Pharmacy

New benefit-eligible employees who will be working a minimum of 20 hours per week must make a health care election within their first 30 days of hire. 

If no form is submitted in the first 30 days of employment, new employees will automatically be enrolled in the High-Deductible Health Care (HDHP) for employee only coverage.

New employees who wish to opt out of coverage must submit a form to opt out.  

Coverage is effective on the 31st day after hire.

Temporary employees have different eligibility requirements. Please review our temporary employee website for more information.

Pharmacy is included in the medical benefit. If an employee enrolls in medical, they are automatically enrolled in the pharmacy plan.

Benefit-eligible employees working at least 20 hours per week may enroll a UA Choice Health Care Plan.

Employees can enroll or change their prior health care elections within 30 days of a life event or during annual open enrollment. 

More information on life events can be found on our qualifying life events website.

Temporary employees have different eligibility requirements. Please review our temporary employee website for more information.

Sikuliaq employees have special enrollment requirements. Please check with your HR Coordinator.

Temporary employees have special enrollment requirements. Please check with your HR Coordinator or visit the temporary employee website for more information on eligibility.

The University of Alaska requires evidence of eligibility for all enrolled dependents. Supporting documents include birth certificate, marriage license, final adoption paperwork, tax returns showing claimed dependents, qualified medical child support orders, legal guardianship papers, etc. 

​​If an employee enrolls in a UA Choice Plan, the following dependents are eligible for coverage, as well.

The lawful spouse of an employee unless legally separated.

Wherever “spouse” is stated in the health care plan, a Financially Interdependent Partner (FIP) would also be included provided all requirements are met as specified by the University of Alaska. Health care deductions for FIPs are post-tax. 

  • A “child” 25 years of age or younger
  • A natural offspring of either or both the employee or spouse
  • A legally adopted child of either or both the employee or spouse
  • A child for whom the employee has been granted court-appointed legal guardianship
    • There must be a court order signed by a judge, which grants guardianship of the child to the employee or spouse of the employee as of a specific date. When the court order terminates or expires, the child is no longer an eligible child.
  • A child for whom the employee or spouse is under a domestic relations order to provide medical benefits as directed by a divorce decree, a medical child support order, or other court-ordered dependent coverage
  • A foster child living with the employee
    • There must be a court or other order signed by a judge or state agency, which grants guardianship of the child to the employee or spouse of the employee as of a specific date. When the court order terminates or expires, the child is no longer an eligible child.
  • A child “placed” with the employee for the purpose of legal adoption in accordance with state law
    • Placed for adoption means assumption and retention by the employee of a legal obligation for total or partial support of a child in anticipation of adoption of such child.

Pharmacy is included in the medical benefit. If an employee enrolls in medical, they are automatically enrolled in the pharmacy plan.

New benefit-eligible employees who will be working a minimum of 20 hours per week must make a health care election within their first 30 days of hire. 

If no form is submitted in the first 30 days of employment, new employees will automatically be enrolled in the High-Deductible Health Care (HDHP) for employee only coverage.

New employees who wish to opt out of coverage must submit a form to opt out.  

Coverage is effective on the 31st day after hire.

Temporary employees have different eligibility requirements. Please review our temporary employee website for more information.

 

How to Enroll

  1. Attend a Benefits Overview (held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month). Register to attend by contacting your HR Coordinator. 
  2.  Submit your New Employee Health Care Form within 30 days of hire.
    • A form must be submitted within 30 days of hire, even if you are opting out.
    • If no form is submitted, you will be defaulted into the HDHP for employee only.
    • If enrolling dependents, you must provide supporting documentation at the time of enrollment.

Current employees can update their health care coverage in three ways:

1. During annual open enrollment (mid-April each year);
2. Within 30 days of a qualifying life event; or
3. Adding a newborn within 60 days of birth.

The most common qualifying life events include change in marital status, birth/adoption, or gain/loss of other coverage. For more information about qualifying life events please visit the qualifying life events page.

 

How to Make Changes

  1. Complete the Life Event Changes Form to update your benefits within the appropriate timeline.
    • If you are enrolling dependents for the first time, you must provide supporting documentation at time of enrollment. 

Please visit the temporary employee website for more information on qualifications and enrollment information. 

The University of Alaska's prescription drug program is coordinated through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska. Information on your benefits, coverage, and list of in-network pharmacies is available online at premera.com or by calling the customer care number on the back of your Premera ID card. 

