COBRA Participants Open Enrollment Benefits Overview

New! PrudentRx via the GW HSP Pharmacy Benefit

Beginning in January, PrudentRx for specialty medications will be included in the GW HSP Pharmacy Benefit (Note: This program is currently included in the GW PPO Pharmacy Benefit.) This program is designed to lower your out-of-pocket costs by facilitating enrollment in drug manufacturers discount copay cards/assistance programs. When enrolled in PrudentRx, once you’ve met your combined deductible, your out-of-pocket cost will be $0* for medications included on the PrudentRx exclusive specialty drug list.

If you opt out, you will be responsible for the 30% coinsurance. Payments made by you for a medication that does not qualify as an essential health benefit, will not count toward your out-of-pocket maximum. 

*HSP participants must meet their combined medical/prescription deductible before the out-of-pocket cost will be $0.

Once enrolled in the GW HSP plan, you will be contacted via phone to enroll in PrudentRx at the time of your first specialty fill for plan year 2024. You must complete any additional enrollment steps with PrudentRx to receive the $0 benefit when applicable. Note: HSP participants must meet their combined medical/prescription deductible before the out-of-pocket cost will be $0.

IMPORTANT: Members must enroll in the PrudentRx program to access $0 copay benefits. Formulary exclusions will supersede this list.

If a participant’s specialty medication is not on the PrudentRx list, then the brand formulary or brand non-formulary plan design will apply.

For additional information, visit https://hr.gwu.edu/prudent.

GW Benefits Enrollment System: How to make elections for 2024

Your eligible 2023 benefit elections will roll over to 2024. If you do not wish to make any changes, no action is needed; however, we do recommend that you review your current elections to ensure that they still provide the coverage you need.

If you are enrolled in benefits through bswift: Beginning October 9, 2023, you may log in to the GW Benefits Enrollment System at go.gwu.edu/COBRA to review, change or select your benefits options. You may 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 27, 2023. New plan elections and / or coverage level changes will become effective January 1, 2024.

If adding a dependent for the first time, you may upload your supporting documentation directly into the enrollment system or scan and email your dependent documentation to GW Benefits, [email protected] or mail to 44983 Knoll Square, Suite 391, Ashburn, VA 20147  by Friday, November 3, 2023. Dependent enrollment is pending until documentation is received and verified.

If emailing your supporting documentation, please send encrypted.

Flu Shots

COBRA recipients covered by a GW medical plan can visit area pharmacies and convenience care clinics to receive a flu shot at no cost. GW medical plan participants will need to show their CVS Caremark ID card at the time of your flu shot. 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.

COBRA Premium Payments

Once you make your Open Enrollment coverage selection(s), you will receive a coupon book after the Open Enrollment period has ended, which you can use to submit your payments to bswift beginning January 2024 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.

Please contact the GW Benefits Call Center at (866) 365-2413 or email [email protected] for questions about benefits coverage, plan eligibility, or enrollment assistance. 

Call Center Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.