ITD employees will have two insurance options from which to choose when they complete their new enrollment forms in May, according to the Idaho Office of Insurance Management.

Members of the HR Staff attended a payroll processing meeting earlier this week where they learned more about the transition to a new health insurance provider.

All employees participating in the health insurance program provided by the state of Idaho will be required to complete new forms before Blue Cross of Idaho begins a contract with the state, effective July 1. Blue Cross was the successful bidder in the remarketing of health insurance for the state.

Approximately 1,750 ITD employees now participate in the health insurance plan.

The Office of Insurance Management received 16 proposals from 14 insurance companies. The remarketing team chose to interview two potential providers – Regence BlueShield, which has had the state contract for more than a quarter century, and Blue Cross. Two companies submitted proposals for vision coverage, and seven mental health providers competed for state contracts.

Vision Services Plan, Delta Dental and Business Psychology Associates will continue to provide coverage for state employees.

Enrollment options will be explained in a series of statewide meetings (see related story, meeting schedule) that begins April 19 and continues through the end of the month. Carlin Hill of the ITD Human Resources office strongly encourages employees who need more information about insurance options to attend one of the meetings.

Blue Cross will offer two choices – a traditional plan, similar to the one now provided by Regence – and a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan.. The traditional plan allows participants to choose any medical service provider without effect on reimbursement. These plans reimburse the patient and/or provider as expenses are incurred.

Under the PPO plan, coverage is provided through a network of selected health care providers, such as hospitals and physicians. The latter should not be confused with a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Hill says. HMOs require a primary care physician and referrels for other physicians.

Open enrollment for vision and dental coverage will be May 1-28. Employees who previously declined dental and/or vision coverage for their dependents will have the opportunity to enroll them onto their plan. There is not an open enrollment for vision and dental every year.

The first informational meeting is scheduled for the Capitol Mall, west conference room, of the Joe R. Williams Building, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. A meeting also will is scheduled at ITD Headquarters on April 27, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Employees are encouraged to visit the Blue Cross website at: http://www.bcidaho.com. The website includes listings of participating providers for both the traditional and PPO plans. General questions also may be directed to the ITD Human Resource Services office.

Human Resources will provide additional information as it becomes available.