May 1999 Trust Talk
Announcement
For those of you with kids 19 or older covered by your insurance The Office of
Benefits Administration Services changed the deadline for their limited enrollment period, due to their print materials (comparison
charts) not being ready on time. The good news is that you now have three more weeks to prepare and submit your Affidavits
of Dependent Status for your dependent children age 19 or older. The affidavit is due by no later than June 4 to your Payroll/Personnel
officer, and must be completed in full or your dependent will lose his/her medical, dental and vision coverage effective July 1, 1999.
Or, if you're not yet covered by medical insurance, you can enroll in a plan as
long as you submit your form to your Payroll/Personnel officer by 6/4.
Call DAS at 614-466-8857 or 800-409-1205, visit their website at http://www.state.oh.us/das/dhr/benindex.html or email the State at benefits@ocb.state.oh.us
for answers about this limited enrollment period.
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Dental Plan Choices
You may choose the:
- Preferred Choice Dental Plan,
- Quality Dental Plan, or
- DMO®
to cover you and your family for the next plan year (ending June 30, 2000). Remember that in
the DMO® or Preferred Choice plan, you must receive your care from a network provider to receive the higher level of benefits. Anticipate
your dental care needs, determine which dentist you'd like to be your provider, and consider all of the plan options carefully before making
a decision about your coverage for the coming year.
If you decide to make a change (if you already have dental coverage) or add dental coverage
(if you didn't already have it), complete the Enrollment and Change form by Friday, June 4. Completed forms should
be submitted to your Payroll/Personnel officer. If you want to keep your current dental plan option, you don't need to do anything; your plan will
stay the same.
Remember that unlike the medical plans, there is no work/live rule for your dental
or vision coverage.
Vision Plan Choices
You may choose between the Cole Managed Vision Plan (Cole) and Vision Services Plan (VSP). Both
plans provide high- quality vision care services and offer discount programs, but they use different provider networks (determining where you may receive
your services). Consider your vision needs for the next plan year, contact the plan(s) for more information regarding the provider you choose and
consult the enrollment guide before deciding which plan option is right for you.
If you decide to make a change (if you already have vision coverage) or add vision coverage
(if you didn't already have it), complete the Enrollment and Change form by Friday, June 4.
Completed forms should be submitted to your Payroll/Personnel officer.
Dental and Vision Networks
Please review the enrollment guide and this Trust Talk before completing the form
on page 3 of the enrollment guide. Also, if you haven't yet contacted the dental or vision plans for network information, you may still
have time to contact them now.
VISION
Cole 800-334-7591 http://www.benefitstrust.org
(during open enrollment only)
VSP 800-877-7195 http://www.vsp.com
DENTAL DMO® (Prudential) 800-843-3661 http://www.prudential.com/healthcare
Preferred Choice (MetLife) 800-984-8649 https://mybenefits.metlife.com/getGroupByIdForHP.htm?group=85100&aURL=http://www.benefitstrust.org/dental2.htm
Remember ... The plans you elect during Open Enrollment will cover you through June
30, 2000, even if the networks' providers change.
Basic Life Insurance
Update your beneficiary for your life insurance coverage now!
If you have basic life insurance coverage (and you do if you have at least one year of continuous
State service), now is an excellent time to check and update your beneficiary designation. We've included a Beneficiary
form in your enrollment guide, and encourage you to complete it and mail it to Prudential today. Call Prudential at 800-778-3827 if you're
not sure who your beneficiary on file is.
Disability Gap
Union Benefits Trust Trustees worked to create this benefit to replace certain disability benefits
that would otherwise have been taken away as of July 1, 1998, due to changes in the collective bargaining agreement.
The Prudential Insurance Company of America insures and administers this plan. See your guide for
highlights or your booklet- certificate for full details.
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