Medical
County Paid Extension employees in half-time (0.5FTE) positions or greater are eligible to participate in the following ISU benefit programs.
Employees can enroll within 31 days of their hire date, with a qualifying life event or during the annual Open Enrollment Period. The annual open enrollment will take place in November, with an effective date of January 1.
Eligible dependents include: spouse, domestic partner, dependent children. Dependent children may be covered until December 31 of the year they turn age 26. If covering a dependent child over age 26, they must be an unmarried, full-time student (student status verification is required).
** Covering a domestic partner, domestic partner's child(ren) or dependent children over age 26 may be subject to imputed income. Please contact fbac@iastate.edu for additional details. **
Two plan options are available: PPO vs HMO Plan Comparison (PDF). Both are provided through Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
2025 Medical Plan Monthly Premiums
Note: The amounts shown above are total monthly premiums. Extension Councils will determine the employee and employer contributions, and County Paid Employees will need to check with their employing offices to determine their actual contribution for the plans they elect.
Wellmark BluePPO
The ISU PPO Plan is a managed care plan that gives you a choice each time you need health care to access a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Preferred Provider or to use any provider. If you access a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Preferred Provider the plan pays a higher benefit. If you use out-of-network providers, benefits are generally payable, but at a lower level. This plan is often selected by individuals and their families who are comfortable selecting a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Preferred Provider and still wish to have coverage when unable to access a Blue Cross/Blue Shield Preferred Provider.
Wellmark BluePPO plan is part of the Preferred Provider Organization, a national network of participating medical service providers. Use IZU as the prefix when looking at https://www.wellmark.com/finder.
Wellmark BluePPO Summary of Benefits and Coverage
Wellmark BluePPO Coverage Manual
Wellmark BlueHMO
The ISU HMO Plan is a managed care plan that requires use of the Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa (WHPI) network. Most services are paid at 100%. You pay the full cost of any care you receive outside the network except for emergency care when you are traveling out of the service area. This plan is often selected by individuals and their families whose needs can be satisfied by physicians within a specific network.
- This plan design has a network of participating physicians based in Iowa. This network has a medical service provider presence in every county in Iowa and in the contiguous counties that border Iowa. Current network participation is 99% of hospitals (acute care), 93% of primary care physicians (includes pediatricians), 91% of OB/GYN providers and 93% for specialists.
- Each member in the contract is required to designate a primary care physician (PCP). Female participants may elect to also designate a primary OB/GYN physician for their yearly exams. It is recommended that you verify your primary care physician is participating with the WHPI network, and locate the provider code (called the enrollment ID on Wellmark's site) when you choose to participate in the Wellmark BlueHMO. Use XQW as the prefix when looking at https://www.wellmark.com/finder.
- Guest membership: An added benefit while away from home for 90 or more consecutive days. A guest membership provides access to Blue Cross and Blue Shield participating hospitals, physicians and other health care providers from which you can receive covered services. A guest membership is a valuable service for: long-term, out-of-state travelers (away from home up to 180 days); dependent children who attend college, out of state; and family members who reside in another state but are covered under this health plan. For more information or to arrange the guest membership, contact Wellmark customer service at 1-800-494-4478.
Wellmark BlueHMO Summary of Benefits and Coverage
Wellmark BlueHMO Coverage Manual