For Baltimore County employees only.
Open Enrollment month for Baltimore County-sponsored group benefit plans will take place this year from July 7 through July 31.
The County strives to provide the best coverage and add needed enhancements at little or no additional cost. Two such enhancements are being added effective with the plan year that begins September 1, 2008. Specifically, the CareFirst Triple Choice plan is adding a disease management component to its existing plan services and the Optimum Choice HMO plan will become the United Healthcare Choice Open Access HMO. In addition to these positive plan changes, the County will fully absorb the cost of premium inflationary increases that will be effective September 1, 2008—employees will not pay increased premiums due to healthcare plan rate increases. The only increases employees will pay are attributable to planned subsidy level changes.
Over the longer term, as new employees are hired in Baltimore County they will be offered benefits that more accurately reflect changes in life expectancy and in the real costs of health care that have evolved since the establishment of the County Retirement system in 1945.
CareFirst Triple Choice Plan
- Added a disease management program at no additional cost to employees. This program is designed to help employees manage conditions to achieve the best possible quality of life. The conditions covered include diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
Kaiser Permanente Select HMO Plan (non Medicare)
United Healthcare Choice Open Access HMO Plan
- No primary care physician selection required
- National Network allowing self-referral to specialists in the network
- In network providers for employees and dependents living out of state
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy now allows 40 visits each per contract year—previously combined three therapies limited to 40 visits per condition.
- Rx copays for mail order maintenance drugs decreasing--you will receive up to a 3 month supply for 2 copays
The County will fully absorb the cost of premium inflationary increases that will be effective September 1, 2008—employees will not pay increased premiums due to healthcare plan rate increases. The only increases employees will pay are attributable to planned subsidy level changes. Effective September 1, 2008, the County share of premium cost for the Triple Choice plan will be 83 percent with employees paying 17 percent of premium for that plan.
The County share of premium cost for both United Healthcare Choice Open Access HMO and Kaiser HMO plans will be 94 percent with employees paying 6 percent for those plans. The employee share of premium cost for the Traditional Dental plan will decrease with the County now contributing 55 percent in 2008, and by 5 percent each year thereafter until County share of premium reaches 75 percent.
The County will fully absorb the cost of premium inflationary increases that will be effective September 1, 2008—employees will not pay increased premiums due to healthcare plan rate increases. Employees who were hired on or after July 1, 2007 will have premium costs based on a County subsidy of 80 percent of the plan cost for Triple Choice and 90 percent of the plan cost for the HMO plans for Individual coverage.
If those employees are including dependents on their plans, the County will pay 75 percent of the difference in cost between the Individual premium and premium that includes one or more dependents. The employee share of premium cost for the Traditional Dental plan will decrease with the County now contributing 55 percent in 2008, and by 5 percent each year thereafter until County share of premium reaches 75 percent.
The County will fully absorb the cost of premium inflationary increases that will be effective September 1, 2008—retirees will not pay increased premiums due to healthcare plan rate increases. The only increases retirees will pay are attributable to planned subsidy level changes. Please refer to the Retiree Benefit Guide for retirees prior to July 1, 2007 and the Retiree Benefit Guide for those retired on or after July 1, 2007 and hired prior to July 1, 2007 for Retiree Premium Costs.
Active Employees who must enroll online at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/my benefits in July of 2008 include:
any employee enrolling in a Medical, Dental or Vision plan for the first time.
any employee who wants to change their health or dental plan election.
any employee who wants to add an eligible dependent to their benefit plan(s)
any employee who needs to remove a dependent who is no longer eligible for benefits.
any employee who wants to continue a Flexible Spending Account for Day Care Expenses or for Health Care Expenses.
any employee who wants to enroll for the first time in a Day Care or Health Care Flexible Spending Account.
anyone who wishes to change from their current medical plan to the new United Healthcare Choice Open Access HMO.
anyone currently enrolled in the Optimum Choice HMO that does not wish to be automatically enrolled in the new United Healthcare Choice Open Access HMO.
Retirees will have the option of completing a paper application or enrolling online. Contact the County's Insurance Division at 410-887-2568 to request an application or assistance with online enrollment.
The Benefit Guide for active employees, contains plan descriptions and plan costs for all County benefit plans. Instructions for enrolling online are provided on the last pages of the Guide. Active employees will receive the Guide from payroll preparers in late June and early July.
Retirees will receive the 2008 Retiree Benefit Guide at their homes in late June and early July. You can also download the Retiree Benefit Guide.
New Employees
New County employees are required to complete benefit applications online within 31 days of their hire date. Benefits will become effective on the first of the month after the online application is completed and approved. New employees can download a copy of the Benefit Guide for Employee hired on or after July 1, 2007 with plan costs and descriptions for review.
Retirees
New Retirees are required to complete a Retiree Health Care Application prior to their retirement date. In order to qualify for County health insurance coverage when you retire, three basic requirements must be met: - Retirees must have a minimum of ten (10) years County service upon retirement
- Retirees must have been eligible for benefits while employed with Baltimore County;
- and, the retiree and/or beneficiary must be receiving a retirement check sufficient to cover the retiree's or beneficiary's share of the health plan premium.
Retirees accepting employment outside the County that includes health plan coverage cannot participate in both the County plan and another employer plan at the same time. If the retiree declines County benefit coverage due to the availability of other health plan coverage, reinstatement in County benefit plans is allowed if that coverage is lost as long as the County retirement check amount is sufficient to cover the retiree's share of health plan premium.
The amount you will pay for benefit plan participation is based on the number of years of creditable service with Baltimore County, the date of your retirement, and the type of retirement (service or disability).
For more information on Retiree plans and costs you can download a copy of the Retiree Benefit Guide.
Revised July 10, 2008
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