February 2001 Trust Talk
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Annual
Address
Campaign
As we've already mentioned, the Trust will be mailing benefits and enrollment information to your
homes over the next few months. If you've moved over the last year or are a recent hire of the State (or
know someone who has moved or is a new hire), please make sure home mailing addresses are current as quickly
as possible. You can list your address as a PO Box, but please, make sure you'll be able to check your mail
frequently. To make sure you don't miss anything essential, check your address on record with your Payroll/Personnel
officer as soon as possible, and make changes as needed.
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Open Enrollment 2001
Open enrollment will be April 23 - May 11. During this period, you may enroll
in or change your dental, vision and supplemental life insurance coverage, if eligible. You may also add eligible dependents to your coverage at
this time. Changes or enrollments will take effect July 1, 2001.
All of the forms you need will be mailed to your home by the Trust before
open enrollment (as part of the highlights booklet), and will also be available on our website during open enrollment (http://www.benefitstrust.org).
Forms need to be completed for dental, vision or supplemental life insurance enrollments or changes. The dental and vision enrollment form should be
submitted to your Payroll/Personnel officer; the supplemental life form should be mailed to Prudential. All forms must be received (postmarked)
by May 11, or your selections cannot be honored.
Here are answers to the most frequently-asked questions that we have received
on the Trust's customer service line.
What materials do I need to enroll?
For Trust benefits, you need your plan booklets and highlights booklet. The plan
booklets should arrive at your home in late March. The plan booklets will include detailed descriptions of the plans for which you're
eligible, as well as comparison charts so you can review the plans side by side. These booklets are year-round references that you'll want to
keep.
Your highlights booklet should arrive at your home before April 21,
and will include an enrollment form, supplemental life form and beneficiary form for members with a year or more of State service by July 1. The highlights
booklets for members with under a year of State service will include a supplemental life form; dental, vision and basic life plan details will
be mailed approaching their one-year anniversaries of continuous State service. These booklets are intended to help you enroll.
You may also want to consult a plan directory before completing your
enrollment forms. The Trust will also mail a postcard reminding you to request directories from the plans before it's too late, and another Trust
Talk newsletter before open enrollment is over. Information will also be available on the web at http://www.benefitstrust.org,
including most of our printed materials and links to insurance companies for directories. Look for it as we get closer to open enrollment.
What changes can I make during
open enrollment?
During Trust-sponsored enrollment April 23 - May 11, you may change the dental,
vision or supplemental life insurance coverage for you or your family (if you have at least one year of State service). If you have less than
a year of State service, you may enroll in or change your supplemental life insurance coverage. Established term employees should talk with their
Payroll/Personnel officers for eligibility and enrollment information.
The benefits you automatically receive (basic life after one year of State
service, or Working Solutions Service at hire) do not require you to do anything related to enrollment, UNLESS, you have not declared a beneficiary.
You must designate a beneficiary for your basic and/or
supplemental life benefits if you haven't already. You can check the status of your beneficiaries with Prudential at 800-778-3827.
Do I need to enroll if I'm happy with my
coverage?
The simple answer is no, you don't need to do anything, and on July 1, 2001, you
will still be covered by the plan(s) in which you're currently enrolled now. However, vision options will be affected by the improvements that
the Trust has made; the changes will take effect July 1, 2001. We recommend you review the plan changes, as well as the dental or vision plan networks
(the dental network will be expanding soon), to be sure that you consider all of the elements that may affect you during the plan year. For plan
network information, go to the Trust's website and link to the plan you're reviewing, or call the plan:
MetLife 800-984-8649
Cole 800-334-7591
VSP 800-877-7195
Don't forget ...
If you have at least one year of State service, you are also covered by Basic
Life, at no cost to you. This coverage provides one times your Basic Annual Earnings in life insurance to your beneficiary if you die while
covered. Confirmation of new beneficiary designations or any changes you make to your beneficiary(ies) will be mailed to you by Prudential.
All members are also covered by Working Solutions Service, and the
Trust pays your cost in full. Members who used this service in 2000 reported that just by placing a simple phone call, they saved 14 hours on average.
This information and referral service offers thorough help for your dependents: dependents with special needs, including children; adult/elder dependents;
or, children - birth through college. Call Working Solutions for more information at 800-358-8515 or access their website to download articles
- go to the Trust's site, then select Working Solutions from the links page for a speedy connection to Working Solutions.
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