2005-06 Issue No. 2

Patrick Munyon, Classified Benefits Coordinator phone: 687-3248 email: munyon@4j.lane.edu

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In this issue:

• Flu Shot Clinics Scheduled
• New ODS Identification Cards
• Read the Red Book
• How to Contact ODS Customer Service
• 4J Wellness Clinic:Quality Health Care with No Co-pays!
• October is Open Enrollment Month for the Classified Sick Leave Bank
• Reminders About our New Coverage
• Coming in November: Flexible Spending Plan Open Enrollment

Flu Shot Clinics Scheduled (back to top)
There are three flu shot clinics scheduled for classified employees and dependents 18 years of age and above. Our clinic provider has received their supply of vaccine, so unless there is some sort of rationing imposed by the Centers for Disease Control, the clinics will be held as follows:

All three clinics will be held at the Education Center Auditorium, 200 N. Monroe.

At this time, the available vaccine is approved only for adults (18 and over). If a supply that is approved for the 13 – 17 age bracket becomes available, I’ll send an e-mail notice.

New ODS Identification Cards (back to top)
New insurance ID cards will be issued to all employees and their dependents. Please allow until the end of October to receive your card. You may continue using your old card until you receive your new one.

If you haven’t received one by the end of October, give ODS Customer Service a call at 1-800-420-7758.

Again this year, Dental and Medical/Vision/Rx cards will be combined on one card.

Read the Red Book (back to top)
Remember, the red Classified Benefits Overview contains a good summary of our benefit coverage. The Overview is divided by tabs into different subjects, so you can get to your point of interest quickly.

If you have a question about coverage, that’s the first place to start looking. The answer to your question might be at your fingertips.

The Overview is also available online at the following address: www.4j.lane.edu/hr/rm/benefit/class05.html

How to Contact ODS Customer Service (back to top)
Whenever you have a claim or eligibility question, call ODS Customer Service first. Be sure to take several quick notes of your conversation:

4J Wellness Clinic:Quality Health Care with No Co-pays! (back to top)
Remember, the 4J Wellness Clinic is available for all benefits-eligible Classified employees and their dependents.
Located at the Education Center, the 4J Wellness Clinic provides a full range of primary health care (including prescriptions), diagnostic tests, minor surgery and preventive care.

There is no cost to you for these services. When you use the Wellness Clinic, you’ll receive high-quality care, save money, and help control insurance costs. Give them a call at 686-1427.

Under our new coverage, referrals to specialists from Primary Care Physicians are no longer required. This means that Wellness Clinic staff can refer you directly to a specialist (when needed), thus avoiding that extra PCP co-pay.

Reminder: If you fail to cancel a Wellness Clinic appointment that you have scheduled, you will be assessed a $20 fee.

October is Open Enrollment Month for the Classified Sick Leave Bank (back to top)
All employees should have received a packet, via district mail, from OSEA. Included with the Scholarship information is a yellow enrollment form for our Sick Leave Bank.

The Classified Sick Leave Bank is a negotiated benefit that is separate from our benefits package. It is managed by a group of classified employees on the Sick Leave Bank committee. It is not affiliated with HR, or Employee Benefits. The bank is for employees only.

I discuss it in this newsletter because of its importance in protecting the income of people with long-term, disabling illnesses or injuries. I suggest you consider joining the bank. You can only join during the bank’s October Open Enrollment period.

You must be a participating member of the Sick Leave Bank to be eligible for its benefits. Read the information first. If you have questions about the Classified Sick Leave Bank, contact one of the committee members listed on the form, or give me a call.

Send completed Sick Leave Bank forms to Linda Warner c/o Sheldon High School, not Human Resources, by October 31 deadline.

Reminders About our New Coverage (back to top)
Here are several important items to remember about our new plan coverage, effective October 1:

Coming in November: Flexible Spending Plan Open Enrollment (back to top)
The Flexible Spending Plan can save you approximately 30 cents on the dollar, of your out-of-pocket medical expenses.

That translates to paying only 70 dollars of your hard-earned pay for each 100 dollars of tax-sheltered medical expenses!

The Open Enrollment period will begin in mid-November for the January 2005 calendar year.

Look for the next issue of this newsletter for more information. If you have questions about the Flexible Spending Plan, give me a call or e-mail message.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via e-mail munyon@4j.lane.edu or phone call (x3248).