August 1999 Trust Talk

Sorting Through The Paperwork

You will receive information from us or the insurance providers in your mail at home this summer depending on the plans covering you (for details, see below).

You should keep most of this paperwork, as well as any forms from when you enroll(ed) in a benefit plan or make changes to your benefits, (keep a copy of your Enrollment and Change form). Another form to keep is the Affidavid of dependent Status.

You may not only need to keep some paperwork, but also need to obtain some more...

Dental

If you're in the DMO®

• Booklet-Certificate (sent after enrollment).
  
• ID Card (sent ony when you first elect or make changes to your personal dentist).

If you're in the Preferred Choice or Quality Dental Plan:

• Plan booklet (sent after enrollment).
  
  
• Claim forms (form members of Quality dental, or Preferred Choice receiving care from a non-network dentist). Take a form with you when you go to your provider to receive care; forms are available from the Trust's website, from your Payroll/Personnel officer or by calling MetLife at 800-984-8649.
  
  
• Explanations of Benefits (MetLife sends you a statement explaining payment on the claim. This statement is called the Explanation of Benefits, or EOB).
  
  If you appeal a dental claim payment decision, keep a copy of your appeal form and all related correspondence too.
  
  Pre-treatment estimates are recommended in all three dental plans offered by the Trust for services over $300. Contact your plan to find out what documentation is needed from you and your dentist, and keep a copy of what you provide to the plan.

Vision

In-network care in either plan: no claim form required.

Non-network providers:

Cole: Claim forms required. Call 800-334-7591.

VSP: no claim forms required (members must submit itemized receipts).The new address is

Vision Service Plan
ATTN: Out-of-Network Provider
Claims PO Box 997100
Sacramento, CA 95899-7100

Basic Life

Since this is an automatic benefit, there is no enrollment form. However, some important paperwork remains:

• The beneficiary designation form – keep a copy of the original, as well as copies of any changes filed.
  
  
• Prudential will also send you a booklet-certificate when you’re first eligible. Keep this handy, along with any updates Prudential sends to you (for instance, when your pay rate changes or you change your beneficiary). Tell your family members where to find this paperwork. A good place to file it may be with your will or other important documents/records.

Also, it seems elementary, but saving your paystubs is a good thing to do. Your paystub shows proof of your regular pay rate, which means it can be used to determine how much basic life coverage you have.

Supplemental Life Insurance

If you elect this benefit, or make changes to it for yourself or your dependents, keep a copy of your Supplemental Life form (remember to copy both the front and the back).

You’ll also want to keep copies of the beneficiary designation form if you make any changes to your beneficiaries.

Prudential will also send you a booklet-certificate when you enroll. Keep this handy, along with any updates Prudential sends to you (for instance, w hen you increase your coverage or you change your beneficiary), and let your family members know the file’s location. A good filing place may be with your will or other important documents of record.

Disability GAP Insurance

No forms are needed to enroll since this is another benefit you receive automatically from the Trust after one year of continuous State service. If you exhaust your State disability benefits due to reaching the lifetime maximum, contact the Trust and we’ll help you through the paperwork.

Prudential will also send you a booklet-certificate once you are eligible.

Working Solutions Services

No forms/paperwork to worry about at all. See how we saved the easiest for last? Just call, anytime you need service, 800-358-8515.