Health Plan for Faculty and Staff

Health plans for Faculty and Staff are provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).

Eligibility

• Faculty: Half-time or more with an appointment of at least two semesters (as determined by the academic department)
• Staff: Regularly scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours a week for a minimum 90-day period
• ACA-eligible Employees

Enrollment

• Within 30 days of your new hire or newly eligible benefits date
• During annual Open Enrollment
• Within 31 days of a Qualified Life Event

Summary Guides and Rates

2024

• Faculty/Staff Open Enrollment Benefits Guide
• Faculty/Staff Benefits Rates
• Faculty/Staff Domestic Partner/Ex-Spouse Benefits Rates

2023

• Faculty/Staff Benefits Guide
• Faculty/Staff Benefits Rates
• Faculty/Staff Domestic Partner/Ex-Spouse Benefits Rates

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Health Plans

Selecting Your Plan

Choose from three BCBS health plan options, all covering the same services. Employee contributions, co-payments, and deductible amounts vary by the plan you choose.

• PPO Plus Plan (lower deductible, highest payroll contribution)
• PPO Plan (higher deductible, moderate payroll contribution)
• PPO HDHP Plan (highest deductible plan with auto-enrollment in Health Savings Account HSA,lowest payroll contribution)

Choose from the following coverage levels; rates are outlined in the section above:

• Individual
• Individual & Spouse or Domestic Partner (DP) (DP Affidavit required)
• Individual & Child(ren) (Up to Age 26)
• Family (Individual, Spouse or Domestic Partner, & Children)

Resources and Support

• Visit the 2023 BCBS website for coverage and plan overview.
• Visit the 2024 BCBS website for coverage and plan overview.
• Review the guidebooks above for plan rates and comparison charts.
• Call BCBS at 888-261-0133 with health plan questions.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan Features

• Same national PPO network, cover the same services, and use the same prescription medication program
• "Blue Distinction" Centers of Excellence, providing expertise and efficiency in delivering specialty care for select procedures
• Progyny services for family planning and conception benefits, ensuring the highest level of support and access to industry experts. Learn more: Progyny Overview and Progyny video
• Well Connection Telehealth Services
• Mental Health resources and care options
• BCBS Fitness & Weight Loss Reimbursement

More on the PPO HDHP

Health Savings Account (HSA) for High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

Employees enrolled in the BCBS HDHP are automatically set up with an HSA, administered through HealthEquity, to put aside money tax free for qualified medical expenses. HSA contributions – both yours and those provided by the university – can be used today or saved for future use, even in retirement.

Understanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Enrollment: Employees must be enrolled in the BCBS HDHP. Once enrolled in the HDHP, an HSA is automatically created for you. You cannot contribute to an HSA if you are enrolled in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Medicare A or B.

What is an HSA? Only employees enrolled in a HDHP are given an HSA through which you and Tufts University contribute tax-free money to pay for qualified medical expenses.

HSA contributions earn tax-free interest and carry over from year to year, even if you change jobs or retire. Because HSA-powered health plans have a lower paycheck deduction, the money saved can be used to contribute to your HSA.

How to use funds: Pay for expenses with the debit card, provided to enrollees from HealthEquity, or pay out-of-pocket and then request reimbursement from HealthEquity. Full university funds are available after your first paycheck in 2024. Employee funds are available as contributions are made.

How is it funded? Tufts University contributes money directly into your HSA account. 2024 contributions are $500 for Individual or $1,000 for Two-Person/Family. You have the option to contribute pre-tax payroll contributions, up to IRS contribution limits.

2023 annual contribution will carry to 2024 if you do not make changes during Open Enrollment. You can change contribution elections any time of year.

Annual 2024 IRS Contribution Limits: Limits are based on health plan enrollment coverage level and include both employee and Tufts contributions.

• $4,150 — Individual
• $8,300 — Two-Person/Family
• $1,000 catch-up provision if age 55 or over by December 31, 2024

See below for 2023 IRS Contribution Limits.

No Use-or-Lose Rule: Any unused balance carries over each year, allowing you to build pre-tax health care savings over time, as these funds are yours to keep even if you leave the university or retire (including university contributions).

Questions? For plan details or questions, visit the HealthEquity website or call 866-346-5800.

University HSA Contributions

University contribution to the HSA, with amounts listed above, will be reviewed and communicated each plan year. For 2024, the university will make the contribution in the first pay period in January (if enrolled during Open Enrollment), or in the first pay period of the month following enrollment; for example, a new employee who enrolls on February 10 will receive their university contribution in the first paycheck of March.

Your HSA Contributions

You may contribute to your account through pre-tax payroll contributions and can change your HSA contribution elections any time during the year.

• Contributions can be made through eServe as a new hire, a life event, or during annual Open Enrollment
• Any other time, contribution changes can be made by submitting an HSA Salary Reduction Agreement Form to TSS
• The IRS sets the maximum contribution to a Health Savings Account each year

• Employees elect an annual HSA contribution amount, which is spread over the remaining pay periods in the benefits year.  For example, if an employee enrolled in the HDHP family plan for 2024, elects to contribute during Open Enrollment, $7,300 the paycheck contribution would be $7,300/24 semi-monthly paychecks = $304.17. If you elect or change contributions mid-year, the annual pledge will be spread over the remaining pay periods.

  During Open Enrollment, you can make HSA contribution elections in eServe. At any other time, you can elect/ change your contributions by completing the 2024 HSA Salary Reduction Agreement Form which can be downloaded on the AccessTufts Health Plan page.

2023 HSA Salary Reduction Agreement Form

2024 HSA Salary Reduction Agreement Form

2023 IRS Contribution Limits

2024 IRS Contribution Limits

Tufts Union Dining Employee Qualifications

Union Dining staff who are currently enrolled in a Tufts health plan may choose from the three university BCBS plans or two UNITE HERE HEALTH (UHH) plans. All others only have UHH plan options. Contact UHH at 833-637-3519; uhh.org.