Current Benefit News & Updates

SupportLinc EAP recently released a new program feature, Mindstream, which offers live and on-demand sessions to empower our employees to strengthen emotional fitness and build resilience.

In celebration of the launch, SupportLinc will aim to set an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the world's largest mindfulness livestream - and YOU can be part of it!

• DATE: Tuesday, July 23, 2024
• TIME: 11 am EST
• LOCATION: mindstreamlive.com
• DURATION: 10 minutes

This event is a special opportunity to highlight the importance of taking proactive steps for our mental health and will feature a 10-minute breaking exercise led by Mike Maher, a Mindstream subject matter expert and the host of YouTube's #1 breathwork channel, Take a Deep Breath. 

SupportLinc EAP would love for Penn State benefits-eligible employees and household members to join in this event!

Visit minstreamlive.com to learn more.

The newsletter helps educate employees about the value of their employer-sponsored retirement benefits. The issue below focuses on SERS-provided retirement plan resources, including upcoming live webinars, and how employees can keep taxes from taking an oversized bite out of their retirement plan contributions.

Read the Spring/Summer 2024 SERS News and contact your SERS representative with any questions!

On April 8, 2024, the moon will perfectly align with the sun, casting a shadow upon the Earth and creating a total solar eclipse. The total solar eclipse will cross North America- passing over Mexico, United States, and Canada. This rare phenomenon offers a unique opportunity to observe the beauty and complexity of our solar system.

As we witness this wonder of nature, let’s keep those eyes safe! Below are two links with helpful information on eye safety and general information on the eclipse.

• What Happens If You Look at a Solar Eclipse? (allaboutvision.com)
• Where & When | Eclipse 2024 Tabs – NASA Solar System Exploration

Ozempic Coupons

For those who've been prescribed Ozempic and are using coupons, a cyber attack has caused an issue with the ability to use these coupons. This is not a Highmark issue, but rather a Change Healthcare (the company who provides/processes the coupons). Highmark is able to assist employees experiencing this problem by reaching out to the Highmark Concierge Team at (844) 945-5509. Information regarding Change Healthcare and the cyber attach can be found on the Change Healthcare website.

HealthEquity Phishing Email

HealthEquity has become aware of criminal efforts to lure members to fake websites impersonating HealthEquity. The fraudsters aim to capture unsuspecting members’ login credentials and use them to access accounts on the real HealthEquity website (www.healthequity.com). 

HealthEquity systems have not been compromised. They are actively monitoring for and securing impacted accounts and are working with relevant authorities to remove fraudulent websites from the internet. HealthEquity is reaching out to impacted individuals to assist them in securing their accounts, and will be providing proactive education to help account holders stay vigilant and avoid scams. If you receive a suspicious email, please send it to [email protected].

An email sent to Penn State employees starting Monday, 01/08/2024, with subject line “Important information About Your Health Equity Account” is a phishing email.

Do not click the link in the email. If you have clicked the link and provided your PSU password, please go to accounts.psu.edu, and change your password immediately. Please do not accept any unexpected Duo/MFA authentication requests if you are not actively signing in. PSU will NEVER text you for your MFA code. 

If you clicked the link and provided the login for your HealthEquity account, then you would need to go in and manually change it or you could reach out to Member Services at (866) 346-5800 and Health Equity can assist with changing your password.

While it's not unusual to receive an email from HealthEquity, the link in the email does not go to healthequity.com. You can hover over the URL to see where it goes before clicking on it. HealthEquity emails come from updates@healthequity.com, while this email came from [email protected]. This can be a sign of phishing. 

When you get an email requesting urgent action, take a moment to examine it extra carefully before you proceed. Anyone can make an email impersonating Health Equity, but if you forward the email to [email protected] we can let you know if it is phishing. 

Please forward the email to [email protected] and [email protected]. You can also see https://www2.healthequity.com/protect for more steps on how to report this to Health Equity if you believe your account was compromised. HealthEquity has also been made aware of this phishing attempt for HealthEquity data.

Thank you for being vigilant and changing your password(s) as needed.

