Highlights for 2025

The premium rates charged by the Co-op Health & Welfare Plan & Trust will increase an average of 7.3% for 2025.  Premium rates increased by 1.7% in 2023 and 3.4% in 2024.  The below trend increases and a spike in paid claims resulted in the plan being underfunded by approximately $1.5 million in 2024.  As a result, premiums must be increased for 2025.  See the FAQ document for a more detailed discussion about plan costs.

1. Traditional PPO Plan Premiums:  The monthly premiums charged for coverage beginning January 1, 2025 (prior to employer cost share) will be: Individual = $680/month and Family = $1,700/month, an increase of 7.9% from 2024 rates.  
   
2. Traditional PPO Plan Deductibles:  The per person annual deductible will remain unchanged at $1,250 for the 2025 plan year.  The Out-of-Pocket Maximums will also remain unchanged at $4,000 for Individual coverage and $8,000 for Family coverage.  This Plan has a sub-deductible for prescription drugs which will remain unchanged for 2025 at $250 per person, $500 per family, and the Out-of-Pocket Maximum for prescription drugs will remain $2,500.
   
3. HSA Plan (formerly High Deductible) Premiums:  The monthly premiums charged for coverage beginning January 1, 2025 (prior to employer cost share) will be:  Individual = $640/month and Family = $1,600/month, an increase of 6.7% from 2024 rates.  Included in the premium for all eligible HSA Plan participants is a monthly contribution to the participants individual Health Savings Account (HSA).  The “employer” contribution to the HSA will be $100/month ($1,200 annually) for family coverage and $50/month ($600 annually) for individual coverage.
   
4. HSA Plan Deductibles:  The annual deductibles will remain unchanged at $1,800 for Individual Coverage, and $3,600 for Family Coverage.  The Out-of-Pocket Maximum will also remain unchanged at $4,000 Individual coverage and $8,000 for Family coverage. 
   
5. Minimum Actuarial Value Plan (MVP) Premiums and Deductibles:  The monthly premiums charged for coverage beginning January 1, 2025 (prior to employer cost share) will increase from $325 to $340/month for individual coverage.  The annual deductible is $4,000 with an Out of Pocket Maximum of $6,500.   This plan is offered in compliance with the ACA requirements for employers to offer at least one plan that provides “minimum essential coverage” and is “affordable” as defined by the ACA.  The MVP is only available to individuals.  Family coverage is not available on the MVP.  For coverage information, see the separate Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC).

For 2025, participants in the PPO Plan will be able to use the Teladoc 24/7 online or telephonic doctor with zero deductible and zero co-pay.  Teledoc is still available for participants in the HSA and MVP plans subject to their reduced “office visit” fee.  If you have not already done so, you are strongly encouraged to pre-register via the Teladoc App or through the bcbst.com site under “Get Care”.  By preregistering, treatment from a live doctor will always be just a few clicks away!

Dental coverage provided by BlueCross BlueShield will remain unchanged for 2025.  Vision coverage will also remain unchanged for 2025.  See separate rate and coverage summaries.

The IRS approved HSA maximum annual contribution limits for 2025 will be $4,300 Individual and $8,550 Family.  Anyone who will be 55 in 2025 can contribute an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution to their HSA account.  See the FAQ document for a more detailed discussion about HSA limitations and qualifications.

The last time short-term disability premiums and limits were adjusted was back in 2011.  For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit will increase from $400/week to $450/week.   As a result, the monthly premium will also increase from $13.00/month to $15.00/month.

:  This year, you will have the option to make open enrollment elections and changes through an on-line portal.  Simply go to https://ourcoop-benefits.com/ and follow the link to the benmanage site.  All elections made on the site will be transmitted to TFC Employee Benefits.

Application forms and information about Open Enrollment are available on the “TFC Insight” intranet site.  Participants with access and member bookkeepers can review or print any information the participant may need.  If you do not utilize the on-line enrollment option, changes in enrollment for any BCBST coverage (Health, Dental, Vision) will require an original (pink) BCBST enrollment form, available from Employee Benefits or your bookkeeper.

While not a change for 2025, be advised that the Trustees of the Co-op Health & Welfare Plan have elected to phase out the option to provide medical coverage to eligible retirees of participating employers effective January 1, 2028.  The phase out begins with eligible retirees who are 62 years of age as of July 1, 2026.  All retirees covered as of January 1, 2028 will be eligible for continuation of coverage under COBRA and cost share options will be at the discretion of each employer individually.

The IRS requires a period of open enrollment when benefit plan premiums are paid with pre-taxed dollars.  Open Enrollment dates are from October 15 through November 22, 2024.   If you wish to enroll, change coverage, change plans, or drop current coverage you may do so during open enrollment by completing a new application and writing the words “Open Enrollment” in the upper right hand corner of the application or by completing an “Open Enrollment Coverage Termination Form”.  Your change request needs to be dated between the open enrollment dates listed above and all required documents returned to the Employee Benefits Department no later than November 22, 2024.  All open enrollment changes will be effective January 1, 2025. 

If you do not wish to change coverage for 2025, you do not have to take any action.  All of your coverage elections from 2024 will automatically roll over to 2025.

www.bcbst.com This is an essential site for all plan participants.  Register/Log in to your BlueAccess Member Portal to access all of the available tools from BCBS.  We highly recommend everyone to sign up and use this service for Provider directories, Benefits, Coverage, Claims and Wellness information. This is also the place to go to register for the Teladoc telemedicine benefit.