December 1998 Trust Talk

Open Enrollment 99'

The staff and Trustees of Union Benefits Trust are preparing for open enrollment 1999. Although it's still several months away, a successful open enrollment requires a lot of planning and advance notice to members. While the Trust intends to have an open enrollment for Trust-sponsored benefits in the spring, at this point, the State does not plan to have enrollment for medical next spring. Remember, with your Trust- or State-sponsored benefits, you can add or drop coverage for family members when you have a family status change. (See your Eligibility information if you have questions about what qualifies as a family status change.)

We are currently reviewing the plans so that we can continue to provide you and your family with high-quality options; regular review will help to ensure that you're getting the most from the collectively-bargained funds paying for your dental, vision and life insurance.

Life Insurance Update

We're still working with Prudential to finalize the transition - expect at least two mailings from them in the next few months (supplemental and/or basic life). Right now, please review your monthly "BT1" deduction for accuracy (supplemental life only). Questions? Call Prudential at 800-778-3827.

Basic Life Improvement

Here's another important announcement…The Trust is pleased to announce this enhancement for Union-represented State employees age 65 or older with at least one year of State service (actively at work): your basic life insurance benefit through Union Benefits Trust increased beginning December 1, 1998. This benefit was improved through the direction of the Trust's Trustees in an effort to continue to improve members' quality of life.

Your basic life insurance coverage is one times your Basic Annual Earnings as of December 1, 1998, as you can see on your paystub. Previously, coverage amounts at age 65 or 70 were reduced to 65% or 50% of your Basic Annual Earnings, respectively. If you also have supplemental life insurance coverage, your coverage amount should remain the same, as you determine your coverage level, based on your needs, the cost of coverage and the plan's limits.

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