The 2024 Open Enrollment window opens in just a couple of months; this annual period to add, change, or delete benefits will run Oct. 9-27. However, starting now, tobacco users can attend a tobacco cessation counseling session at any provider’s office that offers the service for FREE to earn a lower premium for 2024. You have until Nov. 30, 2023, to take action. (Note: If members combine their tobacco cessation visit with another service, there may be a copay.)
This convenient option means there’s no need to wait for Open Enrollment in October to secure your monthly premium credit for 2023!
How it works:
- After you visit a provider for your tobacco cessation session, the provider will submit a claim on your behalf. To ensure they receive credit for their visit, members can upload their office visit summary to the “Document Center” located in eBenefits, the State Health Plan’s enrollment system. Be sure to request a copy of the summary during your visit.
- This action is ONLY for tobacco users who want to reduce their monthly premium by $60 per month in 2024.
- If you are NOT a tobacco user, you will simply attest to that online during Open Enrollment.
Employees who took no action on tobacco attestation last year will soon receive a postcard reminder regarding 2024 Open Enrollment.
IMPORTANT: Employees hired on or after July 1 will have their completed tobacco cessation counseling sessions count toward both their 2023 and 2024 benefits!
The State Health Plan allows all tobacco cessation counseling sessions completed during the window of July 1 – Nov. 30 to be applied to both current year benefits and for the 2024 benefits plan year. Therefore, new hires as of July 1 and after will have the one counseling session count toward both the 2023 and 2024 benefits.
Note: All staff hired before Open Enrollment will still need to log in to the eBenefits platform during the enrollment window to complete 2024 SHP active enrollment and complete the online attestation questionnaire. The cessation counseling completed by the new hire during the extended window (Jul 1 – Nov 30) will be applied to the wellness credit for new hire requirement and Open Enrollment requirement.