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

2025 

• 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

• Review the guidebooks above for plan rates and, and overview of plan coverage information.
• Visit the 2025 BCBS website (medical) or call BCBS at 888-261-0133 for plan coverage information and assistance.
• Visit the CVS Caremark website (pharmacy) or call CVS Caremark at 833-844-5648 or plan coverage information and assistance.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan Features

• Same national PPO network, medical coverage through BCBS, and prescription coverage through CVS Caremark.
• "Blue Distinction" Centers of Excellence, providing expertise in delivering specialty care for select procedures.
• Progyny family planning and conception benefits. Learn more: Progyny Overview, Progyny video and call 844-930-3310.
• Well Connection Telehealth Services
• Mental Health resources and care options
• BCBS Fitness & Weight Loss Reimbursement available for members enrolled through the university for at least three consecutive months within the calendar year. Requests are on a per calendar-year basis, and members have until March 31 of the following year to submit a request to BCBS.  Call BCBS at 888-261-0133 for eligibility and reimbursement details.  
  • Fitness Reimbursement up to $150 per member/$300 per family per calendar year.
  • Weight Loss Reimbursement up to $150 per member/$300 per family per calendar year. 

More on the PPO High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

Health Savings Account (HSA) for HDHP

Employees enrolled in the BCBS HDHP are automatically set up with an HSA, administered through HealthEquity, to contribute 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 to have an HSA account. Once enrolled in the HDHP, an HSA is automatically created for you. 
• Restrictions: 
  • You cannot contribute to an HSA if you are enrolled in  Medicare A or B.
  • You cannot contribute to an HSA if you are enrolled in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)  You may not contribute to both the Health Care FSA and the Health Savings Account (HSA) in any given calendar year. You (or you and your spouse) cannot simultaneously contribute to an HSA and a Health Care FSA. Because FSAs can be used to pay for each other's medical expenses, one spouse contributing to an FSA disqualifies the other from HSA eligibility. You do not need to be covered by your spouse's health coverage to be considered covered by their FSA.

What is an HSA?

• An account you can contribute to tax-free money to pay for qualified medical expenses for yourself, your tax dependents, and your spouse (or domestic partner if they qualify as dependent as defined by the IRS). 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 by HealthEquity, or pay out-of-pocket and then request reimbursement from HealthEquity. Full university funds are available after your first paycheck in 2025. Employee funds are available as contributions are made.

How is it funded? 

• See below for details on both Tufts University and your own contributions, as well as IRS HSA contribution limits. 

University HSA Contributions

Tufts University automatically contributes money directly into your HSA account, with contribution amounts reviewed and communicated each plan year. You have the option to make pre-tax payroll contributions, up to annual IRS contribution limit.

Timing for the first university contribution is: 

• Enroll during Open Enrollment: First pay period in January.
• Enroll any other time: First pay period of the month following enrollment (e.g., new employee enrolling on February 10 receives their university contribution in the first paycheck of March).

Your HSA Contributions

You have the option to make pre-tax payroll contributions, up to annual IRS contribution limit.

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

• Make contribution elections or changes:
  • New hire, life event, or annual Open Enrollment: Submit via eServe.
  • Any other time: Submit 2025 HSA Salary Reduction Agreement Form to TSS.

• Employees elect an annual HSA contribution amount, which is spread over the remaining pay periods in the benefits year. For example, an employee enrolled in the HDHP family plan for 2025 makes a contribution election during Open Enrollment, $7,550 of the paycheck contribution would be $7,550/24 semi-monthly paychecks = $314.58. If you elect or change contributions mid-year, the annual pledge will be spread over the remaining pay periods.

• Annual contributions will carry into the new year if you do not make changes during Open Enrollment. You can change contribution elections any time of year.

Questions? 

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

2025 IRS Contribution Limits

The annual IRS Health Savings Account contribution limit includes employee/employer contributions (from all employers) and is based on HDHP health plan enrollment level. 2025 annual 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.