To prepare for Open Enrollment and the benefit changes effective 1/1/07 the Company will be mailing a Benefits Update this coming week (9/28/06). Open Enrollment packages will be mailed on 9/29/06. Each package is extensive, with detailed information and examples.
The Benefits Update will also explain changes to some of the administrators, made by the Company (please see below for complete list). We were not notified of any changes until after they were made. All changes are consolidations to the administrators currently in place with the Legacy S side. All changes are effective 1/1/07 unless otherwise noted. There will be no changes to any medical plan administrators. As of this date, we have not received a final draft or copy to pass along, but wanted you to be aware of these upcoming changes as soon as possible.
· Hewitt will handle our Open Enrollment and all eligibility effective 1/1/07 in place of the current BDEC.
· Caremark will be the administrator for prescription drugs instead of Medco. o Members should try to fill prescriptions as late as possible in December to take advantage of the lower co-pay. o Caremark’s system will show us as a member on 1/1/07, but the data will take 10 days to transfer and won’t allow refills during that time. New prescriptions will not be a problem and if a refill is needed during the transition time a new prescription will have to be written by your doctor to be filled. o The Benefit Update lists the deadlines for refill through Medco: § Mail order for new prescriptions or refills must be received by 11:00 am Central time 12/29/06. § Retail prescriptions may be purchased until 11:59 pm Central time 12/31/06. § Internet and telephone refills must be completed by 11:00 am Central time 12/29/06. o New cards will be mailed approximately 12/15/06 in a welcome package that will also include a FAQ sheet and instructions on how to access the web or Caremark customer service representatives. o Along with mailing and faxing prescriptions for mail order, Caremark will also allow doctors to call in prescriptions.
· Dental coverage will change from Aetna to Cigna. o For those members who are in a DMO there may be some coordination of benefit issues we will have to work through, for example those who have children currently in braces. Cigna has “taken great pains to duplicate the network”, but any problems we’ll work through on a case by case basis.
· Short and long term disability and Worker’s Comp is all going to be administered through Sedgwick. o They’ve been in place with SBC since 1989-90 and we don’t have any further information at this time. A conference call will be scheduled in October to receive information on the transition and to verify all plan guidelines.
Dependent Audit · Action is required in this audit to provide proof of dependents. · October 16th is the deadline for the form to be received if dropping ineligible dependents. · The Company will be sending reminder cards to those members who do not participate in the audit. · Before dropping any dependent the Company will provide us with a list of those who did not participate, giving us the opportunity to contact them before their dependents are dropped.
Open Enrollment will begin 10/05/06 and run through 10/25/06 for active occupational and 10/19/06 through 11/8/06 for retirees.
This year we will be able to access our benefits via the web from home at http://access.att.com. · If enrolling on the web, print the confirmation page for your records.
As in the past, no action is necessary, if you don’t want to change anything. For the last 2 years participation in DMO Dental coverage required members to enroll. This year the process reverts and if your election form shows DMO coverage you don’t have to re-enroll to participate in 2007.
· There are many changes, read all the information and verify that the election forms are correct. · If no changes are made the election form enclosed in the Open Enrollment package is the confirmation of benefit elections for 2007 and should be kept.
If any changes are made a confirmation letter will be mailed in about 14 days with the new elections. · If this is not received call Hewitt at 877-722-0020. · Elections can be changed within 14 days of receiving the confirmation letter of enrollment.
If you have any questions contact Kim Wilburn, CWA National Healthcare Coordinator at: 614 501-2442 or by e-mail, or .
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