Universities of Wisconsin employees who enroll in the State Group Health Insurance Program have plan design options to choose from to help best fit their needs. To help you prepare for the Benefits Open Enrollment period, October 5 – October 30, 2026, and help you decide which plan will best fit your needs, the information below highlights the similarities and differences of the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and non-HDHP plan designs. Changes made during Benefits Open Enrollment are effective January 1, 2027.
Similarities between the HDHP and non-HDHP
- In-network preventive services are covered at 100 percent
- Both include pharmacy benefits with 100 percent coverage for federally required preventive drugs
- Both have premiums. A premium is the amount deducted from your paycheck to pay for your health insurance.
- Both have a deductible. A deductible is the amount you pay for medical care before your insurance plan starts to pay, except for preventive services.
- Coinsurance is 10 percent. This means that you pay 10 percent of a covered service and the insurance company pays 90 percent.
- Both allow you and your spouse (if enrolled) to participate in the Well Wisconsin program to earn a $150 well-being incentive
- Both have an Access plan option which provides nationwide coverage with lower out-of-pocket expenses when you use in-network providers
Differences between the HDHP and non-HDHP
- HDHPs have lower premiums but a higher deductible. Non-HDHPs have higher premiums but a lower deductible.
- HDHPs have an annual deductible that includes medical services and pharmacy benefits. Non-HDHPs have an annual deductible for medical services but no deductible for pharmacy benefits.
- HDHPs have a combined annual out-of-pocket limit that includes medical services and pharmacy benefits. Non-HDHPs have separate out-of-pocket limits for medical services and pharmacy benefits.
- HDHPs include a tax-deductible Health Savings Account (HSA) that includes an employer contribution, if eligible, to help you prepare for out-of-pocket expenses
For more information, review the State Group Health Insurance web page.
Source: Universities of Wisconsin Office of Human Resources