LTD Recipients Open Enrollment Benefits Overview
2025 Open Enrollment Period: October 7 - 25, 2024
Dear George Washington University Community,
Welcome to the 2025 Benefits Open Enrollment season!
Open Enrollment begins on Monday, October 7, 2024, and ends at 8 p.m. (ET) on Friday, October 25, 2024.
The Open Enrollment period is your annual opportunity to review the benefits offered by the university and to change your benefit selections for the upcoming year. You can add or remove benefits, dependents, and more. Any changes requested to your health and welfare plans after the Open Enrollment period will require a Qualified Life Event (QLE), such as a change in marital status, spouse’s work status or coverage, etc.
*Important: The Open Enrollment period that runs October 7-25, 2024, is only for those LTD recipients or dependents who are continuing benefits via bswift. For those continuing benefits through Via Benefits, please see the "Post-Age 65 LTD Recipients and dependents" section below.
Be well,
GW Benefits
Benefits Overview
It is important to prioritize your health and well-being goals. Open Enrollment 2025 provides the opportunity for you to reevaluate your current benefits and make choices for the year ahead that will allow you to maximize your health and well-being.
Please take a moment to review this summary of what’s changing and what’s staying the same for the upcoming year.
NEW! Medical Plan Enhancement: Fertility, Family Building, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Benefits through Progyny
Beginning, January 1, 2025, GW will partner with Progyny to provide Fertility, Family Building, Pregnancy, and Postpartum benefits and support. For more information, review the fertility and family building benefit overview, pregnancy and postpartum benefit overview, and welcome video.
Our Shared Responsibility
As we expect continued upward pressure on the cost of our medical plans, it's important to remember we all play a part in helping control costs.
Our medical plans are self-insured which means the university pays the claims. UHC processes the claims from health providers for plan participants.
Our premiums for the medical plans are based on our claims experience. High volume and / or high-cost claims in a year directly impact the premiums we pay as participants in the following year.
But you can help. When you get regular wellness visits and timely screenings, use in-network providers, and thoughtfully consider care, you generally incur less in claim costs, which directly impacts next year’s premiums.
Post-Age 65 LTD Recipients and dependents
For LTD recipients and dependents age 65 and older enrolled in coverage with Via Benefits, the Open Enrollment period will be October 15 – December 7, 2024. For more information, contact Via Benefits at (855) 232-5748.
Note: LTD recipients enrolled at Via Benefits who opted to continue dental and/or vision coverage through bswift, please see “How to Enroll” section for more Open Enrollment details.
2025 Vision Contribution Overview
Vision coverage contributions will increase by $0.08 and $0.22 per month for the Basic plan depending on your coverage level. Under the Basic plan, the contact allowance will increase from $105 to $130. Contributions for the Enhanced plan will increase between $0.43 and $1.25, depending on your coverage level. Under the enhanced plan, the frame allowance will increase from $130 to $150. The Basic and Enhanced vision plans will continue to be offered through UnitedHealthcare.
DID YOU KNOW?
Your UHC Vision plan includes express vision exams (some state restrictions apply), a broad pediatric vision benefit, expanded benefits for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and a hearing discount.
2025 Dental Contribution Overview
Dental contributions to the DMO plan will not increase for 2025. We are seeing high trend on the PPO dental plans resulting in employee monthly contribution increases across the Low PPO and High PPO dental plan options ranging from about $5 to $12 per month, depending on your plan and coverage. The DMO, High PPO and Low PPO plans continue to be offered through Aetna and there will be no coverage or plan design changes for 2025.
What's Staying the Same for 2025?
The following programs and benefits will continue to be available in 2025.
Health & Well-Being Benefits
- Group Home and Auto Insurance
- Health Advocate
- Pet Insurance
- Identity Theft
Pharmacy Benefit Features
- PrudentRx Pharmacy Benefit
- Mandatory Maintenance Choice - All Access with Opt-Out
- Diabetes Management Program
Medical Plan Features / Programs
- Centers of Excellence
- Freestanding Imaging and Labs Preferred Network
- Virtual Visits
- Real Appeal
- GW Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) Benefit Coverage Tier on the LTD
Tools, Information, and Services Available to You
The annual Open Enrollment period is a time of opportunity. As you review the 2025 benefit programs and changes, you are welcome to include your family in the planning process, if applicable.
Visit the 2025 Open Enrollment website at go.gwu.edu/2025oe to access the LTD Open Enrollment Guide, contribution rates, calendar of events, and more.
In-Person Open Enrollment Fests
Meet GW's Unitedhealthcare and Aetna vendor partners, ask questions and receive enrollment assistance during the annual Open Enrollment Fests. Check out our events page at go.gwu.edu/2025oeevents for details.
