Open Enrollment 2027 Benefits Overview

Same Coverage. Different Ways to Share Costs.

Both health plan options:

• Cover the same range of healthcare services
• Include prescription drug coverage
• Cover in-network preventive care at 100%
• Allow you to enroll eligible dependents
• Use Aetna as the plan administrator

With either plan:

• you pay monthly premiums through payroll deductions
• you must meet a deductible before most coverage begins
• you share costs through copays or coinsurance until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum
• once you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays 100% of covered in-network services for the rest of the year

Same Coverage. Different Ways to Share Costs.

The main difference between the two plans is how you pay for healthcare services throughout the year.

UVA PPO

• Higher paycheck premiums
• Lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
• You generally pay less when receiving care

Health Savings

• Lower paycheck premiums
• Higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
• You may pay more out of pocket when receiving care
• Includes access to a Health Savings Account (HSA), with employer contributions from UVA for eligible employees
  • A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged personal savings account used to pay for qualified medical expenses, available only to those enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). It offers a "triple tax benefit": contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free. Funds roll over annually and are portable.

When Comparing Plans, Consider

• How often you visit doctors or specialists
• Whether you cover dependents
• Prescription medication costs
• Whether you want access to an HSA
• Your expected healthcare needs for the year

You may be eligible for UVA health benefits if you are:

• A salaried Academic or Medical Center employee
• Regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week

J Visa Holders: Employees with J visas are only eligible for the UVA J Visa Health Plan. Federal regulations do not allow J visa holders to enroll in the Health Savings Plan or UVA PPO options. Visit J Visa Health Plan Webpage

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

When UVA Health Plan is Primary

The UVA Health Plan is primary, and Medicare is secondary, if a covered person is eligible for and covered by Medicare and falls into one of the following categories:

• 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.

Exception: 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.

Know Your Options. Save on Prescriptions.

Prescription drug coverage is included with your UVA Health Plan and managed by Aetna. There is no separate premium for prescription drug coverage. What you pay for covered prescriptions depends on whether you've met your health plan deductible or reached your out-of-pocket maximum.

Use this page to learn how prescription drug coverage works, find participating pharmacies, understand covered medications and prescription costs, review vaccine coverage, and explore additional pharmacy resources.

Plan Options for Your Smile's Needs

The UVA Dental Plan is administered by United Concordia and offers two plan options: Basic Dental and Enhanced Dental. Both plans cover preventive care at 100% when you receive care from an in-network provider and include a $50 deductible. The primary differences are the annual maximum benefit and coverage for complex restorative services, so the right option depends on your expected dental care needs.

Visit the Dental Plan Webpage to learn who is eligible to enroll, determine who you can cover, compare the two dental plan options, and review monthly premiums based on your employee group and coverage level.

Additional plan documents and resources are also available.

Vision Coverage, Made Clear

The UVA Vision Plan is administered by Davis Vision and provides coverage for annual eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and discounts on additional vision products and services.

Benefits-eligible full- and part-time UVA employees may enroll in vision coverage for themselves and, if eligible, their spouse and dependent children. Premiums vary based on who you choose to cover.

Review the information below to learn about plan eligibility, covered benefits, discounts, premiums, and who you can enroll in the UVA Vision Plan.

Supplemental Benefit Credit: A credit to help eligible employees offset benefits payroll deductions.

Health Savings Account (HSA): Invest for Tomorrow. Save Tax-Free.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Spend Today. Save Tax-Free.

Continue the Coverage You Count On

Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), you and your eligible covered dependents may be able to continue your UVA health coverage after it would otherwise end because of a qualifying life event. In most cases, coverage may continue for up to 18 months.

Financial Protection for the People You Love

Life insurance helps protect the people who depend on you financially. In exchange for your premium payments, the insurance company pays a lump-sum benefit (called a death benefit) to your designated beneficiaries if you die. Your beneficiaries can use this money to replace lost income, pay funeral expenses, pay off debts, or help cover other financial needs.

If you are enrolled in a UVA Retirement Plan, or if you are Housestaff or a Postdoctoral Fellow, you receive Basic Life Insurance at no additional cost.

While, most employees will not make retirement plan elections during Open Enrollment, and this information is provided for newly hired and newly eligible employees, it can be helpful to review your contributions, get up to date with contribution limits, and check out how much you've saved.

Boost your retirement savings

This short video outlines the UVA retirement plan, optional supplemental savings program, and how your savings will compound over time.

Transcript for Saving for Retirement