Learn what’s new for 2027
Learn what’s new for 2027
Find out about changes and updates.
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With healthcare costs surging nationwide, the NAF HBP is working hard to manage rising expenses while balancing the need to keep quality care accessible and affordable.
For 2027, medical plan costs will increase by 9.5%. This increase is driven by higher medical and prescription drug costs, combined with the increased use of healthcare services and sustained economic inflation.
Healthcare consultants project 2027 cost increases of 8.5% to 9.3% for medical care and 10.5% to 12% for pharmacy. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised plan maximum out of pocket limits by 13.2%. Despite these rising costs, the NAF HBP will continue to provide two plan options with comprehensive coverage that will have no benefit changes for 2027.
Key points:
- There are no plan design (copay, coinsurance, OOP max, etc.) changes for 2027.
- New for 2027 is increased health incentive amount from $300 each employee and covered spouse to $400 each employee and covered spouse.
- New for CONUS for 2027 are the addition of 2 new incentives and addition of gut health program called Cylinder.
- New for OCONUS is changing to Personify for the wellness platform where members can do their health assessment and/or online journeys to earn health incentives
To maximize your benefits and offset rising costs, these key strategies and tools will make your coverage work harder for you this year:
- Book your annual wellness exams; prioritize preventive care
- Participate in health incentives
- Use virtual care when appropriate (Teladoc, virtual provider visits)
- Utilize wellness programs; stay informed and be proactive
- Compare plans during OE to be sure you have the right fit for you and your family
- Take advantage of pre-tax contributions from your paycheck for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) which is available with HDHP plan. These pre-tax monies can be used to pay for your costs not covered by the plan (i.e. deductible, coinsurance, copays, dental and vision, etc.)
We understand increases to healthcare costs are challenging. Our goal is to continue providing competitive, high-quality benefits while maintaining the long-term sustainability of the plan.
Discover the tools and resources to help you make the most of your benefits.
As part of our mission of “Taking care of you,” we worked closely with Aetna®, our plan administrator, to give your DoW NAF Health Benefits Program website a refreshing new look. All the helpful information you need is still here, organized in new easy-to-use modules, with categories based on what you need to do on the site at different points in the year.
- Explore benefits: Visit anytime to find details on medical and dental plans, Flexible Spending Accounts and additional benefits.
- Compare plans & enroll: Use online tools and tips to choose what works for you.
- Benefits 101: Read about Aetna.com, mobile apps and where to go for care.
- Wellness & rewards: Learn how to use your benefits to take healthy actions in 2027.
- News & resources: Find premiums rates, upcoming events, medical forms and more.
- NAF Employers and NAF Retirees: Visit your page to find resources just for you.
NAF employees — U.S.
Changes to your coverage
The average premium cost of your annual medical coverage for 2027 is almost $15,400 per NAF employee. It’s important for you to know that your NAF employer pays 70% of this cost, or $10,769. As a NAF employee, you pay 30%, or $4,615 in premiums. While we work hard to minimize cost increases for employees year to year, we must also manage the ever-increasing cost of health care and prescription drugs to our organization.
Changes include:
NEW for 2027 — Cylinder Health — digestive health support
Cylinder is a digestive health benefit designed to help you find relief from issues like gas, bloating, constipation, food sensitivities and IBS. It includes:
- A personalized care plan
- Unlimited access to a dedicated Health Coach and Registered Dietitian
- A free at-home gut microbiome test
- Support for stress and weight management
Cylinder is available at no cost to active CONUS employees, adult dependents (18+) and pre-65 retirees on a U.S. based non-Medicare Aetna plan.
Visit go.cylinderhealth.com/DoW to get started.
Programs continuing in 2027
- Aetna Back and Joint Care: Personalized digital exercise therapy, in partnership with Hinge Health, for anyone living with muscle and joint pain
- CVS Weight Management: Support, resources and tools to help you achieve lasting results when you’re prescribed a weight loss medication
- Hello Heart: No-cost app and free smart blood pressure monitor to manage your heart health and get real-time tips
NAF employees — Overseas
Changes to your coverage
The average premium cost of your annual medical coverage for 2027 is almost $15,400 per NAF employee. It’s important for you to know that your NAF employer pays 70% of this cost, or $10,769. As a NAF employee, you pay 30%, or $4,615 in premiums. While we work hard to minimize cost increases for employees year to year, we must also manage the ever-increasing cost of health care and prescription drugs to our organization.
Changes include:
New wellness platform to complete health assessment, online journeys and connect a device and track steps and activity. See the list of incentives.
