Penn State Intercom......August 29, 2002

Health plan switch should cause
little change for employees

More details have been worked out in the University's upcoming change in health-care benefits. While the University will continue to offer Health America HMO in all areas where it is available, it has decided not to offer Geisinger health plans after Dec. 31 for faculty and staff residing in a number of counties.

"When we looked at the health plans, we looked at the services provided, the physician networks available and each plan's willingness to support faculty and staff in managing their health-care and wellness needs," said Billie Willits, associate vice president for human resources. "In the end, we chose the plans we felt would best serve our faculty and staff."

The elimination of the Geisinger plans will not result in a significant change in cost, health-care coverage or access to health-care providers for the majority of Geisinger enrollees. Health America maintains a contract with both Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger physicians, so employees who currently are enrolled in the Geisinger plans will, for the most part, be able to keep seeing the same doctors they have been seeing.

"The University recognizes that some faculty and staff have unique health-care needs, and the Employee Benefits staff is available to work with them," Willits said.

For more information about specific doctors, check the Employee Benefits Web site at http://www.ohr.psu.edu/benefits/. The site provides a link to Health America's provider database. It also contains more detailed information about these changes, including answers to some commonly asked questions.

The University plans to continue offering Geisinger Health Plans in Northeast Pennsylvania until other arrangements are viable. Those counties are Bradford, Carbon, Lackawana, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming. The University also plans to expand Keystone Western HMO coverage in certain counties in Northwest Pennsylvania. All other health plans will remain unchanged.

"The University wants to provide the best possible coverage to its employees, while doing its best to keep employee costs down. Increasing the availability of Health America coverage will enhance the overall cost-effectiveness and quality of health-care coverage offered through the University," Willits said. "The University would like to provide access to a variety of health-care plans and the decision to limit those is made only after considering a number of issues and alternatives."

As in the past, faculty and staff are able to make changes in health-care coverage or providers during the November open-enrollment period. These changes will be effective Jan. 1. Benefits Time To Choose information will be available to faculty and staff in early October.

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