Important 2027 Benefits Updates

2027 Premiums

For 2027, health insurance premiums will increase due to rising healthcare costs; however, they are lower than both the national and state averages.

  • State and higher education employees and retirees: Average health plan monthly premium increase is 7.9%
  • Local education employees and retirees: Average health plan monthly premium increase is 8.7%
  • Local government employees and retirees: Average health plan monthly premium increase is 10.5%

Your specific increase may be different based on the health plan, network and coverage tier you choose.

 

Health Plans

State and Higher Education

In 2027, you’ll have the choice of the same three health plan options:

  1. Premier Preferred Provider Organization,
  2. Standard PPO and
  3. Consumer-driven Health Plan.

For the PPOs, there will be no increase in health plan copays, deductibles or coinsurance. For the CDHP, deductibles will increase as recently announced by the IRS, but coinsurance will not. These are your “cost shares” for the out-of-pocket costs you pay when you get care.

 

Local Education and Local Government

In 2027, you’ll have the choice of five different health plan options, including the new Copay Preferred Provider Organization:

  • With the Copay PPO, enrolled members will have lower premiums and no deductible. 
  • Copay PPO members will pay simple, predictable copay costs, so they’ll know what care will cost ahead of time.
  • Copay PPO members will use BlueCross BlueShield Network S providers. These providers will be in two different tiers—members will pay less when they choose providers in Tier 1 versus Tier 2.
  • Copay PPO members will use the CVS Caremark Value Formulary for prescription drugs. This formulary is more selective in the medications it covers and only includes two tiers—generic drugs and most preferred brand-name drugs. Coinsurance for weight-loss and specialty drugs will apply with this plan.
  • Copay PPO behavioral health and substance use services are covered and administered by Optum Behavioral Health.
  • With the Copay PPO, there are out-of-pocket maximums to protect members from high costs.
  • Details about the new Copay PPO are found on the Health webpage, and you can watch a video to learn more.   

With the other four health plan options for local education and local government:

  1. Premier PPO,
  2. Standard PPO,
  3. Limited PPO and the
  4. Local Consumer-driven Health Plan

There will be no increase in health plan copays, deductibles or coinsurance. These are your “cost shares” for the out-of-pocket costs you pay when you get care.

2027 Copay PPO Plan for Local Ed & Local Gov Agencies

 

 

Carriers and Networks

BlueCross BlueShield and Cigna will stay as your health insurance carriers and will offer the same four provider networks. Note: Local education and local government Copay PPO members will use BlueCross Network S providers only.

  • BCBST Network S and Cigna LocalPlus: These are efficient networks, and you will save money with them. If your providers are in these networks, either one may be your best choice. 
  • BCBST Network P and Cigna Open Access Plus: These are expanded networks, which include more hospitals and facilities than the efficient networks. However, the premiums are higher for the expanded networks, and you may pay more for services you receive from network providers. Visit the Premiums webpage > Health Insurance premiums to see the monthly premium charts and the increased cost if you select either of these networks.
BCBS_Cigna

 

 

 

Weight-loss Surgery

In 2027, weight-loss surgery will only be covered through the Carrum Health centers of excellence program. There will be no cost share for PPO members and no cost for CDHP members after meeting their deductible. Weight-loss surgery performed by any other provider will not be covered.  

 

Other Benefits

  • Dental and vision premium rates and benefits will not change next year. The same carriers will administer these benefits.
  • Optum Behavioral Health: All state and higher education employees, and enrolled health plan members and eligible dependents will now get up to eight short-term counseling visits, per problem, per year, per individual at no cost.
  • State and higher education employees only: Disability coverage will stay with MetLife. If you’re enrolled in short-term disability now and you don’t cancel your coverage during Annual Enrollment, you will be automatically enrolled in the only available plan. The state pays 100% of the monthly premium for long-term disability, so you will be automatically enrolled in the only available plan.
  • State and higher education employees only: Life insurance premium rates and benefits will not change next year.
  • State and higher education employees only: The flexible spending account administrator will continue to be TASC. Employees must reenroll in FSAs each year during Annual Enrollment if they want to participate.
  • State and higher education employees only: In the Sharecare wellness program, enrolled health plan members will be able to earn an incentive for participating in the Unwinding Anxiety program. Five wellness challenges will offer incentives instead of four.