2025 New Medical Plan Vendor

As of January 1, 2025, the following benefits will be provided by new vendors:

• Medical Plan: UMR (UnitedHealthcare)
• Behavioral/Mental Health Program: UMR (UnitedHealthcare)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Optum (a UMR/UnitedHealthcare company)

UnitedHealthcare was our medical plan vendor prior to our transition to Cigna in 2022. As a result of ongoing employee feedback, we made the decision to move back to the UnitedHealthcare family, which was rated second place during the previous RFP process. This change is expected to cause minimal disruption and to provide larger provider networks.

UMR (which stands for United Medical Resources) is a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare. UMR serves as the administrator for self-funded medical plans. UMR will administer the plans and the network of health care providers will be the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network.

Your premium rates will remain the same in 2025 for medical (includes prescription and vision) and dental.

Yes. We will continue to offer a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan and a High Deductible Health plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account.

We anticipate that almost all of your current providers will be in UMR’s UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network. To verify if your doctor is in-network:

• Visit www.UMR.com and select Find a Provider.
• Scroll down and in the search bar, type UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus for the network name and click Search.
• Scroll down and click the blue View Providers button for medical providers.
• Type the name of your doctor, medical group, or hospital in the search box.
• If you see In-Network Provider and a green checkmark below the name, they are included in the network.
• If your doctor is not listed, call their office and ask, “Do you accept UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network?” If your doctor is not participating, you can encourage them to join the network.
• If you need help, contact Employee Benefits by email at employee.benefits@pinellas.gov or by phone at (727) 464-3367, option 1.

Note that the same network applies to both medical plans.

To verify that your behavioral/mental health provider is in network:

• Visit www.UMR.com and select Find a Provider.
• Scroll down and in the search bar, type UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus for the network name and click Search.
• Scroll down and click the Behavioral Health Directory button for mental health and substance use providers such as therapists, psychiatrists, and clinics.
• Type the provider name in the search box and click Search.
• If the name is listed, they are included in the network.
• If your provider is not listed, call their office and ask, “Do you accept UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network?” If they are not participating, you can encourage them to join the network.
• If you need help, contact Employee Benefits by email at employee.benefits@pinellas.gov or by phone at (727) 464-3367, option 1.

Note that the same network applies to both medical plans.

Look for UnitedHealthcare on your doctor’s website. UMR is unlikely to be listed as it is the third-party administrator for UnitedHealthcare.

Yes. In January 2025, you will receive new medical ID cards from UMR (two copies) which include your dependents’ names. You can request additional copies if needed. If you have more than 4 dependents, you will get two cards since there is a limit of 4 dependent names per card.

If you need your member and group ID numbers now, call UMR at (866) 783-6467 or call Employee Benefits at (727) 464-23367, option 1.

If you are currently under treatment for specific conditions such as cancer and it would be a hardship to change providers in the middle of treatment, there will be a 90-day transition period from January 1 to March 31, 2025 so that your care plan is not interrupted.

Yes. Your medical premium will still include medical care, vision care, and prescription coverage. Although the medical plan vendor is changing from Cigna to UMR (UnitedHealthcare), the prescription and vision vendors will not change.

No. The only benefits plans with a new administrator in 2025 are the medical plan, behavioral/mental health program, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Yes. UMR will provide the following onsite reps to assist employees: 

• Claims Representative: Currently Ashlee Lara with Cigna is serving as a temporary claims representative. UMR is recruiting for a new representative.
• Dietician Health Coach: Our current Cigna coach Shannon Parks is working through the hiring process with UMR and expected to start on February 1, 2025. She will not be available during the month of January.
• EAP Representative (part-time): Our current Cigna counselor Lorelei Keif will be transferring to Optum (a UMR/UnitedHealthcare company) and will continue to work part-time.

Yes. UMR (UnitedHealthcare) partners with Teladoc to offer 24/7 access to expert virtual care using a phone, tablet, or computer for your non-emergency medical and behavioral/mental health needs, including prescriptions.

Yes. We will continue to offer the Hinge Health Program for employees enrolled in a Pinellas County medical plan. This free digital exercise therapy program supports muscle and joint health. Hinge Health provides a personalized therapy program and care team (via video and in-app messaging).

Employees will continue to accrue points for wellness activities, service anniversaries, and retirement. Our Rewards Program will not change (login to SharePoint required). You will keep the points you’ve earned and may redeem them as desired. Starting in 2025, wellness rewards points will be tracked in a UMR (UnitedHealthcare) portal instead of MyCigna.

Yes. We will offer a Wellness Incentive Program through UMR (UnitedHealthcare), as we did with Cigna. The total rewards possible in 2025 will be the same – 50,000 Rewards Program points or $200 cash.

There will be a vendor change for non-Medicare eligible retirees who will be covered by UMR (UnitedHealthcare) instead of Cigna as of January 1, 2025. Our Medicare-eligible retirees will continue to be covered by Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plan.

Call UMR at (866) 783-6467 or contact Employee Benefits by email at employee.benefits@pinellas.gov or by phone at (727) 464-3367, option 1.