U-M Premier Care to be offered during 2008 Open Enrollment

Updated 11:00 AM August 13, 2007

U-M Premier Care to be offered during 2008 Open Enrollment

By Dave Reid
Human Resource Communications

U-M Premier Care will be a new choice for medical coverage in 2008 during this year's Open Enrollment period, Oct. 8-19. The new plan was created by the University to replace the M-CARE HMO when all M-CARE plans (HMO, PPO and POS plans) are discontinued at the end of the year.

Consider the U-M Premier Care plan if you:
• Want a plan like an HMO to lower your out-of-pocket costs
• Want access to all UMHS providers
• Agree to choose a primary care physician from a list of approved providers
• Will consult with your primary care physician for all services and referrals to specialists
• Will follow plan requirements to receive coverage for emergency services
• Live in Michigan (dependents of U-M Premier Care participants who reside outside the service area may be eligible for coverage after registering with U-M Premier Care for approval).
For more, go to www.umich.edu/~benefits/events/oe/.

This change does not affect prescription drug coverage, which will continue to be provided through the U-M Prescription Drug Plan. Blue Care Network of Michigan will administer the U-M Premier Care medical plan, which will be offered only at the University.

"Since many members of our community were enrolled in the M-CARE HMO, the University designed the new plan to closely replicate the M-CARE plan." says Laurita Thomas, associate vice president for human resources. "The new plan's name, U-M Premier Care, reflects both the quality of coverage and the fact that it will be offered only at the University of Michigan."

U-M Premier Care will feature a provider network that includes all U-M providers and nearly the entire current M-CARE provider network. It also will operate like the M-CARE HMO with standard office visit co-pays and no annual deductible.

"We expect U-M Premier Care to be a very cost-effective managed care option," says Marty Eichstadt, director of benefits. "But it's particularly important this year, as M-CARE plans are eliminated, that we pay careful attention to the plan comparison charts available on the Benefits Office Web site and in the Open Enrollment books. Learning about all the plans and their differences will help ensure we choose the most cost-effective option that fully meets the medical needs and circumstances of ourselves and our dependents."

Individuals currently enrolled in any M-CARE plan who do not choose a new plan during Open Enrollment automatically will be enrolled in the U-M Premier Care plan for 2008. Automatic enrollment protects plan members from a lapse in coverage if they fail to elect a new plan by the end of Open Enrollment Oct. 19.

The U-M Medical Plans available in 2008 are:

• U-M Premier Care
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Community Blue PPO
• Priority Health (formerly Care Choices)
• Health Alliance Plan
• BCBSM Comprehensive Major Medical
• GradCare (for benefits-eligible graduate students).

Detailed information about Open Enrollment and all health plans, including U-M Premier Care, is available now on the Benefits Office Web site. It includes plan comparison charts and premium rates for 2008, and an online database of U-M Premier Care participating providers will be added by Sept. 1. For more information, go to www.umich.edu/~benefits/events/oe.

U-M Premier Care to be offered during 2008 Open Enrollment

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