Medical Benefits
- Health Insurance Plan Options
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
- HealthSelect
- Compare Health Plans
- State Kids Insurance Program (SKIP)
Health Insurance Plan Options
The State of Texas provides employees with health coverage that includes medical care and prescription drug benefits. For full-time employees, coverage begins on the first day of the month after your 90th day on the job.
During your first 90 days of employment, you can sign up your dependents for health insurance with no questions asked and without evidence of insurability. Even if you or a family member has a chronic medical condition, coverage is guaranteed.
Employees are automatically enrolled in HealthSelect of Texas. If you choose to waive health coverage for yourself, you need to notify the Office of Human Resources.
For the latest information about the 2009-10 health insurance plans and rates, visit this news page at the ERS Web site.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Although employees are automatically enrolled in HealthSelect of Texas, you may switch to a health maintenance organization (HMO) through Scott & White Health Plan. An advantage of the HMO option is that evidence of insurability is not required. Following this option, you must use doctors and hospitals in the network for services to be covered. Out-of-network providers can only be used in cases of emergency.
To recieve information specifically about the Scott & White Health Plan available to ASU employees, access these Scott & White pages via the ERS Web site.
The HMO plan is new to ASU employees and will take effect Sept. 1, 2009. These are the monthly rates established for Sept. 1, 2009-Aug. 31, 2010:
| Members Pay | |
|---|---|
| Member only | $0.00 |
| Member and spouse | $245.50 |
| Member and children | $164.38 |
| Family | $409.88 |
HMO Prescription Drug Plan
The Scott & White Health Plan includes prescription drug coverage that is administered by Scott & White Health Plan and Scott & White Prescription Services.
For more information and a complete list of participating pharmacies, visit the Scott & White pages of the ERS Web site.
HealthSelect
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Texas administers the HealthSelect plan. On the BCBS Web site , you can send e-mails about your policy, participate in live Web chats, look up a physician, designate a primary care provider (PCP) and use other tools. To register online, you will need your group number and policy number. Following this plan, you choose a HealthSelect PCP and that doctor refers you to specialists and other providers within the network. When you stay in the network, you reduce your costs.
These are the monthly rates established for Sept. 1, 2009-Aug. 31, 2010:
| Members Pay | |
|---|---|
| Member only | $0.00 |
| Member and spouse | $220.32 |
| Member and children | $147.52 |
| Family | $367.84 |
For more details about this plan, visit these HealthSelect pages of the ERS Web site.
HealthSelect Prescription Drug Plan
Prescription drug coverage with the HealthSelect plan requires that a $50 deductible be met for each person each year.
To see what level of coverage your prescription medications fall under, visit the Caremark Web site. For more information, call Caremark at 1-888-886-8490.
If you are interested in mail-order prescriptions, you need to register at the Caremark Web site.
Compare Health Plans
Please use this comparison chart to view your out-of-pocket expenses for both the HealthSelect and HMO plans. For more information, call BCBS at 1-800-252-8039 or Scott & White at 1-800-321-7947.
State Kids Insurance Program (SKIP)
SKIP is provided by the State of Texas to help lower-income employees afford their children’s health insurance. If you qualify, you pay only $15 or $25 a month of your children’s health insurance premiums and SKIP picks up the rest. You can apply for SKIP any time of the year.
To Qualify
Apply if you:
- Meet family income size guidelines (view this chart for details).
- Have children eligible for state insurance younger than 19 living with you in Texas.
- Are not eligible for Medicaid.
- Have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
- Are an active employee eligible for health insurance in the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program.
To Apply
View the SKIP Application Instructions on the ERS Web site or ask the Office of Human Resources for a copy.
Once you complete every section, send your application to the address at the top of the form. For more information, view the SKIP Health Premium Rates and Contributions, visit the ERS Web site or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669).
