Employee Annual Enrollment Letter 2025
April 7, 2025
Montana University System Benefit Plan Employee Members
IMPORTANT: 2025 Annual Enrollment Benefit Plan and Premium Changes
The Montana University System Choices Benefit Plan (MUS Plan) is your self-insured employer sponsored plan covering over 16,000 MUS employees, retirees, COBRA enrollees and family members. The MUS Plan, funded by a combination of contributions as determined by the Montana Legislature and Plan member premiums, is responsible for providing health care coverage for you and your family members in accordance with state and federal laws.
During 2024, the MUS Plan saw a significant increase in health care costs and utilization. These increases are driving necessary benefit changes and premium increases. Beginning July 1, 2025, the MUS Plan will implement medical and basic life/AD&D benefit adjustments and premium increases. For FY2026, an additional $26/month will be added to the State employer contribution (currently $1,054/month, increasing to $1,080/month). Additionally, there will be increases to the diagnostic and preventive dental fee schedule amounts.
Employee medical premium changes are as follows:
| Premium through June 30, 2025 | Premium as of July 1, 2025 | |
| Employee/Survivor Only | $748/month | $756/month |
| Employee & Spouse | $1,075/month | $1,302/month |
| Employee/Survivor & Child(ren) | $994/month | $1,101/month |
| Employee & Family | $1,327/month | $1,547/month |
Employee Basic and Select Plan dental premium changes are as follows:
| Basic Plan | Premium through June 30, 2025 | Premium as of July 1, 2025 |
| Employee/Survivor Only | $18/month | $20/month |
| Employee & Spouse | $34/month | $39/month |
| Employee/Survivor & Child(ren) | $34/month | $39/month |
| Employee & Family | $49/month | $55/month |
| Select Plan | Premium through June 30, 2025 | Premium as of July 1, 2025 |
| Employee/Survivor Only | $43/month | $48/month |
| Employee & Spouse | $82/month | $93/month |
| Employee/Survivor & Child(ren) | $82/month | $93/month |
| Employee & Family | $116/month | $132/month |
Employee basic life/AD&D premium changes are as follows:
| Basic Life/AD&D | Premium through June 30, 2025 | Premium as of July 1, 2025 |
| Option 1 | $15,000 - $1.28/month | $25,000 - $2.10/month |
| Option 2 | $30,000 - $2.56/month | $50,000 - $4.20/month |
| Option 3 | $48,000 - $4.08/month | N/A |
Employee medical and basic life/AD&D benefit changes are as follows:
Deductible
| Benefit Description | Benefit through June 30, 2025 | Benefit as of July 1, 2025 |
| Increase In-Network Deductible | $750 (individual) / $1,500 (family) | $1,000 (individual) / $2,500 (family) |
| Increase Out-of-Network Deductible | $750 (individual) / $1,750 (family) | $1,000 (individual) / $2,750 (family) |
Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Maximums
| Benefit Description | Benefit through June 30, 2025 | Benefit as of July 1, 2025 |
| Increase In-Network OOP | $4,000 (individual) / $8,000 (family) | $4,500 (individual) / $11,250 (family) |
| Increase Out-of-Network OOP | $6,000 (individual) / $12,000 (family) | $6,750 (individual) / $16,875 (family) |
Additional Benefit Enhancements
| Benefit Description | Benefit through June 30, 2025 | Benefit as of July 1, 2025 |
| Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Visit |
N/A | $10 copay/visit (no deductible/coinsurance) |
| MDLIVE Virtual Visit (telemedicine) |
N/A | $10 copay/visit (no deductible/coinsurance) |
|
Basic Life/AD&D options (current Options 1 & 2 will change to the new Option 1) (current Option 3 will change to the new Option 2) |
Option 1 – $15,000 Option 2 – $30,000 Option 3 – $48,000 |
Option 1 – $25,000 Option 2 – $50,000 |
The 2025-2026 MUS Choices Annual Enrollment period will be from April 24 – May 15, 2025.
The MUS Benefits office will be providing a live, interactive MUS Choices Employee Benefit Plan presentation on Tuesday, April 22nd at 10:00 a.m. (MST), which can be accessed online from the MUS Choices website. The recorded MUS Choices Employee Benefit Plan presentation and the benefits slide presentation will be available on the MUS Choices website by April 26th for your convenience.
What do you need to do?
- If you want to make benefit changes to your MUS Plan coverages for the 2025-2026 Plan Year, please make your changes in the MUS online enrollment system, Benefitsolver, by 5:00 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
- If you do not want to make any changes to your current MUS Plan coverages, you will automatically be re-enrolled in your current benefits, except for a Flexible Spending Account, which must be re-elected each Plan year, and the basic life/AD&D coverage options.
If you have questions or need additional information, we encourage you to contact the MUS Benefits office at 1-877-501-1722.