A new health plan option for 2017
Dear Colleagues:
While we've all been trying to enjoy the beautiful summer, one group of staff and faculty members has been busy concluding its work of assessing a new health care option and making a thoughtful recommendation to University leadership.
A committee comprised of representatives from all the benefits-eligible campus employee groups has been working since September to identify a less expensive health care plan option. They have thoroughly assessed one Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan health care plan and have come to the conclusion that it should be added as an option—an alternative to the BCBSM PPO that WMU already offers to employees.
The BCBSM Healthy Blue Living HMO is a wellness-focused plan that has lower payroll deductions and offers a number of incentives to participants. At the committee's urging, the University will offer the plan, beginning in January 2017. The plan will be an option for nonbargaining, benefits-eligible employees currently eligible for the BCBSM PPO medical, prescription drug, dental and vision plan. The new HMO plan will also be offered to benefits-eligible members of bargaining units that wish to have that same option. Human Resources Associate Vice President Warren Hills will be reaching out to the elected leadership of those bargaining units to determine which organizations wish to make the new plan an option for members.
In the coming months, a great deal of information on the new plan will be available to employees campuswide, and employee meetings will be held so that everyone has the information needed to make a good decision when the October/November open enrollment period begins. For those not interested in the new plan and who wish to stay with the existing PPO, no additional action will be required.
For more information, please visit wmich.edu/hr/healthplanchoice. And please join me in thanking the committee that devoted so much time and effort to the task of bringing forth this recommendation. The members and the groups they represented are listed below. I hope their work has resulted in health plan choices that meet your needs.
Best regards,
John M. Dunn,
President
Employee Health Care Plan Committee—Employee Group Representatives:
Kevin Bridges—MSEA, Michigan State Employees Association
Kathi Cain-Babbitt—AFSCME,American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Abraham Hohnke—POA, Police Officers Association
Lynda Hunt—APA, Administrative Professional Association
Lisa Minnick—AAUP, American Association of University Professors
Dennis Moore—AFSCME,American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Shannon Rininger—PSSO, Professional Support Staff Organization
Bryan Sutton—AFSCME,American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Administrative Members:
Umar Abdul-Mutakallim—WMU Human Resources
Nancy Mansberger—Academic Affairs
Sue Rodia—WMU Human Resources
Warren Hills—WMU Human Resources