Updates for 2024

Insurance Contacts

• Highmark Blue Shield: (844) 945-5509
• United Concordia Dental: (800) 423-8217
• EyeMed Vision: (866) 939-3633

Active Employee Health Plan ID Cards:

• Full-time and part-time employees enrolled in a medical plan election for 2024, WILL receive new ID cards from Highmark Blue Shield, with an expected arrival date at their homes prior to January 1, 2024.
• Highmark ID cards will be for both medical and prescription coverage on one card.

If you have not received your card by January 2, 2024:

• You should first check/update your mailing address on file at accounts.psu.edu or contact HR Services at (814) 865-1473 for address change assistance.
• Call Highmark at (844) 945-5509 to request additional ID cards be mailed to your home.
• You may also download the app on your phone and contact Highmark Blue Shield directly at (844) 945-5509 to obtain your ID number.

Health Savings Account (HSA) Elections:

• Employees newly enrolled in the Lion Advantage plan WILL receive Health Savings Account (HSA) Welcome Kits from HealthEquity at their homes, including a debit card, prior to January 1, 2024.
• Employees who are remaining in the Lion Advantage plan for 2024 will NOT receive new debit cards from HealthEquity. The current cards will be replaced prior to the expiration date or report of loss/damage to the card.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Elections:

• Employees newly enrolled in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) WILL receive a Welcome Kit/Debit Card from HealthEquity at their homes; those enrolled in the Dependent Care FSA will receive a Welcome Kit from HealthEquity at their homes prior to January 1, 2024.
• Employees re-electing the Health Care FSA will NOT receive new debit cards. The current cards will be replaced prior to the expiration date or report of loss/damage to the card.

Dental and/or Vision Elections:

• Newly enrolled employees in United Concordia Dental and/or EyeMed Vision plans WILL receive ID cards at their homes prior to January 1, 2024.
• Existing employees remaining in the Dental and/or Vision plans for 2024 will NOT receive new ID cards, as the current cards are still active.
• Technical Service employees opting into the Dental Plus and/or Vision Plus (per their Collective Bargaining Agreement) plans WILL receive ID cards at their homes prior to January 1, 2024.

​​​​COVID laboratory testing – Deductible & Coinsurance Apply 

As announced in Penn State Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ended the public health emergency on May 11. Starting on June 1, 2023, any COVID-related testing is no longer covered at 100% and are subject to deductible and coinsurance under the Penn State medical plans. 
As a result of the end of the emergency declaration, several health insurance coverage and cost-share waivers have changed including:

• COVID-19 vaccines will remain covered through both of the Highmark Blue Shield plans at $0 cost share, when provided by an in-network provider as a preventive service. 
• Over-the-counter COVID-19 testing will be an eligible expense through a FSA or HSA, or an employee can pay out of pocket.  
• The federal government is providing four free at-home COVID-19 tests for every U.S. household through COVID.gov/tests. 

The services listed below will continue to be covered under the Penn State Highmark Blue Shield health care plans’ standard cost share amounts (copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance where applicable):    

• COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody testing 
• Related services to diagnose COVID-19 — office visit (in-person or telehealth), emergency room or urgent care
• Prescription antiviral treatment

Please discuss with your physician the financial impact of any COVID-19 testing that may be prescribed – certain tests can cost ~$1,500 or more, which will apply to your 2024 deductible that begins January 1, 2024.

Benefits-eligible employees can contact the Penn State Highmark concierge customer service team at 844-945-5509 with further questions. 

Confidential Employee Resources Always Available

If you are in need immediate support during the winter break, please reach out to our Employee Assistance Program, Health Advocate by calling 1-866-799-2728 through the remainder of 2023. HealthAdvocate will take your confidential call for in the moment support and forward requests for counseling or continued support with our new EAP, SupportLinc, on and after January 1, 2024.
 

Expanded family sick leave for full-time staff to take effect in January 2024.

The full article is found on news.psu.edu. 

Now is the time for Penn State employees to protect themselves and those around them by getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

For information on resources and University policies as it relates to the flue and COVID-19 vaccines, read the article that was posted on news.psu.edu on October 10.

As announced on May 11 in Penn State Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ended the public health emergency at the end of day on May 11, 2023. Based on the end of the public health emergency, any COVID related testing is no longer covered at 100% and will be subject to deductible and coinsurance under the Penn State medical plans beginning June 1, 2023.

The COVID vaccine and booster are still covered at 100% under the Highmark Preventive Schedule.