Meetings scheduled on U.Va. health plan changes

The benefits office has scheduled information sessions for employees to explain details and answer questions about changes in the U.Va. health plan.

Employees will be able to choose between two programs. The new option is Direct Access, which will eliminate the requirement of going to a primary care physician before seeing a specialist in the Southern Health physician network. The Point of Service program, which is the same as the existing plan, will continue to be offered and will still require PCP referrals.

Both programs include cost increases, but in different ways. The Point of Service program has higher monthly premiums but keeps co-insurance payments for services such as diagnostic tests and X-rays the same as the existing plan. The Direct Access program offers lower monthly premiums, but employees will have to pay some fees. Under either program, the co-payment for doctor’s visits will go up to $15.

Employees must choose the Direct Access program or the Point of Service program during the open enrollment period from Nov. 3 to Dec. 12, or they will be switched automatically to the Direct Access program.

No reservations are necessary to attend.


The Meeting Schedule

• Nov. 7, 8:30 a.m.,
Facilities Management
lunch/break room

• Nov. 10, 2 p.m.,
Darden Classroom 30

• Nov. 11, 2 p.m.,
Newcomb Hall
Commonwealth Room

• Nov. 14, 1 p.m., s
Carruthers Hall
ITC Conference Room A

• Nov. 17, 10 a.m.,
Fontaine Research Park,
400 Ray C. Hunt
Drive, Suite 100,
Conference Room A/B

• Nov. 18, 8:30 a.m.,
Medical Center
Camp Heart Auditorium

• Nov. 24, 9 a.m.,
Newcomb Hall
Commonwealth Room

• Nov. 25, 3 p.m.,
Facilities Management
lunch/break room

• Dec. 2, 4 p.m.,
Medical Center
Camp Heart Auditorium

• Dec. 11, 10 a.m.,
Newcomb Hall
Commonwealth Room

Note: The open enrollment period is from Nov. 3 through Dec. 12.