April 2000 Trust Talk

Open Enrollment Dates

May 12 is this year's open enrollment deadline. Between April 24 and May 12, you have the opportunity to elect dental, vision and life insurance coverage for you and your family for the upcoming plan year, July 1, 2000, through June 30, 2001.

If you already have coverage, you may want to review the changes we've made to some of the plans, but are not required to complete a form. (Remember, if you're in the DMO now, you will be transferred to Preferred Choice July 1, unless you elect Quality Dental during open enrollment — in that case, Quality Dental will cover you July 1.)

To make changes or enroll for the first time, submit the appropriate forms no later than May 12. All of the materials you need were mailed recently to your home in your enrollment guide booklet.

If you don’t receive your booklet by April 28, call Trust customer service at 614-508-2255 or 800-228-5088, or visit our website to download the booklet.

The enrollment guide has information only about the enrollment options available to you. It also contains highlights on the benefits under which you are covered automatically.

Your Benefits

For all Trust Members, regardless of service length

Supplemental Life Insurance

You can provide additional income protection for your family by purchasing supplemental life insurance. If you already have supplemental life insurance through the Trust, you may increase your coverage by one times your annual earnings without a medical exam or other proof of insurability. You may also cover your dependent spouse and children with supplemental life insurance of $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000 for your spouse, or $5,000 for each eligible child. To provide coverage of $20,000 or $30,000 for your spouse, you must provide evidence of insurability that is satisfactory to Prudential; if Prudential doesn't accept the evidence you provide, your spouse will be covered at the $10,000 level automatically when the new coverage begins (7/1 or 8/1).

See your enrollment materials for details and rates.

You are automatically enrolled in this service, at no cost to you. Working Solutions offers services for two categories of dependents: 1) Adult/Elder Dependents 2) Special Needs Dependents Starting July 1, 2000, a third type of service will be available — child/family services. More information on this enhancement will be coming this summer.

Special Offer from Working Solutions

Packets available for free during this enrollment period:

• Baby Basics for New Parents
• Grandparenting Today
• Family Talk

To obtain any of these packets, call Working Solutions at
800-358-8515.

For Members with a year or more of continuous service

If you have at least one year of continuous State service, read on to learn more about the choices you have in dental and vision coverage. Established term employees should check with their Payroll/Personnel officers for eligibility/enrollment information.

Dental Plan Choices

You may choose the Preferred Choice Dental Plan or the Quality Dental Plan. Just remember that in the Preferred Choice plan, you should receive your care from a network provider to receive the higher level of benefits. Otherwise, you may want to review the Quality Dental Plan. Anticipate your dental care needs, think about which dentist you’d like to fulfill your dental needs and consider your plan options carefully before making a decision about your coverage for the coming year.

If you decide to make a change (if you already have dental coverage) or add dental coverage (if you didn’t already have it), complete and return the Enrollment and Change form on page 3 of your guide to your Payroll/Personnel officer by Friday, May 12. If you decide to stay with your current dental plan option, you don’t need to do anything; your plan will stay the same. (On July 1, DMO participants will be transferred to Quality Dental if elected during open enrollment; otherwise, they will be transferred to the Preferred Choice plan.)

Vision Plan Choices

You may choose between Cole or VSP: Both plans cover the same types of services and offer discount programs for materials and laser surgery, but have different networks. Think about your vision needs for the next plan year, contact the plan(s) for more information regarding the provider you plan to see and consult the enrollment guide before deciding which plan option is right for you.

If you decide to make a change (if you already have vision coverage) or add vision coverage (if you didn’t already have it), complete and return the Enrollment and Change form on page 3 of your guide to your Payroll/Personnel officer by Friday, May 12. If you decide to stay with your current vision plan option, you don’t need to do anything; you will remain in your current plan.

Before you complete the form on page 3 of your guide, please review the enrollment guide and this Trust Talk. Also, if you haven’t yet contacted the dental or vision plans for network information, you may still have time to contact them now.

Vision and Dental Contact Information

Cole
800-334-7591

Peferred Choice (MetLife)
800-984-8649

VSP
800-877-7195

Basic Life Insurance

Update you beneficiary now!

If you have basic life insurance coverage (and you do if you have at least one year of continuous State service), now is an excellent time to update your beneficiary designation. We've included a form in your enrollment guide, and encourage you to complete it and mail it to Prudential today. Call Prudential at 800-778-3827 if you're not sure if you've filed a beneficiary designation form or not.