Health Coverage for You and Your Family

UVA Health Plan/Pharmacy


Health Plan Communications:

E-Visits

  •  Non-audiovisual, non-telephonic online communication, and telephonic coverage with medical providers are not covered by the UVA Health Plan. These include E-visits which are online visits with providers using MyChart. If billed, you are responsible for the full cost of the service, and the cost will not be applied towards deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums. For additional information regarding UVA Health MyChart E-Visits visit the FAQ page. 

    Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) / No Surprises Act (NSA)

    Signed into law on December 27, 2020, the $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package provides funding for COVID-19 testing and tracing, vaccine distribution, and temporarily increases unemployment benefits  The package also includes Transparency in Coverage machine-readable file requirements for in-network negotiated rates and out-of-network allowed amounts and billed charges. The link to the machine-readable file will by posted by July 1, 2022 to the UVA Health Plan’s microsite at https://www.aetnaresource.com/p/UVA-Health-Plan.


Your medical, dental, and/or vision benefits can begin on the first date of employment for most new hires* (or choose to wait until the first of the month if you have coverage elsewhere).

  • Date of employment: If you need coverage immediately, you have the option to start your medical, dental, and/or vision benefits as of your date of employment. This may be a good option if you are currently not covered elsewhere, or you desire coverage as soon as possible. 
    • *When enrolling in benefits due to a UVA “change job” or “transfer," coverage begins on the first of the month following the event date. If the event date is on the first of the month, coverage begins immediately. 
  • First of the month following your date of employment: You can choose to start your medical, dental, and/or vision benefits on the first of the month after you are hired. This may be a good option if you have coverage from a previous employer or are under a family member’s coverage that is still active through the end of the month. However, if you are hired on the first of the month, your benefits coverage begins on your first date of employment; you cannot start coverage the following month.
  • No medical, dental, and/or vision coverage: You can officially waive your medical, dental, and/or vision benefit options as well as enroll or waive in other benefits during your new hire change benefit event. 

Please review the Coordination of Benefits document regarding your coverage and how it works with your prior employer.


Every UVA employee has different benefits needs, and you have 3 health plan options to choose from to meet your needs. All options are administered by Aetna: 

  1. Basic Health (high deductible)
  2. Value Health
  3. Choice Health

NEW: Enjoy these NEW personal video stories that explain why each of the HR team members chose the health plan option they did during Open Enrollment:

Having a baby and considering health plan options

Moving from Choice Health to Value Health

Choosing a health plan option with a chronic illness

Choosing a health plan option with a life-threatening illness

How to Enroll

To enroll in your health plan option as a new employee, navigate to Workday>Inbox ("My Tasks") and follow the instructions for the new hire enrollment action. Please note that the benefits enrollment task arrives as part of the onboarding process after completion of the I-9 and direct deposit. Please allow a few days after this for the enrollment to arrive. 

Changes can be made during the Open Enrollment period each October or after a qualified life event like a change in marital status, an addition to the family, or a leave of absence.

You have 60 days to submit a Qualified Life Event. 

  • Review the Qualified Life Events and Required Documentation resource document for a list of life events and required documentation needed to request a change. Qualified life event change requests along with appropriate documentation must be submitted within 60 days of the life event and must be consistent with the life event.
  • Visit the Life Changes pages for additional information and to learn how to enter these requests in Workday. 

How do I use the UVA Health Plan?

UVA Health Plan coverage varies between the Basic, Value, and Choice Health options. With all three options, preventive care is covered at 100%. For specific information about coverage and costs for each option, please use the following resources:

Summary Plan Description (clickable)

Summary Plan Description (printable) 

Summary Plan Description Spanish Version 2024 Plan de salud de la Universidad de Virginia Descripción resumida del plan 

Comparison of Benefits

Basic Health

Value Health

Choice Health

Prescription Drug Program 

The Prescription Drug Program applies to those enrolled in the UVA Health Plan. It is one of the several benefits included in the UVA Health Plan for health plan enrollees and cannot be chosen as a separate benefit option for those not enrolled in the UVA Health Plan.

Learn more about the Prescription Drug Program

  • Register at www.aetna.com

    The first time you use Aetna Navigator, you must register your account to access resources and view your usage information.

    • Go to www.aetna.com 
    • Click “Register.”
    • Follow the prompts to register your account. You must provide your Member ID (found on your Aetna card) or social security number, so have that information handy.
    • Start using Aetna Navigator.
  • Get a health insurance card

    When you first sign up for the UVA Health Plan or switch between options, you will receive a card by mail to your home address. Instructions to get a digital copy or print a replacement card are below.

    To view or print your own or a covered dependent’s card, use the following steps:

    • Go to www.aetna.com, click “Login” and enter your username and password.
    • Click on the down arrow next to your name in the top menu.
    • Select "ID Card” option
    • Once viewing the ID Card, you may choose to print, download, or share the ID Card via email.
  • Find a provider

    Use Aetna Navigator tools to find in-network providers for the kind of care you or your covered dependent need. Remember in-network providers are less expensive, as they have agreed to Aetna’s allowable amount for their services.

