Health Care Benefits 2024
2024 Employee Benefits
Carthage College is committed to being an outstanding place to work. Part of this commitment lies in the continuous evaluation of the benefits offered to Carthage employees. In 2024, Carthage will offer:
- Medical and prescription drug coverage
- Dental Insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Disability income protection
- Critical illness
- Pet insurance
The College offers Medical and prescription drug programs through United Healthcare. Under our provider, we offer a choice among three different medical plans in the ChoicePlus Network that provide comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage as well as a savers plan coverage option. More information can be found in the 2024 Benefits Guide. These plans also offer many resources and tools to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. To find an in-network provider, visit https://www.uhc.com/find-a-doctor. You can also download a helpful UnitedHealthcare App to have access to additional useful information. More details can be found in the 2024 Summary Plan Description.
This plan gives you the freedom to seek care from the provider of your choice. However, you will maximize your benefits and reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you choose a provider who participates in the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network. The calendar-year deductible must be met before certain services are covered.
PPO Summary of Benefits and Coverage 2024
PPO Certificate of Coverage 2024
Like the PPO plan, a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) gives you the freedom to seek care from the provider of your choice. You will maximize your benefits and reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you choose a provider who participates in the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network. In addition, the HDHP comes with a health savings account (HSA) that allows you to save pre-tax dollars to pay for any qualified healthcare expenses as defined by the IRS, including most out-of-pocket medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision expenses.
View a complete list of qualified healthcare expenses›
Here’s How the High Deductible Plan Works
Annual Deductible
You must meet the entire annual deductible before the plan starts to pay for non-preventive medical and prescription drug expenses. Note: Benefits begin to be paid once one family member meets the individual embedded deductible.
Coinsurance
Once you’ve met the plan’s annual deductible, you are responsible for a percentage of your medical expenses, which is called coinsurance. For example, the plan may pay 80 percent, and you may pay 20 percent.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum
Once your deductible and coinsurance add up to the plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum, the plan will pay 100 percent of all eligible covered services for the rest of the calendar year. Note: Once one family member meets the individual embedded out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays covered benefits in full for that individual.
Like the PPO plan, a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) gives you the freedom to seek care from the provider of your choice. You will maximize your benefits and reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you choose a provider who participates in the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network. In addition, the HDHP is eligible for an HSA that allows you to save pre-tax dollars to pay for any qualified health care expenses as defined by the IRS, including most out-of-pocket medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision expenses.
View a complete list of qualified healthcare expenses›
Note: A HSA is not automatically opened for you on this plan, but you are able to open one through the bank of your choosing.
Here’s How the Plan Works
Annual Deductible
You must meet the entire annual deductible before the plan starts to pay for non-preventive medical and prescription drug expenses. Note: Benefits begin to be paid once one family member meets the individual embedded deductible.
Coinsurance
Once you’ve met the plan’s annual deductible, you are responsible for a percentage of your medical expenses, which is called coinsurance. For example, the plan may pay 80 percent, and you may pay 20 percent.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum
Once your deductible and coinsurance add up to the plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum, the plan will pay 100 percent of all eligible covered services for the rest of the calendar year. Note: Once one family member meets the individual embedded out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays covered benefits in full for that individual
You may contribute to your HSA through pre-tax payroll deductions to help offset your annual deductible and pay for qualified health care expenses. In addition, the college will contribute $900 annually for individuals, $1,200 for employees & spouses, and $1,500 for families to your HSA account. To be eligible for the HSA, you cannot be covered through Medicare Part A or Part B or TRICARE programs. See the HSA Plan Documents for full details.
Important: Your contributions, in addition to the college contributions, may not exceed the annual IRS limits listed below.
HSA Contribution Limit 2024
- Employee Only $4,150
- Family (employee + 1 or more) $8,300
- Catch-up (age 55+) $1,000
*Maximums include employer and employee contributions combined.
Your HSA is yours for life. The money is yours to spend or save, regardless of whether you change health plans, retire, or leave the College. There is no “use it or lose it” rule. Your account grows tax-free over time as you continue to roll over unused dollars from year to year. You decide how or if you want to spend your HSA funds. You can use them to pay for you and your dependents’ doctor’s visits, prescriptions, braces, glasses—even laser vision correction surgery.
We provide you with an opportunity to participate in up to three different flexible spending accounts (FSAs) administered through Diversified Benefit Services. FSAs allow you to set aside a portion of your income, before taxes, to pay for qualified health care and/or dependent care expenses. Because that portion of your income is not taxed, you pay less in federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes.
Plans include:
Limited-purpose FSA (Vision and Dental)
Health Care FSA For 2024, you may contribute up to $3,200 to cover qualified health care expenses incurred by you, your spouse, and your children up to age 26. You may contribute up to $3,200 to a limited-purpose FSA, and you may also contribute up to $5,000 to a dependent care FSA. The new carryover limit has increased to $640.
Some qualified expenses include:
- Coinsurance
- Copayments
- Deductibles
- Prescriptions
- Dental treatment
- Orthodontia
- Eye exams/ eyeglasses
- Lasik eye surgery
View a complete list of qualified healthcare expenses›
If you enroll in the HSA medical plan, you may not participate in the health care FSA, but you are able to participate in the limited FSA
Learn about the Diversified Benefit Services app
Learn about the prepaid benefits card
If you enroll in the HSA medical plan, you may only participate in a limited-purpose Health Care FSA. This type of FSA allows you to be reimbursed for eligible dental, orthodontia, and vision expenses, up to $3,050 per year while preserving your HSA funds for eligible medical expenses.
