(Raleigh, N.C.) – State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, and the State Health Plan (Plan) Board of Trustees today announced benefit changes for Humana® Medicare Advantage members offering a substantial decrease in the cost of critical dialysis and lab services costs, saving impacted members more than $1.5 million for the 2023 benefit year.
State Health Plan Medicare-eligible members can choose either the Humana Medicare Advantage Base Plan (90/10) or Enhanced Plan (90/10). The new copay reductions for 2023 in the Humana Group Medicare Advantage Plans provide:
- Lab services at an urgent care facility (currently $40 copay Base; $10 copay Enhanced) will now have a $0 copay
- Dialysis services at an outpatient facility (currently 20% coinsurance on both plans) will now have a $0 copay
- Dialysis services at a dialysis center (currently 20% coinsurance on both plans) will now have a $0 copay
“I’m proud to announce this big win for our Medicare Advantage plan members. We’re always looking at ways to improve this benefit by making it more affordable for those that utilize it,” said Treasurer Folwell. “We are excited that Humana continues to partner with the Plan on ways to lower costs and improve health care for our members, who have faithfully taught, protected and served throughout their careers.”
The new benefit changes represent the latest savings in the 2020 Medicare Advantage Fully Insured Plan and Related Services contract with Humana. Annual cost savings under the contract will total almost $600 million over the course of the three-year contract.
The State Health Plan, a division of the Department of State Treasurer, provides health care coverage to more than 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, current and former lawmakers, state university and community college personnel, and their dependents.