    • Go to www.aetna.com
    • Log onto your Aetna member portal
    • Go to "Find Care & Pricing" within top toolbar
      • Scroll down to "Go Find Care"
    • Follow the prompts within search bar to locate the provider or service you seek

    DocFind is a custom website for University of Virginia Health Plan members. It provides real-time resources to find core and/or Aetna in-network (national) doctors and facilities. Always use network providers and facilities for the highest level of benefits coverage under the University of Virginia Health Plan.

    To start using DocFind today, go to www.aetna.com/docfind/custom/uva. Registration is not required.

  • Price a service

    Aetna has a number of resources that enable you to be a well-informed benefits consumer. Here are a few of the resources available:

    • Find Care & Pricing Tool - compares costs to give you real-time, personalized estimates and provides average in-network and out-of-network costs. Sign onto the Aetna member website for access to this tool.
    • Aetna Institute of Quality List: Lists IOQ facilities
    • Aetna Digital Care Tool- provides drug cost estimates based on the selected UVA Health Plan option. Use the links below to compare drug prices for the UVA Health Plan options.
      1. Enter the name of the drug
      2. Click "search" to view the estimate and plan details.
    • When using the Digital Care Tool, review the Aetna formulary list (coming soon), as your drug may be listed as the generic name within the tool. The Digital Care Tool results are cost estimates and based on Aetna's 2022 formulary and pricing. 

    To access these and other coverage and cost resources, follow these steps:

    • Go to www.aetna.com, click “Login” and enter your username and password.
    • Click on “Find Care & Pricing”

    The facility can also provide a cost estimate for your procedure. Obtain your diagnosis and procedure codes from your provider. Call the facility, they will run a test claim for the best estimate. 

  • Review a claim or explanation of benefits (EOB)

    To access these and other coverage and cost resources, follow these steps:

    • Go to www.aetna.com, click on “Login” and enter your username a and password.
    • Click on "Manage Claims."
    • Follow the prompts to find the claim or EOB you want to review.
  • How do I prepare for out-of-pocket expenses?

    To help you get the most out of your money for medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and dependent-care expenses, the University offers different benefits-related savings and spending accounts to meet your needs. These accounts enable you to put pre-taxed money aside, by payroll deduction, for eligible expenses.

    Visit the Basic Health with Health Savings Account (HSA) page to learn more about the HSA that can be used for dental and other allowable expenses.

    For information about UVA’s medical and dependent daycare flexible spending accounts, visit the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) page.

    You can submit an out-of-network expense by completing the Claim Reimbursement form and sending directly to Aetna. You can submit this form and all necessary documents through Aetna fax 859-455-8650 or on the Aetna member portal through messaging.

  • Foreign Travel Coverage with the UVA Health Plan

    Leaving the Country Less Than 90 Days

    If you or your covered UVA Health Plan family member will be out of the United States for less than 90 days, you are eligible for only emergency or urgent care, at in-network benefits, while traveling out of the U.S. 

    Emergency Room Visits:

    For an emergency room visit, the emergency must be a sudden, unexpected onset of a medical or psychological condition with severe symptoms that could result in serious harm to you if left untreated. 

    Examples of conditions that require emergency room treatment include, but are not limited to:

    • Severe or unusual bleeding
    • Trouble breathing
    • Suspected poisoning
    • Prolonged or repeated seizures
    • Unconsciousness
    • Severe burns

    Urgent Care Visits:

    If you get sick while traveling but do not need to visit the emergency room, you may visit any Urgent care center for treatment and be eligible for in-network coverage. In order for the Claims Administrator to approve your visit, you cannot receive care considered “routine or non-urgent.” 

    Contacting Aetna:

    Foreign travelers can:

    • Call Aetna at 800.987.9072, member services
    • Call Aetna, Special Case Pre-certification Unit at 855.888.9046 or 215.775.6445 

    This is a Monday – Friday line. Even if you were in the US, Aetna customer service /authorization department is not available 24/7.

    • Call the Aetna National Medical Excellence Program NME and After-Hours Pre-certification number: 215.775.6445

    There will be an Aetna resource on call to assist with urgent or acute care needs. 