Pre-65 retirees
Changes to your coverage
The average premium cost of your annual medical coverage for 2027 is almost $15,400 per NAF employee. It’s important for you to know that your NAF employer pays 70% of this cost, or $10,769. As a NAF employee, you pay 30%, or $4,615 in premiums. While we work hard to minimize cost increases for employees year to year, we must also manage the ever-increasing cost of health care and prescription drugs to our organization.
Changes include:
NEW for 2027 — Cylinder Health — digestive health support
Cylinder is a digestive health benefit designed to help you find relief from issues like gas, bloating, constipation, food sensitivities and IBS. It includes:
- A personalized care plan
- Unlimited access to a dedicated Health Coach and Registered Dietitian
- A free at-home gut microbiome test
- Support for stress and weight management
Cylinder is available at no cost to active CONUS employees, adult dependents (18+) and pre-65 retirees on a U.S. based non-Medicare Aetna plan.
Visit go.cylinderhealth.com/DoW to get started.
Programs continuing in 2027
- Aetna Back and Joint Care: Personalized digital exercise therapy, in partnership with Hinge Health, for anyone living with muscle and joint pain
- CVS Weight Management: Support, resources and tools to help you achieve lasting results when you’re prescribed a weight loss medication
- Hello Heart: No-cost app and free smart blood pressure monitor to manage your heart health and get real-time tips
If you or your spouse will turn 65 this year
When you turn 65, if you meet all other eligibility criteria, you’re automatically enrolled in the Aetna Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug (MAPD) Plan by your former NAF employer.* This coverage will continue into 2027 for you and/or your MAPD-eligible covered dependents unless you enroll in another Medicare plan or withdraw from the Aetna DoW NAF MAPD plan. Learn more about automatic enrollment and disenrollment in the tab for ages 65 and over.
*Overseas retirees are not eligible for the Aetna MAPD plan. Visit the Aetna International page for information about your plan options.
Post-65 retirees
Aetna Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug (MAPD) Plan
If you’re age 65 or older and you meet all other eligibility criteria, you’re automatically enrolled* in the Aetna® Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug (MAPD) Plan by your former NAF employer. This coverage will continue into 2025 for you and/or your MAPD-eligible covered dependents unless you enroll in another Medicare plan or withdraw from the Aetna DoW NAF MAPD plan. Learn more about automatic enrollment and disenrollment.
MAPD plan information for 2027
As the result of the Inflation Reduction Act, those with a Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug (MAPD) Plan will pay no more than $2,100 in true out-of-pocket costs for covered prescription drugs in 2027.
These costs will include only covered Part D drugs and will accumulate based on what the member pays plus what the plan pays. Drug manufacturers will be required to provide discounts in place of the coverage gap phase, but these costs won’t count toward your out-of-pocket total.
You’ll receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in the mail, which will describe these changes in more detail.
*Overseas retirees are not eligible for the Aetna MAPD plan. Visit the Aetna International page for information about your plan options.
Additional benefits for employees and pre-65 retirees in the U.S.
Your no-cost digital heart-health hub
The Hello Heart app lets you easily manage your heart health with the resources and readings you need, all in one place. This no-cost program includes:
- A free heart monitor that connects easily to your smartphone
- Secure online tracking of blood pressure, cholesterol test results, medicines and more
- Easy-to-follow explanations and reports of your numbers
- Doable tips to help keep your heart healthy
- A support team to answer your questions by phone or email
A weight-loss solution tailored to you
If you have a DoW NAF medical plan and are taking weight-loss medication, the CVS Weight Management program is here to help you achieve lasting results — at no extra cost to you. It offers:
- One-on-one support from a team, including registered dietitians
- A personalized nutrition plan
- Tips to help overcome barriers to weight loss
- Tools and resources to track your progress
- The Health Optimizer® app with helpful guides, recipes and more
Back and joint health benefits — at no cost to you
Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues are widespread and debilitating. They can cause a great deal of pain, reduce your quality of life and lead to lost time at work. Fortunately, there are ways to treat them that don’t always need surgery. Aetna Back and Joint Care, through a partnership with Hinge Health®, is an online exercise therapy program that provides all the tools you need to start your journey to pain relief in the comfort of your own home. It includes:
- A personalized 15-minute stretching and exercise program
- Virtual support from a physical therapist via text, email, phone or video chat
- Access to online exercises and stretches through the Hinge Health app
Visit your NAF page
Click on one of these tiles to find NAF-specific updates, contacts, enrollment information and more.
