(Dec 26, 2020)

Once you know who does what, you will know who to call.

Alight Benefits Administration and Bswift/Aetna perform these functions for HP and HPE, respectively:

- Receives employment status information transmitted from the company for all current U.S. employees -- plus the more than 54,000 U.S. retirees, and thousands of people on COBRA.

- Runs the benefits websites where you select your healthcare coverage.

- Bills you for health plan premiums.  

- Administers the health savings and reimbursement accounts.

- Administers the health plans provided by UHC, Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, etc. (Depends on your situation and which state you live in.) Alight Benefits Administration or Bswift/Aetna transmits files to them with coverage details. Each of these companies has their own website and call center -- and each is a giant outfit. (UnitedHealthCare covers 38 million people. Aetna 37 million. Anthem 40 million. Cigna 80 million worldwide.)

- Administers the prescription plans from the pharmacy benefits management companies, such as Express Scripts. Alight Benefits Administration or Bswift/Aetna transmits files to them with coverage details.

- Administers the group plans provided by the various regional HMOs, such as Kaiser, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts. Alight Benefits Administration or Bswift/Aetna transmits files to them with coverage details.

- Administers the company subsidy provided to Aon.

- Runs the phone center for the company to resolve problems.