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Open Enrollment 2025

Medical Plan Options

Starting on January 1, 2025, 51²è¹Ý will offerÌýfull-time faculty and staff a choice between three medical options.*ÌýAll medical options include prescription drug coverage and qualified preventive case services are covered at 100%.

*2024 options for those hired before December 2, 2024 include CareFirst BlueChoice Advantage PPO and Kaiser Permanente HMO.

New for 2025

In 2025, 51²è¹Ý contributes towards your medical & prescription coverage based on your annual salary and the level of coverage you select.ÌýWe recommend attending the information sessions and reviewing your benefits to ensure the best coverage for your needs.

You can elect coverage for:

  • Individual
  • NEW Individual + child(ren)
  • NEW Individual + spouse/domestic partner
  • Family

2025 Cost for coverage Select your annual salary range to view the 2025 cost for coverage chart

Your portion of the cost of the medical coverage is deducted from your pay on a pre-tax basis.

Open enrollment & new hire enrollment

2025ÌýEnrollment Guide
See instructions below to make your elections.

Instructions to make your open enrollment elections in Workday

  • Log into Workday and go to your Inbox.
  • Click the Inbox icon, then open the Open Enrollment Change message.
  • Select Let’s Get Started to go to the enrollment page.

You’ll see one of the following options:

  • Manage: Update your elections.
  • Enroll: You’re not currently enrolled but can enroll for 2025.
  • View: Changes aren’t allowed for this benefit (e.g., core benefits like basic life insurance or benefits requiring vendor enrollment, like commuter benefits).

To add dependents

  • Click Add New Dependent and enter as much information as possible (fields marked with an asterisk are required and must be completed).
  • Click Save.

After you’ve made your elections click Review and Sign at the bottom of the screen. Review the summary, check "I Accept," and then click Submit and Done.

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Compare Medical Options

CareFirst PPO

PROS

  • Flexibility to see any provider.

  • No referral required.

  • Insurance starts paying after lower deductible than CareFirst HDHP.
  • Lowest out-of-pocket maximum when using in-network providers.
  • Express Scripts provides 30-day prescriptions at retail pharmacies and 90-day supplies using home delivery or CVS Smart90.
  • You can elect a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for eligible medical expenses, up to the annual IRS maximum.

CONS

  • Highest monthly premium of all options.
  • Your cost depends if your provider is in or out of the CareFirst network.
  • There is a moderate deductible to reach before the plan starts to pay.
  • After you reach the deductible, you are responsible for a percentage of the charge (coinsurance).
  • After three retail prescription fills for maintenance drugs, additional $10 for each retail fill.
  • Separate out-of-pocket maximum for prescriptions.
  • Can’t contribute to the HSA.

CareFirst HDHP + HSA

PROS

  • Flexibility to see any provider.
  • No referral required.
  • Lower monthly premium than CareFirst PPO.
  • 51²è¹Ý contributes to a Health Savings Account (HSA):
    • $500 individual.
    • $1,000 individual + (children, spouse/domestic partner, or family coverage).
    overage).
  • You can elect to contribute towards the HSA, up to the annual IRS maximum.

CONS

  • You pay all medical and prescription costs until deductible is met, except for drugs on the Consumer Directed Healthcare Preventive medication list, which are not subject to the deductible.
  • Highest deductible to reach before insurance starts to pay.
  • Your cost depends if provider is in or out of the CareFirst network.
  • After you reach the deductible, you are responsible for a percentage of the charge (coinsurance).
  • Out-of-network coinsurance is higher than CareFirst PPO out-of-network coinsurance.
  • Highest out-of-pocket maximum of all the options.
  • Can’t contribute to a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

Kaiser HMO

PROS

  • One-stop shop for all medical needs.
  • Lower monthly premium than CareFirst PPO.
  • Coordinated care within Kaiser network.
  • No deductibles.
  • No coinsurance.
  • Lowest cost pharmacy option of all plans when filled in a Kaiser Center pharmacy (slightly higher price using an outside pharmacy for 30-day prescription).
  • Over 30 locations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
  • You can elect a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for eligible medical expenses, up to the annual IRS maximum.

CONS

  • You must use providers in the Kaiser network; no coverage for out-of-network providers.
  • Must obtain a referral from primary care provider for some services.
  • Higher out-of-pocket maximum than CareFirst PPO.
  • Can’t contribute to the HSA.

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51²è¹Ý makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information that appears on the benefits site. However, if there are discrepancies between the information presented and the legal documents governing a plan or program (the "plan documents"), the plan documents will always govern. 51²è¹Ý reserves the right to amend or terminate any benefit plan at its sole discretion at any time, for any reason.