For 2024, you may contribute up to $5,000 (per family) to cover eligible dependent care expenses ($2,500 if you and your spouse file separate tax returns). Some eligible expenses include the care of a dependent child under the age of 13 by babysitters, nursery schools, pre-schools, or daycare centers. Care of a household member who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for him/herself and qualifies as your federal tax-dependent
With the selected plan from Delta Dental, employees have the ability to choose a primary dental provider to manage their care. There are no charges for most preventive services, no claim forms, and no deductibles. Reduced, pre-set charges apply to other services.
Create an Online Delta Dental Account
Benefits work best when you use them. And we want to make understanding your dental benefits easy. Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s online member portal lets you review your benefits or message a customer experience specialist when it is convenient for you. The more you know, the better your oral health can be.
Register for an online Delta Dental account›
TeleDental Services
Delta Dental is partnering with TeleDentistry.com to offer 24/7 access to virtual dental care to members at no additional cost. Teledentistry is a convenient, safe, and effective way to receive immediate care. Delta Dental members can access this service with a smartphone, tablet, or computer with audio/visual capabilities. In addition to virtual consultation, a TeleDentistry.com dentist can write prescriptions when appropriate and refer to an in-network dentist if additional treatment is needed.
The vision plan powered by EyeMed gives you the freedom to seek care from the provider of your choice. However, you will maximize your benefits and reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you choose a provider who participates in the EyeMed Select Network. For a list of the most convenient Vision Care provider locations, you may visit the Delta Dental website, the EyeMed Vision Care website, or call EyeMed customer service.
Create an Online EyeMed Account
Benefits work best when you use them. And we want to make understanding your dental benefits easy. Delta Dental of Wisconsin’s online member portal lets you review your benefits or message a customer experience specialist when it is convenient for you. The more you know, the better your oral health can be.
The average cost of a hospital stay is $10,000—and the average length of a stay is 4.8 days. Hospital indemnity insurance can help reduce costs by paying you or a covered dependent a benefit to help cover your deductible, coinsurance and other out-of-pocket costs due to a covered sickness or injury-related hospitalization. This coverage is offered through UnitedHealthcare for yourself and your eligible family members. More information can be found on the Summary of Benefits (bi-weekly and semi-monthly), and Wellness Rewards Program, along with the informational video.
Accident insurance can soften the financial impact of an accidental injury by paying a benefit to you to help cover the unexpected out-of-pocket costs related to treating your injuries. This coverage is offered through UnitedHealthcare for yourself and your eligible family members. For more information, please review the Summary of Benefits (semi-monthly and bi-weekly), Wellness Rewards Program, as well as an informational video.
Did you know that the average total out-of-pocket cost related to treating a critical illness is over $7,000? With critical illness insurance, you’ll receive a lump-sum benefit if you are diagnosed with a covered condition that you can use however you would like, including to help pay for treatment (e.g. experimental), prescriptions, travel, increased living expenses, and more. This coverage is offered through UnitedHealthcare for yourself and your eligible family members. You can elect a payout in the amount of either $10,000 or $20,000. For more information, please review the Summary of Benefits (semi-monthly cost table and bi-weekly cost table), Wellness Rewards Program, as well as an informational video.
Typical Covered Conditions Include:
- Heart Attack
- Benign Brain Tumor
- Stroke
- Blindness
- Cancer
- Major Organ Failure
Pet insurance covers your dog or cat in case of unexpected injuries or illness. It’s a financial safety net in case of accidents, injuries, illnesses, and chronic conditions. Pet insurance reimburses you up to 90% of those eligible vet bills.
Your UnitedHealthcare plan comes with a new way to earn up to $300. UnitedHealthcare Rewards is included in your health plan at no additional cost.
There will be several opportunities to learn more about this year’s benefits. Informational sessions will be held on the following days. Open Enrollment benefit elections will open on Nov. 17 and will run through Dec. 1. All benefits-eligible employees will need to elect or waive benefits in the Workday system. The Human Resources team is also more than happy to provide personal assistance in navigating the portal.
November 14th: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm TWC 128C
November 14th: 4:00 pm-5:00 pm TWC Jockey A
November 16th: 12:00 pm-1:00 pm TWC 128C
November 16th: 4:00 pm-5:00 pm TWC Jockey A
All benefits-eligible Carthage College employees should take the following steps to elect or waive coverage for the year. This can be done within the first 30 days of employment, following a qualifying life event, or during the open enrollment period:
- Step 1: Review the 2024 Benefits Guide and 2024 Rate Sheet to pick the plan that is right for you and your family.
- Step 2: Attend an informational session
- Step 3: Log into the Workday system starting on Friday, November 17, and follow the step-by-step instructions. The Workday system is accessible through OneLogin, and is also available in Spanish. All benefit-eligible employees will need to take action. If you do not wish to participate in Carthage College health care, you will need to waive coverage. If you would like to elect Carthage College health care, you will make your choices in the Workday system. Please review each box in the Workday system to elect or waive coverage.
Elections will start on Jan. 1, 2024, or during the 30-day election period for new employees.
More information related to CHIP, HIPPA privacy notifications, a notice of women’s health and cancer rights act, model general notice of COBRA continuation rights, a notice of special enrollment rights, and newborns and mothers disclosure notice can be found in the Annual Health Care Notification.