    • Contact Aetna online through the secure email via Aetna navigator at www.aetna.com

    What You Need to Do:

    1. If you have a medical emergency, go immediately to the nearest participating or non-participating Urgent Care facility or Emergency Room, if appropriate for your condition. You may also call the Aetna Informed Health Line at 1.800.556.1555, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to participants.
    2. If you are admitted to the hospital, or need outpatient surgery to resolve the emergency, contact the Claims Administrator at Aetna, to notify them of your admission. If you are unable to make the call, have a family member, friend or the hospital call for you. If you are admitted emergently to an out-of-network hospital, be sure the out-of-network provider requests and receives “In-Network” authorization for any “follow up” outpatient services, including surgery, by contacting Aetna at 800.987.9072 if you are medically unable to return home.
    3. If you visit an Urgent Care Center for urgent care, contact the Claims Administrator within 48 hours or the next business day.
    4. Remember that any “follow up” care must be obtained in network or must be pre-authorized by Aetna at “in-network benefits”. Follow up care is defined as treatment occurring after discharge from the emergency or urgent care medical facility, or hospital admission through the emergency room. This can include outpatient surgery following an Emergency room visit, such as for surgical repair of a fracture.
    5. Pay the foreign provider and submit claims for reimbursement to the claims Administrator within 90 days of the date of service to the health insurance for review for possible reimbursement. The UVA Health Plan Ombuds can assist with submission of foreign claims.

    Leaving the Country 90 Days or More

    If you or your covered UVA Health Plan family member will be out of the United States for 90 days or more, you should enroll in the foreign country enrollment program by completing a Foreign Enrollment form and sending the completed form back to the UVA Health Plan Ombuds before you leave the U.S.

    With this foreign country enrollment, you will be covered for eligible routine and emergency services but will need to pay the foreign providers directly and then you should submit your foreign claims to the Claims Administrator within 90 days for reimbursement. Please be sure that you contact Aetna customer service for pre-authorization of scheduled inpatient admissions/surgery or as soon as possible following emergency admissions. 

    Contact the UVA Health Plan Ombuds for a prescription medication vacation override with AetnaRx if you need any prescriptions beyond a 90-day supply or an early “vacation” override refill.

    Contact Aetna for any foreign inpatient admissions, surgery, emergency room services or complex radiology situations as soon as possible. 

    Pay the foreign provider and submit claims for reimbursement to the claims Administrator within 90 days. The UVA Health Plan Ombuds can assist with submission of foreign claims.

    Contacting Aetna:

    Foreign travelers can:

    • Call Aetna at 1.800.987.9072, member services
    • Call Aetna, Special Case Pre-certification Unit at 855.888.9046 or 215.775.6445 

    This is a Monday – Friday line. Even if you were in the U.S., Aetna customer service /authorization department is not available 24/7.

    • Call the Aetna National Medical Excellence Program NME and After-Hours Pre-certification number: 215.775.6445

    There will be an Aetna resource on call to assist with urgent or acute care needs. 

    • Contact Aetna online through the secure email via Aetna navigator at www.aetna.com

UVA Health Plan Comparison

The UVA Basic, Value, and Choice Health options offer the same benefits but with different pay structures.

  • How they are the same

    • They cover the same ranges of services, including prescription drugs
    • Preventive care services (in-network only) are covered at 100%, with no deductible
    • You must satisfy your annual deductible before coverage begins for most services; then you and your health plan option share the cost of covered services (co-insurance), up to the out-of-pocket maximum
    • Once you reach the out-of-pocket maximum, your health plan option pays for in-network covered services at 100% for the rest of the year
    • You can elect coverage for you and your eligible dependents
    • Aetna is the plan administrator for medical services and prescription drug benefits
  • How they are different

    The services are the same for all three health plan options. It's how you pay for them that is different: 

    • Would you want to pay more in premiums up front (Value or Choice) and pay less out of pocket for using health care services throughout the year?
    • Or pay less in premiums (Basic) and pay more out of pocket as you use the services?
  • Comparison Tools

    Compare the three health plan options using the resources and tools below.

    Employee Only Cost Comparison table 2024

    Employee plus child Cost Comparison table 2024

    employee plus spouse Cost Comparison table 2024

    family Cost Comparison table 2024

Who is Eligible?

The following information is the general eligibility for the UVA Health Plan. Basic Health is UVA’s high deductible health plan (HDHP) option. You must be eligible for a Health Savings Account (HSA) in order to enroll in Basic Health; see section below for details. Visit the HSA page to learn more about those additional requirements and a list of IRS eligibility rules.

  • Employees

    In general, to be eligible for a UVA Health Plan, you must be a full- or part-time UVA employee, and regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week. To be eligible for the UVA Health Plan, you must be:

    • Faculty
    • Classified Staff
    • Medical Center Team Member
    • Postdoctoral Research Associate
    • Senior Professional Research Staff
    • University Staff
    • Grant-funded Postdoctoral Fellow (Value or Choice Health only)
    • Housestaff (Value or Choice Health only)
    • Academic Division and Medical Center Temporary or Wage Employee (if eligible under ACA)

    J Visa Holders: J visa holders are only eligible for the UVA J Visa Health Plan option. Federal government regulations prohibit J visa holders from enrolling in the Basic, Value or Choice Health options. Please visit the J Visa Health Plan page for detailed information about the J Visa Health Plan.

  • Spouses

    To be added to your UVA Health Plan, spouses must be legally recognized as spouses in the Commonwealth of Virginia and have no access to Affordable Healthcare Coverage of minimum value (as defined by the Affordable Care Act) through their non-UVA employers. 

