EHA News
EHA News
EHA Announces An Optional Open Enrollment
All EHA subgroups will have an Open Enrollment unless it is decided at the local level to opt out. This opting out may be applied at the subgroup level and requires the employer and the bargaining unit (for subgroups where one exists), to sign off on the desire to opt out. Subgroups may opt out of the Open Enrollement by completing and returning this form to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.
*Submission Deadline July 1, 2016*
Please click on the link below to download the Open Enrollment Form.
EHA Board Briefs - April 2016
EHA Board Briefs is a forum to provide summary information to EHA participants about topics addressed by or of current interest to the EHA Board of Directors.
EHA Board Briefs - April 2016
EHA Board Briefs is a forum to provide summary information to EHA participants about topics addressed by or of current interest to the EHA Board of Directors.
EHA Retiree Meeting Announcement
Greg Long of the Educators Health Alliance and Kent Trelford-Thompson of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska will be conducting two EHA retiree meetings for newly declared retiree members from 4:30PM to 5:30PM at the below locations.
EHA Retiree Meetings
May 11th
Holiday Inn
110 South 2nd Avenue
Kearney, NE 68847
May 12th
Education Service Unit 3
6949 South 110th Street
La Vista, NE 68128
EHA members may also view a previously recorded Webinar of the 2016/17 Retiree Direct Bill informational for health care benefits. The webinar can now be viewed at your convenience from the EHA website at www.ehaplan.org located on the retiree information tab at www.ehaplan.org/retiree-info.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Greg Long at greg@ehaplan.org or 402-440-9633.
EHA Has A Twitter Account!
EHA Has A Twitter Account!
Please follow Greg Long on the EHA Twitter account! Following Greg will give you up-to-date instant access of the EHA Field Director, the latest news, and fun facts about the Educator Health Alliance.
You can find Greg @EHAGregLong1
Educators Health Alliance to Seek Competitive Bids for Health Insurance Program
The Educators Health Alliance (EHA) Board of Directors at its February 9, 2016 meeting has approved a resolution for “...the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to determine the insurance company for the EHA Plan and to direct our consultant to proceed immediately in preparation for a September 1, 2017 coverage effective date.”
Please click the link below to read the article:
Dependent Eligibility Verification Group Leader Orientation
Dependent Eligibility Verification Group Leader Orientation
Please click on the link below to answer all questions regarding the Dependent Eligibility Verification.
EHA Insurance Rate Informational Webinar
Dear EHA Members,
On October 29th the Educators Health Alliance released the new health/dental insurance rates for 2016-2017. In conjunction with the new rates the Educators Health Alliance and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska would like to invite our members to one of the two informational webinars on November 23rd at 9:30AM or November 30th at 3:30.
Kent Trelford-Thompson, of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska and Greg Long, of the EHA will be discussing a range of issues that will include the 2016/17 rate increase, deductibles of all plans, out-of-pocket maximums, and prescription drug changes. We will also be holding a question and answer forum at the conclusion of the webinars.
Please click on the link below to join the webinar:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/8969240085672218369
We look forward to your participation in the 2016/17 EHA Informational Webinar.
Rates and Benefits Released
Please click the links below to access new benefits and rate information.
Health Insurance Premium Increase for Nebraska Schools Bucks National Trend
September 1, 2015 -- Increases of from 12 to 31 percent for individual health insurance policies in Nebraska are slated for 2016, according to a Sept. 1, 2015, Omaha World-Herald report.
Meanwhile, rates for the Educators Health Alliance health care plan used by nearly every Nebraska school district increased by only 1.9 percent, effective today.
“This marks the 13th consecutive year our rate increases have been less than 10 percent,” said Neal Clayburn, chair of the EHA board of directors. “That we have kept the increases well below national cost trends points to the efficacy of our collaborative approach to providing health care coverage for more than 400 school groups.”
The EHA plan’s rate increases in 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 were 0.0 percent, 2.99 percent, 6.4 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.
Clayburn said several factors contribute to the EHA’s ability to continually achieve rate increases that fall well below the national rate of medical inflation. He said “the wise use of medical services and maintenance of healthy practices by plan members; EHA’s extensive wellness program; and the collaboration of the three associations that govern the plan: the Nebraska School Boards Association, Nebraska Council of School Administrators and the Nebraska State Education Association,” combine to keep rates at a minimum.
EHA premiums increased by 1.9 percent for all rate and benefit categories beginning Sep. 1, 2015. This includes all medical and dental plans, as well as active employee and early retiree categories. There are no changes made to the EHA available plan deductibles, coinsurance, or copays for the 2015-16 plan year.
The EHA plan’s insurance coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska includes more than 77,000 education employees, early retirees and their dependents. NSEA formed the statewide health care network 45 years ago. A 12-member board representing NSEA, the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators now governs the health care plan.