Employee cost is determined by the tier assigned to the prescription drug product. Products are assigned as Generic Preventive, Preferred Generic, Preferred Brand Name, Specialty Drugs, and Non-Preferred.

750 Plan

HDHP

CDHP with optional HSA

Out of Pocket Maximum

  • $1,000 Individual
  • $1,700 Family

Out of Pocket Maximum

  • $1,000 Individual
  • $1,700 Family

Pharmacy charges on the CDHP are included in the medical deductible and the medical out of pocket maximums. 

Retail Prescriptions (30-day supply)

  • $0 Generic Preventive 
  • $10 Preferred Generic
  • $30 Preferred Brand Name
  • $100 Specialty
  • 30% Non-preferred

Specialty medications are not covered in out-of-network pharmacies.

Retail Prescriptions (30-day supply)

  • $0 Generic Preventive 
  • $10 Preferred Generic
  • $30 Preferred Brand Name
  • $100 Specialty
  • 30% Non-preferred

Specialty medications are not covered in out-of-network pharmacies.

Pharmacy charges are the responsibility of the employee until the medical deductible is met. Once the medical deductible is met, the employee will then pay a 20% cost share of the medications until the medical out of pocket maximum is met.

Mail Order Prescriptions (90-day supply)

  • $0 Generic Preventive 
  • $20 Preferred Generic
  • $60 Preferred Brand Name
  • $110 Specialty

Mail order prescriptions are not covered in out-of network pharmacies.

Mail Order Prescriptions (90-day supply)

  • $0 Generic Preventive 
  • $20 Preferred Generic
  • $60 Preferred Brand Name
  • $110 Specialty

Mail order prescriptions are not covered in out-of network pharmacies.

Pharmacy charges are the responsibility of the employee until the medical deductible is met. Once the medical deductible is met, the employee will then pay a 20% cost share of the medications until the medical out of pocket maximum is met.

Mail order prescriptions are not covered in out-of network pharmacies.

 

Preventive drugs are covered at no cost to to the employee on all plans. For more information on alternatives for non-preferred or excluded drugs, please visit Premera's website

PV Core Preventive Prescriptions

 

If an employee is prescribed a medication on a regular basis to control or treat an ongoing or chronic condition, they will be able to get the first two fills at a retail pharmacy. After the first two refills, the mail order pharmacy will be used for future refills.  If an employee does not use the mail order pharmacy for maintenance medications, the regular retail copay will be doubled for the same 30 day supply. Find out which medications make the list of Maintenance Medications and view the Maintenance Medication Exemptions to find exceptions.

All specialty medications must be dispensed from the specialty pharmacy, Accredo Health Group. The 750 Plan and the HDHP have a $100 copay for up to a 30 days supply from Accredo Health Group.  Visit the Specialty Pharmacy Program page on Premera's website to find out how to order and to see various Specialty Medications lists. 

SaveonSP Specialty Coupon Program 
The University of Alaska is collaborating with Express-Scripts’ program, SaveonSP, to help you save money on certain specialty medications. Contact SaveonSP directly to find out if a medication is eligible. 

  • If you participate in this program, your copay will be covered under the SaveonSP program for the specialty medications included in the program, which will result in no out-of-pocket costs to you. 
  • Your prescriptions will still be filled through Accredo, your existing specialty mail pharmacy.    
  • To participate, simply call SaveonSP at 1-800-683-1074 prior to filling your prescription. The program cannot be retroactively applied to a previously filled prescription.
  • Participation in the program is voluntary and, if you choose to participate, SaveonSP will monitor your account to ensure you have no cost ($0). 
  • If you choose not to participate, SaveonSP will not be able to monitor your account and you will be responsible to pay the copay.
  • In both situations, the copays associated to the medication in the program will not count towards your deductible or out of pocket maximums.
SaveOn SP Medications

The prescription drugs included in the SaveonSP program are classified as Non-Essential Health Benefits under the Affordable Care Act.  This means that payments will not apply toward your out of pocket costs. The medications and associated copays included in this program are subject to plan clinical rules and subject to change. 

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact SaveonSP at 1-800-683-1074
Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Eastern

To change your prescriptions to mail order, log into your Premera account and click on "prescriptions" in the tool bar at the top and "manage prescriptions" in the drop down. On the next page under "Express Scripts" click on the link "order and refill" and follow the directions to change your prescriptions to mail order. 

The cost of the health care plan is shared between employees and the university. The university covers 82% of the net plan cost. The current bi-weekly premiums are effective from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. 

FY23 Health Premium Rates