• Open Enrollment dates: October 26 - November 8, 2017.
  
• Open Enrollment brochure: It has all the basic Open Enrollment facts. We also mailed a copy to your home.

• Enrollment instructions: Step-by-step instruction and pointers.

• 2018 Clinic Directory and Rate Guide.

Want the latest benefits info?

Receive text message updates by texting “mn segip” to 468311.

What’s open?

All insurance benefits are available for election during this Open Enrollment! Do not miss this opportunity to enroll in:

• Medical. You can change your carrier and add or drop coverage. Contact your carrier if you want to change primary care clinic (PCC).

• Health Assessment. Take the health assessment during Open Enrollment. It’s your gateway to wellness programs and a $5 office visit copay reduction for you and your dependents during 2018. (More below.)

• Dental. Dental benefits remain the same as in 2017.

The Minnesota Legislature's Subcommittee on Employee Relations did not approve the state employee labor agreements on Oct. 5, 2017. That means we cannot offer the new and enhanced dental benefits for 2018, and the current 2017 dental benefits will remain in effect for 2018.

See our SEGIP News and Updates for more information about what will be offered. Here are the 2018 rates:

Dental Premium for 2018 (Updated – Oct. 6, 2017)

Monthly employee cost (with full employer contribution) is:

Single Coverage - $5.00

Family Coverage - $38.66

• Pre-tax spending account. Unlike all other benefits, pre-tax accounts do not continue from year-to-year. You must make a new election each year.

• Short Term Disability. It’s available during an Open Enrollment for the first time this century. You can enroll even if you have been turned down in the past.

• Long Term Disability. You may enroll or increase your coverage amount.

• Manager’s Income Protection Plan. Reduce the elimination period by 30 days.

• Life Insurance. You can add or increase Employee, Spouse, and Child Life insurance, within the specified amounts, without evidence of good health.

Membership cards

These vendors will send a new membership card to:

• All enrollees: CVS Caremark, HealthPartners, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Delta Dental, and HealthPartners Dental.
• Newly enrolled members, and existing members who changed their clinic or cost level: PreferredOne.
• Members who are newly enrolled in the MDEA, HRA, BVEA and those whose Benny card expires on December 31, 2017: 121 Benefits. (More below.)

Your gateway to more wellness

Take the StayWell health assessment. You will have access to activities and resources to improve your wellbeing whether you want to ramp up your activity level, dial down your stress, or work on a personal health goal.

Offerings include:

• Get started with the Daily Dash: Participate in five-minute, mini challenges to help build healthy habits to move more, eat well, stress less, and sleep tight. With small, attainable goals, you can dash your way to improved wellbeing.
• Achieve your goals with Self-Directed Coaching: StayWell’s online, do-it-yourself coaching program helps you set a health goal, identify the challenges you’ll face, and figure out how to overcome the hurdles.
• Talk to an expert health coach: With the support of your coach, you’ll develop an action plan tailored specifically to you. You can talk with a coach by phone as often as you need. Typically, people connect with their coach about once a month for 15 minutes.
• Personalize your experience: Make the StayWell portal your own. It allows you a variety of functions from syncing your wearable device to personalizing your homepage layout.  

Visit segip.staywell.com to complete your health assessment and to discover these additional benefits.

CVS Caremark is your new Pharmacy Benefit Manager

CVS Caremark will be SEGIP’s new Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM), beginning January 1, 2018.

You do not need to take any action during Open Enrollment. CVS Caremark will automatically manage prescriptions for all Minnesota Advantage Plan members.

CVS Caremark will mail you a Welcome Packet by the end of 2017 that provides important information. It will also include your new prescription card.

You will receive a letter from CVS Caremark outlining the transition to the new PBM if you are:

• Currently taking a drug that is not on the drug formulary
• Taking a specialty medication
• Using the mail order service
• Filling prescriptions that had an existing prior-authorization

By January 1, 2018, the pharmacy network and the drug formulary, as well as other resources, will be available on the CVS Caremark website.

