SPOKANE REGIONAL HEALTH DISTRICT
HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES
MEMORANDUM
TO: All SRHD Staff
FR: Human Resources
RE: 2010 Benefits
November 12, 2009
Medical Insurance:
SRHD will continue to offer the Group Health Options as our medical plan for 2009. However, the renewal plan came in at a 27.37% increase, which prompted the benefits committee to look at plan modifications to help contain the premiums. The result is a plan that offers a choice between a “Core Plan” or a “Buy Up Plan”.
Some of the benefits that are the same on both plans are:
- Prescription drug coverage
- Preventative care
- Emergency room visits
- Lifetime maximum
Some of the differences between the two plans are:
- Higher deductible for the Core Plan
- Higher out-of-pocket limits for the Core Plan
- Office visits are covered at the co-pay only for the first four office visits on the Core Plan and after that are also subject to deductible and co-insurance; the Buy Up Plan has no limit on the number of office visits with the co-pay only
- Outpatient diagnostic x-ray and lab is covered only for the first $500 (in conjunction with an office visit), and then is subject to deductible and co-insurance for the Core Plan; it’s paid in full (in conjunction with an office visit) for the Buy Up Plan
Attached are some detailed comparisons for the plans. Please review the attachments thoroughly to educate yourself on the differences between the plans:
1. Final Spreadsheet (PDF, this attachment includes a Summary of Benefits for both plans)
2. 2010 benefit costs by FTE (excel)
In addition to reviewing the attachments, please plan on attending one of two informational sessions on November 18th in the Auditorium. The first session is at 8 a.m. the and second begins at 10:00 a.m. A representative from Group Health and our insurance broker will be on hand to answer any questions you may have on the medical plan choices. For those who cannot attend, please email any questions you may have to our HR staff, and we’ll present them at the sessions and make sure you get an answer. These sessions will be videotaped and emailed to all staff.
Dental Insurance:
We will continue to provide two options for dental insurance: Washington Dental Service (Delta Dental), or Willamette Dental. Washington Dental benefits are not changing. Willamette Dental is changing their “value added” implant services and fees, but has not yet provided a new fee schedule. We’ll pass that along as soon as we receive it.
More Information:
Remember that you can also visit each plan’s websites to get information. The medical plan website is: www.ghc.org. The dental plan websites are: www.DeltaDentalWA.com and www.WilliametteDental.com .
Election and Enrollment Forms:
Group Health enrollment forms and SRHD Benefits Election Forms will be sent out on Monday, November 16th via interoffice mail. Your Benefits Election and Group Health enrollment forms must be completed and returned to Human Resources by Monday, November 30, 2009.
Because we need to determine which medical plan you are choosing, medical enrollment forms will be required for each employee who wishes to have medical coverage. Enrollment forms are also used to add or delete dependents, to change dental plans, or to enroll in a plan if you had previously waived coverage. Please contact HR if you need an enrollment form for one of the dental plans. If you wish to waive coverage for 2010, you will need to complete a form for each benefit you are waiving (medical and/or dental insurance).
Other Benefits:
In addition to medical and dental insurance options, SRHD will continue to offer the following benefits in 2010:
- Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (A.W. Rehn)
- Supplemental Insurance for Accidents, Cancer, & Personal Recovery (Aflac)
- Employee Assistance Plan
- Supplemental Life Insurances
- Long Term Disability
- Deferred Compensation Plan
- Public Employees Retirement Plans
If you are interested in enrolling or continuing with a Flexible Spending Account please contact HR for forms and handouts. Remember that Flexible Spending Accounts must be renewed each year. Information on Aflac will be sent out with your paycheck of 11/13/09.
Please note that enrollment forms for Flexible Spending Accounts and Aflac have a different deadline from medical and dental insurances and are not due until close of business on Friday, December 18, 2009.
Checklist:
- Attend one of the informational sessions on November 18, 2009 in the Auditorium. The first session starts at 8 a.m. and the second at 10:00 a.m.
- If you can’t attend the informational sessions, email any questions you have to an HR staff member by November 17th, and plan on viewing the videotape of the sessions.
- Return your completed SRHD Benefits Election Form to HR by 11/30/09
- Return completed medical and dental enrollment forms to HR by 11/30/09:
1. To enroll in either the Core Plan or the Buy Up Plan for Group Health
2. If you are changing to a new dental plan.
3. If you are adding or deleting dependents to your medical and/or dental plans.
4. If you previously waived medical and/or dental insurance and now wish to enroll for 2010.
- Return completed waiver forms to HR by 11/30/09, if you are waiving medical and/or dental insurance in 2010.
- If you choose to participate, return your completed Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care and/or Dependent Care) and Aflac enrollment forms to HR by close of business on 12/18/09.
- Remember to fill out all forms completely, including signature and date lines.
Employee premium contributions for medical and dental coverage beginning January 1, 2010 will be made from your December 15, 2009 paycheck. If you elect to participate in a flexible spending account in 2010, your first payroll deduction will be on your January 15, 2010 paycheck.
For more information or questions regarding SRHD benefits, please call Barb at x1502 or Mary at x1591.
Barbara Lorang
Human Resource Manager
Spokane Regional Health District
1101 W College Ave, Ste 345
Spokane, WA 99201
phone: 509-324-1502
blorang@spokanecounty.org
www.srhd.org