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Q&A: Medical Insurance Consolidation
Posted 9/26/2005
The Board of Regents recently approved a recommendation from the Benefits Task Force to consolidate all employee medical insurance under a single carrier, in order to avoid significant premium increases.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, all medical insurance benefits for university employees will be provided through UnitedHealthcare. University employees who are members of the ConnectiCare HMO plan will be able to switch to a virtually identical HMO plan under UnitedHealthcare.
Following are answers to some of the questions that have been asked about the upcoming switch to a single insurance carrier.
Q: Will my co-pays be the same on the UnitedHealthcare HMO (Select EPO) plan as they were under the ConnectiCare HMO plan?
A: In almost every case, yes. The UnitedHealthcare HMO plan is virtually identical to the ConnectiCare HMO plan.
However, every insurance carrier maintains its own prescription drug list. The prescription drug benefits under both the UnitedHealthcare HMO and ConnectiCare HMO plans have a three-tier drug co-pay system. The second and third tiers are based on the individual insurance carrier’s prescription drug list. If you are currently paying the second or third tier prescription drug co-pay under the ConnectiCare HMO plan, you may want to review the United Healthcare Prescription Drug List 2005 Consumer Reference Guide to identify in which tier your medication(s) is classified. Please note that tier placement of medications may change from time to time.
Q: How can I verify if my doctors are participating under the UnitedHealthcare HMO (Select EPO) plan?
A: UnitedHealthcare has the largest network of participating physicians in the country. All 29 of the Connecticut acute care hospitals are in the UnitedHealthcare network. If you are not currently a UnitedHealthcare member, you can research UnitedHealthcare’s general directory of participating physicians, hospitals and/or facilities by name or zip code on the UnitedHealthcare website or by calling 1.866.873.3903.
NOTE: If you are using the United Healthcare website to conduct your research, be sure to check the UnitedHealthcare Select EPO or United Healthcare POS Select Plus option to identify which plan you are interested in. (The Select EPO plan is the one that mirrors the ConnectiCare HMO plan).
Mental health providers can be searched through the United Behavioral Health website, or by calling United Behavioral Health at 1.800.562.2532.
Q: Is there someone at UnitedHealthcare I can speak to regarding my personal situation?
A: Yes. UnitedHealthcare provides prospective members with access to a toll-free number (1.866.873.3903) so that you can speak directly to a Customer Care Specialist who will be able to answer questions regarding participating UnitedHealthcare providers, benefit eligibility, as well as the POS and HMO plan designs.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, all medical insurance benefits for university employees will be provided through UnitedHealthcare. University employees who are members of the ConnectiCare HMO plan will be able to switch to a virtually identical HMO plan under UnitedHealthcare.
Following are answers to some of the questions that have been asked about the upcoming switch to a single insurance carrier.
Q: Will my co-pays be the same on the UnitedHealthcare HMO (Select EPO) plan as they were under the ConnectiCare HMO plan?
A: In almost every case, yes. The UnitedHealthcare HMO plan is virtually identical to the ConnectiCare HMO plan.
However, every insurance carrier maintains its own prescription drug list. The prescription drug benefits under both the UnitedHealthcare HMO and ConnectiCare HMO plans have a three-tier drug co-pay system. The second and third tiers are based on the individual insurance carrier’s prescription drug list. If you are currently paying the second or third tier prescription drug co-pay under the ConnectiCare HMO plan, you may want to review the United Healthcare Prescription Drug List 2005 Consumer Reference Guide to identify in which tier your medication(s) is classified. Please note that tier placement of medications may change from time to time.
Q: How can I verify if my doctors are participating under the UnitedHealthcare HMO (Select EPO) plan?
A: UnitedHealthcare has the largest network of participating physicians in the country. All 29 of the Connecticut acute care hospitals are in the UnitedHealthcare network. If you are not currently a UnitedHealthcare member, you can research UnitedHealthcare’s general directory of participating physicians, hospitals and/or facilities by name or zip code on the UnitedHealthcare website or by calling 1.866.873.3903.
NOTE: If you are using the United Healthcare website to conduct your research, be sure to check the UnitedHealthcare Select EPO or United Healthcare POS Select Plus option to identify which plan you are interested in. (The Select EPO plan is the one that mirrors the ConnectiCare HMO plan).
Mental health providers can be searched through the United Behavioral Health website, or by calling United Behavioral Health at 1.800.562.2532.
Q: Is there someone at UnitedHealthcare I can speak to regarding my personal situation?
A: Yes. UnitedHealthcare provides prospective members with access to a toll-free number (1.866.873.3903) so that you can speak directly to a Customer Care Specialist who will be able to answer questions regarding participating UnitedHealthcare providers, benefit eligibility, as well as the POS and HMO plan designs.