Questions? Call CVS Caremark customer service at 1-844-345-3234.

121 Benefits is rolling out a new Debit Card

121 Benefits is transitioning from the red Benny card to a new, blue card called “Benefit Card.”

• You can use it at any eligible provider who accepts VISA.

• Your name, State of Minnesota, and the 121 Benefits logo will appear on the card.

• You will receive a new card this year if:

o  You are a new enrollee in the Medical/Dental Expense Account (MDEA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), or Bus Pass/Van Pool Expense Account (BVEA).

o  Your existing Benny card expires on December 31, 2017.

Otherwise, you will receive the new card in the year your Benny card expires.

• The new debit card will work just like the Benny card. The same IRS substantiation requirements will apply – so save your receipts.

Your new debit card will arrive in your mailbox in a plain white envelope. Keep an eye out for it. Replacements cost $10.

Debit cards make it easy to access your MDEA, HRA, and BVEA dollars. You can use it to pay for eligible expenses directly from your pre-tax account, eliminating the wait for reimbursement.

Pay for bus or light rail fares through your BVEA?  Only plastic will work.

Two major changes are effective January 1, 2018, if you use the Bus Pass/Vanpool Expense Account (BVEA):

1. Only pay for your bus passes and light rail purchases with your 121 Benefits-provided pre-tax debit card. If you pay another way, you won’t be reimbursed with your BVEA dollars.
2. You can only purchase bus and light rail fares from transit stations, transit service centers, transit providers’ websites, or transit mobile app. You won’t be reimbursed if you purchase these items from grocery or convenience stores. 

This change does not apply to vanpool expenses.

More information is available on the 121 Benefits website.

Your primary care clinic may be changing cost levels in 2018

Check your primary care clinic’s cost level during Open Enrollment. Your primary care clinic may change cost levels each year. Your clinic’s cost level determines your out-of-pocket costs for the year.

Did your primary care clinic change to a higher cost level? You have some options:

• Check to see if your primary care clinic is offered at a lower cost level by any of the three carriers (BlueCross BlueShield, HealthPartners, or PreferredOne). If so, you can elect to change your carrier during Open Enrollment.
• Elect a Medical/Dental Expense Account (MDEA) to pay your out-of-pocket costs on a pre-tax basis. (You can only do this during Open Enrollment.)
• Consider changing your primary care clinic. To change your primary care clinic, but not your carrier, call your carrier directly – even during Open Enrollment. Primary care clinic changes are effective the first of the month following the request date. You can find your carrier’s phone number on your medical ID card.

Advantage Value for Diabetes benefit

We are rolling out a new pilot program for Minnesota Advantage Health Plan members age 18 and older who are diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes. Beginning on January 1, 2018, this enhanced benefit will help you manage your diabetes while also saving you money.

• Advantage Value reduces out-of-pocket costs (copays and coinsurance) for certain high-value medical services related to diabetes, as well as for certain diabetes-related prescription drugs and testing supplies. High-value services reduce the progression of diabetes and the risk of costly complications.

• Eligible members do not need to enroll. Benefits will automatically be applied to eligible services, prescription drugs, and supplies through your health plan or CVS Caremark (SEGIP’s new pharmacy benefit manager in 2018). All members currently enrolled in a Diabetes Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program will automatically be transitioned into this new pilot program.

For more information about Advantage Value for Diabetes, please visit the SEGIP website.        

Employee Assistance Program expands to 5 in-person sessions

A call to LifeMatters Employee Assistance Program (EAP) connects you directly with specialists who will help you assess and plan for any situation. This service is available 24/7/365.

LifeMatters EAP has been expanded from 3 to a possible 5 sessions of in-person consultation per matter.

EAP is yours at no additional cost. There is no need to register. All state employees and your dependents are eligible.

EAP can help with a wide variety of life's matters from figuring out how to save for a house to helping you feel more confident at work.

Call LifeMatters EAP any time, any day at 800-657-3719, or connect with services online at mylifematters.com (password STMN1).