Summary Plan Descriptions

Summary Plan Descriptions & Required Notices 

Howard University is required to provide employees who participate in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) covered health benefit plans with Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD). The SPD is a detailed guide to what benefits the plan provides and how the plan works. A printed copy of these summary plan descriptions may also be obtained, at no cost, by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (202) 806-1280. 

Summary Plan Descriptions 

 

• Cigna Open Access In-Network Plan SPD (2022)

• Cigna Open Access 80/60 Plan SPD (2022)

• Cigna CDHP with a HSA Plan SPD (2022)

• Cigna Vision SPD (2022)

• Cigna Vision SPD (2021)

• Cigna Open-Access In-Network Plan SPD and Riders (2019) 

• Cigna Open Access 80/60 Plan SPD and Rider (2019) 

• Cigna CDHP with an HSA Plan SPD and Rider (2019) 

• Cigna Vision SPD and Rider (2019) 

• MetLife Basic Life, Supplemental Life, and Dependent Life SPD 
   

• MetLife Disability Income: Short-Term Benefits 

• MetLife Disability Income: Long-Term Benefits 

• Welfare Plan (2018)

Summary Annual Reports 

In accordance with the terms of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), it is required that a summary annual report (SAR) for Howard’s welfare benefit plans be furnished to plan participants and beneficiaries.  A printed copy of these summary annual reports may also be obtained, at no cost, by contacting the Office of Human Resources at (202) 806-1280. 

• Summary Annual Report for Howard University Welfare Plan (2017) 

• Summary Annual Report for Howard University Welfare Plan (2018) 

• Summary Annual Report for Howard University Welfare Plan (2019)

• Summary Annual Report for Howard University Welfare Plan (2020) 

 

Summary of Benefits Coverage 

• Howard University and Hospital: Open Access In-Network 

• Howard University and Hospital: Open Access Plus 80/60 Plan 

• Howard University and Hospital: Open Access Plus CDHP with an HSA 

 

Transparency In Coverage Statement

 

The Transparency in Coverage Rule, issued in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Department of the Treasury and enforced beginning July 1, 2022, requires health plans (which includes employer sponsored employee benefit plans) and health insurance issuers must publish two separate Machine Readable Files (MRFs).

•In Network: Negotiated rates for all covered items and services between the plan or issuer and in-network providers

•Out of Network: Allowed amount paid to, and billed charges from, out-of-network providers for all covered services within a 90-day period

This link www.ticmrf.com/53-0204707 leads to the machine readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed- amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.