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Contributions
Good news for you
As a result of meetings with retirees and the Health Benefits Advisory Committee, the city has revised the health benefits contribution structure for May 2009. The increases that were in your Open Enrollment communications materials are now lower in most categories in the HMO and PPO plans.
Here’s what it means for you:
HMO
- Contributions for active employees will remain at 5.73% more than May 2008 contributions.
- Contributions for retirees <65 will increase 15.06% above May 2008 contributions – not the 24% previously announced.
- Contributions for retirees >65 with Medicare will increase 6.62% above May 2008 contributions - not the 15% previously announced.
- Contributions for retirees >65 without Medicare will increase 6.62% above May 2008 contributions – not the 9% previously announced.
PPO
- Contributions will increase between 2 and 5.4% across all tiers as compared to May 2008 contributions. Some categories may see a small increase over the previously announced contributions for May 2009.
View the new contribution chart for May 1, 2009.
Monthly rate comparison chart
Employees - compare what you pay for healthcare to some other local employers.
Monthly rate comparison |
Company
(Predominant Plan) |
Tier |
Employee’s
contribution |
Employer’s
contribution |
City of Houston
(HMO) |
EE only |
$36 |
$310 |
EE + family |
$245 |
$852 |
Local University
(HMO) |
EE only |
$61 |
$321 |
EE + family |
$391 |
$791 |
HISD
(Consumer Plan) |
EE only |
$278 |
$188 |
EE + family |
$304 |
$858 |
Harris County
(PPO) |
EE only |
$0 |
$462 |
EE + family |
$367 |
$829 |
Private Local
(PPO) |
EE only |
$104 |
$314 |
EE + family |
$336 |
$882 |
Source: City of Houston annual health benefits survey, January 2009. City of Houston data effective 5/1/09. Other participants’ data valid YTD 2008. Amounts rounded to whole dollars.
Disease Prevention Discount Program
Tobacco use can really affect your game. Studies show tobacco users are more likely to have higher medical claims and are hospitalized longer. Smoking is a primary contributor to illnesses like heart, lung and pulmonary diseases that generally require long-term and costly medical intervention.
For those reasons and others, employees, retirees and their covered dependents who do not use tobacco receive a $25 discount each month. If you are paying the discounted premium and you cover a tobacco user, you could lose medical coverage.
Contributions
Active employees biweekly contributions |
|
Non-tobacco user |
Tobacco user |
HMO |
From |
To |
From |
To |
| Employee Only |
$17.15 |
$18.13 |
$29.65 |
$30.63 |
| Employee + 1 |
$94.28 |
$99.68 |
$106.78 |
$112.18 |
| Employee + 2 or more |
$115.76 |
$122.39 |
$128.26 |
$134.89 |
PPO and Out-of-area |
From |
To |
From |
To |
| Employee Only |
$122.72 |
$124.80 |
$135.22 |
$137.30 |
| Employee + 1 |
$348.85 |
$356.90 |
$361.35 |
$369.40 |
| Employee + 2 or more |
$450.50 |
$460.61 |
$463.00 |
$473.11 |
| |
Retirees under 65 monthly contributions |
HMO |
From |
To |
From |
To |
| Retiree Only |
$149.34 |
$171.82 |
$174.34 |
$196.82 |
| Retiree + 1 |
$440.68 |
$507.04 |
$465.68 |
$532.04 |
| Retiree + 2 or more |
$687.22 |
$790.72 |
$712.22 |
$815.72 |
PPO and Out-of-area |
From |
To |
From |
To |
| Retiree Only |
$557.04 |
$580.58 |
$582.04 |
$605.58 |
| Retiree + 1 |
$1,423.68 |
$1,492.56 |
$1,448.68 |
$1,517.56 |
| Retiree + 2 or more |
$1,979.96 |
$2,086.74 |
$2,004.96 |
$2,111.74 |
| |
Retirees over 65 monthly contributions |
HMO |
From |
To |
From |
To |
Retirees over 65 without Medicare |
| Retiree Only |
$461.96 |
$492.54 |
$486.96 |
$517.54 |
| Retiree + 1 |
$970.12 |
$1,034.34 |
$995.12 |
$1,059.34 |
| Retiree + 2 or more |
$1,663.06 |
$1,773.16 |
$1,688.06 |
$1,798.16 |
Retirees over 65 with Medicare |
| Retiree Only w/ Medicare |
$144.10 |
$153.64 |
$169.10 |
$178.64 |
| Retiree + 1 (1 w/ Medicare) |
$288.28 |
$307.36 |
$313.28 |
$332.36 |
| Retiree + 1 (2 w/ Medicare) |
$281.04 |
$299.64 |
$306.04 |
$324.64 |
| Retiree + 2 or more (1 w/ Medicare) |
$490.04 |
$522.48 |
$515.04 |
$547.48 |
| Retiree + 2 or more (2 w/ Medicare) |
$446.80 |
$476.38 |
$471.80 |
$501.38 |
PPO and Out-of-area |
From |
To |
From |
To |
Retirees over 65 without Medicare |
| Retiree Only |
$786.40 |
$817.06 |
$811.40 |
$842.06 |
| Retiree + 1 |
$1,667.76 |
$1,732.80 |
$1,692.76 |
$1,757.80 |
| Retiree + 2 or more |
$2,075.84 |
$2,156.80 |
$2,100.84 |
$2,181.80 |
Retirees over 65 with Medicare |
| Retiree w/ Medicare |
$498.86 |
$507.90 |
$523.86 |
$532.90 |
| Retiree + 1 (1 w/ Medicare) |
$1,049.76 |
$1,090.70 |
$1,074.76 |
$1,115.70 |
| Retiree + 1 (2 w/ Medicare) |
$687.30 |
$714.10 |
$712.30 |
$739.10 |
| Retiree + 2 or more (1 w/ Medicare) |
$1,404.44 |
$1,435.48 |
$1,429.44 |
$1,460.48 |
| Retiree + 2 or more (2 w/ Medicare) |
$1,271.22 |
$1,298.40 |
$1,296.22 |
$1,323.40 |
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