April 2001 Trust Talk

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WEB LINKS

Weíve just posted an OPEN ENROLLMENT section on our site, and this section will be available through May 11 (the open enrollment deadline). In this section, youíll find links to other sections that will help you with the decisions you can make during the open enrollment period. Here are some highlights of that special open enrollment section:

Enrollment Information

Quick bits of information like the deadlines, what changes are possible and who gets which form are all listed in the special Open Enrollment section. Another area to check is the Open Enrollment FAQ posting, in which common questions about open enrollment are answered for you.

Note: As the open enrollment period has ended, the documents only valid for open enrollment are no longer online.

Booklet Downloads

If youíve misplaced your enrollment highlights booklet, you can simply download it from the site. MAKE SURE you get the right book ó there are two versions ó one for members with less than a year of service as of July 1, 2001, one for members with a year or more of service as of July 1, 2001 If youíre not sure into which category you fall, contact the Trust or your Payroll/Personnel officer. You may also download any or all of the five plan booklets that we mailed to your home in March. (Downloading the plan booklets will remain after the enrollment, and become a permanent
feature on our site.)

Benefit Information

Information on benefits can be found in the Benefit Plans section. Changes to the plans for the ë01-í02 plan year can be found in the New section, including VISION 12/12/12.

Provider Information

Look in the Links section for a quick connection to plan directory information for Cole, VSP and MetLife Preferred Choice. Each of these plans has a network component; reviewing the most current provider information may help you decide whether to keep or change your current plan.

Forms

In the forms section, we have these enrollment-related forms: the open enrollment form, the supplemental life form and the beneficiary form. You can print and submit these forms by May 11 to update your coverage ó the open enrollment form goes to your Payroll/Personnel officer, and the supplemental and beneficiary forms go to Prudential.

F0RMS/DEADLINES

May 11th is the deadline for all Trust benefits.

When using the Open Enrollment form to add or change your dental or vision coverage, please make sure the form is filled out completely, then turn it in to your Payroll/Personnel officer by May 11, 2001. This coverage will be effective July 1, 2001.

When using the supplemental life form to add or change your supplemental coverage or that of your dependents, please make sure the form is filled out completely, and then mail it to Prudential by May 11, 2001. Depending on when your form is processed, your coverage will be effective either July 1 or August 1, 2001, your paystub will show your new contribution in the ìBT 1î box.

Mail a beneficiary form to Prudential right away if youíre unsure about your designation, or if you havenít declared a beneficiary at all. Donít let your coverage be delayed in reaching your family when they need the coverage the most.

AFFIDAVITS

The Trust dental and vision plans follow the State medical planís dependent eligibility requirements. If you have a valid affidavit on file for medical, there is no need to re-file for dental and vision. If you donít elect medical, but want to enroll in the dental and/or vision plans, follow the timing requirements and use the same form as you would have for the medical plan. The affidavit process applies to when the dependent is first eligible for coverage, as well as when the dependentís eligibility is verified because he or she is over age 19. Talk with your Payroll/ Personnel officer if you have questions.

An Important Note:

Trust Talk contains only highlights of your benefits and is not a plan document. See the official plan documents for full plan details or if a discrepancy exists between this newsletter and the plan documents; the plan documents are always the final authority.