| Open Enrollment Oct. 1-31 |
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| Download the Newsletter as PDF |
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| Download the October newsletter, print it (double-sided please) and take it home to share with your family. |
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| Checklist |
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Read What's New for 2009 |
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Go to the online benefit system.
Before logging in, try out these Resource Tools from the navigation bar on the left:
- Benefit Estimater estimates your potential monthly premium costs for PEBB-sponsored benefits.
- Compare Plans compares beneft coverage among your medical and dental plan choices.
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Log in
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Enter or confirm you have the correct e-mail address in your personal information |
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Confirm eligibility of dependents who are or will be age 19 to 24 before Jan. 1, 2009. These are dependent children you cover in your PEBB plans. If you don't confirm that they will continue to be eligible for coverage in the next plan year, these dependents will lose coverage on Jan. 1, 2009. |
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Review your current benefits |
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Enroll or make changes for 2009. If you want a flexible spending account for 2009, you must enroll for the account during Open Enrollment. If you are currently in Samaritan Select, and want to and are eligible to enroll in a Kaiser or Providence plan, you must enroll during Open Enrollment. Otherwise, PEBB will enroll you in the comparable Regence plan for 2009. |
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Save, print, log out |
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| Web Cast Meetings |
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Join a half-hour Open Enrollment meeting over the Web, from noon to 12:30 p.m. (schedule below). If you miss a Web cast, the recorded stream will be posted in the next 48 hours.
Agency Members
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Oct. 1 |
OUS Members
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Oct. 8 |
Retiree Members and Potential Retiree Members
Correction: if you do not certify eligibility of dependents age 19 t0 24 during
Open Enrollment, the dependents will lost eligibility effective January 1, 2009.
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Oct. 15 |
Employee Update
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Oct. 22 |
| Open Enrollment Wrap Up |
Oct. 29 |
Post Open Enrollment
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Oct. 31 |
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| Open Enrollment Q&A |
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Do I need to do anything for Open Enrollment this year?
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The answer is "yes" if:
- You cover a dependent child who is or will be age 19 to 24 before Jan.1, 2009. If the dependent will continue to be eligible for coverage in 2009 and you want to continue to cover the dependent, you must certify the dependent’s eligibility
during Open Enrollment.
- You want a flexible spending account in 2009. You must enroll for in the account during Open Enrollment.
- You want different benefits for 2009. You must enroll during Open Enrollment for
the changes in benefits you want for 2009.
- You are currently in Samaritan, and want Kaiser or Providence for 2009. You must live or work (at least 50 percent of the time) in the plan’s service area, and you must enroll for the plan during Open Enrollment. Otherwise, PEBB will automatically enroll you in the comparable Regence plan for 2009.
- You don’t fit either 1, 2, 3 or 4. Please go online to enter or confirm that your benefit record contains your state e-mail address.
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Why do you want my state e-mail address?
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It is our most direct link to you. If changes happen during 2009 that affect your benefits, we want to be able to let you know directly.
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Where is my Open Enrollment packet?
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To save resources and keep costs down, PEBB no longer distributes paper packets during Open Enrollment. Instead, the PEBB Web site at http://oregon.gov/das/pebb serves as your complete resource for benefits information during Open Enrollment and year-round. Taking this path allowed us to save 1.5 million sheets of paper for this Open Enrollment. We also send out e-mail messages to keep you updated and hold meetings as Web casts.
If you want benefits information on paper, you can print a copy of the 2009 Summary Plan Description (http://oregon.gov/DAS/PEBB/2009Benefits/SPD.shtml). It describes the eligibility rules; summarizes the medical, dental and optional benefit plans; lays out how PEBB administers the benefit program; and presents required notices. You can also print off the Open Enrollment brochure that highlights changes for 2009 (http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/PEBB/2009Benefits/2009BenefitsTOC.shtml ). If you don’t have access to the Internet, please ask your agency payroll or benefit office to provide the printed information you need.
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How can employees who don't have Internet access manage their benefits during Open Enrollment? |
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They should ask their agency for assistance. Agencies can print and provide paper forms for these employees to complete and submit to the agency. The agency must receive the forms by Oct. 31, 2008.
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Can I opt out of medical coverage for 2009? |
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Yes, if you have other employer-sponsored group coverage – for example, coverage through a plan offered by your spouse’s employer. Per PEBB rules, you may not opt out against coverage through Medicare, TRICARE, Medicaid, Veterans Administration health benefits or student health insurance. If you opt out, you receive $233 per month of the employer’s benefit contribution, minus the premium costs for your dental and basic life insurance coverage. View specifics on medical opt-out.
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Can I make changes to my benefit selections after I have saved and logged out of the system?
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Yes, but only during Open Enrollment, Oct. 1-31.If you want to make changes after Oct. 31, you may ask your agency or submit an appeal to PEBB. These changes include certifying a dependent’s eligibility for coverage in 2009. |
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| Medical Plans Q&A |
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What are the no-cost generic drugs in 2009? |
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See the lists for Regence and Providence as of Oct. 1, 2008. These lists may change during 2009. See your plan's Web site for updates. Note that Kaiser will continue to require a $1 copay for all generics.
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What weight management program will the plans offer? |
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Each plan will cover a program based on the Board’s recommendations. PEBB will provide details on this Web site as they become available.
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Will I be eligible for nutritional counseling? |
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Providence and Regence will cover four sessions per lifetime. The plans will cover four per year for those with a chronic medical condition. See the list of conditions. Kaiser will continue to provide these services with a primary care providers' referral.
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What is the schedule for no-cost cancer screenings? |
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PEBB plans will cover screenings for breast, cervix, colon and prostate cancer based on recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Your provider may also work with your medical plan to cover these screenings based on your medical needs and history. |
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| Life Insurance Q&A |
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Do I need to do anything to get the increased basic life insurance? |
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No. All PEBB-eligible employees will automatically receive the increase in basic life insurance coverage from $5,000 to $25,000.
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If I have optional employee life, will the increase in basic life coverage increase my taxes? |
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It may. Payroll deducts premiums for the first $50,000 in employee life coverage pre-tax. If the increase in basic life puts your coverage above $50,000, the balance of premiums will be deducted post-tax.
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If my spouse and I are both state employees, may we each purchase employee life coverage to the new $600,000 limit? |
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Yes. Keep in mind that the limit applies to each employee no matter who pays the premium and no matter whether they are paying for employee or spouse coverage.
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May I increase my spouse coverage to $600,000 as well? |
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No, the increased limit applies only to employee.
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If I have $20,000 in employee life coverage and I want to increase it by 50 percent during this Open Enrollment without providing a medical history, does that mean I can increase the coverage amount to $30,000? |
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No, you may enroll for employee life insurance coverage only in $20,000 increments. In your case, this means you would be able to increase your coverage from $20,000 to $40,000. |
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| October Meeting Topics |
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Board Meeting
October 21, 2008
PEBB Cafeteria Plan
Oregon Prescription Drug Program
Self-Insurance
Census of PEBB members
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| Resources |
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PEBB
(503) 373-1102 Salem, (800) 788-0520 statewide, fax (503) 373-1654
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Medical Plans
Mail-order Prescriptions
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Dental Plans
Optional Plans
Other Benefits
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