noble energy

Announcing Open Enrollment

November 7-23, 2011
Benefits elected begin January 1, 2012 and stay in effect until December 31, 2012.

Everyone Must Enroll!

This year, Noble Energy will have an active enrollment. Please make sure to take advantage of Open Enrollment so that you and your dependents will receive medical coverage. We do not want you to miss out on this opportunity. If you choose not to enroll, you will not have medical coverage or participate in the FSAs in 2012. For enrollment instructions, see page 2.

Whats New for 2012?

Noble Energy values our employees hard work and loyalty. Since 1932, we have worked with a devoted and enthusiastic staff who has shaped the energy industry and furthered success in our company. Not only do we care about our employees satisfaction with working for Noble Energy, but we also strive to offer good health care options to enhance the overall quality of life. We constantly look for ways that we can improve the benefits we provide to you, our employees, and encourage your commitment to living healthy lifestyles. The cost of health care continues to increase each year, and this year is no exception. Noble Energy will continue to pay the majority of your medical coverage costs; however, in 2012, the premiums and deductibles of the BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) Core medical option will see a modest increase. While BCBS premiums will be higher, a new option is available to help balance the increase in costs and present a choice of benefits and coverage to meet the needs of you and your family.

Additional Medical Option: HDHP

Noble Energy is excited to offer you a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) as our new medical option. This plan is ideal for employees who are generally healthy and who want the benefit of lower monthly premiums. While your monthly premiums are lower than other medical options, the deductibles will be higher. With the HDHP plan, you pay the full cost of your medical care until you reach your deductible. Once the deductible is met, you will pay only a percentage of the medical cost rather than a standard copay for each visit. The HDHP will benefit those who want to carry health care coverage for unexpected issues but do not have consistent medical needs. To help offset the costs of paying higher deductibles, employees who enroll in this plan are eligible to participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA). With the HSA, you contribute pretax dollars, which can be used to pay for medical costs such as deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. A great feature about the HSA is that funds contributed roll over from year to year, so youll never lose any money that you put into the account.

Wellness Program

Our goal at Noble Energy is to continue providing you with competitive benefits that offer flexibility and affordability for you and your family. With this goal in mind, we are adding a new Wellness program through Provant called Our Health Is Our Energy, which will assist you with managing your health care needs and give you opportunities to help control health care costs through incentive-based activities. New materials and information meetings will be provided to help you make the best decisions based on your specific needs. Further communication about your benefits and meeting times will be sent to you as we prepare for Open Enrollment.

Dependent Eligibility Requirement

If you are adding a new dependent to your benefits this year, youll be required to submit documentation such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate to prove eligibility. Failure to provide documentation will prevent your dependents from receiving coverage.

How to Enroll

To enroll, simply access the Oracle Web site from any computer, whether at work or at home, and follow the steps below: Log in to Oracle: From work: https://oraclepnob1i.nobleenergyinc.com From home: https://oracledmzpnob1i.nobleenergyinc.com Enter your Oracle username and password Select NBL Employee Self-Service Select Benefits Self-Service link to begin the Open Enrollment process Remember, you can enroll anytime between November 7 and November 23.

PPO Medical Plan Changes

Plan Comparison

PPO plan changes are detailed below (in bold) as well as a comparison to the new High Deductible Health Plan.

BCBS Core Plan*

In-Network Out-of-Network $1,500/$3,000

BCBS Premier Plan**

In-Network $350/$650 Out-of-Network $650/$1,300 $3,500/$7,000

High Deductible Health Plan

In-Network $2,000/$4,000 Out-of-Network $4,000/$8,000

Annual Deductible (per person/family) Out-of-Pocket Maximum (not including deductibles or copays) Office Visits Primary Physician Specialists

$750/$1,500

$3,000/$6,000 $6,000/$12,000 $1,750/$3,500

$6,000/$12,000 $12,000/$24,000

100% after $25 copay 100% after $40 copay 80% after deductible

60% after deductible

100% after $15 copay 100% after $20 copay

60% after deductible

80% after deductible

60% after deductible

Inpatient/Outpatient coverage

60% after deductible plus $250 admission deductible

80% after deductible

60% after deductible plus $250 admission deductible

80% after deductible

60% after deductible

Emergency Room Facility (copay waived if admitted) Physician

80% after $150 copay 80% after deductible

80% after $150 copay 80% after deductible

80% after $75 copay 80% after deductible

80% after $75 copay 80% after deductible

80% after deductible

80% after deductible

Lab & X-Ray

100%

60% after deductible 100% (no copays)

100%

60% after deductible 100% (no copays)

80% after deductible 100% (no copays)

60% after deductible 100% (no copays)

Preventive Care (Routine Visits, Well Baby Care, Immunizations)

*Previously known as the Base Plan **Previously known as the Buy Up Plan

100% (no copays)

100% (no copays)

Prescription Drug Coverage

By enrolling in medical coverage, you also receive prescription drug coverage. Medco is the administrator for your prescription drug benefits. With this plan, you have the option to purchase a 30-day supply at a retail pharmacy or up to a 90-day supply through a mail-order pharmacy. (Copay changes are in bold below.) The cost for coverage is included in your medical plan premiums.

Drug Type
Retail Pharmacy (30-day supply) Generic Preferrered Brand Name Non-Preferrered Brand Name Mail Service Program (90-day supply) Generic Preferrered Brand Name Non-Preferrered Brand Name

Core Plan

Premier Plan

High Deductible Health Plan

$5 copay $35 copay $50 copay

$5 copay $25 copay $40 copay 80% after deductible

$10 copay $87.50 copay $125 copay

$10 copay $50 copay $88 copay 80% after deductible

Other Benefits

Noble Energy continues to offer a variety of benefits for you to elect during Open Enrollment. There are no changes or increases in 2012 to the following benefits: Dental Vision Voluntary Employee, Spouse and Child Life Insurance Voluntary Employee, Spouse and Child Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to save money on health care and/or dependent care expenses by setting aside pretax dollars to cover out-of-pocket expenses. Noble Energy offers two FSAs: Health Care Flexible Spending Account Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Each account has a maximum annual limit of $5,000 ($2,500 for the dependent care FSA, if you are married and filing taxes separately.) As you prepare to enroll, plan to set aside only what you expect to use in 2012. Per IRS rules, you will forfeit any FSA funds that you do not use during the plan year. You will have until March 31 of the following year to submit your prior years expenses for reimbursement.

Remember, you must reenroll in the Health Care and/or Dependent Care FSA each year that you would like to participate. Your FSA election does not carry over from year to year.

Health Care Premiums

Medical
Employee Only Employee + 1 Employee + Family

See below for your monthly share of the cost for medical, dental and vision coverage:

BCBS Core
$54.17 $138.67 $195.00

BCBS Premier
$97.50 $225.33 $314.17

HDHP
$36.83 $82.33 $119.17

Aetna Global*
$60.67 $153.83 $216.67

Dental
Employee Only Employee + 1 Employee + Family

BCBS
$5.96 $11.38 $22.21

Vision
Employee Only Employee + 1 Employee + Family
*Aetna Global covers Medical, Dental and Vision. This option is available only to employees who are not able to participate in the other medical plans offered due to location.

VSP
$8.49 $12.33 $22.10

Key Dates to Remember

Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment Meetings Houston Ardmore Denver Platteville Field Locations October 18 October 19 October 25 October 26 Meetings will be announced by local HR Representatives

November 7-23, 2011

Benefit Elections Begin

January 1, 2012