Benefit choice period starts May 1

The State Employees' Group Insurance Program benefit choice period is May 1 through May 31, 2007. Changes made during this period will become effective July 1, 2007. A benefit choice options booklet, including an election form, will be mailed directly to the home address of all plan participants. In addition, the booklet will be available online, beginning Tuesday, May 1. Visit www.benefitschoice.il.gov for this information.

Information sessions will be held in the Student Center's Mackinaw Room, at noon and 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, and 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 2. Representatives from Health Alliance, HealthLink and Prudential will be present to answer questions.

A representative from the Social Security Administration will provide important information regarding Medicare coverage and eligibility. Also, new CMS guidelines regarding the billing of health, dental and life insurance coverage during leave periods - including summer breaks - will be discussed at the seminars.

Highlights of the changes for the coming year are outlined below. For a complete list of changes, please refer to page 2 of the benefit choice options booklet.

Quality Care Health Plan (QCHP) changes

• New! Disease Management Program. See page 29 of your booklet.
• Employee and dependent health contributions have increased.
• QCHP deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums have increased. See pages 18 and 19 of your booklet.
• Medco Health Solutions prescription drug co-pays have increased. See page 20 of your booklet.

Managed Care Health Plan (HMO/OAP) changes

• Employee and dependent health contributions have increased.
• Outpatient surgery co-payment has increased from $100 to $150.

Quality Care Dental Plan (QCDP) changes

• Coverage now includes dental implants, inlays, onlays, and adult sealants.

Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP)

• Employees enrolled in MCAP may now incur eligible medical, vision, dental expenses through September 15 of each year and have them reimbursed from their previous plan year MCAP account balance. This does not apply to DCAP. See page 28 of your booklet for details.

Benefits Handbook Amendment

• Effective this year, the Benefits Handbook will be updated via an amendment contained within the annual Benefit Choice Options booklet. Please tear out pages 3 to 8 of the booklet and keep with your current Benefits Handbook (dated July 1, 2004).

Life insurance premiums

• Contributions have decreased for the 40 to 44 year-old and 50-and-above age brackets.

During the Benefit Choice Period, you may:

• Change health plans
• Add or delete dependents
• Increase or decrease term life insurance (increase requires statement of health form)
• Enroll or re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Programs (MCAP or DCAP)
• Opt-in or opt-out of the health, dental and vision programs

In order to help expedite benefit changes, CMS is including a Benefit Choice Election Form in the material that will be mailed to your home. If you want to make changes, but do not need to see a benefits counselor, you may complete the form and return it to the Employee Benefits Office, Human Resources, Mailcode 6520 by May 31, 2007. You may also stop by our office at 805 S. Elizabeth St. and make your changes. If you do not want to make any changes, please do not return the form.

If you have questions about the benefit choice period, call the Human Resources' employee benefits office at 618/453-6668.