Open Enrollment - Health Plan

This plan comparison chart shows plan features for the endowed health plan choices, both in-network and out-of-network.

This pdf rate comparison chart shows rates for the endowed health plan choices by nonexempt staff pay periods (biweekly) and exempt staff and faculty pay periods (semimonthly). 

Take these considerations into account when comparing how the plans work:

1. Covered Services:  All three plans provide comprehensive medical and prescription drug benefits, and cover in-network preventive care at 100%. See the plan comparison chart for an overview.

2. In-Network Providers: All three plans provide you with a choice of where to receive care, but you'll pay less when you receive care from an Aetna participating in-network provider. Click here to see if your current providers are in-network. 

3. Spending Accounts: 

• If you enroll in the High Deductible Health Pan, you'll be required to open a Health Savings Account (HSA) - even if you contribute $0 - as Cornell automatically contributes $1,000 into your HSA if enrolling during open enrollment (otherwise pro-rated). HDHP plan members cannot enroll in a healthcare FSA in addition to the plan's HSA; however, they can enroll in a dependent care FSA.
• If you enroll in the CPHL or WCM-PPO plans, you have the option to open or re-enroll in a healthcare and/or dependent care flexible spending account during Open Enrollment (or within 60 days of a qualifying life event). 

Additional details about the plans can be found here:

• Cornell Program for Healthy Living (CPHL)
• Weill Cornell Medicine PPO  (WCM-PPO)
• Aetna High Deductible Health Plan and Health Savings Account  (HDHP/HSA)

To waive any of your existing health, dental, and/or vision insurance, you must go into your Open Enrollment event in Workday, select the "Waive" option for the plans you'd like to drop, and make sure to continue the process through submission and confirmation.

Please refer to the Workday Enrollment Decision Guide for screen-by-screen instructions of how to change your election to “Waive” for your existing health, dental, and/or vision coverage in Workday. 

Here are some common terms you will find in our plan documents and on our web pages.

Aetna also offers a comprehensive glossary  on their website (this link will open in a new window).

Deductible

The amount you pay for covered services before your health plan begins to pay.

Dependent

This is a person who is covered by another person’s plan. It can be a child, spouse or domestic partner.

Drug formulary

Also known as a formulary.  This is a list of prescription drugs the health plan covers. It can include drugs that are brand name and generic. Drugs on this list may cost less than drugs not on the list. How much a plan covers may vary from drug to drug. An open formulary provides a greater choice of covered drugs. It is also called a preferred drug list.

In network

This means there is a contract with that doctor or other health care provider. There are negotiated reduced rates with them to help you save money. Your out-of-pocket costs are lower when you stay in network.

Lifetime maximum

This is the total dollar amount of benefits you can receive. It can also be the total number of services you can receive. These totals are limits for a lifetime, not just for a plan year. Plans subject to federal health care reform can only have lifetime dollar maximums on non-essential benefits.

Out-of-pocket maximum

This is a limit on the costs a health plan member must pay for covered services. The limit can be yearly or a dollar amount.

Qualifying event

These are events that let members change their health benefits. Examples include birth/adoption, death, job loss, divorce and marriage.

*While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of these Glossary of Terms, in the event of any discrepancy the Summary Plan Description and Plan Document will prevail.