New health benefits providers coming in 2024

Pending approval by the Board of Regents, the University of Nebraska will move to new health benefits providers beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

The following changes were announced to faculty and staff in a Tuesday email from NU System President Ted Carter and Chief Financial Officer Chris Kabourek:

• The university’s health insurance carrier will move from UMR to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

• Pharmacy will move from CVS Health to EmpirRx Health.

• Dental will move from Ameritas to Delta Dental of Nebraska.

All changes will go before the Board of Regents at its June 22 meeting.

The changes follow a competitive bidding process that attracted bids from multiple vendors. Bids were evaluated by a 12-member, system-wide team of faculty and staff together with a third-party consultant, Gallagher Benefit Service. The committee considered the bidders’ network discounts, network of providers and other factors. The committee’s recommendations were endorsed by NU’s senior leaders.

Minimal disruption is anticipated with the transitions. About 99% of health providers used by university employees and their families in 2022 were in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska network. Among the dental providers used by employees and their families, 86% were in the Delta Dental network, a higher share than were in the Ameritas network.

“We hope this is welcome news as you consider the health needs of you and your family,” Carter and Kabourek wrote. “This is a time of significant change in the health care industry, but we are proud to offer a competitive and high-quality benefits plan as part of our overall goal to be an employer of choice.”

Faculty and staff are invited to contact their campus benefits office with questions. Employees also may contact their current providers to inquire whether they are in the network of the new providers.

Detailed information about benefits enrollment for 2024 will be shared this fall.