Health Plans
American University provides market-competitive medical and dental benefits to all full-time faculty and staff.
Medical Plans
American University offers faculty and staff the choice of two medical plans. In addition to yourself, you may cover children (up to age 26) and a spouse, same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner. Please refer to the benefits guide for policy details.
Please refer to this year's benefits summary for information on current pricing and policy details.
CareFirst BlueChoice Open Access Plan
Unique features include:
- Alternative care, including acupuncture and chiropractic visits
- Travel inoculations
- Transgender benefits
o No pre-existing condition exclusions
o No specialist referrals needed
o Access to a wide network of physicians in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
o Prescription drug coverage through Express Scripts
o Vision care discounts
o $20 primary care/$40 specialist co-payment
o $0 co-payment for preventive care visits http://www.healthcare.gov/law/about/provisions/services/lists.html
o $100 individual/$200 two-party or family in-network deductible
o $750 individual/$1500 two-party or family out-of-network deductible
Kaiser Permanente Signature Plan
Unique features include:
- Alternative care, including acupuncture and chiropractic visits
- Travel inoculations
o No pre-existing condition exclusions
o No specialist referrals needed
o Access to physicians in Kaiser Centers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
o Prescription drug coverage
o Vision care discounts
o $20 primary care/$40 specialist co-payment
o $0 co-payment for preventive care visits http://www.healthcare.gov/law/about/provisions/services/lists.html
o No deductibles
Dental Plans
American University offers faculty and staff a stand-alone dental plan that can be elected with or without medical coverage. In addition to yourself, you may cover children (up to age 26) and a spouse, same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner. Please refer to the benefits guide for policy details.
• Three tiers of dental providers. You will pay the least out of pocket for seeing a PPO dentist
- PPO
- Premier
- Out-of-network
- Nation-wide acceptance
- No pre-existing condition exclusions
- Preventive care covered 100 percent if you see a PPO provider
Vision Benefit
Both CareFirst and Kaiser Permanente offer vision benefits. Please refer to the benefits guide for policy details.
Additionally, all AU employees are enrolled automatically in the VisionsSavings Eyecare Program offered through MetLife. This program offers discounted rates on vision exams, eye glasses, and contact lenses at participating vision centers. Even if you do not have medical coverage through AU, you can use the VisionSavings Eyecare Program.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Employees may choose to sign up for Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and/or dependent care, which are managed by Payflex at their Health Hub Web site. Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible expenses for you and your family’s medical care and dependent care, including day care.
Details

