Each employee's needs are different - that's why Duke offers four different medical plans to meet the needs of you and your family:

• Duke Select – available only to employees living in ZIP codes beginning with 272, 273, 275, 276 and 277. This plan requires participants to use the Duke network of providers. Out-of-network care is only covered for emergency or urgent care. There is no annual deductible.
• Duke Basic – available only to employees living in ZIP codes beginning with 272, 273, 275, 276 and 277. This plan requires participants to use the Duke network of providers. Out-of-network care is only covered for emergency or urgent care. Premiums are lower than Duke Select, but out-of-pocket costs are higher.
• Blue Care (Blue Cross Blue Shield) – available only to employees living in North Carolina. Participants must use a statewide network of providers. Out-of-network care is only covered for emergency or urgent care.
• Duke Options (Blue Cross Blue Shield) PPO – includes a worldwide network of health care providers and hospitals.

Each medical plan covers both pharmacy and mental health benefits. Please refer to the Medical Plans Comparison Chart for details on other coverage options. All of our medical plans will cover pre-existing conditions for covered services.

For Employees Who Travel on Duke Business

Duke provides supplemental health insurance at no additional cost for full-time, benefits-eligible employees traveling internationally less than six months on Duke business. You must have health insurance from Duke or another provider in order to be eligible for this coverage.

This coverage, called Cigna's Medical Benefits Abroad (MBA), offers eligible employees and their spouses or registered same-sex partners and dependents up to age 26 who are traveling with them, this supplemental medical insurance coverage for unexpected injuries and illnesses while abroad on Duke business. This coverage supplements Duke's regular health insurance plans. The coverage also includes up to seven days of personal travel when taken in conjunction with a business trip.

For more information, including coverage limits and eligibility requirements, visit the Medical Benefits Abroad website.

Tobacco Use Surcharge

Duke charges employees covered under a Duke medical insurance plan who smoke or use other forms of tobacco a surcharge of $50. This includes use of nicotine in any form, including electronic cigarettes. The use of a nicotine patch and nicotine gum are not subject to the surcharge. The surcharge does not apply to dependents who use tobacco.

Duke will remove the monthly surcharge when the employee successfully completes a LIVE FOR LIFE tobacco cessation program. Visit the Tobacco Cessation website for more information about tobacco cessation options.

Duke Basic Reimbursement Account Contribution

To help offset the higher out-of-pocket expenses of Duke Basic, Duke Basic, members in this plan receive an annual contribution to a Health Care Reimbursement Account based on the level of coverage selected:

• $200 for Employee
• $300 for Employee/Child
• $400 for Employee/Children
• $400 for Employee/Spouse*
• $500 for Family (includes Spouse)

* Reimbursement account plans are governed by Internal Revenue Code guidelines that limit the reimbursement of either health care expenses or dependent care expenses to a spouse and legal dependents.