The Pulse, February 2020
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, BCBSTX will serve TRS-Care Standard plan participants who are under age 65 and not yet eligible for Medicare.
At its Feb. 21, 2020 meeting, the TRS board selected BCBSTX to serve as the new medical plan administrator of TRS-Care Standard, the plan for retired public-school employees and their families under age 65. TRS strives to maximize the value of every health care dollar and this includes competitively bidding our contracts to ensure you and your family receive the highest value health benefits. BCBSTX will save TRS-Care Standard $140 million over three years.
We thank Aetna for their service and partnership in working for TRS-Care retirees and their families for over 30 years. They will continue to administer health benefits through Dec. 31, 2020.
What Factors Contributed to this Decision?
BCBSTX made a strong commitment to support TRS in building primary care-based health care delivery and increasing the value of TRS-Care Standard. Their negotiated provider rates offer greater savings to the program and its participants, and they have a broader network, thereby improving access to health care services for public school retirees and their families. Not only does BCBSTX’s robust provider network have deep roots in the Texas health market, most TRS-Care Standard participants’ current providers are in the new network, which means lower levels of disruption during the transition.
We will host our annual health care info sessions across the state this fall, and starting this year, you can meet with BCBSTX representatives and hear presentations from them. Look for your invitations in the mail this fall! Over the next several months, BCBSTX will set up customer service lines and websites where you can find your plan materials and see which providers are in the network.
What Does this Mean for You?
ID Cards: You can continue to use your Aetna medical ID cards through Dec. 31, 2020. BCBSTX will issue new cards later this year.
Providers: You’ll be able to check BCBSTX’s online provider search tool later this year.
Undergoing care: If you’ll be undergoing care over this change, we will coordinate with you on a transition of care plan.
2021 Rates & Benefits: The 86th Texas Legislature appropriated $231 million to keep TRS-Care premiums the same through 2021, and the added savings from the contracts allows TRS to support this commitment.