  • Children

    To be added to your UVA Health Plan, children must be your biological, step, adopted, or foster child, or any child declared a dependent on your federal tax return for whom you are the legal guardian with permanent custody. Children are eligible to the end of the birth month in which they turn 26.

  • Adult Children with Disabilities

    If children are incapable of self-support due to mental or physical disability, they can remain on your UVA health plan beyond age 26 as long as the following requirements are met:

    • Required documentation is approved in advance by the Aetna Claims Administrator before the dependent’s 26th birthday
    • They are unmarried
    • They live with you 100% of the time
    • They are declared a dependent on your federal tax return

    For further details and additional assistance, contact Aetna Member Services at 800.987.9072 or askhr@virginia.edu

  • Basic Health Eligibility

    In order to enroll in the Basic Health option, you must:

    • Be eligible for UVA’s Health Savings Account (HSA) program

      • To view a list of IRS eligibility rules, review the HSA Eligibility document

    • Be enrolled in a high deductible health plan (HDHP) if you are covered by another health care plan

    • Not be covered by any part of Medicaid or Tricare

    • Not be enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B in the same calendar year in which you are enrolled in Basic Health

    • Not be a J Visa holder (federal government regulations prohibit J Visa holders from enrolling in the Basic Health option)

What Are the Costs?

When choosing the right health option for you and your family member covered on your plan, costs are one of the many things to consider. Look at the premiums, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum for each plan and select the best option based on your health care use. Basic Health, UVA’s High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) has an accompanying Health Savings Account (HSA) into which the University may contribute annually. For more information about the HSA, visit the Health Savings Account page.

For a quick sense of how the costs compare between the UVA Health Plans for 2024, see the UVA Health Plan Cost Comparison at a Glance. 

Premiums

 

  • For the 2024 plan year, premiums will increase for the Basic, Value, and Choice Health plan options.
  • There are no changes to deductibles or copays for the UVA Health Plan.
  • There are no changes to dental or vision coverage or premiums for all employees.

The UVA Health Plan is self-insured. This means that the employee and employer premiums must be at the appropriate level to cover all services provided to all UVA Health Plan participants including but not limited to visits, surgeries, therapy, drugs, x-rays, diagnostic tests, immunizations, etc.  

Your premiums are the amount you spend on the UVA Health Plan each paycheck. Premiums are not included as contributions toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. They are money you spend on health coverage, regardless of whether you use it. As an HDHP, Basic Health has lower premiums than other plans but has a higher deductible.

Note: Premium amounts below are monthly. Family coverage includes the employee, legal spouse, and child/children.

  • Faculty, Classified Staff, Medical Center Team Members, Research Associates, Senior Professional Research Staff, and University Staff (Full-Time and Part-Time)

    2024 Monthly Premiums by Plan

    The monthly premiums below apply to both part-time and full-time employees.

    Monthly Rate - BASIC Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $30.00 $605.75 $635.75
    Employee + Child(ren) $37.75 $1,075.0 $1,112.75
    Employee + Legal Spouse $49.75 $1,380.75 $1,430.50
    Family $94.50 $1,972.00 $2,066.50
    Monthly Rate - VALUE Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $96.50 $660.25 $756.75
    Employee + Child(ren) $154.50 $1,169.75 $1,324.25
    Employee + Legal Spouse $194.25 $1,508.50 $1,702.75
    Family $311.00 $2,148.25 $2,459.25
    Monthly Rate - CHOICE Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $221.50 $646.00 $867.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $448.00 $1,070.00 $1,518.00
    Employee + Legal Spouse $577.25 $1,374.50 $1,951.75
    Family $854.25 $1,965.00 $2,819.25
  • Housestaff

    2024 Monthly Premiums - VALUE

    Monthly Rate - VALUE Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $69.50 $ 687.25 $756.75
    Employee + Child(ren) $69.75 $1,254.50 $1,324.25
    Employee + Legal Spouse $71.25 $1,631.50 $1,702.75
    Family $71.50 $2,387.75 $2,459.25

    2024 Monthly Premiums - CHOICE

    Monthly Rate - CHOICE Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $94.50 $773.00 $867.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $108.00 $1,410.00 $1,518.00
    Employee + Legal Spouse $122.00 $1,829.75 $1,951.75
    Family $123.00 $2,696.25 $2,819.25
  • Postdoctoral Fellows

    2024 Monthly Premiums - VALUE

    Monthly Rate UVA Postdoctoral Fellows Rate (Non-UVA) Grant/Dept Rate *Total
    Single $0.00 $705.50 $705.50
    Postdoc + Child(ren) $484.50 $705.50 $1,190.00
    Postdoc + Legal Spouse $848.50 $705.50 $1,554.00
    Family $1,537.75 $705.50 $2,243.25

    2024 Monthly Premiums - CHOICE

    Monthly Rate UVA Postdoctoral Fellows Rate (Non-UVA) Grant/Dept Rate *Total
    Single $0.00 $804.50 $804.50
    Postdoc + Child(ren) $559.75 $804.50 $1,364.25
    Postdoc + Legal Spouse $973.50 $804.50 $1,778.00
    Family $1,763.25 $804.50 $2,567.75

    *In the case of external fellowships that are provided directly to postdoctoral fellows, fellowship allowances may be used to support the full cost of postdoctoral fellow health insurance.  In all cases, departments and postdoctoral fellows must account for the full costs provided above.

