Editor’s note: This story is the first in a series of articles designed to help employees better understand and navigate their benefits.
Taking advantage of preventive health care services, such as annual checkups, regular screenings and vaccinations is not only important for maintaining overall health and well-being, but early detection of potential health issues can also help employees and their families stay healthy and save money in the long run.
The benefits packages offered by Penn State include preventive medical, dental and vision care services, often covered at 100% for in-network providers, which can detect potential health issues early, saving time, money and improving long-term outcomes.
“Last year about a third of Penn State employees took advantage of at least one of their annual medical, dental or vision exams, and that is worth pausing to celebrate. Of course, we would love to see 100% of our employees utilizing preventive care,” said Jill Musser, senior director of employee benefits with Penn State Human Resources. "Taking time for preventive care is an investment in your long-term health and well-being. You can prevent challenges before they arise and reduce your long-term costs. Penn State values the health and happiness of its employees and is committed to working with its benefits partners to offer this preventive coverage.”
Here is a look at what preventive care Penn State’s health plans offer:
Medical
From annual checkups and vaccinations to managing chronic conditions and emergency care, Penn State’s medical plan options (Lion Traditional, Lion Advantage HSA and Lion Advantage Flex) provide essential protection.
There is no charge for these preventive services when using a network provider:
- Routine physical exams
- Immunizations
- Routine screening tests and procedures
- Colorectal cancer screenings
- Routine annual mammograms
- Routine gynecological exams and pap test
- Diabetes prevention program
- Tobacco use counseling and interventions
Full details are listed on the Highmark Preventive Schedule.
Dental
Regular dental visits not only maintain a healthy smile but also help detect early signs of systemic diseases. Gum disease, for example, has been associated with heart disease, diabetes and strokes. Taking advantage of Penn State's dental plan helps make sure small issues do not become major health concerns.
The following services are covered 100% under Penn State’s dental plan:
- Annual exams
- Preventive cleanings
- X-rays
Vision
Routine eye exams do more than just update your prescription — they can lead to early detection of vision problems, making treatment more manageable and successful. Doctors can find signs of eye disease, such as cataracts and glaucoma, early and may also be able to spot other conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Penn State’s vision insurance plan covers:
- Annual eye exams
- Discounts on frames, lenses, and contacts
Condition Care Program
The Condition Care Program allows employees or their family members with certain chronic health conditions who are enrolled in the Lion Traditional plan to receive reduced or waived cost sharing for associated care. These health conditions include type-1 or type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.
This program is intended to help make managing chronic conditions more affordable by keeping out-of-pocket expenses low. Office visits, lab work and medical supplies related to these conditions are covered at 100% with no copays or coinsurance.
Prescription drugs
Penn State offers health plans that include preventive prescriptions, which will be covered at lower coinsurance for the Lion Traditional plan and without deductible for the Lion Advantage plan. Highmark provides a full list of preventive medications covered under Penn State’s health plans.
Well-being
Mental, physical and emotional well-being are also Important factors in keeping people healthy and protecting long-term health. In addition to the insurance plans, Penn State offers a variety of services aimed at promoting the well-being of its employees, including:
- Campus recreation
- WeightWatchers
- SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) — Five counseling sessions are covered 100% by Penn State
- Employee Resource Groups
Next steps
Regular use of these benefits can help keep employees healthier and lower long-term health costs. Here is how to take full advantage of preventive services covered by Penn State’s benefits packages:
- Schedule annual medical, dental and vision exams;
- Make use of the preventive services covered under your plans; and
- Reach out to Penn State’s benefits partners (Highmark, United Concordia, EyeMed) for more information on finding in-network providers or for more details on benefit plans and coverage.
If you have questions about your benefits, contact Penn State’s benefits team at 814-865-1473 or benefits@psu.edu.