Kansas City Core Network Plan

• Open-access network of providers (UHC Core Network) and participants may see enhanced savings when using providers, such as St. Luke's and Children's Mercy. For a full list of in-network providers, visit UHC’s provider directory (exit UM System site).
• There are separate deductibles for in-network services and retail prescription drugs.
• Once you meet your annual out-of-pocket limit, the plan pays 100% of eligible coinsurance and copayment expenses for the rest of the calendar year.
• You may enroll in two types of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA. These accounts help you pay for medical or child care using pre-tax dollars; eligible expenses differ between the types.
• Pharmacy coverage is provided by Express Scripts with access to pharmacies nationwide and mail order services. Specialty medications are managed and processed through ArchimedesRx.

If you are a benefit-eligible faculty or staff member with a home address or work address in an eligible region around Kansas City, the Kansas City Core Network Plan is available to you:

• Missouri counties: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte and Ray.
• Kansas counties: Johnson and Wyandotte.
• See the Kansas City Core Network Plan coverage map (PDF, 140KB)

You may be eligible for other regional plans depending on where you live and work (i.e., your work address is located in an eligible Kansas City-area county but your home address is in an eligible Columbia-area county, or vice versa). In this case, you will have the option to enroll in either region’s insurance plans. 

While some plan structure details between regions may be the same or similar, the network of providers receiving preferred/discounted rates is different. Differences in premium cost between regions are due, in part, to these network differences.

Coverage for dependents

Dependents may include:

• Spouse or Sponsored Adult Dependent of an employee
• A child of an employee who is younger than 26 years of age
• A child of an employee over the age of 26 who is mentally or physically incapable of self-sustaining employment and meets other plan requirements
• Child for whom health care coverage is required through a Qualified Medical Child Support Order or other court/administrative order.

You should ensure you understand the details of your status by accessing the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for the insurance plan and reading the full definition.

Monthly employee premium cost* for active employees:

• Self only: $150
• Self and spouse: $404
• Self and child(ren): $372
• Self, spouse and child(ren): $675

*Premiums for faculty on a nine-month contract paid over nine months are different. For more information, visit the Premiums for 9-month faculty paid over 9 months webpage.

What you pay for covered services varies based on whether the provider is in-network or out-of-network:

**Refer to the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for additional details on allowable and eligible expenses when using an out-of-network provider.

• Prescription drug: Retail Non-Maintenance:
  • In-network: Greater of (after Rx deductible):
    • Formulary generic: $10 copay or 20% coinsurance
    • Formulary brand: $30 copay or 25% coinsurance
    • Non-formulary brand: $50 copay or 50% coinsurance
  • Out-of-network**: $30 copay or 50% network costs or more after deductible**
• Prescription drug: Retail Maintenance:
  • In-network: Greater of (after Rx deductible):
    • Formulary generic: $10 copay or 20% coinsurance
    • Formulary brand: $30 copay or 25% coinsurance
    • Non-formulary brand: $50 copay or 50% coinsurance
  • Out-of-network**: $30 copay or 50% network costs or more after deductible**
• Prescription drug: Mail:
  • In-network: Greater of:
    • Formulary generic: $20 copay or 20% coinsurance
    • Formulary brand: $60 copay or 25% coinsurance
    • Non-formulary brand: $100 copay or 50% coinsurance
  • Out-of-network**: $30 copay or 50% network costs or more after deductible**

** Member will pay difference between the non-participating and participating pharmacy charge.

The Core Network Plan has two annual deductibles: one for medical and a second for prescription drug costs.

• Medical deductible:
  • In-network: $500/self*; $1,500/family
  • Out-of-network: $1,500/self*; $4,500/family*
• Rx deductible:
  • Retail: $75/person
  • Mail-order: $0/person

* Considerations for “self” and “family” are different for the Core Network Plan and PPO Plan than the Healthy Savings Plan. Visit the glossary for details.

The Core Network Plan has two annual out-of-pocket limits: one for medical and a second for prescription drug costs.

• Medical out-of-pocket limit:
  • In-network: $3,750/self*; $7,500/family*
  • Out-of-network**: $11,250 or more/self; $22,500 or more/family*
• Rx out-of-pocket limit:
  • $6,850/self*; $13,700/family*

* Considerations for “self” and “family” are different for the Core Network Plan and PPO Plan than the Healthy Savings Plan. Visit the glossary for details.
**Please refer to the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for additional details on allowable/eligible expenses when using an out-of-network provider.

If you enroll in the Core Network Plan, you may also want to consider enrolling in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), an account that allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Visit the Understanding your flexible spending account webpage to learn more.

To estimate prescription costs, visit Express Script's prescription cost estimator tool (exit UM System site) for UM System medical plans. Select the plan year and health plan you wish to review; then, select "price a medicine" and type in the medicine's name. You will be prompted to select the strength, form, quantity and frequency for the prescription to estimate the cost covered by the plan and the cost to you.

You may choose to visit either in-network or out-of-network physicians and other providers. Your costs will be lower, however, when you select in-network providers. Provider directories may be accessed on the plan contacts webpage. For a full list of in-network providers, visit UHC’s provider directory (exit UM System site).

Virtual visits are also available to you. Virtual visits let you see and talk to a doctor from your mobile device or computer without an appointment, any time. Visit the virtual visits webpage to learn more.

Making an informed decision about your healthcare needs can save you time and money, but when you are ill or injured, assessing your condition and choosing the best place to go for treatment isn’t easy. You have four care options, but each is unique in the services it provides.

Primary care physician

Visit your primary care physician when you have a non-life threatening condition during regular hours of work week, or if you don’t need immediate attention. It’s always best to see your primary care physician, since they know you and your health history. 

• Examples include: Persistent cough; sore throat or rash; minor injuries or aches

Convenience care clinic

When you experience symptoms where you would normally see a primary care physician, but it’s after hours or on a weekend, a convenience care clinic can be a good option. Convenience care clinics are typically available in local retail or drug stores and usually have extended hours on weekdays and weekends.  

• Examples include: Persistent cough; sore throat or rash; minor injuries or aches

Urgent care clinic

Urgent care clinics are an appropriate choice when you have an unexpected illness or injury that requires immediate attention but is not necessarily life-threatening. These clinics offer many resources to treat a wound or injury and will often do so immediately. 

• Examples include: A cut that may need stitches; a sprained ankle

Emergency room

Seek an emergency room when an illness or injury is very serious or life-threatening. In most cases, you will know the condition is serious, sudden and/or requires immediate attention. If you are unable to get to an emergency room, call 9-1-1 for assistance. 

• Examples include: Broken bones with deformed appearances; head trauma; drug or alcohol overdoses; severe cuts or burns. 

Preventive Care

Many health plans include preventive care services, such as various screenings, vaccinations and well-woman visits, at no out-of pocket cost. Read about women's preventive healthcare or learn more about UHC's preventive care guidelines (exit UM System site).

Special Health Topics

Consult the following webpages for additional information on special health topics:

• Autism
• Behavioral Health
• Diabetes
• Hearing

Visit the health and wellness tools and discounts webpage to maximize your convenience and savings.