Q & A about the Health Engagement Program
Where can I get more information about this program?
The Web site for the Health Engagement Program is at hr.iu.edu/benefits/hep. The site is continually updated as information becomes available.
What questions are people asking?
The University is publishing answers to employee questions. See FAQs at hr.iu.edu/benefits/hep/resources-faq.html. The following are examples.
- Can I do the Health Engagement activities on my work time?
- I already had a biometric screening done this year. Do I need to complete another screening?
- When I complete the health engagement activities, like the HRA and biometric screenings, who can see my personal health information?
How can I stay informed?
Throughout the program's duration, the University will distribute emails to announce phases of the program and to remind employees of important events. The timing of these messages will coincide with the program schedule.
What do I need to do to receive the full premium reduction in 2011?
In order to receive the full premium reductions beginning January 2011, employees and their spouses/domestic partners will want to complete the following three activities by the dates shown. Visit the Web site to schedule the activities.
- Take the online Personal Health Assessment (PHA) by November 12.
- Complete the tobacco-free affidavit by November 12.
- Get a biometric screening by February 28.
Employees do not have to meet any biometric targets in 2011. Meeting certain targets will be part of the program for 2012.
What happens if I don't complete my biometric screening before the beginning of the new plan year? Is there a grace period?
All employees will receive the biometric premium reduction through March 31, 2011, even if they don't complete a screening. If the screening is not completed by February 28, employees will pay the additional premium beginning April 1. If the screening is completed by February 28, employees will continue to receive the premium reduction for the remainder of the year.
Who is administering this program?
Clarian Healthy Results (CHR) is the administrator of the clinical portions of this program. CHR is a separate entity from Clarian Health (IU, Riley, and Methodist Hospitals) and separate from the Indiana Clinic (IU faculty practice groups). Physicians, nurses, and other Clarian Health staff (except personnel who perform labs) do not have the security level required to access IU Health Engagement Program lab results.
What is Clarian Healthy Results doing to ensure the security and privacy of my personal health information?
Clarian Healthy Results collects, aggregates, and calculates health incentive credits, and keeps this information in a separate data repository from Clarian Health. Data is aggregated and used to determine whether an employee is entitled to the associated premium reductions. Personal health information such as weight, blood pressure and lab values are not needed by or shared with IU.
To maintain or improve health
New Regulations Limit TSB, HRA, & HSA Reimbursement Accounts
Over-the-Counter Medicine no longer allowed without a Prescription
U.S. healthcare reform has resulted in new IRS regulations, effective January 1, 2011, that prohibit the purchase of over-the-counter medicine using pre-tax reimbursement accounts—unless purchased with a physician's prescription. At IU, pre-tax reimbursement accounts include the following:
- Tax Saver Benefit (TSB) Plan
- Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) part of the HDHP PPO medical plan
How to be Reimbursed
Documentation of a prescription for over-the-counter medicine can either be a pharmacy receipt and a copy of the prescription, or a pharmacy receipt that shows an Rx number. The new regulations require that debit cards be reprogrammed to disallow these over-the-counter medicines. Participants who want to be reimbursed must pay for their prescription, and then file a claim with appropriate documentation.
2010 TSB Grace Period
Over-the-counter medicines purchased before January 1 without a prescription can still be reimbursed with TSB 2010 balances through April 15, 2011; however; a prescription is required during the 2010 TSB plan grace period (January and February 2011).
Examples of Over-the-Counter Medicines
Examples of over-the-counter medicines include allergy and pain medicines, sinus and cold remedies, and antacids. The new regulation does not apply to nondrug medical purchases. Supplies (crutches, braces, bandages, etc.) can still be purchased with pre-tax funds without a prescription.
For More Information
Questions and answers about this new IRS regulation can be found at the IRS website www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=227308,00.html.
