Health & Dental Insurance
Eligible Employees
Classified | Operational | Executive | 12-Month Faculty & Professional | 9-Month Faculty & Professional
Statewide Health Plans
As state employees, we have the following health insurance plans to attend to our employees' health needs. The Commonwealth's Department of Human Resources Management (DHRM) administers all plans. For in-depth descriptions and cost of premiums for each plan, including optional buy-ups, visit DHRM's Health Benefits website on plan choices. New employees are required to make health coverage selections within 30 calendar days of hire date.
| Plan Provider | Health Plan | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Anthem | COVA Care | Statewide and elsewhere |
| Anthem | COVA HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan) | Statewide and elsewhere |
| Aetna |
COVA HealthAware |
Statewide and elsewhere |
| OptimaHealth |
Optima Health HMO |
Regional, mostly in Hampton Roads |
| Kaiser |
Kaiser Permanent Regional HMO |
Regional, mostly in Northern Virginia |
Statewide Dental Plan
Delta Dental of Virginia administers dental coverage, including diagnostic and preventive care. The Expanded Dental option covers, at an additional cost, primary care services such as fillings and root canals, orthodontic services, and major restorative services such as crowns, bridgework, implants, and dentures. To see if your dentist is in the Delta Premier network, or to search for a participating dentist, visit the Delta Dental website. Click on “Find a Dentist” and select the Delta Premier program.
Coverage
The plan year begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following year.
Coverage for new employees begins on the first day of the month following the hire date. Coverage for new employees hired on the first of a month begins on the same day.
To obtain new or replacement ID cards, employees can call their plan provider directly or visit their website.
Enrolling and Making Changes
- Initial enrollment: New employees must make their health insurance elections through Cardinal within 30 calendar days of their date of hire. Failure to submit elections within 30 calendar days results in automatic waiver of coverage.
- Open enrollment: Open enrollment provides employees a chance to change health insurance election, including adding or removing dependents. Open enrollment is usually held in early May each year and changes become effective on July 1.
- Qualifying mid-year event (QME): In addition to initial and open enrollment periods, employees may make changes within 60 days of a QME. Check out which life events are qualifying mid-year events and how to submit required documentation to University HR.
Employee Premiums
Full-time employees pay the employee portion of the total monthly premium with the state paying the remainder of the cost. Employee premiums are deducted from paychecks before taxes are paid.
COVA Care and HealthAware members may be able to reduce monthly premiums by participating in premium rewards. The reward amount is $17 per month, and if your covered spouse participates you can double your monthly reward.
For current monthly premiums and premium reward requirements, visit DHRM's Health Benefits website.
