Notices
You have the right to request a paper copy of any of these notices, at any time and free of charge, by contacting HR Connection at hrconnection.osu.edu, or (614) 247-myHR (6947).
Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities are being administered in compliance with federal and state law.
Health and Welfare Benefits Required Notices
COVERAGE OPTIONS AND YOUR HEALTH COVERAGE:
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requires the university to issue a notice to all employees informing them that they can purchase medical coverage from the Health Insurance Marketplace. This coverage option is in addition to any university sponsored medical coverage for which you may qualify.
PART A: General Information
Key parts of the health care law took effect in 2014, creating a new way to buy health insurance: the Health Insurance Marketplace. To assist you as you evaluate options for you and your family, this notice provides some basic information about the new Marketplace and employment-based health coverage offered by your employer.
What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?
The Marketplace is designed to help you find health insurance that meets your needs and fits your budget. The Marketplace offers “one-stop shopping” to find and compare private health insurance options.
Can I save money on my health insurance premiums in the Marketplace?
You may qualify to save money and lower your monthly premium, but only if your employer does not offer coverage, or offers coverage that doesn’t meet certain standards. The savings on your premium that you’re eligible for depends on your household income.
Does employer health coverage affect eligibility for premium savings through the Marketplace?
Yes. If you have an offer of health coverage from your employer that meets certain standards, you will not be eligible for a tax credit through the Marketplace and may wish to enroll in your employer’s health plan. However, you may be eligible for a tax credit that lowers your monthly premium, or a reduction in certain cost-sharing, if your employer does not offer coverage to you at all or does not offer coverage that meets certain standards. If the cost of a plan from your employer that would cover you (and not any other members of your family) is more than 9.5 percent of your household income for the year, or if the coverage your employer provides does not meet the “minimum value” standard set by the Affordable Care Act, you may be eligible for a tax credit 1.
Note: If you purchase a health plan through the Marketplace instead of accepting health coverage offered by your employer, you may lose the employer contribution (if any) to the employer-offered coverage. Also, this employer contribution, as well as your employee contribution to employer-offered coverage, is often excluded from income for federal and state income tax purposes. Your payments for coverage through the Marketplace are made on an after-tax basis.
How can I get more information?
For more information about your coverage offered by your employer, please check The Ohio State University Faculty and Staff Health Plan Specific Plan Details Document, available at hr.osu.edu/benefits/medical, or contact HR Connection at hrconnection.osu.edu, (614) 247-myHR (6947) or hrconnection@osu.edu.
The Marketplace can help you evaluate your coverage options, including your eligibility for coverage through the Marketplace and its cost. Please visit HealthCare.gov for more information, including an online application for health insurance coverage and contact information for a Health Insurance Marketplace in your area.
PART B: Information about Health Coverage Offered by Your Employer
This section contains information about any health coverage offered by your employer. If you decide to complete an application for coverage in the Marketplace, you will be asked to provide this information. This information is numbered to correspond to the Marketplace application.
| 3. Employer name The Ohio State University |
4. Employer Identification Number (EIN) 31-6025986 |
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| 5. Employer address 1590 North High Street, Suite 300 |
6. Employer Phone Number 614-247-6947 |
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| 7. City Columbus |
8. State OH |
9. ZIP code 43201 |
| 10. Whom can we contact about employee health coverage at this job HR Connection |
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| 11. Phone number (if different from above) | 12. Email address hrconnection@osu.edu |
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Basic information about health coverage offered by this employer:
As your employer, we offer a health plan to:
All employees.
Some employees. Eligible employees are described in The Ohio State University Faculty and Staff Health Plan Specific Plan Details Document.
With respect to dependents:
We do offer coverage. Eligible dependents are described in The Ohio State University Faculty and Staff Health Plan Specific Plan Details Document.
We do not offer coverage.
If checked, this coverage meets the minimum value standard. If you decide to shop for coverage in the Marketplace, HealthCare.gov will guide you through the process.
If you are declining enrollment for yourself or your dependents (including your spouse) because of other health insurance or group health plan coverage, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents in the Ohio State Faculty and Staff Health Plan if you or your dependents lose eligibility for that other coverage (or if the employer stops contributing toward your or your dependents’ other coverage). However, you must request enrollment within 30 days after your or your dependents’ other coverage ends (or after the employer stops contributing toward the other coverage).
In addition, if you have a new dependent as a result of marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents. However, you must request enrollment within 30 days after the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.
To request special enrollment or obtain more information, contact HR Connection at hrconnection.osu.edu, (614) 247-myHR (6947) or hrconnection@osu.edu.
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 and subsequent amendments to it require health insurers and group health plans to provide the same level of benefits for mental and/or substance use treatment and services that they do for medical/surgical care.
For more information on your rights under the MHPAEA, please visit the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity page and Form to Request Documentation from an Employer-Sponsored Health Plan or a Group or Individual Market Insurer Concerning Treatment Limitations.
Contact OSU Health Plan if you have questions regarding mental health or substance abuse addiction services.
Under the Affordable Care Act, group health plans and insurance companies must provide participants with SBCs and a glossary of terms commonly used in health insurance coverage. All group health plans and insurance companies use the same standard format for their SBCs and glossary. Our SBCs and glossary are available below and paper copies are available free of charge by contacting HR Connection at hrconnection.osu.edu, (614) 247-myHR (6947) or hrconnection@osu.edu.
2025 Benefits
If you have had or are going to have a mastectomy, you may be entitled to certain benefits under 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 lymphedema.
These benefits will be provided subject to the same deductibles and coinsurance applicable to other benefits provided under your medical plan.
If you would like more information on WHCRA benefits, contact OSU Health Plan by email at OSUHealthPlanCS@osumc.edu or by phone at 614-292-4700 or 800-678-6269.
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.
What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
You are protected from balance billing for:
Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
Under Ohio law, emergency services include emergency services provided by an out-of-network ambulance in Ohio.
Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.
If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network. (Note: It is possible that your health coverage does not have a network.)
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
- You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay its share of eligible expenses to out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
- Your health plan generally must:
- Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
- Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
- Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in‑network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
- Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.
If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact OSU Health Plan at 800-678-6269.
For more information about your rights under Ohio law for services delivered or issued in Ohio, including ground ambulance, you may call 1-800-686-1526; or visit insurance.ohio.gov/consumers/surprise-billing.
For more information about your rights under federal law for services delivered or issued outside Ohio or any air ambulance services, you may call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059; or visit cms.gov/nosurprises.
Rewards for participating in YP4H may be earned by benefits-eligible employees and enrolled spouses. If you think you might be unable to meet a standard for a reward under YP4H, you may qualify for an opportunity to earn the same reward by different means. Contact YP4H at yp4h@osu.edu and YP4H will work with you (and, if you wish, your doctor) to find a wellness activity with the same reward that is right for you in light of your health status.