     

  • Academic Division and Medical Center Wage Employees

    2024 Monthly Premiums

    Monthly Rate - BASIC Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $215.75 $333.25 $549.00
    Employee + Child(ren) $638.50 $333.25 $971.75
    Employee + Legal Spouse $916.00 $333.25 $1,249.25
    Family $1,471.25 $333.25 $1,804.50

    Benefits-eligible academic division and medical center temporary and wage employees may only enroll in Basic Health.

COBRA Rates

As a COBRA participant, you can choose enrollment only in the same option in which you were enrolled on your last day of coverage as an active employee, Postdoc Fellow, or Housestaff. Monthly COBRA premiums are listed below. 

COBRA participants: Visit Unify HR customer service on the web or call 888.878.6175. 

  • Active Employees and Research Associates

    2024 Active Employees and Research Associates Cobra CHOICE Cobra VALUE Cobra BASIC
    Employee $884.85 $771.89 $648.47
    Employee + Child/Children $1,548.36 $1,350.74 $1,135.01
    Employee + Legal Spouse $1,990.79 $1,736.81 $1,459.11
    Family $2,875.64 $2,508.44 $2,107.83
  • Active Academic Division and Medical Center Wage Employees

    2024 Active Wage Employees  Cobra BASIC
    Employee $559.98
    Employee + Child/Children $991.19
    Employee + Legal Spouse $1,274.24
    Family $1,840.59
  • Postdoctoral Fellows

    2024 Postdoctoral Fellows  Cobra Value Cobra Choice
    Postdoc $719.61 $820.59
    Postdoc + Child/Children $1,213.80 $1,391.54
    Postdoc + Legal Spouse $1,585.08 $1,813.56
    Family $2,288.12 $2,619.11
  • Housestaff

    2024 Housestaff  Cobra VALUE Cobra CHOICE
    Employee $771.89 $884.85
    Employee + Child/Children $1,350.74 $1,548.36
    Employee + Legal Spouse $1,736.81 $1,990.79
    Family $2,508.44 $2,875.64

Deductible

Your deductible is the amount you pay for covered health care services before the UVA Health Plan starts to pay. Since Basic Health is a High Deductible Health option, its deductible is higher than those for other UVA Health options, but the premiums are lower. UVA helps offset this higher deductible by contributing to Basic Health participants’ Health Savings Accounts each year.

  • In-Network Deductibles

    Plan Individual Family

    Basic

    $2,000

    $4,000*

    Value

    $800

    $1,600

    Choice

    $500

    $1,000

    *Those on Basic Health Employee + Child/Children, Employee + Legal Spouse, and Family coverage have the family deductible only.

  • Out-of-Network Deductibles

    Plan Individual Family

    Basic

    $6,000

    $12,000*

    Value

    $2,400

    $4,800

    Choice

    $1,500

    $3,000

    *Those on Basic Health with Employee + Child/Children, Employee + Legal Spouse, and Family coverage have the family deductible only.

Co-Insurance

You must satisfy an annual deductible before coverage begins for most services. Then, you and the UVA Health Plan share the cost of covered services (co-insurance), up to the out-of-pocket maximum.

Co-Pay

Co-pay amounts only apply to participants in the Value Health plan option. A co-pay is a fixed amount (for example, $25) you pay for a covered health care service, usually when you receive the service (sometimes called “co-pay”). The amount can vary by the type of covered health care service.

Out-of-Pocket Maximum

The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you will spend for covered services in a year for health care, and it includes the deductible, co-payments, co-insurance and covered prescriptions. It does not include amounts above the allowable amount and penalties. If this maximum is reached during the year, the UVA Health Plan would pay 100% of additional covered expenses.

UVA Health Plan Coordination With Medicare and Other Plans

If you have coverage under other group or individual plans or receive payments for an illness or injury caused by another person, the benefits you receive from this Plan may be adjusted. This may reduce the benefits you receive from this Plan. The adjustment is known as coordination of benefits (COB).

Benefits available through other groups or individual plans, contracts or other arrangements, are coordinated with this Plan. This includes automobile insurance coverage, where a health benefit is to be provided, arranged, or paid for, on an insured or uninsured basis. Members involved in an automobile accident should contact Aetna regarding COB.

