2023 Benefits

Here's what's coming for your 2023 benefits, which take effect January 1, 2023.

Updates to Blue Shield No Deductible Plan

The Blue Shield No Deductible Plan has a new name. It’s now called the Blue Shield EPO. In most cases, the plan coverage remains the same, however, with the Blue Shield EPO, you now have an annual deductible of $500 individual/$1,000 family that applies to certain services. For these services, you must meet the annual deductible before the plan begins paying benefits. 

Please note that most commonly used services and goods, such as PCP office visits and prescription medications, are not subject to the plan’s annual deductible. 

Expanded Access to the DeltaCare USA DHMO Plan

We’re pleased to announce that we are offering the DeltaCare USA DHMO dental option to employees in all states.

The DHMO plan works much like the medical HMO plans. After you enroll in a DHMO, you (and each enrolled family member) will be asked to select a primary care dentist (PCD) from the network. To receive benefits, you must see your PCD.

When you need to see a specialist, your PCD must refer you to a dentist in the DeltaCare USA DHMO network. If you use a dentist outside the DHMO, you’re responsible for paying the full cost because services won’t be covered by the plan (except in an emergency).

Voluntary Benefits Enhancements

You’ll get even more for your money with our voluntary benefits programs in 2023.

• MetLife Legal Plan: You have access to two new services through the MetLife Legal Plan at no extra cost:
  • Identity Management Services: Through LifeStages Identity Management Services, you have access to identity theft protection, privacy management services, unlimited resolution support to fight identity theft and fraud, and replacement services.
  • Attorney Services for non-covered matters: You have up to four hours of attorney time and services per year for non-covered matters that are not otherwise excluded under the MetLife Legal Plan, such as divorce, reproductive assistance, and DUI. Time and services exceeding four hours are team member-paid.
• Critical Illness Insurance: Rates are decreasing by 10%. Plus, we’re adding coverage for COVID-19 immunization and testing and adding a hospital indemnity newborn neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) benefit.
• Accident Insurance: Rates are decreasing by 10% and we’re adding coverage for COVID-19 immunization and testing.
• Hospital Care Insurance: Rates are decreasing by 15% and we’re adding coverage for COVID-19 immunization and testing.

Get Your Questions Answered!

Contact the Blue Shield Concierge team. 

Health Savings Account (HSA) Increased Contribution Limits

You can save even more in your HSA for 2023. The IRS limit will increase to $3,850 for team member only and $7,750 for family coverage. Team members age 55 and above can contribute an additional $1,000. Remember, Mercury contributes to your account as well — we’re excited to continue to help you save on health care expenses in 2023!

You can enroll in two ways:

• Go to UKG
• Call 877-716-6372, option 3

Benefits elected during Open Enrollment will become effective on January 1. After Open Enrollment ends, you cannot change your benefit elections unless you experience a qualified family life event, such as a birth or a marriage.

Your Enrollment Checklist

Use this checklist to make the most of your enrollment opportunity:

• Learn about your benefit options.
• Choose your 2023 medical plan.
• Choose your 2023 dental and vision plans.
• Determine how much you will contribute to your HSA or FSA.
• Make sure your dependent information is correct and all your dependents are still eligible.
• Review your Life Insurance beneficiaries in UKG — it’s a good idea to review your Life Insurance beneficiary information (especially if your personal circumstances have changed) and make updates as needed.
• Complete your benefits enrollment.

When Coverage Begins

Benefits elected during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1 – December 31, 2023.

Changing Benefits Midyear

During the year, you can only change your benefits when you experience a qualified life event. Qualified life events include:

• Marriage, divorce, or legal separation
• Addition of eligible registered domestic partner, or termination of registered domestic partnership
• Birth or adoption
• A dependent becomes ineligible for coverage elsewhere
• Death of your covered spouse/registered domestic partner or one of your children
• Change in work status for you or your spouse/registered domestic partner

If you experience a qualified life event and would like to change your coverage, you must notify the Benefits Department by making the change in UKG within 30 days of the event. You must provide necessary documentation when applicable (for example, a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or proof of loss of coverage).

If you fail to make a change within 30 days of a qualified life event, you won’t be eligible to make a change until the next Open Enrollment period, unless you experience another qualified life event.

Learn more about Mercury’s 2023 benefits at our virtual benefits fair!

Don’t miss this fun and informative event — it’s available 24/7/365!

A Self-Paced Interactive Experience

• Visit information booths for each of Mercury’s benefits, including Blue Shield.
• Watch videos or webinars, and get details on your coverage options.

California

All States Other Than California

Choosing the right benefit plans is important for both your health and your financial well-being.

