The Health Care and Benefits Division (HCBD) is a division within Department of Administration. HCBD manages the benefits for the State of Montana Benefit Plan (State Plan). Click here to meet the staff in our division.

The State of Montana Benefit Plan (State Plan) is self-funded. This might be a little different than the “insurance” you’re used to.

Traditional Insurance

With traditional insurance, you pay an insurance company a monthly premium and if you go to the doctor or hospital, that company pays some of the cost. The company you pay decides what’s covered and how much you pay out-of-pocket. They also accept all the liability in case you have a big claim like cancer or a heart attack.

The Self-Funded State Plan

Your State Plan coverage is paid for by your monthly contributions and taxpayer funded State Share. The State:

• Decides what’s covered in accordance with state and Federal law;
• Sets the monthly rates and out-of-pocket costs; and
• Carries the liability for all 33,000 members of the State Plan.

Our Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) and Vendors

With 33,000 members state-wide, the State needs a little help. That’s why we contract with outside companies to processes our claims. We also rely on these companies for their expertise and cost saving contracts.

Our TPAs include:

• Allegiance - Medical, Vision and Vision hardware, Flexible Spending Accounts
• Delta - Dental
• Navitus - Prescriptions

We also pay a few other companies for some services:

• CareHere manages the Montana Health Centers
• The Standard provides fully insured life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurance options.

The Bottom Line

Because it’s your money and taxpayer dollars that fund the State Plan, we all have to work together to be good health care consumers. You can do that by:

• Reading the emails and mail sent home by Health Care & Benefits and visiting www.benefits.mt.gov on a regular basis and
• Taking good care of your health by engaging in Live Life Well programs.

HCBD Goals and Objectives
Mission, Vision, Values

Meet HCBD

Health Care and Benefits Division
100 N Park Ave Suite 320
PO Box 200130; Helena, MT 59620-0130
benefitsquestions@mt.gov
Phone: (406) 444-7462 / (800) 287-8266;
Hearing Impaired TTY (406) 444-1421; Fax: (406) 444-0080

Telephone numbers listed are direct extensions. If you are calling (800) 287-8266, press 1 then the last four digits of the staff member's number.