Open Enrollment is right around the corner!

Open Enrollment is scheduled for April 19-May 5 and we will be sending more detailed information soon. In the meantime, we want to give you a heads up of what to expect for the 2023-2024 Plan Year.

The key changes plan participants can expect are updates to the salary tiers for premium contributions, as well as a reduction in copays for many Outpatient Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder (MH/SUD) service providers.

These changes are being implemented to help combat rising health care costs while minimizing the financial impact on our plan members.

Rising health care costs

Health care costs continue to rise nationally and UNM is not immune to the effects. While costs are increasing, our self-funded model makes sure that 94% of premiums you pay go directly toward health care claims for you and your fellow plan members. Only 6% of premiums are used for plan administration by entities such as BCBS, Presbyterian and CVS.

Salary tier changes

To help offset the cost increases, the salary tiers for premium contributions have been expanded. While the actual dollar amount that employees pay each month is dependent on their enrollment choices and family coverage, many will see a decrease in their percentage of the premium contribution, with UNM picking up a larger portion of the cost. Others will see no change in their contribution percentage. No salary level will see their employee contribution percentage increase.

Refer to the chart (below) to see the current and new contribution percentages for your salary level. To see the new rates for 2023-2024 Plan Year and how your monthly payments may change for your salary level, please refer to the medical rate schedule found here.

Copay reduction for mental health services

Mental health services have never been more important, so we are increasing access to providers at the minimum copay level, including for virtual care via the BCBS MDLIVE and Presbyterian Video Visits platforms. Currently, copays for Outpatient MH/SUD services range from $10 to $35 depending on the provider. For the 2023-2024 Plan Year, copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 providers under both the UNM LoboHealth and Presbyterian Health Plan will be set at $10 for both in-person and virtual care.

What is NOT changing

Despite increasing health care costs, all copays (other than MH/SUD), coinsurance, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum levels will remain the same for medical and prescription drug benefits. Also, there will be no change to dental plans through Delta Dental of NM, vision coverage through VSP, or the life, long-term and short-term disability insurance offered through The Hartford.

Expect additional communications from HR Benefits as we get closer to, and throughout, the Open Enrollment period.

Questions? Email us at hrbenefits@unm.edu