University of Central Arkansas faculty and staff who subscribe to the university?s health insurance plan will have a change in provider beginning Jan. 1.Last Friday, the UCA Board of Trustees unanimously approved a recommendation to accept a proposal from United Healthcare replacing QualChoice.
Proposals for health insurance were accepted from Blue Cross, Blue Shield and United Healthcare after QualChoice issued a preliminary renewal rate projection of 15 percent.
The new health insurance rates with United Healthcare will be an eight percent increase over current premiums with Point-of-Service plans and 11 percent over current premiums on the HMO plan.
Beginning Jan. 1, individual employees subscribing to the university?s new health insurance POS plan will pay $48.50 per month, employees plus one will pay $259 per month, and families will pay $412 per month.
Individual employees subscribing to the new HMO plan will pay $47.50 per month, employees plus one will pay $255 per month, and families will pay $406 per month.
The board also approved a recommendation to cancel the university?s GAP plan with American Fidelity effective Dec. 31. A new GAP plan will be self-administered by the Fringe Benefits section of Human Resources.
The new plan will continue to cover employees at no cost to them and coverage would be extended to families for the $10 per month that is currently charged for GAP coverage.
The self-administered GAP plan will reimburse the employee for the difference between the first $500 incurred against the deductible and the $1,000 limit on the deductible. Effectively, the employee would cover the first $500 of the deductible with the university reimbursing the employee for up to $500 in excess of the first $500.
GAP coverage would no longer reimburse subscribers for doctor visit co-pays, but would be applicable to in-patient and out-patient charges and have the effect of giving all employees a $500 deductible.
The board also approved renewal contracts with the university?s long-term disability insurance provider, MetLife, and with UCA?s dental insurance provider, Blue Cross, Blue Shield.
