Health Benefits: What's New
2022 Year-End Issue
Change is afoot to help us provide enhanced products, services, and resources to all our clients.
Group Medicare Advantage for Retirees
What are some retirees saying about their health benefits since we introduced UnitedHealthcare’s Group Medicare Advantage in January 2022?
“I found out in January that I have leukemia. A one-month supply of my medication costs $14,000, but with my Group Medicare Advantage prescription coverage, I’ve paid only $36 per month. On top of that, I knew I would be needing hearing aids, so I chose the Premium plan for the higher coverage. Sure enough, I now have a brand-new pair of expensive hearing aids that didn’t cost me a penny!”
-- The Rev. Charles (“Chuck”) Chapman, retired, Magnolia, Arkansas
“When we switched to Group Medicare Advantage this year, I chose the less costly Comprehensive plan. The savings from choosing that plan now covers the cost of a premium Medical Trust dental plan. I was paying extra for that coverage before, so it’s like I’m getting $190 more in my benefits check each month.”
-- Chris Gray, Lead Chaplain to the Retired, Southwest Florida
“Last May, UnitedHealthcare offered me the opportunity to participate cost-free in an eight-week counseling program with Able To. I recently completed my seventh session and I want you to know how life-changing this experience has been for me and to thank you for the compassionate care you are extending to retirees and their families through this program! I have experienced a new awareness and even an epiphany!”
-- Christine W. Moser, spouse of a retired priest, Bel Air, Maryland
While we have heard extensive positive feedback, we do understand that some retirees have questions and concerns. Members with queries can always call UnitedHealthcare Member Services for Group Medicare Advantage at (866) 519-5401, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday. In addition, stay tuned for details of the webinar we will be hosting to facilitate additional conversation about navigating Group Medicare Advantage.
Health Benefit Updates for Active Employees
Active members of The Episcopal Church Medical Trust* will have access to a variety of updated benefits for the 2023 plan year (January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023), including these:
- The lifetime fertility benefit maximum will increase to a combined $50,000 for medical and pharmacy services (an increase from the lifetime benefit maximum of $10,000 each for medical and pharmacy services).
- Deductibles, copays, and coinsurance will continue to be waived via the health plan carrier telehealth platforms.1
- The annual eyeglass frames or contact lenses allowance will increase from $150 to $200.
- The benefit maximum of $3,000 every three years for hearing aid devices will no longer have a per-ear maximum.
- Travel vaccines will be covered.
- All copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for healthcare services relating to the evaluation and testing for COVID-19 will continue to be waived.
See CPG’s 2023 Annual Enrollment Guide for full descriptions of each 2023 plan design update.
Comments? Questions? Concerns? CPG is listening. Please reach out to us at corpcomm@cpg.org
1 For Anthem and Cigna PPO members and Kaiser EPO members, all services received via vendor telehealth platforms are available to members with no deductible, copay, or coinsurance through December 31, 2023. For CDHP (Consumer Directed Health Plan) members, while temporary legislation currently permits the Medical Trust to provide first-dollar coverage of vendor telehealth platform services, there is no guarantee that this relief will be extended beyond December 31, 2022. If Congress does not extend this relief, during 2023, CDHP members will be required to meet their deductible before carrier telehealth services will be covered with no copay or coinsurance.