Health Care & Benefits Division

About Us

The Health Care & Benefits Division (HCBD) is a division within the Montana Department of Administration. HCBD manages the benefits for the State of Montana Benefit Plan (State Plan), which is self-funded. This is different than traditional insurance that you may have had in the past.

 

Traditional Insurance

With traditional insurance you pay an insurance company a monthly premium and if you go to the doctor or hospital the insurance company pays some of the cost. The insurance company decides what’s covered and how much you pay out-of-pocket. They also accept financial risk if you have a serious health condition like cancer or a heart attack.

 

The Self-Funded State Plan

Your State Plan coverage is funded by the State of Montana via the employer contribution and  your bi-weekly or monthly State Plan contributions. The State Plan:

  • Provides coverage in accordance with state and federal law
  • Sets the monthly rates and out-of-pocket costs
  • Carries the liability for all 30,000 members of the State Plan

 

Our Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) and Vendors

With 30,000 members state-wide, the State Plan needs a little help. That’s why we contract with outside companies to process claims and administer State Plan benefits. We also rely on these administrators and vendors for their expertise and cost saving contracts.

Our TPAs include:
  • BlueCross BlueShield Montana (BCBSMT) - Medical Benefits
  • VSP Vision Care - Vision Benefits
  • Delta Dental - Dental Benefits
  • Navitus Health Solutions - Prescription Drug Benefits
  • ASIFlex - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
We also contract with a few other vendors:
  • Premise Health manages the Montana Health Centers.
  • BCBSMT provides fully insured life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance options, as well as long term disability insurance for active employees insurance for active employees
  • ComPsych administers the Employee Assistance Program

 

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
  • Visiting benefits.mt.gov on a regular basis
  • Taking good care of your health by engaging in our Wellness Programs

 

HCBD Staff


100 N Park Ave Suite 320
PO Box 200130; Helena, MT 59620-0130

benefitsquestions@mt.gov

Phone: (406) 444-7462, (800) 287-8266, or 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.

 

Name Title Phone
Amy Jenks Administrator (406) 444-2528
Finance
Justin Dannenbring Financial Manager (406) 444-2604
Shelly Mathews Accounting Tech (406) 444-1854
Pam Hemminger Accounting Tech (406) 444-3095
Vacant Program Integrity Auditor (406) 444-9123
Data Analytics
Sheri French Program Integrity Auditor (406) 444-3811
Legal
Terri Hogan Attorney/HIPPA Privacy Officer (406) 444-3447
Benefit Operations
Kim Pullman Wellness Program Manager (406) 444-3809
Belinda Adams Communications & Business Coordinator (406) 444-6105
Vacant Contract Manager (406) 444-2510
VEBA Program
Melanie Denning VEBA & Training Health Officer (406) 444-3745
Service Team
Sarah Huckins Service Team Manager (406) 444-6486
Anne Sorci Service Team Lead (406) 444-0175
Trish Alexander Benefit Specialist (406) 444-0173
Kelsey Langemo Benefit Specialist (406) 444-0380
Shani Anderson Benefit Specialist (406) 444-3872
Workers' Compensation Management Bureau
Services for State of Montana Employees Only
Rob Virts Program Manager (406) 444-5689
Andrew Pitsch Enterprise Safety & Workers' Comp Specialist (406) 444-0122
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