Governor Larry Hogan has announced changes to the State Employee Wellness plan, which is a program designed to save employees money on their healthcare while improving their overall health. The changes to this plan will reward those who already completed the enrollment requirements, will give those who haven’t a second chance to do so in 2016, and will waive surcharges through 2017.
“My Administration is very supportive of the idea to improve the health of our workers while saving money, but employees voiced some concern over the steps they needed to take to take advantage of this program,” Governor Hogan said. “I’ve heard their concerns and I’m happy to announce these changes to make it easier for our employees to be a part of the wellness plan.”
The changes to the State Employee Wellness plan include the following:
- Primary care physician copays will continue to be waived through the end of 2016 for employees who completed their healthy activities by the Dec. 31, 2015 deadline. Employees who completed their healthy activities in 2015 will not be required to complete healthy activities again in 2016.
- If an employee did not complete their healthy activities in 2015, they can still complete them in 2016. Once completed, primary care physician copays will be waived through the end of 2016.
Healthy Activities include:
- Select a Primary Care Physician,
- Complete a health risk assessment online*,
- Obtain your physician’s signature on the physician notification form showing that the physician saw the results of the risk assessment.
* Effective immediately, employees will have a choice of health risk assessments – employees can use the State’s Health Risk Assessment (available online), or they can choose the one used by their own medical plan.
- All surcharges are eliminated for 2016 and 2017 for:
- Not completing the healthy activities
- Not having age/gender appropriate screenings for 2016
- Not engaging in disease management for 2016
- Employees can voluntarily have age/gender appropriate screenings and/or participate in disease management. However, participation is not required.
View Governor Hogan’s press release http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Documents/WellnessRelease.pdf
Visit the State of Maryland Wellness Website for wellness program information, health tips, access to the State’s Health Risk Assessment, and more! http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Pages/WellnessHome.aspx
