Dear Colleague,
Today (Monday, June 1) is the final day of Ballad Health’s annual open enrollment period. The deadline to enroll in FY27 benefits is 11:59 p.m. tonight.
This annual enrollment period is a great opportunity to review your current benefits and make any necessary changes for the upcoming benefit year, which begins July 1.
Benefit enrollment is not required this year. If no changes are needed, your current benefit elections will carry over to the new plan year beginning July 1. However, flexible spending accounts (Medical and Dependent Care) require a new election each year. To continue participation in those plans, you must enroll online. If no other changes are needed, your existing benefit elections will remain in place for the new plan year beginning July 1.
After the enrollment period closes, your next opportunity to make benefit changes will be during the next year’s open enrollment period, unless you have a qualified life event that allows a mid-year change.
Team members will enroll by logging into the HR & Payroll Service Center on the Ballad Health Intranet. You’ll want to have the instructions available as you begin the enrollment process.
- Click here to log into the HR & Payroll Service Center on the Ballad Health intranet. On the employee page, click on benefits (left side of the page) then Open Enrollment FY27.
- Click here for detailed enrollment instructions.
- Click here for our FY27 detailed benefit guide.
NOTE: You must be on a Ballad Health network device to access the intranet.
Details about the FY27 benefits package
Medical/Pharmacy – Ballad Health will continue to offer two high-deductible health plans (Choice and Bronze) and a PPO plan through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST). Below is a list of changes to medical plans.
Choice Plan
- The deductible for Tier 1/Tier 2 of the Choice plan will change from $1,650 individual/$3,300 family to $1,700 individual/$3,400 family. This change is required to meet the IRS minimum deductible requirement for high-deductible health plans.
- The deductible for tier 3 will change from $2,650 individual/$5,300 family to $2,700 individual/$5,400 family. The out-of-pocket maximum will change from $6,000 individual/$12,000 family to $6,250 individual/$12,500 family.
- The out of network tier deductible will change from $2,650 individual/$5,300 family to $2,700 individual/$5,400 family.
- The deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are shared between the in-network tiers.
Bronze plan
- Tier 2 and the out of network deductibles will change from $10,000 family to $10,800 family. There is no change in the individual deductible.
- The deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are shared between the in-network tiers.
PPO plan
- The deductible for tier 1 will change from $400 individual/$800 family to $500 individual/$1,000 family. The out-of-pocket will increase from $750 individual/$1,500 family to $1,000 individual/$2,000 family.
- The deductible for tier 2 and tier 3 will change from $900 individual/$1,800 family to $1,000 individual/$2,000 family. The out-of-pocket maximum for tier 2 and tier 3 will also change from $4,500 individual/$9,000 family to $5,000 individual/$10,000 family.
- The deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are shared between the in-network tiers.
Medical-only coverage offered to team members working 20-29 hours per week
Team members working 20-29 hours per week (FTE .50 – .74) are eligible to enroll in the medical only benefit plan. In addition to medical coverage, this plan includes pharmacy coverage and the Employee Assistance Program. There are no changes in premium for FY27. For premium information on the medical-only coverage please refer to Page 13 of the benefit guide.
As part of our continued commitment to supporting team members and their families, infertility coverage will now be offered under the Ballad Health benefit plans to help support team members as they grow and start their families. Eligible members will have access to a combined lifetime maximum benefit of up to $20,000 for covered infertility services under the medical and pharmacy plans. As a reminder, Ballad Health offers adoption assistance to support growing families. Team members are eligible to receive up to $10,000 per adoption for qualified legal and adoption agency expenses. This benefit is available for a maximum of two adoptions per lifetime.
Medical Coverage Benefit tiers – Facilities and providers can be added, deleted, or have a change in benefit tier during the plan year. You should periodically review the online directory at bcbst.com before services are rendered so you understand what benefit tier of coverage the facility/provider is in. If you are not a registered user, you will need to create a username and password. You can then search for providers by clicking on the Find Care/Cost tab. The online provider directories can also be viewed on the Ballad Health Benefits page.
Pharmacy
- The deductible for the Choice plan will change from $1,650 individual/$3,300 family to $1,700 individual/$3,400 family.
- The pharmacy deductible for the Bronze plan remains unchanged at $4,000 individual/$8,000 family. The coinsurance for using a non-Ballad pharmacy will change from 70% to 60%.
- The pharmacy deductible for the PPO plan will change from $900 individual/$1,800 family to $1,000 individual/$2,000 family.
- The pharmacy and medical plan deductibles are shared deductibles.
Premiums – There will be an increase in the biweekly premium you pay for medical coverage this coming year. As healthcare costs and utilization continue to rise, Ballad Health will continue to absorb much of that increase for the coming year, however team members will see an increase in the biweekly premium they currently pay for coverage.
Additional Benefit Enrollment Tier
For FY27, we heard your feedback and are updating the Medical Plan enrollment tiers to better align with team members’ needs. The new enrollment tiers will include Team Member Only, Team Member and Child(ren), Team Member and Spouse (new), and Family (Team Member, Spouse, and Child[ren]).As part of this enhancement, team members who currently cover only an eligible spouse will be automatically moved from Family coverage to the new Team Member and Spouse tier during this enrollment period, at a cost of less than family coverage. If you need to make any additional changes to your medical plan enrollment, you will need to log in online and update your elections.
Nicotine Attestation – Team members and/or covered spouses with a change in their nicotine status will need to make the necessary updates during the online open enrollment process. If you and/or your covered spouse are a tobacco user, you will pay a higher premium than those who do not use tobacco. The tobacco surcharge premium is $120/pay period.
