EHA News
EHA News
2025-26 Rates & Benefits Released
EHA Renewal Announcement 2025-26
2024-25 Rates & Benefits Released
EHA Renewal Announcement 2024-25
Omnify | Your New COBRA Administration Team
The team at Omnify, powered by Union Bank & Trust, is excited to be your provider for COBRA administration. We’ll make the transition as seamless and easy as possible.
2023-2024 Rates & Benefits Released
EHA Renewal Announcement 2023-24
NEW!! Over-the-counter COVID-19 testing
Test kits that do not require a doctor’s order or a lab to read the results are considered over-the-counter (OTC). Beginning Jan. 15, 2022, there will be a $0 cost share for up to eight individual OTC COVID-19 tests per member per 30 days. This applies to all fully-insured and self-funded groups that utilize BCBSNE’s pharmacy benefits manager, Prime Therapeutics, as well as individual health plan members. This does not apply to Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Part D members.
The current list of eligible OTC COVID-19 tests is below. Only these tests are eligible for reimbursement. Tests purchased prior to Jan. 15, 2022, are not eligible for reimbursement.
Blue Cross Blue Sheild Flier: Over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 Testing
Eligible OTC COVID-19 Tests:
NDC/UPC Brand Name
Tests/ Pack
56964000000 ELLUME COVID-19 HOME TEST 1
11877001140 BINAXNOW COVID-19 AG CARD HOME TEST 2
50021086001 ELLUME COVID-19 HOME TEST 1
08337000158 INTELISWAB COVID-19 RAPID TEST 2
14613033968 QUICKVUE AT-HOME COVID-19 TEST 5
14613033972 QUICKVUE AT-HOME COVID-19 TEST 2
60006019166 ON/GO COVID-19 ANTIGEN SELF-TEST 2
82607066026 FLOWFLEX KIT HOM TEST 1
Our pharmacy benefits manager, Prime Therapeutics, has established a preferred network of pharmacies to support members in obtaining at home tests without member cost share. This network includes approximately 65,000 pharmacies nationwide. These preferred pharmacies can bill OTC COVID-19 tests directly to your insurance, resulting in no cost to you.
Click On Below Link:
**View The List OF Participating Nebraska Pharmacies
Tests purchased from a non-preferred pharmacy, online retailer or retail store can be submitted for reimbursement through the pharmacy paper claims process for OTC COVID-19 tests. These claims will be reimbursed at a maximum of $12 per individual OTC COVID-19 test. For example, a box that includes two tests would be reimbursed at a maximum of $24. Shipping and tax are not reimbursable.
Click on CovidTest.gov Link:
Beginning Jan. 19, 2022, free tests will also be available to order at CovidTests.gov
COVID-19 testing for public surveillance or employment purposes is not covered. This includes testing for work, school, travel and other public surveillance reasons, unless reimbursement becomes required by law.
2022-23 Rates & Benefits Released
EHA Renewal Announcement 2022-23
Mental Health Benefit Change Beginning September 1st, 2021
Starting Sept. 1, 2021, in-network behavioral health office services will be covered at 100% of BCBSNE’s allowable amount, whether in-person or by using the telehealth benefit. (Out-of-network telehealth visits will continue to be non-covered.) HSA-eligible High Deductible Health Plans are still subject to deductible and coinsurance for in-person and telehealth behavioral health office visits. Per IRS regulations, except for preventive health benefits, insurance carriers cannot pay first dollar coverage on HSA-eligible HDHP plans. First dollar coverage means insurance pays expenses beginning with the first dollar charged for health care, without copayments or deductibles having to be paid. The current definition of preventive health benefits does not include behavioral health treatment.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement Notice
We were just made aware of an email notice that was sent to our members regarding a Class Action Settlement with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The email came from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Claims Administrator at this email address: Notice@BCBSsettlement.com.
There is a summary at this link: April 6, 2021 H&W Compliance Quarterly.
The notice provides additional resources with more details and contact information:
- The settlement website at www.BCBSsettlement.com;
- The FAQ that is available on the settlement website and;
- The claim administrator’s email address info@BCBSsettlement.com.
