Open Enrollment Resources
Your source for Enrollment informationOpen Enrollment is now closed.
Elections take effect July 1, 2023
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Make sure to Compare the Plans so you can choose the right coverage for you and your family. If you don’t enroll, you will not have coverage.
What's New for 2023–2024
Click here to review the announcement mailer: English | Spanish
Beginning July 1, 2023:
- New medical and pharmacy plan administrator:
- Our medical plans will be administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) instead of Aetna.
- BCBSTX (Prime Therapeutics) will also replace OptumRx as our pharmacy benefit manager.
- Use the dedicated Michaels BCBSTX phone number and website to find network providers, reach the nurse line and more. Contact BCBSTX at 1-877-269-1180 or bcbstx.com/michaels.
- Limited fertility treatments will be covered by Michaels medical plans.
- MDLive will replace Teladoc for 24/7 virtual health care services for those enrolled in a BCBSTX medical plan.
- Medical rates will be slightly higher for 2023–2024, but Michaels has absorbed other increases to keep your overall rates mostly unchanged.
- The spousal surcharge will be eliminated this year. Important: If you want your spouse/domestic partner enrolled in a medical plan, the Enhanced PPO plan is the only option available
- New FSA and HSA plan year to align with tax year and IRS limits. Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and/or Health Savings Account (HSA) elections you make during the May enrollment period are for July 1 through December 31, 2023. You will be able to make FSA and HSA elections for 2024 later this year.
- For the Health Care FSA and the Limited Purpose FSA, you will only be able to elect up to a prorated contribution amount ($1,525) for the short plan year. You will have the full amount available to you for 2024 when you enroll again later this year.
- You will have 30 days to report a qualifying life event like a marriage, divorce, new baby, etc., and update your benefit elections. The 30-day window is a reduction from the 60 days we had previously. If you do not report your event within 30 days, you will have to wait until next year’s Open Enrollment to make changes.
What You Need to Do
We encourage you to review your options and the changes effective July 1. You don’t have to enroll to keep your current coverage, but there are some exceptions. You must log in and actively enroll to:
- Change your current benefit elections
- Add or drop covered dependents
- Enroll in or continue participating in a Health Care or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (the IRS requires a new election each year)
- Begin saving or change your Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions (the HSA is only available if you enroll in the Choice HSA medical plan)
If you take no action, your current benefit elections will continue at the new 2023–2024 rates, except for FSA and HSA participation. With the exception of FSAs and the HSA, our benefit plans will still have a July 1 to June 30 plan year.
REMEMBER!
Annual enrollment is your opportunity to add new coverage or change your existing plans. Some of your current elections will carry over to the new plan year if you take no action, but we recommend you review your options, get to know what’s new and use your resources for learning more about the programs available to you.
You will only be able to change your elections after May 17 if you have a qualified change in status such as a marriage or a new baby.
Medical Premium Surcharges
There are two ways to avoid paying a surcharge on your medical coverage premiums for the upcoming plan year.
Complete the Wellness Requirement
If you, or you and your spouse/domestic partner are enrolled in a Michaels medical plan, you each need to complete an annual physical between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 to avoid paying a $25 per paycheck ($650 for the year) surcharge per person on your medical premiums beginning in August 2023.
Be Tobacco-Free
If you and/or your spouse/domestic partner use tobacco, including e-cigarettes and non-nicotine vaporizers, $25 per paycheck ($650 for the year) will be added to your medical premiums beginning in July. You can’t use tobacco products for at least six months to be considered tobacco-free, and you can only change your tobacco status during Open Enrollment.
Open Enrollment Webinar
Watch the recording of an Open Enrollment webinar below.
Questions about BCBS Medical Coverage?
Call 1-877-269-1180 and when you are asked for a group number, provide one of the following.
Group Numbers:
Enhanced Plan: 363243
Basic Plan: 363244
Choice Plan: 363245
Which Medical Plan is Best for You?
The eValuate Health Plan Selector tool allows you to estimate your medical and prescription costs during the year and determine which plan provides the level of care you prefer and at the most affordable price.