The University offers two medical plans through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama – High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and the Preferred Provider Organization Plan (PPO). Both plans allow the participants the freedom to seek care from any licensed medical provider, but they will have lower out-of-pocket costs if in-network Blue Cross and Blue Shield Preferred medical providers are used. In-network providers are hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers who have agreed to accept negotiated fees as payment in-full for services provided to plan participants.
| HDHP w/HSA | PPO | |
|---|---|---|
| Premiums: | Lower | Higher |
| Deductibles: | Higher | Lower |
| Member Cost Share*: | Coinsurance (20%) | Copayments |
| Tax Favored Accounts: | Health Savings Account & Dependent Care FSA | Healthcare FSA & Dependent Care FSA |
The HDHP can be combined with a health savings account (HSA), helping employees pay for certain qualified medical expenses with tax-free money. According to IRS regulations, any non-single HDHP contract is considered a family contract for purposes of deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and contributions.
Employee Cost Share Comparison (In Network)
| First-Dollar Deductible: | HDHP w/HSA | PPO |
|---|---|---|
| Employee: | $1,500 | $400 |
| Family without a Spouse: | $3,000 per contract | $400 per person |
| Family with a Spouse: | $3,000 per contract | $400 per person |
| Out-of-Pocket Maximum: | HDHP w/HSA | PPO |
| Employee: | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Family without a Spouse: | $7,000 per contract | $14,300 per contract* |
| Family with a Spouse: | $7,000 per contract | $14,300 per contract* |
* For the PPO out-of-pocket maximum, no one family member will exceed $5,000 in medical and/or pharmacy costs per year.
Other Covered Services and Preferred Providers and Facilities are the same for both plans. Preventive care and routine screenings are covered at 100% for both plans (not subject to any deductibles). For a comprehensive list of services, visit www.AlabamaBlue.com/preventiveservices.
Network Information: To locate an in-network provider, use the Find a Doctor tool provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama.
Setup Your myBlueCross Account
All Blue Cross medical and/or dental plan participants receive complimentary access to myBlueCross at www.AlabamaBlue.com or the Alabama Blue mobile app. With myBlueCross, you can access digital ID cards, view claim statements and prescription history (i.e., Explanation of Benefits), track your deductible and out-of-pocket spending, communicate with Customer Service, find an in-network doctor or facility, view a list of preventive services, find covered prescription drug lists, complete a free health assessment and more. Beginning April 28, 2022, Blue Cross will introduce two factor authentication (2FA) to myBlueCross. 2FA provides an added level of security for your myBlueCross account by requiring an extra security code along with your username and password.
Teladoc
Teladoc is a telemedicine company that uses telephone and videoconferencing technology to provide 24/7 on-demand remote, medical care for acute, non-emergency illnesses. The cost per Teladoc visit is $55 compared to a regular office visit of $70-$100. Visit Teladoc.com/Alabama or call 1-855-477-4549 for additional information.
| Deductible Status | PPO | HDHP |
|---|---|---|
| Cost before deductible is met | $55 per visit | $55 per visit |
| Cost after deductible is met | $20 copay per visit | $9 coinsurance per visit |
Diabetes Disease Management
Increases in the number of people living longer with chronic conditions coupled with rising health care expenditures have spurred The University of Alabama to look for ways to reduce costs for our self-funded health plan. The University offers disease management programs, Virta and Livongo, designed to improve the health of persons with specific chronic conditions and to reduce health care service costs associated with avoidable complications, such as emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Click on the links below to find information on UA’s medical plans.
- 2023 PPO Medical Plan Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
- 2023 HDHP Medical Plan Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
- 2023 PPO Medical Plan Matrix
- 2023 HDHP with HSA Matrix
- 2023 PPO Medical Summary Plan Description (SPD)
- 2023 HDHP Medical Summary Plan Description (SPD)
- Insurance for International Travel
The University of Alabama has returned to Prime Therapeutics as our pharmacy benefit management company as of January 1, 2019. More information is available on the Pharmacy Benefits webpage.
Transparency in Coverage Rule: The link below leads to the machine-readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.
Healthcare Plan Name: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
Plan Sponsor: The University of Alabama – Main Campus
EIN: 63-6001138