Medical Plans

Employee testimonial: “The benefits here are wonderful. Before I was on the University’s medical insurance, a hospital stay cost me more than $4700. When I had to go back to the hospital for the same issue and for the same amount of time, I only had to pay $100 under the U’s plan. I’m still paying off bills from my first stay, but the second stay I could cover right away.”

The University offers five medical plan options; some are designed to save you money and others to give you more flexibility. The options available to you depend on your geographic location.

You have 30 days from your date of employment or your newly benefits-eligible job to enroll in a medical plan. Use the resources included here to help you decide which plan is the best choice for you and your family.

Your Plan Choices

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Medical Plan Options

The medical plan options that are available to you vary by geographic location. Each geographic region has a base plan that is the most widely used plan in that area and offers low rates and copayments. You can select your medical plan based on where you live or work. The University defines your work location as where the majority of your work is performed.

Visit Medical Plan Option descriptions

A quick overview of your plan options:

  • Medica Elect/Essential is a base plan in specific geographic locations within the state.
  • Medica Choice Regional is another base plan offered in a specific location within the state.
  • Medica ACO Plan is a defined network plan available in specific geographic locations.
  • Medica Choice National is an open access network plan with providers available statewide and nationwide.
  • Medica HSA is a high deductible plan with a health savings account and an open access network available statewide and nationwide. 
Map of MN base plans by county. Elect Essential for Twin Cities and Duluth areas, counties: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, McLeod, Ramsey, Scott, Sherberne, Washington, Wright, Lake, St Louis, and WI counties Pierce, St Croix, Douglas, Sawyer, Washburn. Greater MN base plan Medica Choice Regional, covering remaining 71 MN counties and southern half of Carlton county, plus WI Burnett and Polk.

Choosing a Plan

The plans cover the same set of health care services, so you’ll want to pay attention to differences in provider networks, biweekly rates, and the out-of-pocket amounts that you pay up front, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. Questions to consider as you review your options include:

  • Does the plan meet the needs of you and your family? Some plans require everyone in the family to use the same healthcare network.
  • Is your current doctor within the network?
  • Do you want to choose a plan based on where you work or where you live?
  • Are the associated costs—such as copays, deductibles, and rates—worthwhile given the benefits of the plan?

Visit the Medica website for more information to help you select a medical plan or call their Customer Service at 952-992-1814 or 877-252-5558; TTY users, please call 711.

Resources to Help You Make Your Decision

Enrolling in Medical Coverage

Take Action During Your First 30 Days

You have 30 days from your date of employment or your newly benefits-eligible job to enroll in a medical plan through MyU. Your medical coverage starts on the first day of the month following your first day in your new job.

If you’re not happy with your first choice, you can choose a different plan if you’re still within the first 30 days, and it will be retroactive to your initial date of coverage. If you choose to not pick a medical plan during your first 30 days, then you will only be able to sign up for medical insurance during Open Enrollment in November. 

Enroll Your Family

If you have a family, you can add your legal spouse and your dependent children from birth through age 25 (up to 26th birthday) to your coverage. Go to the Benefits Eligibility section for the full definition of eligible dependents. The University will ask you to verify that your dependents are eligible. Typically, it means sending copies of your marriage certificate, birth certificate, or tax forms. 

Learn More

Check the schedule for the New Employee Benefits Enrollment Workshop if you would like more information.

Using Your Medical Plan

Member ID Card

The medical plan you selected will send member ID cards to your home. The Elect/Essential plan will send one card per family member, and each other plan will send 2 cards with all member names printed on each card. If any dependent(s) in a family unit are over age 15, they will receive their own card. You are automatically enrolled in the Pharmacy Program when you enroll in a medical plan, and you will also receive member ID cards from Prime Therapeutics.

Understanding an Explanation of Benefits

After you’ve seen a doctor or other care provider, you will receive a document from Medica that shows the amount that Medica paid on those services. This record of the services you received is called an Explanation of Benefits or EOB. For help understanding your EOB document, check out Understanding an Explanation of Benefits (pdf) or call Medica Customer Service at 952-992-1814 or 1-877-252-5558.

Questions About Your Plan or Provider Options?

Questions related to your medical plan can be answered with a call to Medica Customer Service or a with a visit to their website.  Enrollees can securely email Medica by clicking the link located in the lower right portion of the Medica website.

Medica
952-992-1814
877-252-5558
TTY users, please call 711

Additional Benefits With Your Medical Plan

When you choose a medical plan, you get access to a number of benefits designed to make getting care easier for you. All are available at no additional cost.

Gender Care Services and Support: If you have a University medical plan, you have access to consolidated resources for gender care. Medica has dedicated Case Managers who specialize in gender care and can work with you to create a personalized care plan. They'll listen to your needs, answer questions, and connect you with community and medical resources.

Health Plan Machine-Readable Files

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 introduced federal regulations for health care price transparency. As a group health plan sponsor, the University of Minnesota is required to post the machine-readable files to a public website. The intended users of machine-readable files are researchers, regulators, and application developers. Machine-readable files are not intended for member or consumer use.

These files can be located on the Medica website. Once opened, click "Machine Readable Files" in the left navigation menu. This section will contain information such as a fact sheet and a link to the machine readable files.