Tobacco cessation courses will be offered to you and/or your spouse to qualify for the discounted non-tobacco premium. Team members and/or spouses wanting to lower their premium will need to complete the course for FY27. If you or your covered spouse completed the tobacco cessation course after April 1, 2026, you do not need to complete the program again for FY27. More information will be shared on next steps after the open enrollment period ends.
Current Biweekly Medical Premiums
FY27 Biweekly Medical Premiums
Health savings account administered by Lincoln Financial – For eligible team members enrolled in the Choice medical plan, Ballad Health will continue to make a $500 contribution for team member only coverage and a $1,000 contribution for team member/children, team member/spouse, and family coverage to your HSA. Contributions are made twice per plan year – half in July and half in January. You can make your own tax-free contributions to the HSA plan if you are enrolled in the Choice or Bronze plan.
2026 HSA annual limits
- Individual – $4,400
- Family – $8,750
- Catch-up (age 55 or older) – $1,000
Flexible spending accounts – To enroll in or continue enrollment in the medical and/or dependent care spending account, an election must be made during this open enrollment period (even if you don’t need to make any other changes). Newly enrolled team members will receive a new Lincoln Financial Benefits card in the mail prior to July 1 to use for qualified expenses. Contributions will be deposited to your Lincoln accounts beginning with the first pay day in July.
Team members currently enrolled in these plans can continue to utilize the remaining balance to pay for qualified expenses. All claims must be submitted for payment before Sept. 30.
2026 FSA annual limits
- Medical Spending – $3,400
- Dependent Care – $7,500
Remember to carefully estimate your spending needs for the FY27 plan year as any unused balances are forfeited under the IRS use-it-or-lose-it rule. Keep in mind you may need to provide documentation of your expenses prior to receiving reimbursement from your account. Note: You are eligible to enroll in the flexible medical spending account if you are enrolled in the PPO medical plan or if you are not eligible for the Health Savings account plan.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – All benefit-eligible team members and covered dependents on the medical plan are eligible for 10 EAP visits each plan year at no cost. Additional visits are available and will be filed with your medical plan coverage, subject to plan benefits, which may include deductible and coinsurance amounts.
Diabetes program – The diabetes management program is available to team members and dependents enrolled in one of the medical plans who have a diagnosis of diabetes. This program is designed to support the foundational doctor-patient relationship by providing ongoing support in the form of education, coaching, diabetes medications, and supplies at no out-of-pocket cost. Participation is free. If you are currently participating in the program, additional Information will be sent to you regarding the program requirements for FY27. For more information about this program, please call 423-230-8163 or email tmwellness@balladhealth.org.
Dental – While there are no changes to plan benefits, there will be an increase in the biweekly premium contribution for the upcoming plan year. Premiums are on Page 23 of the benefit guide.
Vision – No change in plan benefits or premium.
Supplemental life insurance – Team members not currently enrolled in supplemental life coverage can elect one times their yearly salary in coverage, without completion of an evidence of insurability (EOI) form during this open enrollment period. Team members currently enrolled in coverage can also increase an additional one times their yearly salary in coverage without EOI. Additional life coverage requested will require completion of EOI.
Dependent spouse life and child life insurance – During this open enrollment period, team members not currently enrolled in dependent spouse life coverage or wanting to increase spouse life coverage can increase coverage one level without completion of an evidence of insurability (EOI) form. Additional spouse life coverage requested will require completion of EOI. Child life coverage in any amount can be elected without EOI.
Supplemental accidental death and dismemberment insurance – Team members can enroll in coverage in any amount without completion of an EOI form
**As you review your life plans, be sure to add/update your beneficiary information during this open enrollment period.
Short-term disability – Team members will continue to have several short-term disability (STD) options to choose from during this open enrollment period. New or increased coverage elections during this open enrollment period are subject to pre-existing conditions. Approved short-term disability claims are processed and paid by Lincoln Financial after the waiting period and are supplemental to any PTO/MML usage.
Long-term disability – Team members can elect to increase coverage without completion of EOI during this enrollment period. The increased coverage election is subject to pre-existing conditions.
Voluntary benefits – Team members can enroll in the following plans on the HR & Service Center Portal during this open enrollment: critical illness, accident, legal insurance, and identity protection insurance.
Team members can enroll anytime during the year in pet insurance, home & auto and purchasing power. The enrollment links are available on the Ballad Health Benefits page by clicking on the “Voluntary Benefits” button.
Whole life insurance (only available annually during open enrollment) – Whole Life is a form of permanent life insurance that builds cash value at a guaranteed rate of interest. The premiums for coverage you elect at enrollment will not increase with age. The plan includes a long-term care rider that may permit you to use the death benefit for long term care expenses (subject to rider conditions). You can continue this coverage post-employment on a direct pay basis with Unum. To enroll, call the VB Call Center at 800-684-2318 during the hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
AirMedCare Network Membership – Team members will again be able to enroll or renew membership in the air ambulance program through AirMedCare Network’s online portal at Ballad Health – AirMedCare Network. There are multiple membership options available; please review them carefully before making your selection. Payroll deduction is available over two pay periods for an annual or multi-year membership plan.
The Human Resources page on the Ballad Health intranet has been updated with specific benefit information for open enrollment, including the benefit guide. You can also call HR4U with questions at 423-431-HR4U (4748) or email HR4U@balladhealth.org.
Thank you for all you do as a team member of Ballad Health!
