Health Insurance Plan Options - Minnesota Only

Post-65 Plans for Minnesota Institutions and Their Retirees Living in Minnesota

There are two plans available in 2008. These plans are Medicare Part C HMO-type Cost Plans. Unlike most other HMO options, insured retirees maintain their Medicare Part A and B benefits, which enables them to obtain Medicare services from non-contract providers within their service area, whereas other HMOs do not pay for services outside of the network, except for urgent or emergency situations. The HealthPartners Freedom Plan has an open access network; you do not have to select a primary care physician and can obtain services from any of the HealthPartners providers (including most doctors and hospitals throughout Minnesota) without a referral.

HealthPartners Insurance Plan Provisions

For a detailed comparison of the HealthPartners Insurance plan provisions, click here.

To review the HealthPartners Medicare Prescription Drug Program Formulary (Part D), click here.

HealthPartners Freedom Plan Provider Network

If you live inside the metro-Minnesota area, click here to review the 2008 Metro Area provider directory.

If you live outside of the metro-Minnesota area, click here to review the 2008 Greater Minnesota/Western Wisconsin provider directory.

Key Features of the Minnesota Plans in 2008:

• The two Part D plans offered within the HealthPartners insurance are somewhat different from the standard plan. Plan 1 has a lower deductible and provides coverage in the coverage gap; Plan 2 has a lower deductible but no coverage in the coverage gap. For more information on how Part D works, see the diagram below which shows the Standard Part D Plan for 2008.

• Note that both plans have closed formularies, which means that the plan limits coverage of Part D medications to only those medications covered on HealthPartners’ preferred drug list. Other Medicare Part D medications will be excluded from coverage unless a medical exception is obtained. To access the HealthPartners Medicare Prescription Drug Program Formulary (Part D), click here.

• Both HealthPartners plans will have the same cost shares for covered prescription drugs--$12 for generic drugs, $24 for brand drugs on the formulary, and 25% for formulary specialty drugs. Note that if you use the HealthPartners mail order facility, you can get a 90 day supply of your maintenance drugs for the price of two months.

• For 2008, if you wish to have only Rx coverage, Aetna will provide one stand-alone prescription drug plan. In Minnesota, this plan will be a basic Part D plan with a closed formulary, slightly richer than the standard plan design shown below. To access Aetna's Medicare Prescription Drug Closed Formulary (Part D), click here.

• For 2008, HealthPartners will offer a new dental plan. This plan can be added to either of the two HealthPartners comprehensive plans, or it can be chosen as a stand-alone plan. (Note that this dental plan will have a July 1 plan renewal, so benefits and premiums may change then). If you choose the Aetna stand-alone Part D plan, then your dental coverage is also available through Aetna. To learn more about the HealthPartners dental plan, click here.
  

To calculate the monthly premiums for the different 2008 Emeriti Health Insurance Plan Options, use the Emeriti Online Premium Rate Guide.

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Medicare 2008 Standard Part D Plan

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How to Begin Thinking About Your Medical Options

When you think about your medical options, consider two important factors critical to cost and coverage.  First, weigh the premium cost for each plan.  Higher premiums usually result in a richer level of insurance coverage and lower out-of-pocket limits, but you pay the higher premium whether you use the coverage or not.  If you choose a plan with a higher premium, your out-of-pocket expenditures are usually capped at a lower dollar amount than for a plan with a lower premium.  So you will want to choose a plan at the premium level (and coverage level) appropriate for your expected usage. 

To calculate the monthly premiums for the different 2008 Emeriti Health Insurance Plan Options, use the Emeriti Online Premium Rate Guide.

The Emeriti Program provides these distinctive features:

• Catastrophic protection
• A choice of Medicare-approved Part D prescription drug coverages
• Coverage of any doctor or facility that accepts Medicare
• National access to insurance
• Annual choice among Emeriti Health Insurance Plan Options
• Preventive care
• Urgent or emergency coverage for up to six months while traveling abroad.

One of the key benefits of the Program is that you can choose the type and level of coverage for your needs this year, and then choose a different combination next year (for 2009), if your needs change.  

For more information, call the Emeriti Service Center at 1-866-EMERITI (1-866-363-7484).

Aetna provides all coverage for institutions and their retirees in 48 states and the District of Columbia. For institutions and their retirees in Minnesota, HealthPartners provides comprehensive coverage, and Aetna provides prescription drug only plans. For institutions in Minnesota, and their retirees residing in Minnesota, HealthPartners provides comprehensive coverage, and Aetna provides a prescription drug-only plan. Click here to see the HealthPartners Freedom Plans available in Minnesota. If your institution has fewer than 50 employees, your Emeriti insurance option will be limited to a separate insurance offering mandated by your state insurance department as part of small group insurance reform. Please call an Emeriti Specialist from Aetna to find out what insurance coverage is available to you.