Paycheck contributions for employees on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO and HSA plans for medical coverage will not increase for 2024. Employees on the Kaiser HMO plan will see a per paycheck rate increase between $14 and $60, depending on who you cover. The costs you pay when you receive care, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, are not changing.
BMC covers about 80% of the annual cost of medical coverage, and you cover the remainder. BMC shares all cost increases equally with employees to maintain the quality you have come to expect from our plans.
| Per paycheck contributions | HSA Plan | PPO Plan | Kaiser HMO |
|---|---|---|---|
| You | $46.29 | $155.51 | $100.11 |
| You + Spouse | $174.05 | $402.99 | $286.39 |
| You + Child(ren) | $121.49 | $302.83 | $197.43 |
| You + Family | $236.67 | $588.72 | $417.90 |
Per paycheck contributions are 24 times per year.
You will pay between $100 and $600 less for medical coverage in 2024 if you earned bWell rewards by August 31, 2023, and chose medical premium discounts. You’ll see the earned discounts on mybmcrewards.com after you click on Enroll in Your Benefits.
To earn rewards and pay lower paycheck costs for medical coverage in 2025, tune into bWell Radio and find your groove while you (and your spouse*) make lasting changes to your overall well-being.
*Spouses are not eligible to earn rewards.
The 2024 Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contribution limit is projected to be $3,200. You can carry forward up to $610 from 2023 for use in 2024, and in 2024 the carryover is projected to be $640. See 2024 limits on tax savings accounts.
With inflation hitting everyone’s budgets right now, knowing how to save money when we need a medical procedure or service is good. BMC partners with BCBS to bring you tools to help you choose the proper care that meets your needs and is within your budget.
Health Advocacy Services — Call the number on your BCBS medical ID card to speak with an advocate. Advocates can help you identify ways to help you save money on health expenses before receiving a medical procedure or service. If you have questions or concerns about a medical bill, an advocate can help with that, too.
Digital Health Solutions — The BCBS medical plans include several digital resources to complement your one-on-one experience with your doctor. These programs are available at no added cost and can help you manage a health issue. Services include coaching and, in some cases, may use internet-connected biometric devices and wearable sensors to help you and your family achieve health improvement goals. Learn more here.
BCBS Member Rewards — Did you know you can shop and compare costs for over 1,600 health care procedures online using the BCBS Provider Finder tool? Just like shopping for new tires for your car or a new computer, doing a little comparison shopping can really pay off.
The price of health care services can differ by hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars based on where you get care. Higher cost doesn’t always mean better quality. By choosing a cost-effective option for your care, you can save money on your out-of-pocket costs and could earn a cash Member Reward.
Take a look at these examples:
| Medical Procedure | Provider A Cost | Provider B Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MRI of the Brain | $682 | $3,849 |
| Knee Replacement | $17,003 | $61,980 |
It’s easy. Just follow these steps when a doctor suggests a medical procedure or service:
Once the claim is paid, you’ll receive a check in the mail.
Prescription drug benefits for employees enrolled in a BCBS plan will now be administered by Prime Therapeutics.
With your BCBS plan, your drug list is called Balanced. When you use a drug on your drug list, your copay/insurance (what you pay out of pocket) will usually be lower. You can still fill prescriptions for drugs that are not on your drug list, but you will pay more or may not be covered.
Learn MoreFill a 90-day supply at Walgreens Retail Pharmacy or through Express Scripts Pharmacy Mail Order.
FlexAccess is a cost assistance program designed to help you lower your costs if you take certain high-cost/specialty medications. This program is part of the BCBS health plan your employer offers.
Learn MoreThe IRS has increased contribution limits for Health Savings Accounts. For 2024, you can contribute $4,150 for individual coverage (up from $3,850) or $8,300 for family coverage (up from $7,750). The catch-up contribution limit for those who are 55 or better remains $1,000. See limits for all tax savings accounts here.
| If your base salary is $75,000 or less | If your base salary is more than $75,000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee-Only Coverage | Other Coverage Levels | Employee-Only Coverage | Other Coverage Levels | |
| BMC Flat Seed | $200 in January and July for a total of $400 | $0 | $0 | |
| BMC matches your contributions (dollar-for-dollar) | Up to $350 | Up to $1,100 | Up to $500 | Up to $1,000 |
| BMC will match your HSA contributions each pay period in 2024 | ||||
| Your contribution limit | Up to $3,400 | Up to $6,800 | Up to $3,650 | Up to $7,300 |
| Total 2024 contribution allowed by the IRS (yours and BMC’s) | $4,150 | $8,300 | $4,150 | $8,300 |
| If you are age 55 or better at any time during 2024, you can contribute an additional $1,000 to your HSA. | ||||
The BMC Health Savings Account (HSA) is only available to employees enrolled in the BCBSHSA medical plan option. The HSA helps you pay for the cost of care for you and your eligible tax dependents not paid by insurance.
As a reminder, administration of the Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts has moved from Your Spending Account to Fidelity since the start of the year.
Beneficiary changes are often overlooked following divorce, remarriage, or after the death of a loved one who may be listed as one of your beneficiaries. Accurate beneficiary information means your assets will be distributed according to your wishes. We encourage you to take a few minutes during Annual Enrollment to confirm your beneficiary designations.
To review, add or change your Life, AD&D, or beneficiary, go to MyBMC Rewards. To change your 401(k) and Health Savings Account beneficiary, access your account at NetBenefits.com.
Not sure if you need to enroll? Use this checklist for help. If you check ANY of these boxes, you need to enroll.
Even if you are happy with your current coverage, we encourage you to review your enrollment elections yearly.
If you don’t take action during Annual Enrollment, your 2024 BMC benefit coverage will continue with the 2024 paycheck contributions for the same coverages you have for 2023 with the exception of Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts . Remember, you must enroll if you want to change your coverage, add or remove dependents, or contribute to a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account.
Complete these steps between October 30 and November 10 to get the right coverage for you and your family.
If you leave the enrollment website before submitting your elections, your benefit choices will not be saved. Look for the “Your Enrollment is Confirmed” page, which will contain a confirmation number for your transaction. This will signal that your enrollment is complete. Print this page for your records.
You must verify your dependent’s eligibility for benefits when you add a new dependent to your BMC medical coverage for 2024. Your Benefits Resources will send you a verification request notice and package to your home address. Follow the instructions in the package and respond with the necessary documentation by the deadline. Complete and return the requested documents by the deadline, or your dependents will be ineligible for coverage and removed from BMC benefits.
If you need enrollment assistance, call Your Benefits Resources at 877-262-4849 between 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST.
MyBMC Rewards provides a snapshot of your pay, retirement benefits, health and insurance benefits and corporate programs. Visit MyBMC Rewards to:
Go online anytime or call 877-262-4849. Representatives are available from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Eastern time.
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