Benefit Services has announced that Cornell is switching from multiple health care administrators to one, Aetna, to streamline health plan offerings while still providing plans that meet the needs of Cornell faculty, staff and retirees.

As of Dec. 31, 2012, the university will no longer offer the HealthNow NY plan to endowed faculty and staff members, and will close the 80/20 Plan to new enrollments. Current 80/20 participants will be able to keep the plan in 2013, but by 2014 the 80/20 Plan will no longer be available. This change does not affect the Aetna Retiree 80/20 Plan for retirees over age 65, who participate in Medicare.

Endowed faculty and staff will be able to elect the Aetna Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) during the open enrollment period in November, a plan similar to HealthNow. In addition, the same Aetna PPO plan design can be found in the Cornell Program for Healthy Living (CPHL), which also includes a separate, voluntary wellness feature. The other plan choice, the health savings account, is a basic Aetna PPO plan with a high deductible and a special cash accumulation feature.

Benefit Services will hold two town hall meetings next week -- May 21 at 11:30 a.m. in G-10 Biotechnology Building and May 22 at noon in Uris Hall Auditorium -- to discuss the HealthNow decision and the changes to the Aetna 80/20 Plan.

A copy of the letter for those currently in the HealthNow plan can be found online (PDF).

The letter for those in the 80/20 plan is also available online (PDF). See also Benefit Services online, call 607-255-3936 or email benefits@cornell.edu.