The University offers you a number of medical insurance coverage options: health maintenance organization (HMOs), preferred provider organization (PPOs), and traditional "fee-for-service" plans. The medical insurance options differ in the benefit levels they provide, the doctors and hospitals you can use, and the cost to you. See Choosing a Plan for information to help you determine which option is right for you.

Medical Plan Navigator The Medical Plan Navigator allows you to view side-by-side comparison charts of only the U-M medical insurance plans you select to help you decide which plan is right for you. You can select certain plan features that may be particularly important to you, enter your zip code to view plans available in your area, or choose specific plans to compare with your current medical plan. Click the button below to access the Medical Plan Navigator.

Enrollment Deadlines
To ensure that you are enrolled in the medical insurance plan of your choice, you must enroll in medical insurance within 30 days of your service date (first day on the U-M payroll) or newly eligible date, or as specified by your bargaining agreement. If you do not enroll within the deadline, you will be defaulted into no medical coverage and no prescription drug coverage, unless specified by your bargaining agreement. See Benefit Enrollment Deadlines and Defaults (PDF) for more information.

Coverage Level
Within each medical insurance option, you can choose from five levels of coverage. The levels are:

• You only
• You + Adult
• You + Adult + Children
• You + Child
• You + Children

"Adult" refers to your spouse or other qualified adult.
"Children" refers to your dependent children.

Effective Date
Coverage is effective on your service date. Any applicable retroactive employee contribution amounts will be deducted for any full month(s) of coverage from your next paycheck. This may occur if you make your benefits elections late in the 30-day election period. Therefore, it is recommended that you make your benefits elections as soon as possible.

Opt-out Credit Dollars
If you are eligible, you can receive Opt-out Credit Dollars if you waive medical insurance coverage because you have medical insurance outside the University through the employer of your spouse or OQA. If you and your spouse or other qualified adult both work for the University, you are not eligible to receive opt-out credit dollars for waiving medical coverage for yourself if you enroll in benefits under your spouse's or OQA's University coverage.

To receive opt-opt credit dollars, you must enroll online or return your enrollment form within your 30-day enrollment period, indicate that you wish to waive medical and prescription drug coverage, and include your other coverage information where required.

ID Cards
Your medical insurance ID cards will be mailed to you directly from your medical insurance plan company, not from the Benefits Office, within four to six weeks after you enroll in benefits and receive your confirmation statement.

Women’s Health and Cancer Rights
If you have had or are going to have a mastectomy, you may be entitled to certain benefits under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA). For individuals receiving mastectomy-related benefits, coverage will be provided in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient for:

• All stages of reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed;
• Surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance;
• Prostheses; and
• Treatment of physical complications of the mastectomy, including lymphedemas.

These benefits will be provided subject to the same deductibles and coinsurance applicable to other medical and surgical benefits provided under each of the University-sponsored medical plans.

Transgender Community
The Benefits Office has designated a specific staff member who is knowledgeable about and sensitive to transgender persons and the unique benefit related issues confronting them. Faculty and staff members with general or specific questions regarding benefit issues related to their transgender status are encouraged to contact Kate Van Valkenburgh for assistance. She can be reached directly at 734-647-4021 or by email at katevv@umich.edu.

Prescription Drug Plan
When you enroll in a U-M medical insurance plan, you will be concurrently enrolled in the Prescription Drug Plan.

Dollar Saver Tip
You can use a Health Care Flexible Spending Account for health care expenses for you and your covered dependents beyond what your plan covers. See the Flexible Spending Accounts section for details.