October is open enrollment month for the State Health Plan and SEANC is urging all state employees and retirees on an SHP plan to carefully review their plans before letting them roll over.

This is especially true for anyone on the SHP’s Enhanced 80/20 Plan or the Consumer-Directed Health Plan. People who are on these plans must once again act to avoid punitive wellness surcharges.

The surcharges, which were put in place last year over SEANC’s strenuous objections, will increase the premium employees and retiree will pay for these plans. The only way to avoid them is to complete so-called wellness activities. Even if these were completed last year, they must be completed again before open enrollment ends on Oct. 31.

• Completing a health assessment
• Attesting that you and your spouse (if applicable) do not smoke or are in a smoking cessation program
• Selecting a primary care provider for yourself and all dependents

To repeat, all wellness activities must be completed by Oct. 31 in order to avoid punitive surcharges on the Enhanced 80/20 Plan and the Consumer-Directed Health Plan.

Click here to learn more about these so-called wellness activities.