Eligible employees of UAB, UAB Hospital, and UAB Hospital Management LLC must choose or decline health care coverage during the annual open enrollment Oct. 22-Nov. 8. In addition to the consumer-driven health plan Viva Choice, the traditional health plans from Viva Health and Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) are available for 2022. Employees also may opt to secure dental and vision benefits through separate plans offered.
This is an active enrollment, which means any benefit-eligible employee who does not select a 2022 health care plan option during the enrollment period will not have UAB-provided health care coverage (medical, dental, vision) beginning January 2022.
Health plan rates flat or decreased
For the second year, UAB employees will be offered premiums that are mostly flat. Rates for Viva Choice, Viva Access and BCBS will remain the same as this year, and Viva UAB will have a small increase. Chief Human Resources Officer Alesia Jones says the UAB Benefits office and employee-led Benefits Committee worked to expand coverage and contain costs for their colleagues and the institution during this pandemic. “We always set out to improve the value of our medical plans for our employees, and we appreciate the hard work that makes it possible, year after year.”
Refer to the chart for rates based on provider and tier selection.
Premium assistance returns
To ease the cost of medical premiums for qualified employees, UAB offers a premium-assistance program for eligible employees on a UAB health plan. This year the subsidy is available to employees whose household income, based on family size, is two (2) times the federal poverty level or less.
Employees must apply with the Benefits office directly each year during Open Enrollment. Those who qualify will be eligible for a fixed amount each payroll for the 2022 plan year — equivalent to the cost of single employee insurance through Viva Choice.
Vision and dental plans
In 2022 premiums for dental plans also will remain flat, and premiums for vision plans will decrease. UAB offers its stand-alone vision benefit through Vision Service Plan, which provides coverage for routine eye exams, lenses and frames, contacts — both in and outside its network — plus discounts for LASIK eye surgery (in-network only) and other special discounts to plan members. Employees also may choose basic coverage or a premier plan option that includes new replacement frames every year.
UAB offers eligible employees a choice of two stand-alone dental plans — basic or comprehensive coverage provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.
Refer to the chart for rates based on plan options and tier selection.
Need help?
All the information employees need to make their selections will be collected in the open enrollment toolkit in the UAB for Me benefits portal. This includes plan details, educational pieces, FAQs, decision-making tools and other resources that can help you make selections.
Employees who want assistance sorting through the options have several choices to help them select the one best suited for their household:
- A plan-shopping application is available during the online open enrollment process.
- HR consultants or HR Benefits representatives are available in individual schools/departments for your convenience.
Employees may contact their HR consultant or the UAB Benefits office, benefits@uab.edu or 934-3458.
All elections will be effective Jan. 1, 2022, and premiums for medical, dental and vision coverage will be reflected in the January 2022 payroll.
More on open enrollment:
Information about benefit options is being provided to better enable you to make the best choices for your household.Previous:
5 things to know about open enrollment
Consumer-driven health plan continues to gain favor
3 traditional health plan options available in 2022
Dental coverage from BCBS is available
Vision coverage from VSP is available
Next: Ways to contain costs