Foggy Bottom (University Student Center, Grand Ballroom)
- Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. ET
Virginia Science and Technology Campus (Enterprise Hall, Room 102)
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET
Virtual 1:1 Appointments
Have questions? Register for a 10-minute appointment with UHC. Appointments are one-on-one and provide opportunities to ask questions specific to your situation. Register at go.gwu.edu/2025oeevents.
Flu and COVID Vaccines
In partnership with the Medical Faculty Associates (MFA), flu and COVID vaccine clinics will be held at the Foggy Bottom Campus and Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC) during October including on the open enrollment fest dates. Those who wish to receive their vaccine(s) at one of the clinics are strongly encouraged to register in advance. Insurance Information will be collected during the registration process. GW LTD recipients enrolled on a GW medical plan, please have your UHC ID card available when registering. For more details, visit 2024 GW Flu and COVID Vaccines Services.
LTD recipients covered by a GW medical plan can also visit area pharmacies and convenience care clinics to receive a flu shot and COVID shot at no cost. If visiting one of these, please present your CVS Caremark ID card.
If you are not covered on a GW medical plan, please verify costs with your health insurance company. Most plans will cover the full cost of seasonal flu shots.
Please note: If you require a high-dose flu shot, generally recommended for those over age 65, please consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacy in advance regarding availability.
Call Center Hours
We understand the need for timely and accurate responses to your benefit questions and concerns during this period. The GW Benefits Call Center is available 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET Monday - Friday. Call (866) 365-2413 for assistance with any benefits questions or for enrollment assistance. The GW Benefits Team is also available to provide support.
How to Enroll
Beginning October 7, 2024, you may log in to the GW benefits enrollment system at go.gwu.edu/directbill to review, change, or select your benefits options. You are allowed to log in to the enrollment system and make changes as often as you would like during the three-week Open Enrollment period.
The deadline to make changes is 8 p.m. (ET) on October 25, 2024. Please remember that most changes made during the Open Enrollment period become effective January 1, 2025.
IMPORTANT: If you choose not to continue medical coverage during Open Enrollment, you will not be eligible to participate in GW medical plans in the future.
Reminder
If you do not wish to make any changes, no action is needed. All of your eligible 2024 benefit elections (medical, dental, and vision) will roll over to 2025. However, we recommend that you review your current elections to ensure that they still provide the coverage you need.
GW LTD PPO Medical Plan Pre-Medicare and Medicare Rates
The GW LTD PPO has different rates for plan participants depending on the Medicare eligibility of the LTD recipient and dependents. If you and/or your dependents are eligible for Medicare, are paying the higher GW LTD PPO Pre-Medicare rates and would like to be enrolled at the GW LTD PPO Medicare rates, please contact GW Benefits at [email protected] or (571) 553-8382 for further assistance.
We strongly encourage you to contact Health Advocate at (866) 695-8622 prior to enrolling in medical coverage, especially regarding your Medicare eligibility status and how Medicare coordinates with the university’s medical insurance plans.
Direct Bill Premiums
Once you make your Open Enrollment coverage selection(s), you will receive payment invoices after the Open Enrollment period has ended, which you can use to submit your payments to bswift beginning January 2025 and going forward. Note: your monthly plan cost(s) may change for the new plan year even if you do not make any changes to your coverage.
Tip: Add Dependents
If adding a new dependent to coverage during Open Enrollment, supporting documentation (e.g. copies of birth or marriage certificates) must be received by Benefits by Friday, November 1, 2024. You can submit documentation two ways:
- You have the ability to upload documents in your Employee Profile on the confirmation page (at the top of the screen, click My Profile, then click Employee File) after making your benefit elections in the benefits enrollment system; or,
- You may submit your supporting documentation via email at [email protected] or fax at (571) 553-8385. If emailing, please be sure to send via secure email.
Dependent enrollment is pending until documentation is received and verified. Please note that your spouse/domestic partner and dependents cannot enroll in any university-sponsored plan unless you are also enrolled.
In the coming weeks:
- The 2025 Open Enrollment Guide will be available prior to the Open Enrollment period and linked as a quick reference in the enrollment system
- If you have any questions in advance of the 2025 Open Enrollment period, please contact the GW Benefits Call Center at (866) 365-2413 or email [email protected].
Reminder: 1095-C Tax Form Electronic Consent
Did You Know that you can receive your 1095-C form electronically? Save time, support sustainability, and keep things secure. Login to go.gwu.edu/directbill to complete your online consent form to receive your 1095-C electronically. Once available, your form will be securely posted and stored to your employee file.
What is a Form 1095-C?
Eligible plan participants will receive a Form 1095-C tax document annually, which reports information about your medical coverage.
While you will not need to include your 1095-C with your tax return filing or send it to the IRS, you may need information from your 1095-C to help complete your tax return. Think of it as your “proof of medical insurance” for the IRS.
Please contact the Benefits Call Center at
866-365–2413 with any questions
you have in advance of the Open Enrollment period.