WELCOME
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.
(click a logo for more info)
Read more about:
Mission / Goals and Objectives / Contact Us
What's Happening in Health Care and Benefits Division?
- Montana Health Center
- ERRP Notice Sent
- Health Care Reform
- Health Screenings
- New Employee Assistance Program Information
- What Can We Expect for 2013 Benefits and Rates?
Click on a topic to learn more
How much does our health care cost?
Are you curious about what we spend on healthcare for our members? If you would like to look at the numbers, click on the quarterly reports below:
Quarterly Reports
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
Health screenings are a great way to monitor your health - in fact, you get a discount off your contributions if you participate! Plan members 18 and older are eligible for one State of Montana-sponsored screening per plan year with no charge. Screenings are done by CareHere, the company that runs our Montana Health Centers. In addition to the scheduled times, you may schedule a health screening anytime througout the year at the Health Center.
Click here for details about the discount, the screening schedule and/or registration instructions.
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 Benefits 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 future health care costs?
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. We encourage you to become an informed consumer (ask questions and seek alternative treatments) and live a healthy lifestyle (exercise, eat properly, and be tobacco-free).
Quarterly Reports
Accommodations for persons with disabilities
Health Care and Benefits Division is pleased to make reasonable accommodations for any known disability that may interfere with a person's ability to participate in wellness events, programs, or public meetings. If you need an accommodation, contact us at (406) 444-7462, (800) 287-8266, TTY (406) 444-1421, benefitsquestions@mt.gov, or PO Box 200130, Helena MT 59620-0130 no later than three days prior to the event, program, or meeting to allow adequate time to make needed arrangements.