2815 Coburg Road Eugene OR 97401 ph: 345-0338

4J Benefits and Wellness Newsletter

Prepared by Mike Caley 687-3244 June 5, 2006 Issue No. 211

2006-07 INSURANCE PLAN (back to top)
The JBC met on May 19 and made the decision to make no changes in the plan offerings for the 2006-07 plan year that will begin on October 1, 2006. The available plans remain A200, PPO, or C500 for active certified employees and certified retirees.

Very attractive renewal rates from both OSBA/Regence BCBSO on the medical plans and ODS for the dental plan, combined with the increased district insurance contributions will allow us to reduce the current monthly out-of-pocket premium copay amounts for both active employees and retirees. Exact monthly out-of-pocket cost will be specified in the Open Enrollment mailing in late August.

Effective October 1 the annual Rx deductible of $50 or $100, depending on medical plan election has been eliminated and there will be a $10 maximum copay for generic medications.

Active employees may elect any of the three available plans during the enrollment period. Retirees may only retain their current plan or move to a lower cost plan if not already enrolled in the lowest cost plan.

Part-time teachers and retirees will once again have the option of waiving dental coverage. For part-time active teachers this waiver election will remain in effect for the plan year. For retirees, the waiving of coverage is permanent.

If you have any questions, please email me (caley@4j.lane.edu) or call (687-3244).

PLAN B RETIREMENT TSA (back to top)
The Collective Bargaining Agreement (Article 4.10.2) between EEA and District 4J provides for bargaining unit members hired on or after January 1, 1999 to receive a Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) each month of their employment in amounts between $50 and $150, depending on their years of service. Specifically the language in this contract article states, “The District will pay a $50 TSA payment when a unit member has submitted to the District Payroll Department the completed and executed form needed by the District to begin the TSA payment.”

According to the district’s records there are currently 142 bargaining unit members who have failed to complete and submit the necessary paperwork to claim this valuable benefit. If you are one of this group, please note – each month that goes by results in the loss of not only the district’s contribution, but a month lost to your retirement savings plan. By now, each of you who have not begun this TSA benefit has received a letter from EEA labeled “Urgent and Confidential.” Open that letter and take care of initiating your receipt of this benefit. It is your retirement money – please don’t leave it unclaimed! If you have questions call me @ 687-3244 or email me (caley@4j.lane.edu).

PROVIDER PANEL CONTRACTING (back to top)
It has come to our attention that the Willamette Valley Cancer Center and Regence BCBSO have failed to agree on a new provider contract. As a result, Cancer Center patients have received a letter stating, “…effective June 1, 2006 your physician will no longer be participating with the Regence Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO, PPO and PAR plan.”

Please understand that the fact that your provider(s) is currently on the panel(s) of Regence BCBSO does not guarantee that he/she will continue be so in future contract years. In executing a provider contract with the carrier, the provider agrees to accept, as payment in full, a negotiated/discounted fee for the services provided. When, as is the case here, the provider and carrier are unable to come to an agreement over the reimbursement rate, the provider is free to terminate the contract with the carrier as a participant in their panel(s). Please understand that neither the district nor the Joint Benefits Committee is involved in the provider contracting process. That is the express prerogative of the carrier and the provider(s) but it is always a difficult situation for patients who are directly affected by their providers leaving the contracted panel.

It is our sincere hope that you are not personally “caught in the middle” of a failed negotiation process such as this. If you are, it could result in you being responsible for provider charges that are above the maximum plan allowance of the insurance plan – a difficult and disappointing situation! On an optimistic note we have been informed that the termination date has been extended and that negotiations are continuing.

MR. BENEFITS ANSWER MAN (back to top)
Mr. BAM has been trying to convince me, so far unsuccessfully, that I should move into the 21st century and make myself more accessible by getting a cell phone. Part of his effort was to share the following anecdote:

Doctor: I have some bad news and some very bad news.
Patient: Well, might as well give me the bad news first.
Doctor: The lab called with your test results. They said you have 24 hours to live.
Patient: 24 hours! That's terrible! What could be worse? What's the very bad news?
Doctor: I've been trying to reach you since yesterday.

Michael Caley
Licensed-Staff Benefits Coordinator
Eugene School District 4J
200 North Monroe
Eugene, OR 97402-4295
Phone: W: 541-687-3244 H: 541-485-1493
fax: 541-687-3687 e-mail: caley@4j.lane.edu