Coverage for COVID-19 Related Treatment
Working in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, EHA’s medical plans have followed the guidance of local and federal health officials regarding coverage for coronavirus testing and treatment. Last week, in their continued effort to invest in the health of their members, the EHA Executive Committee voted to further extend 100% coverage of COVID-19 related testing and treatments through March 31st, 2021. Any extension beyond this date will be based on an evaluation of the situation by the full EHA Board in February.
This means members with medical coverage who present with symptoms or have been exposed to others who have tested positive for COVID-19 will pay nothing for medically appropriate, in-network testing and treatment related services in a telehealth session, doctor’s office, urgent care facility or emergency room.
If members have questions about their claims or coverage, please have them call the Member Services Department at the number on the back of their BCBSNE ID card.
Educators Health Alliance Approves 2.96% Increase in Rates
There will be an overall increase of 2.96 percent in premiums next year for the medical and dental insurance plans used by nearly every Nebraska school district, following action by the Educators Health Alliance (EHA), a consortium of three statewide public school groups that manages the plan. Medical insurance rates for active employees will increase 3.06 percent. Medical insurance rates for retirees will increase by 4.95 percent as, for the first time, special services fees will be included in the premium rates for retirees. Dental rates for all employees and retirees will remain unchanged from the 2020-21 rate level.
When the 2021-2022 plan year begins next Sept. 1, it will mark the 19th consecutive rate increase of less than 10 percent. The average annual increase over the past ten years has been 4.1 percent.
“The COVID pandemic has resulted in significant disruption for our members,” said Sheri Jablonski, EHA Board Chair. “It has also made it difficult to set rates for the 2021-22 plan year. Nevertheless, we are pleased we’ve been able to maintain our streak of nearly 20 years without a double digit increase in rates and, especially, to average just over 4 percent for the last decade.”
The only benefit change for the 2021-22 contract year is an enhancement for the non-HSA PPO plans. Member cost sharing for visits to counselors and psychiatrists will be eliminated.
“We believe it is important, particularly in these stressful times, to encourage our members to seek counseling if they feel anxious or overwhelmed and we did not want the benefit plan to discourage office visits by having the deductible applied first,” said Maddie Fennell, executive director of Nebraska State Education Association. “We are also encouraging all school districts and EHA members to follow CDC guidelines related to COVID in order to continue to mitigate claims and keep future rate increases low.”
An alternate network product offering will be expanded in the 2021-22 plan year to all districts in areas of the state where network competition is possible.
Jablonski indicated the single digit increase in premium rates is made possible due to several factors, including:
- The impact of the EHA’s state-wide wellness and health promotion program;
- A program designed to assist in the management of chronic diseases and emerging diseases;
- Holding the line on health and administrative cost increases; and
- Continued prudent management in the design and choices of benefit plans.
“The EHA Wellness program has been instrumental in improving the health and wellness of EHA covered employees,” said Beth Kernes Krause, EHA Vice Chair and Auburn Public Schools Board of Education member. “The wellness plan continues to expand, such as the recent addition of the Headspace program, and includes options for individuals and school groups to earn financial incentives for achieving goals set by the program.”
“The EHA Board understands the financial concerns of our members as well as the fiscal constraints facing school districts,” said John Spatz, executive director of the Nebraska Association of School Boards. “It is an important responsibility of the EHA Board to balance the health insurance premium increase and the benefit adjustments for both districts and individual employees and their families.”
“The EHA Board takes its responsibility for plan oversight very seriously and we believe the rate increase and benefit enhancement decisions reached by the Board for the 2021-22 plan year have been well thought out and discussed,” said Mike Dulaney, executive director of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. “We are confident these changes will allow us to continue to provide a quality, affordable health insurance plan well into the future.”
The Educators Health Alliance is a non-profit corporation that was created to procure quality, affordable health care insurance for Nebraska educational employees. The rates set by the EHA Board are for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) health care plan used by more than 400 public school district and affiliate groups in the state. The plan is governed by a 12-member board representing the Nebraska Association of School Boards, the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and the Nebraska State Education Association. More than 80,000 Nebraskans are covered by the plan, making it the largest health plan in the state.
For more information, contact Sheri Jablonski, EHA Chair, 402-475-7611, sheri.jablonski@nsea.org
