December 2000 Trust Talk

Benefits Survey Results

The results are in! Thanks very much to the 500 plus members who responded to the online benefits survey offered November 3-16. We’re pleased with the turnout: this was our first attempt to use a web-only survey, and the response rate was almost the same as 1998, when we offered a benefits survey on paper, phone or web. Thanks again to the members who participated, as we kept survey costs down, and still received a lot of valuable input.

The survey asked members how long they’d worked for the State, and which Union represented them, but that was all the personal information asked. It asked how satisfied members were with all Trust benefits, and then how satisfied they were with dental or vision. Next, it asked which areas the Trust should improve in dental and vision by priority, and offered members the opportunity to rank possible new plans the Trust could add (long-term care, a portable/ permanent life insurance, or the write-in benefit of the member’s choice). To get the best sense of order of importance, the members had a final opportunity to rank order improvements to dental or vision versus adding a new plan. Finally, members were asked for all other input on their Trust-sponsored benefits or anything else we needed to know.

Here’s what we found:

The members who responded had Union representation and years of State Service that tracked very closely with that of our totalpopulation.

Respondents are generally satisfied with their Trust benefits overall, but less satisfied with the dental and vision plans.

Of those who took the survey: (click on link view Summary - 2000 Benefits Survey)

Top New Benefit Priorities

Long-term care, but additional life insurance (portable, cash value) was a close second, write-ins were a distant third.

Other Benefits Suggestions Included

Some written-in suggestions for new benefits were: legal plans, lasik surgery, hearing aids and a supplemental disability plan. However, the more popular responses were to make specific improvements to the dental and vision plans.

Top Overall Priorities

Dental improvements, followed by vision very closely, then a gap before long-term care and additional life insurance, with the write-in benefits members suggested in fifth place.

This is consistent with the satisfaction ratings and the open-ended comments members provided.

Open-ended Input

Many members said they were interested in expanding the plans, but not at the risk of losing current benefits because the coverage was pretty good overall, but others said we should seriously examine the dental and vision plans because they needed attention, especially regarding the networks in non-metropolitan areas. Some asked specific questions about claims, for dental and vision, as well as medical. And we had many people who just simply thanked us for offering the survey.

The Trustees will use all of this input to evaluate benefits for future open enrollment periods. You may even see some changes in time for spring 2001.

Thanks again for your feedback; it helps the Trust focus on the issues that are most important to our members.

SEASON’S GREETINGS!

Happiness and Health to You and Yours in 2001.
The Trustees and Staff of Union Benefits Trust