Trustees approve 2015 premiums, medical plans
September 26, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University faculty and staff will have no increases in medical plan premiums in 2015, and Human Resources is crediting better health care consumerism as the reason. Purdue’s Board of Trustees on Friday (Sept. 26) approved the 2015 premiums and medical plans.
In addition to keeping premiums unchanged, Purdue will continue to offer the same three medical plan options next year without changes in deductible, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum.
"Our goal has been to keep the premiums and the plan designs the same for another year so that we can see the true effect over time of the changes we put into place in 2014," said Eva Nodine, director of benefits in Human Resources. "I'm pleased that 2015 will give all of us a second year of experience to evaluate. Where we go from here will depend on our claims cost."
Nodine attributes this year's positive claims experience to employees becoming better health care consumers. In 2013, 24 percent of Purdue faculty and staff opted for a high-deductible medical plan. This year, 73 percent of Purdue employees are in a high-deductible plan.
"Our faculty and staff have embraced these high-deductible plans in a big way," Nodine said. "Most organizations take five to six years to see the increase in high-deductible plan enrollment that we experienced in just a single year."
According to Nodine, individuals often become better health care consumers when they're covered by a high-deductible medical plan.
Writer: Valerie O'Brien, 765-494-9573, vobrien@purdue.edu
Source: Eva Nodine, 765-496-1967, enodine@purdue.edu