Benefit-eligible employees of UAB, UAB Hospital and UAB Hospital Management LLC will have the option to choose or decline health care coverage during the annual open enrollment Oct. 18-Nov. 4.
In addition to a consumer-driven health plan, the traditional health plans from Viva Health and Blue Cross/Blue Shield are available for 2025. As always, you must participate in open enrollment if you want to secure or retain medical insurance through UAB.
What are traditional plan choices?
Traditional plans are characterized by lower out-of-pocket costs — copays and deductibles — for covered services when compared to Viva Choice, UAB’s consumer-driven health care plan, and do not include a higher annual deductible that must be met before insurance begins paying. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, UAB St. Vincent’s operations and sites of care will be part of the UAB network for the Viva UAB and Viva Access plans.
More on open enrollment:
Information about benefit options is being provided to better enable you to make the best choices for your household.
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Viva Health offers two traditional plans for employees: Viva UAB and Viva Access.
Viva UAB offers the least expensive traditional plan premium for employees. The negotiated rates are for using providers within the UAB health care network. The maximum out-of-pocket expenses for medical and pharmacy services is $5,000 for single coverage and $10,000 for family coverage.
Viva Access enables subscribers to go outside the UAB network to other participating providers as needed or desired with slightly higher co-pays for out-of-network services, including hospitalization. Out-of-pocket expenses are lower when using providers in the UAB network. The maximum out-of-pocket expenses for medical and pharmacy services is $7,500 for single coverage and $15,000 for family coverage.
Both Viva plans provide coverage for one annual eye exam and a student and sabbatical rider for out-of-network services up to $1,500 per year.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield has an established nationwide preferred provider organization (PPO) network that offers more latitude in selecting physicians and facilities. This plan does require a higher co-payment for services compared to the other traditional plan options. The maximum out-of-pocket expenses for medical and pharmacy services is $7,500 for single coverage and $15,000 for family coverage.
More detailed information about traditional plans is available for you in the Open Enrollment toolkit in the UAB for Me portal at uab.edu/hrintouch.