“Other plans” include any other plan of dental or medical coverage provided by:

  • Group insurance or any other arrangement of group coverage for individuals, regardless of whether that plan is insured
  • Motor vehicle personal injury protection benefit (PIP) or optional motor vehicle insurance, to the extent of applicable law. Whenever legally possible, this Plan will be secondary.

  • Which plan pays first?

    To find out if benefits under this Plan will be reduced, Aetna must first use the rules listed below, in the order shown, to determine which plan is primary (pays its benefits first). The first rule that applies in the chart below will determine which plan pays first:

    Rule Order IF:  THEN:
    1. One plan has a COB provision and the other plan does not The plan without a COB provision determines its benefits and pays first
    2. One plan covers you as a dependent and the other covers you as an employee or retiree

    The plan that covers you as an employee or retiree determines its benefits and pays first. Note: If you are Medicare-eligible, this rule may be reversed. Please see rule 3, below.

    3. You are eligible for Medicare and not actively working These Medicare Secondary Payer rules apply:

    - The plan that covers you as a dependent of a working spouse determines its benefits and pays first

    - Medicare pays second

    - The plan that covers you as a retired employee pays third

    4. A child’s parents are legally married or living together (whether or not legally married) The plan of the parent whose birthday occurs earlier in the calendar year determines its benefits and pays first. If both parents have the same birthday, the plan that has covered the parent the longest determines its benefits and pays first. But if the other plan does not have this “parent birthday” rule, the other plan’s COB rule applies.
    5. A child’s parents are separated or divorced with joint custody, and a court decree does not assign responsibility for the child’s health expenses to either parent, or states that both parents are responsible for the child’s health coverage The “birthday rule” described in rule 4 applies
    6. A child’s parents are separated or divorced, and a court decree assigns responsibility for the child’s health expenses to one parent The plan covering the child as the assigned parent’s dependent determines its benefits and pays first
    7. A child’s parents are separated, divorced or not living together (whether or not they have ever been legally married) and there is no court decree assigning responsibilities for the child’s health expenses to either parent Benefits are determined and paid in this order:

    - The plan of the custodial parent pays, then

    - The plan of the spouse of the custodial parent pays, then

    - The plan of the non-custodial parent pays, then

    - The plan of the spouse of the non-custodial parent pays.

    8. You have coverage as an active employee (that is, not as a retiree or laid off employee) and coverage as a retired or laid off employee; or you have coverage as the dependent of an active employee and coverage as the dependent of a retired or laid off employee The plan that covers you as an active employee or as the dependent of an active employee determines its benefits and pays first. This rule is ignored if the other plan does not contain the same rule. Note: This rule does not apply if rule 2 (above) has already determined the order of payment.
    9. You are covered under a federal or state right of continuation law (such as COBRA) The plan other than the one that covers you under a right of continuation law will determine its benefits and pay first. This rule is ignored if the other plan does not contain the same rule. Note: this rule does not apply if rule 2 (above) has already determined the order of payment.
    10. The above rules do not establish an order of payment The plan that has covered you for the longest time will determine its benefits and pay first.

    When the other plan pays first, the benefits paid under this Plan are reduced as shown here:

    • The amount this Plan would pay if it were the only coverage in place, minus
    • Benefits paid by the other plan(s)

    This prevents the sum of your benefits from being more than you would receive from just this Plan. If your other plan(s) pays benefits in the form of services rather than cash payments, the Plan uses the cash value of those services in the calculation.

  • Coordination with Medicare

    You are eligible for Medicare if you are:

    • Eligible for, and covered by, Medicare
    • Eligible for, but not covered by Medicare because you:
      • Refused Medicare coverage
      • Dropped Medicare coverage
      • Did not make a proper request for Medicare coverage

    When you are eligible for Medicare, Aetna must determine whether this Plan or Medicare is the primary plan.

    When This Plan is Primary

    This Plan is primary, and Medicare is secondary, if a covered person is eligible for Medicare and falls into one of the following categories unless eligible for Medicare due to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD):

    • An active employee, regardless of age
    • A totally disabled employee who is:
      • Not terminated or retired
      • Not receiving Social Security retirement or Social Security disability benefits
    • A Medicare-eligible dependent spouse of:
      • An active employee
      • A totally disabled employee who is not terminated or retired
    • Any other person for whom this Plan’s benefits are payable to comply with federal law

    When this Plan is the primary plan, Aetna will not take Medicare benefits into consideration when determining the benefits payable by the Plan.

    End-Stage Renal Disease

    This Plan is primary for the first 30 months after any covered person becomes eligible for Medicare due to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The Plan will pay benefits for a covered expense first, before Medicare benefits are available.

    Medicare becomes the primary plan, and this Plan is secondary, beginning with the 31st month of Medicare eligibility due to ESRD. If you’re eligible for Medicare only because of permanent kidney failure, your Medicare coverage will end 12 months after the month in which you stop dialysis treatments or 36 months after the month in which you have a kidney transplant.

