For 2025, the Minnesota Star Tribune will continue to offer the PPO and HSA Plans administered by UMR and the Surest Plan.

Each year, we strive to offer benefits to you and your family that provide protection with choice and flexibility. We hope that you will see our commitment to you and your family by providing benefits that are inclusive, supportive, and responsive to your health and wellbeing. 

2025 Open Enrollment Presentation

2025 Benefits Highlights – What’s new?

• As announced by Steve, the good news is that there will be no increase to employee medical and dental premiums for 2025. Vision, life and LTD premiums are also the same from 2024 to 2025.
• The Preferred PPO plan will be eliminated December 31, 2024. Instead of a lower deductible for completing the wellness incentive, you will receive a premium reduction on the PPO plan. See benefits guide for detail (page 9).
• The deductible on the HSA medical plan will increase to $3300 single/$5600 all other tiers due to IRS requirements to allow the deductible to remain embedded.
• The annual maximum for medical-related infertility services is increasing to $15,000 (originally $5,000) on all UMR and Surest medical plans.
• New chronic management, Dario is coming January 2025. Whether you want to lose weight, lower your blood pressure, manage diabetes, tackle joint pain, or improve mental health, Dario will get you on the right path.
• Age limit for cochlear implants will be removed, providing coverage for all members.

Since all the medical plans cover the same type of health care services, you’ll want to pay attention to differences in coverage for in-network providers and out of network providers, your biweekly rates, and some of the set amounts that you will pay out of pocket up front such as prescription copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays in the Surest plan. You’ll want to consider the health care needs of you and your eligible dependents.

If you participate in the Minnesota Star Tribune Wellness program, you can further reduce your out of-pocket costs.