2011 Medical Benefit Changes

The Board of Trustees has initiated some benefit changes in order to keep the increase in the cost of coverage down for participants covered by the BCBS plan. These change only affect participants and dependents covered by the BCBS plan and DOES NOT affect any Medicare eligible participants covered by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Platinum blue and Senior Gold plans.

CHANGES STARTING JANUARY 1, 2011

Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Increase
Your deductible will increase from $500 per individual and $1,000 per family maximum to $750 per individual and $1,500 per family maximum.

IN-NETWORK Out-of-Pocket (OOP) maximum will increase from $1,000 per individual and $2,000 per family to $1,500 per individual and $3,000 per family.

OUT-OF-NETWORK OOP maximum will increase from $1,500 per individual and $3,000 per family to $3,000 per individual and $6,000 per family.

New Emergency Room Co-pay
A separate $100 Emergency Room (ER) co-pay will be applied to all ER visits effective January 1, 2011 (the co-pay will be waived if the patient is admitted to in-patient care).