Open enrollment is here and runs through Nov. 1. The health insurance reform requirement for Americans to have health insurance is effective Jan. 1. So, it’s time to start planning your benefits for next year.
Health insurance reform impacts you and Publix
There’s been much discussion about the health insurance reform law, but the most significant requirement for everyone will become reality in a couple of months.
Virtually all Americans must have health insurance to comply with the law beginning Jan. 1, 2014. If you’re eligible for Publix’s health insurance, you should take advantage of it and enroll on PASSport during open enrollment Sept. 28 – Nov. 1.
Many changes required by the health insurance reform law have a significant impact on employers and employees, including Publix and its associates. Changes like the elimination of lifetime and annual maximums provide enrolled associates and their family members significantly more coverage while increasing health care costs. Other changes require the payment of new fees to the federal government. For the Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO Plan, this means more than $7 million in fees impacting Publix and our associates in 2014.
As a result, associate premiums and calendar year deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are increasing for 2014. However, since Publix remains committed to offering its associates and their families comprehensive, affordable health care coverage, Publix is absorbing most of the cost increases arising from health insurance reform to keep associates’ pay period deductions affordable.
Secure your benefits before open enrollment ends Nov. 1
Open enrollment runs through Nov. 1 for health, dental, vision and long-term disability (LTD) insurance for the 2014 plan year. Don’t miss your chance to select the insurance coverage you need for 2014.
Open enrollment is the one time each year when you can enroll in or make changes to your health, dental or vision coverage unless you have an IRS permitted election change. It’s also your only chance to apply for LTD coverage if you’re eligible and not currently enrolled.
Open enrollment is now online to save you time
Open enrollment is taking place on PASSport. As part of the online open enrollment process for 2014, you must log in to PASSport to confirm or choose your benefits, even if you have no changes to your current coverage. BCBS PPO Plan enrollees who do not do this and, therefore, do not update or choose their tobacco use status, will pay the higher tobacco user premium for health coverage in 2014.
When you log in to PASSport, you’ll see messages on the Home page for those plans for which you’re eligible to help you begin the online process.
Inside your open enrollment packet
If you’re eligible for Publix’s health insurance, you should have received an open enrollment packet at your work location. In your packet, you’ll find the Open Enrollment Guide, which provides a summary of the changes effective Jan. 1, 2014, important dates for you to know, and more information about completing online open enrollment on PASSport.
Please be sure to carefully review the entire packet and get the coverage you need for 2014. With open enrollment here and the individual mandate effective Jan. 1, 2014, it’s important to take the time to review your choices for next year.
Why you should enroll in Publix’s benefit plans
Check out the information below to see why you should consider enrolling in the Publix benefit plans offered to you.
Health plan
Publix offers eligible full- and part-time associates health insurance through the BCBS PPO Plan. This plan offers you and your family affordable, comprehensive health benefits.
Staying healthy is important, so with the BCBS PPO Plan, office visits for preventive care are free when you see a network family doctor, gynecologist or pediatrician. Most preventive care screenings performed as part of these visits also are free.
Dental plan
A great smile starts with the proper dental care. The dental plan provides you and your family with affordable dental benefits. Premiums for the dental HMO plan are not changing for the 14th consecutive year. Premiums for the dental PPO and UCR plans are increasing for the first time in 13 years.
Vision plan
The vision plan provides coverage for you and your family for annual eye exams as well as coverage for contacts or frames and lenses. Premiums for vision coverage are not changing for 2014.
LTD plan
No one knows when a disabling injury can occur, so Publix offers eligible full-time associates the LTD plan to provide insurance for their pay. If you’re out of work for longer than 90 days due to an illness or injury, the LTD plan may replace up to 66 percent of your covered monthly wages.
The LTD rate is increasing; this is the first increase in 12 years after decreasing in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. Your premium also will change based on the change in your covered monthly wages.
Supplemental life plan
The supplemental life plan offers term-life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage to you and your family. Free estate resolution services, along with free will preparation, planning for special needs children and survivor assistance services, are available for participants and their beneficiaries.
Supplemental life and AD&D rates are not changing for 2014; however, your premium will change if your coverage amount, age bracket or tobacco-use status changes.
This year, open enrollment will take place on PASSport. You must log in to PASSport to confirm or choose your benefits, even if you have no changes to your current health or LTD coverage. If you do not have any changes to your current dental or vision coverage elections, you do not need to contact Publix Personal Plans.
As decisions and changes are made by the government, the information in this article could change. At the time this article went to print, the individual mandate is effective Jan. 1, 2014, and the Marketplace is expected to be available in October 2013 for 2014 coverage.
Q&A
Got questions about health insurance reform?
You’ve probably had discussions with family and friends and seen news stories about the health insurance reform law. It can be confusing, so to try to help, we created a short Q&A for you.
Q: Is everyone required to obtain health insurance beginning Jan. 1, 2014?
A: The health insurance reform law requires virtually all individuals to have health coverage beginning this Jan. 1. This is referred to as the individual mandate.
Q: What is the Marketplace?
A: The Marketplace is a government-run website where, beginning this month, Americans can shop for and compare individual health plans offered in their state. The Marketplace offers four levels of health plans: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Each level denotes the percent of coverage with bronze covering 60 percent of health care costs, silver covering 70 percent, gold covering 80 percent and platinum covering 90 percent.
Q: Does the Marketplace offer more comprehensive health care plans at a cheaper premium than Publix?
A: As of the beginning of September, many states had not published their available Marketplace plans and premiums. However, since Publix pays the majority of the cost for health coverage offered to its eligible associates and their families, Publix is confident our BCBS PPO Plan’s premiums for gold-level coverage will be much lower than gold-level Marketplace health plan premiums and most others.
Q: If I’m eligible for Publix’s health insurance and choose to enroll in a marketplace health plan, will I be eligible for a tax credit?
A: Most likely no. Because Publix offers gold-level health coverage with an affordable premium, nearly all associates eligible for Publix’s health plan won’t be eligible for a tax credit if they instead choose to enroll in a Marketplace plan. Associates who are eligible for Publix’s health plan should enroll in Publix’s coverage during open enrollment Sept. 28 – Nov. 1.
Q: The marketplace says I have until March 31, 2014, to enroll in coverage for 2014. Is that correct?
A: Yes. For a Marketplace health plan, you have until March 31, 2014, to enroll. Associates eligible for Publix’s health insurance must enroll in Publix’s plan during open enrollment Sept. 28 – Nov. 1. If you aren’t eligible for insurance through Publix and are considering a Marketplace health plan, refer to the New Health Insurance Marketplace notice sent to you at the end of September and www.healthcare.gov from a home computer for more information.
Q: Will the health insurance reform law impact my insurance premiums?
A: Yes. Publix is absorbing most of the cost increases arising from health insurance reform. However, with increased coverage and increased costs, associate premiums and calendar year deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are increasing for 2014.
Learn more about health insurance reform and its impact to you by visiting the Health Insurance Reform Resources page from www.publix.org.
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Watch this video to learn more about health insurance reform and its impact to you.