Take advantages of the resources below to help understand your options and select the right coverage for you and your family.

• Medical Plan Cost Estimator – Estimate your out-of-pocket expenses to see which plan might offer you the best value and determine how much to set aside in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• 2023 team member rates – Review the team member costs for the plans available to you.
• Blue Shield Flyer – Learn the basics about the Blue Shield medical plans.

Federal laws require that Mercury provide you with certain notices that inform you about your rights regarding eligibility, enrollment, and coverage of health care plans. The following sections explain these rules; please read them carefully.

Medicare Creditable Coverage Notice

If you have Medicare or will become eligible for Medicare in the next 12 months, a federal law gives you more choices about your prescription drug coverage. See Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare for details.

This notice advises you that the prescription drug coverage you have through Mercury is expected to pay out, on average, at least as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay in 2023. (This is known as “creditable coverage.”) Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it.

Health Care Reform and the Individual Mandate

“Health care reform” refers to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was passed in 2010. The law is intended to extend access to medical coverage to nearly everyone in the United States, eliminate restrictions on key benefits, and help control the country’s rising health costs.

The attached Health Insurance Marketplace Exchange Notice provides information about the individual mandate and your coverage options.

Availability of Summary Health Information

As a team member, the health benefits available to you represent a significant component of your compensation package. They also provide important protection for you and your family in the case of illness or injury.

Your plan offers a series of health coverage options. Choosing a health coverage option is an important decision. To help you make an informed choice, your plan makes available an online Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC), which summarizes important information about any health coverage option in a standard format, to help you compare across options. You can access your online SBC on mymercurybenefits.com or Atlas.

Special Enrollment Rights

Special enrollment events allow you and your eligible dependents to enroll for health coverage outside the Open Enrollment period under certain circumstances if you lose eligibility for other coverage, become eligible for state premium assistance under Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), or acquire newly eligible dependents. This is required under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

If you decline enrollment in a Mercury medical plan for you or your dependents (including your spouse/registered domestic partner) because of other health insurance coverage, you or your dependents may be able to enroll in a Mercury medical plan without waiting for the next Open Enrollment period if you:

1. Lose other coverage. You must request enrollment within 31 days after the loss of other coverage.
2. Gain a new dependent as a result of marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption. You must request enrollment within 31 days after the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
3. Lose Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) coverage because you are no longer eligible. You must request enrollment within 60 days after the loss of such coverage.
4. In addition, you may enroll in a Mercury medical plan if you become eligible for a state premium assistance program under Medicaid or S-CHIP. You must request enrollment within 60 days after you gain such coverage.

Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998

The act requires that all group health plans providing medical and surgical benefits with respect to a mastectomy must provide coverage for all of the following:

• Reconstruction of the breast on which a mastectomy has been performed
• Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance
• Prostheses
• Treatment of physical complications of all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedemas

This coverage will be provided in consultation with the attending physician and the patient, and will be subject to the same annual deductibles and coinsurance provisions, which apply for the mastectomy. For deductibles and coinsurance information applicable to the plan in which you enroll, please refer to the plan descriptions.

Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act

Group health plans and health insurance issuers generally may not, under federal law, restrict benefits for any hospital length of stay in connection with childbirth for the mother or newborn child to less than 48 hours following a vaginal delivery, or less than 96 hours following a cesarean section. However, federal law generally does not prohibit the mother’s or newborn’s attending provider, after consulting with the mother, from discharging the mother or her newborn earlier than 48 hours (or 96 hours as applicable). In any case, plans and issuers may not, under federal law, require that a provider obtain authorization from the plan or the issuer for prescribing a length of stay not in excess of 48 hours (or 96 hours).

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

If you are an team member with medical, dental or vision coverage through Mercury, you have the right to choose continuation coverage if you lose your group health coverage due to reduction in your hours of employment or the termination of your employment for reasons other than gross misconduct. Your eligible dependents may also have the right to elect and pay for continuation of coverage for a temporary period in certain circumstances where coverage under the plan would otherwise end, such as divorce, or dependent children who no longer meet eligibility requirements.

Important Note: This brief summary of the right you and your dependents have to continue insurance is not intended as the official notice of your rights required by federal and state law.

We’ve included this brief summary to inform you that you have these rights. You’ll receive a separate, detailed explanation of your right to continue health insurance coverage when applicable. Specific information is also available from Benefits Administration at 909-607-3195.

You can also call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227). TTY users should call 877-486-2048. If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at socialsecurity.gov, or call them at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778).

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Offer Free or Low-Cost Health Coverage to Children and Families

For the latest notice effective July 31, 2022, click here.