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Health Care and Benefits Division (HCBD) has two bureaus: the Employee Benefits Bureau that administers the State of Montana Employee's Group Health Benefit Plan and the Workers' Compensation Management Bureau (WCMB) that manages the State of Montana's Workers' Compensation program.
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Read more about:
Mission / Goals and Objectives / Contact Us
What's Happening in Health Care and Benefits Division?
- Presentation Schedule for the HCBD Spring Tour
- Annual Change
- ERRP Notice Sent
- Health Care Reform
- Health Screenings
- New Employee Assistance Program Information
- What Can We Expect for 2013 Benefits and Rates?
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Health Care Reform
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is a federal statute signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010. The law includes a large number of health-related provisions to take effect over the next four years. The State of Montana began implementation of PPACA by providing coverage to dependent children until age 26. Visit our Health Care Reform page for additional information.
Health Screenings
This program offers confidential individual health screenings and assessments for:
- Glucose, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides;
- Blood pressure and body mass index;
- Optional screenings including PSA, TSH, CBC, Homocysteine, C-Reactive Protein.
Health screenings are offered at no charge every year to members of the medical plan and eligible dependents over age 18. By participating in this yearly screening, you save all the copayments or coinsurance that apply through your health plan if you had the same services performed at your doctor's office. Participation in a 2012 health screening will reduce your 2013 contribution by $5 if you go or $10 if you and an eligible dependent go to a health screening. Review the health screening calendar and schedule your appointment today.
2012 Annual Change
The benefit enrollment for 2012 Annual Change period will be paperless as it was in 2011. During Annual Change you will make your benefit elections online using our Self Service application. Annual Change booklets will be available on our website for printing. The HCBD website has updated step-by-step instructions to help employees make their online elections, and an online webinar is available starting 9/19/12 to walk employees through the enrollment process.
Employees in some agencies do not have access to the Self Service application. Agency Human Resources and Security Officers can initiate the set up of a special account to provide each of these employees access to the Self Service application. Visit our Annual Change page for more information.
New Employee Assistance Program Service Information
Effective January 1, 2011, Reliant Behavioral Health (RBH) will no longer be administering our Employee Assistance Programs. The Health Care and Benefit division has developed The Healthy For Life (HFL)Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This is an add-on benefit for all members of the State Employee Benefit Plan, active employees, retirees, spouses, and dependents. These benefits are no charge to you and include programs for prenatal care, weight management, and much more. Visit the Wellness page for more information about the HFL EAP.
What can we expect for 2013 benefits and rates?
At this time there is only one thing we can reasonably expect to happen: health care costs will continue to rise. We (HCBD) constantly evaluate benefit options and new programs to enhance benefits and help keep those benefits affordable. Because of the complexity of health care and benefits, it takes time to evaluate potential changes. Final decisions for 2013 benefits and rates will be made in late August 2012. In the meantime, we encourage you to become an informed consumer (ask questions and seek alternative treatments) and live a healthy lifestyle (exercise, eat properly, and quit smoking).
