Watch for your open enrollment booklet in the mail next week and then get ready to (en)roll, from 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, through 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19

In 2022, UC will continue to offer the same high-quality benefits as last year for faculty and staff, with a few important changes, including increases in medical plan premiums ranging from $0 to $47 per month.

Meet ALEX!

ALEX is a personal benefits counselor — available 24/7 on your computer, phone or tablet — who gets to know you, so you get just the information you need. If you’d like help in Spanish as well as English, check out ALEX Go. Your open enrollment brochure will include a link and QR code to ALEX and ALEX Go.

New pharmacy benefit manager

Your plan’s pharmacy benefit manager sets clinical policy and guidelines for medications and for the processing of pharmacy-related claims. In 2022, Navitus Health Solutions (Navitus) will replace Anthem IngenioRx as the pharmacy benefit manager for CORE, UC Care, UC Health Savings Plan, UC Medicare High Option and UC Medicare PPO.

Navitus offers convenient options for filling member prescriptions , including participating University of California pharmacies, a large retail network (Costco, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Safeway/Vons), mail order delivery through Costco (even if you’re not a member) and access to specialty medications through Lumicera and participating UC specialty pharmacies.

The standard cost-sharing amounts (copayments or coinsurance) for prescription drugs due to the transition to Navitus will remain unchanged. However, every pharmacy benefit manager uses its own formulary. While the Anthem IngenioRx and Navitus formularies are similar, there are some differences, which could affect your individual medication costs and coverage.

You can visit the Navitus website or call the Navitus 24/7 customer care line with questions:

• Medicare members — 866-270-3877
• Non-Medicare members — 855-673-6504

Other highlights

UC’s vision insurance will remain entirely paid by UC for those who are eligible, will allow up to $160 in covered contact lens expenses each calendar year. Premiums will remain the same for legal insurance, with enhanced benefits including more coverage for family services (such as child support and alimony enforcement and child support modification) and increased general office hours.

The Critical Illness Plan, one of your supplemental health plan options, will include coverage for Coronavirus at no additional cost.