• Upon hire, new employees have thirty (30) days to enroll themselves and their eligible dependents in the health and/or dental insurance plan(s). Insurance becomes effective the 1st. of the month, following one full month of employment.
• Dependent children are allowed on the medical and dental insurance through the age of 19. (An allowance may be made for disabled dependents to remain on the medical and dental insurance beyond the age of 19. This allowance must be coordinated between the employee, the insurance company and the Human Resources Department).
• A dependent child’s medical coverage may continue between the ages of 19 – 23 if the child is attending an accredited college full time and submits the proper documentation to the Human Resources Department. Medical coverage will terminate for dependent children at the age of 23. The dependent child will be offered the option of purchasing medical coverage through COBRA regulations.
• Dental coverage for dependent children must terminate at the age of 19. The dependent child will be offered the option of purchasing dental coverage through COBRA regulations.

Changes to insurance such as adding dependents, changing insurance company or changing plan level may only be made during the Open Enrollment period or through a Qualifying Event, according to the Office of State Comptroller's rules.

• Open Enrollment: The Office of State Comptroller annually conducts an Insurance Open Enrollment period, which allows employees to make changes to their insurance plans. This is a time for employees to make changes such as; changing insurance company, plan level or adding dependents. Open Enrollment normally takes place during the month of May, with an effective date of change on July 1st.
• Qualifying Event: During the year an employee may experience a Qualifying Event, which allows them a thirty (30) day open window to enroll a dependent and/or spouse onto their health and/or dental insurance. Employees must complete the required paperwork within thirty (30) days from the date of the event. Failure to do so will result in having to wait until an annual Open Enrollment period to make a change.

• Marriage: Copy of marriage certificate required.
• Birth/Adoption of Child: Copy of adoption papers required.
• Loss of Coverage: Documentation required stating employment termination date and insurance end date.)
• Other: Court Orders: Documentation required.

An employee, who has an enrolled dependent on the state-sponsored insurance plan, has the responsibility to inform the State of Connecticut of a change in the dependents status, such as divorce, legal separation, or a child losing dependent status under the state sponsored group health plan. Employees may cancel insurance coverage anytime during the year. Please contact La Shawn McBride, Human Resources Department for required paperwork. Currently the State of Connecticut has three (3) medical insurance companies offering coverage to state employees; Anthem Insurance, Health Net Insurance, and Oxford Insurance. Employees select a company to provide benefits, and also select a Plan Level of care. The different Plan Levels are noted below, and refer to requirements such as in-network benefits only, out-of network services, or requirements such as gatekeeper coordination. For employees who reside outside of Connecticut the State of Connecticut offers two (2) out-of-area plans. Employees may choose from Anthem Insurance or Oxford USA.

Employees also have the opportunity to choose among the UniteHealthcare Basic Plan, the UnitedHealthcare Enhanced Plan, and the Aetna DMO plan, a dental HMO.

• Basic Plan: you can visit any dentist or dental specialist without a referral.
• Enhanced Plan: dental services are available both within and outside a defined network of dentists and dental specialists without a referral.
• DMO Plan: dental services are available only from a defined network of dentists; a primary care dentist (PCD) must be chosen to coordinate all care; referrals are required from the PCD for all specialist services.

• Obtain prescriptions through PharmaCare's network of over 52,000 chain and independent retail pharmacies.
• Obtain maintenance prescriptions through PharmaCare's mail service pharmacy - PharmaCare Direct. Your medications will be delivered directly to your home within seven to ten days. Co-pays will apply.
• PharmaCare's HealthLine, a telephone information and education center you can call for answers to common health and medication related questions.
• Utilize www.pharmacare.com to easily view your plan design and co-pay information, search for details on prescription medications, locate a pharmacy near you, review your claim history, and order your refills through PharmaCare Direct.
• Employees are only allowed to use an Out-of-Network pharmacy in an emergency situation or when overseas. Contact PharmaCare for further details.

• Employee Handbook
• Health Insurance Options and Rates
• Health Care for Same Sex Domestic Partners