The UNMC Human Resources office will be sharing a series of articles designed to help employees better understand their benefits. This week’s UNMC Benefits Corner provides answers to frequently asked questions.
Did you know your medical insurance through UNMC includes a provision of $150 per calendar year for each covered member in your family to receive well care?
This provision is to encourage each person to get a routine physical every year, and your deductible does not need to be met before taking advantage of this well care benefit. In addition, if you have children under the age of 6 who receive immunizations, if they exceed the $150 well care benefit, Blue Cross Blue Shield will continue to provide benefits for their immunizations in recognition of the importance of that protection.
There is a provision for routine mammograms that is also not subject to the deductible. The benefit for the routine mammogram is in addition to the $150 well care limit.
Why use a preferred provider under Blue Cross Blue Shield versus a non-preferred provider?
There is a definite cost incentive to use a preferred provider. These providers sign a contract to provide services at a defined rate; this saves our health plan money and in turn helps keep our premiums down. When you use a preferred provider, your deductible, co-insurance and stop loss limits are much lower.
Many employees forget that the University is self-insured and that Blue Cross Blue Shield is merely administering our plan for us. Therefore any savings are vital to keeping our plan’s expenses down.
Do the costs of my prescription drugs apply towards the deductible or stop loss limit at Blue Cross Blue Shield?
No, our prescription plan is administered through a separate company, Caremark. You present your Caremark card at a participating pharmacy to receive prescription medications. Effective Jan. 1, 2003 there will be $50 pharmaceutical deductible per covered person. After that deductible has been met, you will pay the following amounts for a 30-day supply of medication: $10 for generic medications; $25 for brand name medications on the formulary/Primary drug list; and $40 for medications that are not on the formulary/Primary drug list.