As communicated in the compensation email you received today, DSST is committed to using our limited resources in the most impactful way. In order to do this, we have made the decision to change our medical insurance provider from Aetna to Kaiser Permanente effective July 1, 2018. Partnering with Kaiser will allow us to provide quality health plans without increasing the cost to our employees.
Why are we switching to Kaiser Permanente?
Higher Quality Outcomes
- Every year since 2008 Kaiser Permanente Colorado has been rated the #1 private health plan in the state by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its consistent high quality medical outcomes
Access & Convenience
- With Kaiser Permanente, you have a convenient one stop shop for all health care making it easier to manage claims and find the care you need.
- Kaiser Permanente offers multiple services at their facilities, with lab, imaging and pharmacy often under one roof.
- Kaiser also offers phone and video appointments with doctors for the times when an in-person appointment isn’t convenient for you.
- And Kaiser Permanente has an online tool available to members: My Health Manager. Refill most prescriptions, schedule routine appointments, email your doctor’s office, view most test results, and much more — online or from your mobile device.
Lower Costs for Team Members
Every dollar spent on benefits is money we cannot direct towards fulfilling our mission, serving our students or compensating our staff. Switching to Kaiser Permanente allows us to keep premiums low while continuing to provide high quality plan options.
- All DSST employees will either pay lower premiums or have better benefits, with the average cost savings being $56 per month
- Over the past two years we have heard feedback that our families pay too much for healthcare - with this switch many families will save almost $100 a month in premiums
- In addition to employee savings, the switch to Kaiser will also save the network $625 per person in total, which will be returned to employees in the form of a first-day-of-school bonus for returning team members.
How does this impact me?
- We will now offer two plans through Kaiser Permanente.
- Plan 1: High Deductible Health Plan with HSA (similar to our current “Core” HDHP plan)
- Plan 2: Deductible Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) Plan featuring a combined Plus benefit that will ease the transition from Aetna. This plan will cover up to 20 services (such as office visit, plus lab, plus x-rays, etc.) per year to a non-Kaiser physician or facility, which gives you the flexibility to continue going to your current doctor or specialist.
For Kaiser's plan pricing, please click here.
For detailed plan information please click here.
- In moving to Kaiser, you will need to find a new provider within their network. Kaiser will be available to assist in finding a new primary care physician and specialists in your area. You may be able to continue with your current physician if you choose to enroll in the DHMO Plan with the Plus benefit (see details above for more information).
- The money you have applied toward your current deductible will transfer. If you have already met your deductible for the calendar year (January-December 2018), you will not have to start over once the Kaiser plans begins July 1.
For more information about maternity, prescriptions, and specialty care
What should I expect?
- You can find benefit summaries, helpful guides to various services, and complete a care needs assessment survey on the Kaiser website. Through the survey, Kaiser can help coordinate specialty care, transfer prescriptions, and even capture your medical history before July 1, 2018, to help the transition. Kaiser will also provide individualized support through their New Member Connect Team.
- On-campus support from the Human Capital team during the week of May 29. During these office hours, we can answer individual questions about your new options through Kaiser and transition support available.
Who to contact with additional questions?
- For information about transferring prescriptions, planned surgeries, concerns about an existing medical condition, or help selecting a plan, please email DSST@kp.org from Monday-Friday or call the Kaiser New Member Connect Team at 844-639-8657.
- For questions regarding open enrollment or general benefits please email: humanresources@scienceandtech.org.