This portion of the DAS eNewsCenter is for Human Resources Division customers.
 

Benefits enrollment extended
-- HRD Benefits Administration Services, May 2003

The benefits enrollment period has been extended through May 16, granting state employees an extra week to change their benefits coverage or enroll for benefits.

Benefits selected during this open enrollment period will be in effect from July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.

Important information about changes in benefits is contained in the Benefits Comparison Chart & Guide. The major changes are explained in Pathways, the quarterly report from the Joint Health Care Committee. Both were distributed to employees in mid-April and also are available at www.ohio.gov/employeebenefits.

Below is a summary of the changes:

  
  Many services that were covered by HMOs at 100 percent or 90 percent will be covered at 80 percent next benefit year. For Ohio Med enrollees, most services through network physicians and providers will be covered at 80 percent.  
  Copays for doctor's office visits are increasing to $15. (Ohio Med enrollees will be charged a $30 copay when visiting non-network providers.)  
  All plans now have a drug formulary or preferred drug list.  
  Dependents age 19 up to 23 must be attending an accredited school to be covered.  
  Only stepchildren who live in the employee's home more than half the time will be eligible for coverage.  
  Union-exempt employees will have two vision plan options. Cole Managed Vision is being added as an option along with the Vision Service Plan, which currently serves exempt employees. For a list of providers in your area, click on each plan's name. Visitors to the Cole Managed Vision site will need to insert the plan number, which is 40830, to gain access to the list of providers.  
 
  The employee and employer shares of the health insurance premium for part-time employees is changing.  
 
  The supplemental life insurance option for exempt employees will be less expensive. These lower rates go into effect automatically without any action needed by current enrollees.  
 
 
Employees also can obtain more information about their options by speaking with representatives from the health plans at benefits open enrollment fairs being held throughout the state through May 2. For a list of fairs, see page 5 of the recent Pathways edition.

For information about your current coverage and eligible dependents, please review the letter mailed to your home from DAS in early April.

Employees who want their benefits to remain the same do not have to re-enroll.

Those who would like to make changes or enroll can do so via the Web, telephone or enrollment form by May 16. The telephone method - Ohio Benefits Direct - does not allow employees to add or change information about spousal and dependent coverage. For more information about enrollment procedures, see page 2 of the recent Pathways edition.