 to $85 per month | |
| • | Employee plus family: Coverage will change from $125 to $140 per month | |
Out-of-pocket expenses for participants | ||
| • | Primary Care Physician office visits: Co-pays will change from $15 to $20 per visit | |
| • | NAU Fronske Health Center: Co-pays will change from $10 to $15 per visit | |
| • | Specialist office visits: Co-pays will change from $25 to $30 per visit | |
| • | Urgent Care: Co-pays will change from $20 to $25 per visit | |
| • | Emergency Room Co-pays will change from $75 to $85. The co-pay will be waived if the patient is admitted to the hospital. | |
Prescription drugs | ||
| • | Tier 1 (30 day supply retail) will increase from $7 to $10 | |
| • | Tier 2 (30 day supply retail) will increase from $20 to $25 | |
| • | Tier 3 (30 day supply retail) will increase from $40 to $45 | |
| • | Tier 4 (30 day supply retail) will increase from $80 to $85 | |
| The mail order program for maintenance medications will remain at one co-pay for a 90-day supply. | ||