Clarifications about health care plans; HR and vendors available at Healthy Boiler Fair

The 2025 Purdue Healthy Boiler Fair marks the third year for benefits-eligible members of the Purdue community to come together and explore the connection between overall well-being and Purdue’s benefit offerings. Human Resources — Benefits encourages all benefits-eligible employees to attend.

The fair takes place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 10) in the Purdue Memorial Union North and South ballrooms. More than 35 vendors and Purdue departments will showcase their programs, services and benefits, which all align with one or more of the five pillars of Purdue’s Healthy Boiler Wellness Program: behavioral health, financial wellness, physical health, social wellness and work-life integration. The full list of vendors and door prizes is available here.

In addition to exploring wellness resources, employees can learn more about current benefits and updates to Purdue’s medical and pharmacy plans. On-site vendors include:

• AffirmedRx, the pharmacy benefit manager for Purdue’s prescription drug plan, will be available to answer questions about 2025 plan coverage.
• HSA Bank will provide information on Purdue’s new commuter benefit, which allows employees to pay for mass transit and parking expenses using pre-tax funds.
• Securian will highlight voluntary plans and benefit enhancements such as coverage for infertility treatment and dependent parent coverage.
• AllOne Health, Purdue’s Employee Assistance Program provider for West Lafayette and Indianapolis, will offer information on services to all benefits-eligible employees and their dependents covered on a Purdue health plan.
• MetLife will provide details on legal plan enhancements, including tax preparation and filing with TurboTax.

“Having our benefit vendors together in one place gives employees the chance to ask questions directly and better understand the resources available to them,” said Candace Shaffer, associate vice president of benefits and payroll. “For example, with AffirmedRx, we were pleased to add a partner that brings greater transparency to drug pricing and passes savings directly to our faculty and staff, including access to online pharmacies like Amazon Pharmacy and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs.

“They also provide patient care advocates to guide employees through prescription changes and cost concerns. In addition, Purdue has added $1,000 in HSA and HRA contributions for those who were impacted by preventive medications moving to nonpreventive to help ease out-of-pocket expenses and keep our coverage competitive.”

Questions about health care coverage naturally come up, and Purdue wants to ensure employees feel supported in finding answers, Shaffer said. Recent questions have been about topics like:

• Vaccines: Seasonal flu shots are covered as preventive health, and there is no charge to benefits-eligible Purdue faculty and staff or to spouses and dependents covered on a Purdue health plan. Additionally, COVID and other vaccines are covered as a free benefit to those enrolled in a Purdue medical plan.
• Diabetes drug coverage: Purdue’s prescription benefits include tiered coverage for preventive and nonpreventive generic and brand drugs. AffirmedRx’s formulary drug list is available online.
• Weight loss drug coverage: Covered through participation in the free Center for Healthy Living weight management program launched this year, which offers individualized treatment, coaching, checkups and support in person or virtually for eligible employees and dependents.
• Mental health drug coverage: Purdue’s prescription benefits include tiered coverage for preventive and nonpreventive generic and brand drugs. AffirmedRx’s formulary drug list is available online.

“These kinds of health and wellness questions are important for many individuals and families,” Shaffer said. “The fair provides the perfect opportunity to learn about these topics and more, ask questions, and feel confident about the benefits available.”

Employers nationwide are bracing for the largest jump in health insurance costs in 15 years, with 2025 expected to mark the fourth straight year of increases, according to a national Mercer survey. And according to data from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the national average for university health care has grown nearly 6% annually since 2017, while Purdue has seen an average increase of 2.1% annually. Had Purdue’s health care costs increased at the national rate, employees would have spent an additional $79.5 million on health care from 2016-24.

Purdue’s 2026 health plans align with the university’s strategic approach to health care and the Healthy Boiler Wellness Program, and they were designed as part of Purdue’s ongoing goal of improving population health. Purdue will fund 90% of premiums and 75% of total costs. For 2025, the increase in health care cost is about $20.5 million, and the university chose to shoulder not just 75% or 90%, but 95% of the increase.

Additional resources for employees

• Questions about your Purdue benefits can be directed to Human Resources at 765-494-2222 or via email at hr@purdue.edu.
• Benefits decisions can feel overwhelming, and Purdue is here to support you. Employees are encouraged to contact the HR Service Center to schedule a meeting with both HR and AffirmedRx. During this meeting, we can talk through your individual situation, explore available options, and help you understand how any upcoming changes may affect your medical plan in 2026.
• One-on-one appointments, presentations and labs will be offered during open enrollment for 2026 benefits, taking place Oct. 28-Nov. 11. Watch for more information through Human Resources — Benefits’ weekly open enrollment emails, Purdue Today and the open enrollment website, which launches in early September.

Related stories

• Purdue trustees approve 2025 health plans with modest employee premium increase
• Trustees approve 2026 health plans