    When Medicare is Primary

    Medicare is the primary plan, and this Plan is secondary, if a covered person is eligible for Medicare and does not fall into one of the categories above or is in their 31st month or later of Medicare eligibility due to ESRD.

    These rules are based on regulations issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and may be amended or changed at any time. It is the intent of the Plan to abide by the Medicare Secondary Payer Rules. If the Plan in any way conflicts with regulations issued by CMS, the Plan will pay Benefits in accordance with CMS regulations.

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  • Prescription Drug Program

    The Prescription Drug Program applies to those enrolled in the UVA Health Plan. It is one of the several benefits included in the UVA Health Plan for health plan enrollees and cannot be chosen as a separate benefit option for those not enrolled in the UVA Health Plan.

    Learn more about the Prescription Drug Program
  • Understand the 1095-C Form

    The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires UVA to send a new tax document to employees detailing their health coverage. The University will send out this new form, the 1095-C, to employees who were full-time (30 or more hours/week) and part-time employees enrolled in the UVA Health Plan in the previous calendar year.

    Learn More About the 1095-C Form
  • Open Enrollment Overview Video

    This video from Open Enrollment for the 2024 plan year period offers a brief, high-level summary of 2024 changes and available benefits.

    Watch the Video

FAQs - UVA Health Plan

  • Can legally married UVA employees share a UVA health plan?

    Yes, two UVA spouses may choose who covers and who waives, or they may have separate plans.

    Employee's non-UVA spouses who have access to health benefits that meet affordability and minimum value standards as defined by the Affordable Care Act are not eligible for enrollment in UVA's health plans, UNLESS ALL of their health options are HMOs and the spouse lives outside the HMOs' defined service areas. In this case, the spouse would be eligible to be a dependent on the UVA employee's health coverage. 

  • How do I decide what health plan option is best for me?

     

    Look at the Medical Scenarios webpage to learn how the deductible, coinsurance, co-payment, and out-of-pocket maximum affect your cost across the 3 health plan options.

    Here are helpful questions to ask yourself. Do you have: 

    • Any medical or dental procedures planned? 
    • Any upcoming glasses or contact lens needs?
    • Any changes in dependent care ?
    • A need for replacements to medical or assistive devices?
    • Potential life events — for example, new marriage, new children, or children after age 13 no longer eligible for Dependent Care FSA funds?
    • Dependents' social security numbers listed correctly in Workday?​

    Remember that choosing a health plan option is a personal choice about how you pay for health care services. The services are the same for all three health plan options. It's how you pay for them that is different. Would you want to pay more in premiums up front and pay less out of pocket for using health care services throughout the year? Or pay less in premiums and pay more out of pocket as you use the services?

  • How do preventive care services compare between the three health plan options?

    Preventive care services (in-network only) are the same for all three health plan options, and are covered at 100%, with no deductible.

    Visit the Preventive Information website for additional resources. 

  • Where can I locate telehealth/virtual mental well-being providers?

    This brochure provides an overview of the telehealth/virtual mental well-being programs and providers that are within our network and available for you.

    UVA Behavioral Health providers and services
  • Wage Employees and the Affordable Care Act

    The Affordable Care Act Employer mandates that large employers (50+ employees) must offer health insurance that is affordable and provides minimum value to 95% of their full-time employees (or FTE equivalent) and their children up to age 26, or be subject to penalties.

    What are the requirements for Academic Wage employees?

    The Commonwealth has specific guidelines built within the Manpower Control Program that UVA is required to follow regarding working hour limitation for wage employees. This is a budgeting requirement, and we are mandated by the guidelines as a state institution of higher education.

    Are there limitations regarding hours worked for Academic Wage employees?

    Wage employees cannot work more than an average of 29 hours per week in a 12-month measurement. All wage employees are monitored through weekly reporting, and terminated prior to reaching 1500 hours.

    What are the requirements for Medical Center Wage employees?

    The Medical Center is not mandated by the Commonwealth, and as such they do offer benefits to wage employees who meet the ACA mandate.

    Wage employees who average 30 hours per week in the 12-month measurement period are eligible for the Basic Wage Health (no HSA).

    Academic division and medical center FT/PT employees who transfer to a wage position within the plan year may also qualify based on their hours.

    What time frame are wage employees' hours monitored?

    October to October. The plan is effective 1/1 through 12/31 of the current plan year.

  • What's the difference between a beneficiary and a dependent?

    dependent is a person who is eligible to be covered by you under the health, dental and vision plans. A beneficiary can be a person or a legal entity that is designated by you to receive a benefit, such as life insurance.

    A spouse included in your medical coverage and designated as a recipient of your life insurance is both a dependent and a beneficiary.

    For another example, a parent is not an eligible dependent for medical coverage but could be designated as a beneficiary.

    For additional details about required documentation for eligible dependents, visit the Health Plan Eligibility webpage.

  • Who is eligible for the UVA Health, Dental, and Vision Plans?

