Home < News
Archive < Retirement
and Savings
[September 19, 2007]
Throughout 2007, the Office of the President, in consultation with colleagues throughout the university, worked diligently to explore new options for restructuring UC's medical plans in order to preserve good medical benefits for employees and retirees and to control cost increases, given the ongoing changes in the healthcare market. More information about the medical plan selection process is available online.
As a result of these efforts, UC employees and retirees will continue to have quality medical benefits, and monthly premium increases will be lower than they would be otherwise. This is particularly good news considering the kinds of benefits reductions and cost increases others throughout the state and nation are experiencing.
Highlights of next year's medical plan costs include the following:
- UC to continue to pay most of the cost: UC will continue to pay the overwhelming majority of the cost of medical coverage in 2008, including much of the cost of your dependent coverage.
- Cost decreases for some retirees: Employees and retirees currently enrolled in Health Net and Blue Cross PLUS will see decreased premiums for 2008 if they remain in their current medical plans. At the same time, UC is eliminating co-pays for qualifying preventive physical exams, immunizations and well baby care for some plans. Retirees will pay the same co-payments for other office visits in 2008 as they do now.
- 2008 retiree rates available online. More information on 2008 medical plans and costs will be included in retiree Open Enrollment materials, available online and in the mail, after mid-October (Open Enrollment is November 1-27).
In a letter to retirees in early September, UC announced changes in medical plans for 2008 including the following:
- As a result of HMO consolidation, Health Net will be UC's network HMO provider. PacifiCare of California and PacifiCare of Nevada will no longer be offered. However, Health Net benefits and primary care doctors are virtually the same and UC is working to ensure there is as little disruption as possible. The Kaiser and WHA HMOs will continue to be offered.
- UC will offer most retirees new wellness benefits through StayWell.
For more information about medical plan changes and other information about Open Enrollment, see the At Your Service website and watch the mail for New Dimensions and your Open Enrollment packet, both due after mid-October.