March 2000 Trust Talk
Open Enrollment 2000
This spring, there will be one open enrollment period for Union- represented State
employees. The State and the Trust have worked together to hold enrollment at the same time - April 24 - May 12.
While there will be only one enrollment period this year, there will be different
ways to enroll; the Trust and DAS will have different enrollment methods. The Trust will be using paper forms as in years past (see below). Our
understanding from the State is that you will be able to call a special hotline to enroll in or change your health coverage. Please contact the
Office of Benefits Administration at 614-466-8857 or 800-409-1205 if you have questions about their process or about the health benefits available
to you. You may also email them at benefits@ocb.state.oh.us.
All of the forms you need will be mailed to your home by the Trust before open
enrollment (as part of the Highlights book), 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 coverage. The dental and vision enrollment form should be submitted to
your Payroll/Personnel officer; the supplemental life form should be mailed to Prudential.
You will need to complete an affidavit of dependent status if you have dependents
age 19 or older on your coverage. You must file a new affidavit with your Payroll/Personnel officer by May 12, or these dependents will lose coverage
under all plans. This is an annual requirement. If you’ve filed an affidavit recently for health coverage, you do not need to re-file during Trust
enrollment; make sure your Payroll/Personnel officer attaches the affidavit to the Trust enrollment form. The affidavits are available on our website,
or from your Payroll/Personnel officer.
Here are answers to the most frequently-asked questions that we have received on
the Trusts’ customer service line.
Why are there two different enrollment methods?
We can’t speak for DAS, but can tell you that they plan to use an automated phone
system for this year’s open enrollment. You may remember that the Trust explored such a system. We may use an IVR phone system for enrollment
in the future; however, we did not obtain the assurances we needed to put a system in place in time for this enrollment period. So, we’re sticking
with paper for this year’s enrollment. You’ll need to use paper forms to enroll in or change your dental, vision or life insurance with the
Trust.
Union-represented employees in
- OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11,
- District 1199/SEIU,
- OSTA,
- FOP/OLC,
- SCOPE/OEA or
- CWA,
will need to use the DAS phone system to enroll in or change health coverage, and
complete the forms from the Trust to enroll in or change dental, vision or life insurance coverage. Please look for the materials that we will
send you during open enrollment (which will include all of the necessary forms).
What communications materials do I need to enroll?
Speaking only for the Trust, you need your Trust Benefits Highlights book that
should arrive at your house sometime between April 8 and April 22. Books will include descriptions of the plans for which you’re eligible, as well
as comparison charts so you can review the plans side by side. The books will include an enrollment form, supplemental life form and beneficiary
form for members with a year or more of State service by June 1. The books 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.
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 24 - May 12, 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, 2000, you
will still be covered by the plan(s) in which you're currently enrolled now (current DMO participants are the exception).
However, dental, vision, supplemental life and Working Solutions Service options
will be affected by some changes that the Trust has made; the changes will take effect July 1, 2000. We recommend you review the plan changes,
as well as the dental or vision plan networks, 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
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