July 1, 2009
Disability Insurance Program (DIP) Changes
House Bill 290 passed by the 145th General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Jack Markell effective July 1, 2009 made the following changes: (1) applied any reduction in salary to employees receiving disability benefits on or after July 1, 2009; (2) clarified termination of employment for employees who have exhausted their Short Term Disability period and who are receiving hazard duty pay and/or Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits; and (3) reduced the time frame to file a Level I STD appeal from 180 days to 90 days of the postmark date of The Hartford’s written notice to deny and/or terminate STD benefits.
House Bill 295 passed by the 145th General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Jack Markell changed the elimination period for Short Term Disability benefits from 20 calendar days to 60 calendar days effective August 1, 2009.
June 25, 2009
News on Prescriptions...Maintenance Medication Program
Effective 7-1-09 members must obtain maintenance medications as 90 day fills at a 90-day participating pharmacy or Medco-by-Mail to avoid paying a penalty after a third 30 day fill. Additional information on this program, a list of 90-day participating pharmacies, and information on Medco-by-Mail may be obtained at http://ben.omb.delaware.gov/script/index.shtml. Information is also available by calling Medco’s Member Services at 1-800-939-2142 and at Statewide Benefits Office at 302-739-8331 or 1-800-489-8933.
News on Second Opinion Program...Best Doctors
Participants of the State of Delaware Group Health Insurance Program may request the services of this program until July 31, 2009, as the contract expires on that date. Case reviews that are in an "Open" status on August 1, 2009, will be completed and results provided to the participant by Best Doctors, Inc. Requests for case reviews or Find Best Doc service will not be accepted after July 31, 2009. Additional information on this program may be obtained at http://ben.omb.delaware.gov/bd/index.shtml.
News on Prescriptions...New Web Resource – Women’s Health Center
Medco has added a new page to its website " Women’s Health Center". You may access it at http://www.medcohealth.com/womenshealth
News from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware...Green EOBs
You may now access your Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) electronically through BCBSD’s website. "Be green" and sign up now. Learn more about this at http://ben.omb.delaware.gov/medical/bcbs/documents/green_eob_0609.pdf
Information on Types of Health Care Providers
Learn more about the different types of health care providers available in our community, the types of services provided, and member’s responsibility at http://ben.omb.delaware.gov/medical/documents/types_health_care_providers.pdf
2009 SUMMER BLOOD CHALLENGE
May 26 through September 5, 2009
Competition is heating up in Blood Bank of Delmarva’s 7th annual Summer Blood Challenge - a friendly competition among employers throughout Delmarva competing to recruit the most blood donors and Blood Bank members. Your participation will help save lives and those recovering from serious illnesses and at the same time help prevent summer blood shortages.
If you haven’t already, head over to the local Blood Bank donor center or plan to attend one of OMB’s worksite visits to learn how you can be a lifesaver. More detailed information is available by clicking on the following link; http://ben.omb.delaware.gov/blood/index.shtml
April 27, 2009
Minnesota Life Group Universal Life (GUL) Program Change
The State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC) voted to amend the current Group Universal Life (GUL) and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance program to a "Highest Ever Salary" GUL program effective July 1, 2009. For active employees, the base salary amount used to calculate your life insurance coverage will be your base annual salary as of June 30, 2009. Anyone whose last day of employment with the State is on or after July 1, 2009 will be able to port 50% of their coverage in effect based on their Highest Ever Salary as of June 30, 2009. Current rates will not be affected by this change and other plan benefits will otherwise remain unchanged. A communication and Certificate Endorsement addressing this change will be mailed to the homes of all enrollees by mid June 2009.
March 30, 2009
Group Health Insurance Program’s health plans and employee contributions
for Fiscal Year 2010 beginning July 1, 2009
The State Employee Benefits Committee approved the following changes to the Group Health Insurance Program’s health plans and employee contributions for Fiscal Year 2010 beginning July 1, 2009:
- 50% Increase in Employee Contributions to the Aetna HMO, Blue Care HMO and BCBSD Comprehensive PPO Plans
- Elimination of the Smart Start 30 Before 90 Day Program
- Allows member to obtain 90 day supply of maintenance medication without having to first fill a 30 day supply
- Results in savings to member and Group Health Program
- Member will be allowed to fill their NEW and existing maintenance medications for a maximum of three 30 day supplies to determine if they are effective
- Penalty charge of 90 day co-pay for fills less than 90 days after three 30 day supplies are filled
- Suspension of the Best Doctors Second Opinion Program (effective July 31, 2009)
- No Changes to the Plan Design or Out of Pocket Costs to the First State Basic Plan
- No Changes to the Plan Design for the Special Medicfill Supplement Plan
- No Changes to Prescription Co-Pays
- Double State Share – Please keep in mind that Double State Share is not under the control of the SEBC; therefore, the benefit remains in place at this time. Should the legislature amend the Delaware Code regarding Double State Share following open enrollment and such amendments impact the contribution rates of Double State Share members, those affected will be provided an opportunity to change medical plans.
February 25, 2009
Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit Program
The stimulus plan signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009 included some good news for commuters. Embedded in the stimulus package was a provision that nearly doubles the amount that Commuter Benefit Program participants may set aside pre-tax to pay for out-of-pocket Mass Transit or Van Pooling expenses. Commuter participants will be able to elect up to $230 tax-free a month to pay for Mass Transit and/or Van Pooling (the previous limit was $120 per month).
The new limit is effective immediately and if you are currently having more than $120 per month deducted, any amount above $120 and below $230 will automatically go from post-tax deductions to pre-tax deductions.
February 24, 2009
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE COBRA SUBSIDY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009
Under The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA 2009), new and temporary COBRA regulations were issued for employers administering employee health insurance benefits under the federal COBRA legislation. The Act, signed Feb. 17, 2009, provides a 65% subsidy for COBRA continuation premiums for up to nine months for workers who have been involuntarily terminated, and for their families.
On or before April 17, 2009, the Group Health Insurance Program’s COBRA administrators will mail notices to qualified beneficiaries who have lost group health coverage due to a job loss from September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. The qualified beneficiary will have 60 days to respond to the COBRA administrator and to certify their eligibility for the subsidy. Important information will be contained in the notices regarding eligibility and loss of eligibility if the individual gains access to a group health plan. Additional information including FAQs can be found at the US Department of Labor website at: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html .
February 19, 2009
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – A new federal law that impacts the health care FSA was recently passed. This law is called the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Act of 2008 (the HEART act). The purpose of this act is to help military personnel called to active duty who may otherwise forfeit dollars set aside in a health care FSA. More detailed information is available by clicking on the following link: http://ben.omb.delaware.gov/fsa/index.shtml.
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