DCH Board Approves 2016 State Health Benefit Plan Options

The Board of Community Health today voted to approve the 2016 member contribution rates and plan designs for the Georgia Department of Community Health's State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), providing continuity and stability in plan options for members next year. The Board's vote today establishes the general framework of the plan options for next year, including member premiums.

For 2016, the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) will continue to provide an array of vendors and plan options for our members, with new enhancements, such as increased access to telemedicine and wellness incentive credits rollover. The Board's vote establishes member contribution rates and solidifies that the following options will be available to SHBP members for the 2016 Plan Year:
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) - statewide Gold, Silver, Bronze Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) (exclusively), statewide Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
  • UnitedHealthcare (UHC) - statewide High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) (exclusively), statewide HMO, Medicare Advantage (MA) Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) standard and premium
  • Kaiser Permanente (KP) - fully-insured HMO for SHBP members who live or work in the 27-county metro Atlanta service area
The current Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) contract with Express Scripts Inc. and the current Wellness contract with Healthways Inc. will continue for the 2016 plan year, and will provide benefits to members who choose to enroll in either BCBSGa or UHC.
 
To educate members on the 2016 plan options, SHBP will conduct in-person and online member outreach on the plan options prior to and during the state's Open Enrollment and Retiree Change Option Period. As information is developed, SHBP members can expect to receive details from their payroll location and online at: www.dch.georgia.gov/shbp.
 
Open Enrollment will be held October 19 - November 6, 2015, for the January 1, 2016, start date of the new plan year.