Open Enrollment

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the State Health Plan Third-Party Administrator services will transfer from Blue Cross NC to Aetna.

As result of the State Health Plan transitioning to Aetna on January 1, 2025, you will need to log in to eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to designate your Primary Care Provider under Aetna during Open Enrollment to continue to enjoy lower copays when visiting that provider in 2025.

Enrolled members will receive a new ID card in late November-December. The cards will include all new Aetna information.
Important: Beginning Jan.1, 2025, the 2024 Blue Cross NC ID cards will no longer work at provider offices or pharmacies.

With the change to Aetna as the State Health Plan’s third-party administrator, effective Jan. 1, 2025, employees can now use the “Find a Provider” tool to see if their current providers are in network and available as a Clear Pricing Project provider. Providers had to re-sign with Aetna as a CPP, so their status may have changed.

Note: Make sure to select the NC State Health Plan network for Aetna 2025 when you search for your provider.

Aetna Health Concierge will be available to answer any questions you may have. Contact their customer service by calling 833-690-1037.

MetLife Dental rates for all coverage options will increase in 2025. Review the 2025 employee cost and coverage details.

The formulary (drug list), which determines what medications are covered and what tier they fall under, changes on a quarterly basis, so there is a possibility that employees will have changes in prescription coverage in 2025. Please refer to your Benefit Book for full coverage details.

• New expanded disease and case management programs

• New 24/7 nurse line

• New virtual care services through Teladoc

• New LifeMart discount program

Flu vaccine clinics will be held on campus during the month of October. Learn more on the Niner Nation Cares website.

During open enrollment, you will need to take action in two systems:

• eBenefits: You will only use eBenefits (Benefitfocus) to make your 2025 elections for health coverage through the State Health Plan.
• UNC System Benefits (Empyrean): You will use the UNC System Benefits (Empyrean) platform to make all other 2025 benefit elections, including all NCFlex and UNC System benefits.

More information about these two systems can be found in the section below.

• There are no premium increases, with no increase in copays or deductibles.
• The same plan options are available – Base PPO Plan (70/30) and Enhanced PPO Plan (80/20).
• Members who select a Clear Pricing Project Provider as their Primary Care Provider will continue to enjoy a $0 copay.
• Members will continue to enjoy a reduced copay when visiting a Clear Pricing Project Specialist.
• Tobacco users can attend a tobacco cessation counseling session by Nov. 30 to receive a $60 monthly premium credit. (See more information below.)
• Preferred and non-preferred insulin continues to have a $0 copay for a 30-day supply.
• Preventive services remain covered at 100% – no copay or deductible – on either plan.

Employees who are tobacco users and want to earn their monthly premium credit for 2025 don’t have to wait until open enrollment this fall. They can take action now to save money throughout the year!

Effective July 1, 2024, tobacco users can attend a tobacco cessation counseling session at their primary care provider’s (PCP) office for free to earn a lower premium for 2025. They have until Nov. 30, 2024, to take action. (Note: If employees combine their tobacco cessation visit with another service, there may be a copay.) This convenient employee option means there’s no need to wait for Open Enrollment in October to secure their monthly premium credit for 2025.

Here’s how it works:

• After employees visit a PCP for their tobacco cessation session, the provider will submit a claim on their behalf. To ensure they receive credit for their visit, employees can upload their office visit summary to the “Document Center” located in eBenefits, the State Health Plan’s enrollment system. They should make sure to request a copy of their summary during their visit.

• During open enrollment, they will need to attest during the online enrollment process. This step is critical to ensure employees receive the lower premium for 2025.

• This action is ONLY for tobacco users who want to reduce their monthly premium by $60 per month in 2025. If employees are NOT tobacco users, they will simply attest to that online during Open Enrollment, Sept. 30 – Oct. 25, 2024.

• More information on tobacco attestation.

• Dental: MetLife Dental rates for all coverage options will increase in 2025. Review the 2025 employee cost and coverage details.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): The Health Care FSA maximum annual contribution is increasing to $3,200. The rollover balance is $640. To view your current FSA balance, log into the NCFlex P&A Admin site.
• Dependent Care FSA: The Dependent Care FSA annual limit will remain the same at $5,000.
• Cancer nor Critical Illness Plans: Neither the Cancer nor Critical Illness plans require evidence of insurability to enroll.

• Employees can complete their enrollment over the phone.

• Call the eBenefits Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center at 855‐859‐0966.

• Open Enrollment extended hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. EST, and Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EST.

• Employees can also complete their enrollment over the phone.

• Call the Empyrean University Benefits Service Center at 833-862-1490. The hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. (EST).

• Call the Eligibility and Enrollment Support Center at 855-859-0966. The extended hours during Open Enrollment are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• Call the Aetna Health Concierge (Customer Service) at 833-690-1037. The extended hours during Open Enrollment are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Contact the UNC Charlotte Benefits Office: Benefits@charlotte.edu or 704-687-8134