    Detailed information about eligibility for the UVA Health, Dental, and Vision Plans can be found on the Health Plan Eligibility webpage. In a nutshell, the Plans are open to:

    • UVA Academic and Health System salaried employees, full-time or part-time working at least 20 hours/week, except J visa holders, who are eligible for the UVA J Visa Health Plan
    • Spouses of eligible UVA employees (some exception noted on the Eligibility webpage)
    • Children of eligible UVA employees - children (as defined on the Eligibility webpage) are eligible through their birthday at age 26, or longer if documented to have mental or physical disabilities (see the Eligibility webpage for more details)

    The Basic Health option has some additional requirements; please visit the Eligibility webpage for those details.

  • How does cost-sharing work between me and Aetna?

    Below is a simple illustration of how deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums work for a single employee on Basic Health. For additional examples, please see the new Medical Scenarios webpage, or call Aetna for customized scenarios based on your preferred health plan option and potential future health care expenses.

    Health plan cost share illustration

  • Where can I obtain a flu vaccine? What is the cost?

    UVA employees and their dependents, covered by the UVA Health Plan may obtain a flu shot through their Primary Care Physician, or at a pharmacy in Aetna's National Pharmacy Network, if you present your Aetna ID card at the pharmacy.

    Flu vaccines are covered at no cost, as a preventive service through the UVA Aetna Health Plan. When obtained through an in-network Primary Care Physician, or at a pharmacy in  Aetna's National Pharmacy Network. 

    Here is a list of vaccine providers within the Aetna network.  

    If you went to a participating pharmacy and were charged for your flu vaccine, you can submit a reimbursement to Aetna. Complete steps 1-25 in the reimbursement form, and attach your receipt and other supporting documentation.

  • How is the deductible calculated for the Value plan, employee plus legal spouse. Can one individual meet the deductible of $1600 or does each individual have to independently meet $800?

    The Value Health plan option has an individual deductible of $800, and family deductible of $1,600. These are applied separately but accumulate together towards the family deductible.

    Within an Employee + Spouse plan, if one individual meets the $800 deductible, then the $800 deductible applies towards the individual and family deductible. That individual's deductible is now met, and any additional expenses for that individual would be covered by Aetna as coinsurance (Aetna pays 80%, Employee pays 20%), and this coinsurance goes towards the individual's out-of-pocket maximum of $5,500.

    The family deductible has $800 applied towards the total of $1,600. This leaves $800 for the second individual to meet their individual and family deductible totals.

  • What coverage is available for infertility services?

    UVA Health Plans provide coverage for comprehensive infertility and advanced reproductive technology. There is a lifetime maximum of $15,000 for medical and Rx services per subscriber and their covered spouse; no coverage for dependent children. 

    Aetna's Infertility Clinical Policy Bulletin shares details of Aetna's medical necessity policies for covered services. 

    As of 2022, UVA Health Plan has waived some of the medical requirements for infertility eligibility, specifically, removing Aetna's infertility definition for UVA Health Plan participants (What has been removed is all of the 2nd bullet point in the definition.). This will make the infertility benefit more widely available.

FAQs - UVA Health Plan and Medicare

FAQs - UVA Health Plan and J Visa

FAQs - Prescription Drug Program

  • How do my deductible, coinsurance, and min/max tiers work with prescription drugs?

    Basic Health participants have a deductible that applies to both medical and prescription costs. You must pay for covered health care services and prescriptions up to your deductible amount before the UVA Health Plan begins to pay. 

    Value and Choice Health participants have a deductible that applies to both medical and prescription costs for tier 2 and tier 3 retail drugs. You must pay for covered prescriptions up to your deductible amount before the UVA Health Plan begins to pay for tier 2 and tier 3 retail prescriptions. Tier 1 medications and specialty prescriptions are not subject to the deductible.

    The table below shows costs for retail pharmacy outside of UVA pharmacies (such as CVS, Kroger, etc.); excludes specialty prescriptions and mail order prescriptions.

    Tier Choice Value Basic

    Tier 1

    Generic, low cost

    $6 co-pay

    30-day supply

    $6 co-pay

    30-day supply

    Deductible + 20% for up to 90-day supply

    Tier 2

    Brand, Preferred

    Deductible + 20%

    $34 min/$200 max

    30-day supply

    Deductible + 20%

    $34 min/$200 max

    30-day supply

    Deductible + 20% for up to 90-day supply

    Tier 3

    Brand, Non-Preferred

    Deductible + 20%

    $68 min/$275 max

    30-day supply

    Deductible + 20%

    $68 min/$275 max

    30-day supply

    Deductible + 20% for up to 90-day supply
  • Where can I find more information about prescription coverage?

    You can find information on our Prescription Drug Program webpage.

    If you need additional details, contact Aetna for assistance.

  • Where can I obtain my specialty medication?

    To get specialty prescription drugs, you must use the UVA Specialty Pharmacy, which can be reached at 434.297.5500 or by email at specialtymedsrx@virginia.edu.