CAT Tracks for May 3, 2005

CAT Tracks for May 3, 2005

PRINCIPAL INSURANCE "TO DO" LIST

Received word from Insurance Broker Kenny Johnson yesterday indicating that things are going smoothly in processing the switch from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Principal Insurance...effective June 1, 2005.

Kenny did ask me to send out a "REMINDER" - things that members (or prospective members) of the District's group health insurance program need to keep in mind and/or do. Those things are...

Employees with dependent children on the plan should be reminded that once the children reach the age of 19, they must be full-time students in order to be eligible...and that eligibility expires at age 25.

Employees should call Blue Cross Blue Shield and request a copy of the most recent Explanation of Benefits (EOBs). This will facilitate informing Principal Insurance of the deductible satisfied for the year 2005 so you can receive credit. Since this information is somewhat personal, Kenny recommends that each person call him and send this information directly to his attention.
To contact BCBS, there is an "800" number on the back of your BCBS membership card for "Member Services". Computer "geeks" - like me - can also obtain this information online at Blue Cross Blue Shield. If you have not done this before, you want to "log in" to "Blue Access". It is painless and free...although the site was "down" this morning :-(

New hires need to provide a “Certificate of Creditable Coverage” when they enroll. (I might be wrong here, but I believe that current employees NOT enrolled in the District's group health insurance plan would also do this in order to join and obtain a waiver on pre-existing conditions. If you are in this category...call Kenny Johnson to verify requirements for joining!)

Open enrollment is the period 30 days before the group’s anniversary (In Cairo’s case, this will be May 1st-31st).

So...let's get busy! (Actually, for most of us, all that needs to be done is to get a copy of your latest EOB and send it to Kenny...PERIOD! If you already have it...copy it...send it. If you threw it away, contact BCBS, obtain a copy, and send it.)
To save Kenny a few crank calls, I'm NOT going to "publish" his telephone number(s)...but they were on his business card in the folders that were distributed at the membership meeting. If you were not there, contact someone who was...or a member of the District Insurance Committee.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Kenny Johnson direct.