The City of Columbus continually explores new ways to improve and manage your employee benefits. Our primary goal is to provide you with the opportunity to receive quality healthcare services at a reasonable cost. The City offers the choice between two health plans. Both plans offer access to a broad network of providers through the SIHO Inspire providers, In-Network SIHO Providers, and Out-of-Network providers.
Preventative Services
All in-network preventative services are paid 100%, regardless of which plan you choose. Please check the Benefits Summary for the most up-to-date listing of preventative services.
Your physician’s office must code the office visit or service as preventative to assure you will not be charged a copay.
Preferred Provider Plan or PPO
The Preferred Provider Plan is a traditional plan with three tiers of providers: Inspire, SIHO Network, and Out-of-Network. On this plan, the employee will pay a percentage of the provider’s fee after the deductible has been met. At the same time, a copay for prescriptions are based on brand type (generic, brand, non-formulary) and retail or mail order.
On the PPO plan only, labs are covered 100% at CRH and specified affiliated CRH providers for primary care office visits and outpatient labs.
The Flexible Spending Account or FSA can be utilized if you take the Preferred Provider Plan. The options for this are the Health Care (or medical) FSA to save pre-tax dollars for qualifying medical, dental, or vision expenses and the Dependent Care FSA to save pre-tax dollars for expenses related to care for dependents under 13 years of age. For more information on the FSAs available, please see the FSA page.
Wellness Benefit (for Preferred Provider Plan)
The City of Columbus is adding a benefit for employees and all dependents 18 or older for the 2023 plan year. If you see your primary care provider from October 1st, 2022, to October 1st, 2023, you will receive a deductible credit of $250 for the 2024 plan year (up to a maximum of $500 per family). The City will work with SIHO to identify all members enrolled in the PPO that completed the visit, and the deductible credit w