Medical

To support your health and financial wellbeing, we provide valuable benefits that help you and your family stay healthy and pay for care in the event of illness or injury.

2024 medical plans:

Our benefits program includes medical plan options with a range of coverage levels and costs designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees.

Health insurance 101

For more details, see the Summary Plan Description (SPD) or Benefits at a Glance (2024).

1. The information shown here assumes in-network care and services. For more detailed plan information, premiums and out-of-network costs, view your Benefits at a Glance (2024).
2. Direct temporary employees and interns that are eligible for Stryker’s medical plan are not eligible for the Stryker HSA contribution. You can still elect and contribute your own funds to the account if you fall into one of these categories.
3. In the HSA plans, the total family deductible must be met before the plan covers any expenses. No one family member’s expenses are capped at an individual deductible amount.
4. In the HSA plans, there are no copays for prescription drugs. Instead, you pay 100% of the costs for non-preventive prescription drugs, until you meet the HSA plan’s deductible.

Additional medical plans

Different medical plan options may be available if you live in one of the locations below. For more details on these plans, see the Summary Plan Description (SPD) or Benefits at a Glance (2024).

The UHC Premium HSA Plan and UHC Basic HSA Plan pair low employee paycheck costs and high deductible medical coverage with a tax-free Health Savings Account (HSA) that helps you save up for future expenses. This combination gives you more control over your money and rewards you for making healthy, cost-conscious choices. Plus, you get a contribution from Stryker!

With these plans, you can choose any in-network or out-of-network provider each time you receive care. But keep in mind: You will generally receive higher benefits when you use in-network providers.

The HSA plan

How it works

1. You pay for coverage through a paycheck deduction.
2. You pay nothing for in-network preventive care — it’s covered in full.
3. When you need care:

Prescription drug coverage

In the HSA plans, there are no copays for prescription drugs. Instead, you pay 100% of the costs for non-preventive prescription drugs, until you meet the HSA plan’s deductible. Remember the HSA and your HSA contribution from Stryker are there to help you pay these costs.

Keep in mind that in the HSA Plans, we cover certain core preventive medications before the deductible is met, meaning you only pay the appropriate coinsurance until you meet your out-of-pocket maximum.

Make the most of your coverage

Take advantage of these resources to manage your care and your costs.

Budgeting for your costs

With the UHC Premium HSA and UHC Basic HSA Plans, you pay less from your paycheck and assume more financial responsibility when you receive care. So, it’s important to plan ahead for your out-of-pocket expenses. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Think about your costs. Contribute at least enough to your HSA to cover your expected out-of-pocket costs, such as your annual deductible and coinsurance. Remember — because you are paying less from your paycheck for medical coverage, you may have extra money available to put in your HSA.
• Plan ahead. You can only spend HSA money that’s actually been deposited into your account. Adjust your paycheck costs as necessary during the year to make sure you have money available when you need it. And if you don’t, remember to reimburse yourself later so you take full advantage of your HSA’s tax savings.
• Look long term. You will never forfeit any money left in your HSA — it rolls over year after year. If you know about future expenses — or if you want to save for your health care costs in retirement — set aside a little extra each paycheck so your balance can grow over time.

The UHC Choice PPO Plan and UHC Value PPO Plan offer lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums in exchange for higher costs from your paycheck. You are not eligible for the triple tax-advantaged health savings account if you enroll in one of these plans.

You can choose any in-network or out-of-network provider each time you receive care. But keep in mind: You will generally receive higher benefits when you use in-network providers.

How it works

1. You pay for coverage through a paycheck deduction.
2. You pay nothing for in-network preventive care — it’s covered in full.
3. When you need care:

Make the most of your coverage

Take advantage of these resources to manage your care and your costs.

When you enroll in a medical plan, you automatically receive prescription drug benefits through your medical plan provider.

• For a side-by-side comparison of prescription drug coverage in the UHC plans, see the Plan Comparison section. You can also find the list of covered medications on the prescription drug list. Click on “Standard Drug Lists,” then “Advantage Tier 3 Prescription Drug List for UnitedHealthcare, Neighborhood Health Plan, River Valley, All Savers, and Oxford medical plans (pdf)".
• For more details, see the Summary Plan Description (SPD) or Benefits at a Glance (2024).

Preventive medications

Our medical plans cover preventive care at no cost to you — including certain ACA preventive medications. In addition, for the HSA Plans, we cover certain core preventive medications before the deductible is met, meaning you only pay the appropriate coinsurance until you meet your out-of-pocket maximum.

Drug tiers

The cost of your prescription drugs depends on the tier of the medication:

• Tier 1: Lower-cost medications that provide the highest overall value. Mostly generic drugs. Some brand-name drugs may also be included.
• Tier 2: Mid-range cost medications that provide good overall value. A mix of brand name and generic drugs.
• Tier 3: Highest-cost medications that provide the lowest overall value. Mostly brand-name drugs, as well as some generics.

Mail order

For ongoing maintenance medication, you can take advantage of the convenience and cost savings of using the mail order program.

Why use mail order:

• Prescriptions are shipped to you for free — no waiting in line at the pharmacy.
• You save money with a reduced cost for a three-month supply.
• You can set up automatic refills.

Save money

The cost of prescription drugs is rising faster than many other health care services and supplies. But, there are ways for you to save on your cost of prescriptions.

• Ask your doctor about generic medications. Generic medications are generally just as effective as brand-name medications, yet the cost of generics is substantially lower, both for you and the plan. They typically cost between 30% and 75% less than brand-name drugs.
• Use the plan’s mail order feature. If you regularly take medication to treat a chronic condition — such as an allergy, heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes — the mail order prescription program is a convenient and money-saving option for you.

Specialty drugs

Specialty pharmacies provide medications that are used to treat certain complex conditions. Some providers have established a network of retail pharmacies experienced in dispensing and monitoring these special medications. To learn more, contact your provider.