2020-2021 MUS Retiree Benefit Plan Information
April 3, 2020
To: Montana University System Benefit Plan Retiree Members
From: Montana University System Benefits Office
Subject: IMPORTANT: 2020-2021 MUS Retiree Benefit Plan Information
For the upcoming 2020-2021 Plan Year, coverage for Montana University System (MUS) retirees includes enrollment in the MUS Choices options for both non-Medicare and Medicare retirees. The annual enrollment dates for MUS retirees to make benefit changes will be from April 22-May 15, 2020.
The MUS Benefits office will be providing a retiree benefits presentation for viewing live online on Friday, April 17th at 2:00pm via WebEx, which can be accessed from the MUS Choices website Home page at choices.mus.edu. The recorded WebEx benefits presentation and the slide presentation will be available on the MUS Choices website for viewing on April 22nd at your convenience. You may also check with your campus Human Resources/Benefits office as they may offer a retiree benefits presentation or an opportunity for you to view the WebEx with them on campus.
In an effort to reduce administrative costs and monthly premium rates for enrollees, the MUS will be moving to one Medical Plan option as of July 1, 2020. All Medical Plan enrollees will be automatically enrolled in the current Medical Plan coverage level with the new Medical Plan third-party administrator, BlueCross BlueShield of Montana (BCBSMT). To see if your provider is an In-Network BCBSMT provider, please check their website at www.bcbsmt.com/find-a-doctor-or-hospital. Enrollees who were not enrolled on the BCBSMT Medical Plan prior to July 1, 2020 will receive new Medical Plan ID cards and will see a reduction in their monthly Medical Plan premium amount. As of July 1, 2020, your providers will need a copy of your new Medical Plan ID card to ensure that claims are submitted to the correct plan for processing after July 1st. Monthly premium rates will remain the same as last plan year for the Select Dental Plan and Vision Hardware Plan.
MUS retirees will continue to make their benefit election changes by submitting a hardcopy enrollment form with their changes to their campus Human Resources/Benefits office. If you are not making any changes to your benefits, you do not need to submit an enrollment form and you will automatically be enrolled in your current benefits (with the exception of the new Medical Plan administrator).
The MUS Retiree Choices benefit books and enrollment forms will be mailed to retirees during the week of April 13th. Retiree Choices benefit books will also be available online on the MUS Choices website Home page at choices.mus.edu the week of April 13th. Retiree Choices enrollment forms will no longer be online but are available from the campus Human Resources/Benefits office upon request.
The MUS direct bill retirees will continue to submit their monthly premium payments directly to Businessolver. Businessolver offers online payments (accessed from the MUS Choices Home page at choices.mus.edu), scheduled automated clearing house (ACH) transactions, or physical coupons. Direct bill monthly premium payments should not be sent to the campus Human Resources/Benefits office. New monthly premium direct bill coupons for July-December 2020 will be sent out to current direct bill retirees who have benefit changes. If a direct bill retiree does not have any benefit changes, no new monthly premium direct bill coupons will be generated. If you have any questions about retiree direct billing, please contact Businessolver at 1-833-520-9689.
MUS retirees who pay their monthly premium payments via the Montana Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) or the Montana Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) will automatically have their monthly premium payments adjusted if they have benefit changes. If you need to change your premium payments from a pension deduction to direct bill as of July 1, 2020, please contact your campus Human Resources/Benefits office to help you make this change.
What do you need to do?
- Plan to watch the 2020 MUS Choices Retiree Benefits WebEx presentation on Friday, April 17th at 2:00pm.
- If you are making benefit changes for the 2020-2021 Plan Year to your MUS Choices Retiree Benefit Plan, you must submit your enrollment form to your campus Human Resources/Benefits office by 5:00pm on Friday, May 15, 2020.
- If you do not want to make any changes to your current MUS Choices Retiree Benefit Plan, you do not need to submit an enrollment form and you will be automatically enrolled in your current medical plan tier coverage level (with BCBSMT) and/or your current dental and/or vision hardware benefits.
- If you choose to disenroll from the MUS Choices Retiree Benefit Plan effective July 1, 2020, you must notify your MUS campus Human Resources/Benefits office no later than Friday, May 15, 2020. If you disenroll from the Plan, you will not be able to return to the Plan in the future.
If you have questions or need additional information, we encourage you to contact your campus Human Resources/Benefits office or the MUS Benefits office at 1-877-501-1722.