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August 1999 Trust Talk
What have you done for me lately?
This article covers how the Trust has grown in its six short years of existence, and how members'
choices and coverage have improved.
A fair question. The Trust was created to serve you, the Union-represented State employee,
and you can tell us best: email customerservice@benefitstrust.org. We ask ourselves this question frequently, as we evaluate our current
services and benefits and as the Trust's Trustees consider how to continue to provide benefits that will meet your needs in the future.
(Officially, the Trust began to offer members benefits in July 1993). Six years later, the staff
hasn't grown in size, nor has the income to the Trust to provide benefits, but the actual benefits you've received and choices available have increased
overtime.
Due to the number of members served and demands by the membership, the Trust has improved plans
or added services that support the mission overtime.
Here's how it's gotten better:
1995
- Improved vision coverage — November
The allowance for frames increased by $15 per member, on a wholesale basis (realized increase for member between $30 and $50 per pair of glasses).
1996
- Enhanced life insurance — January
Basic - a new feature was added, that pays an additional one times your normal
coverage amount if you die as a result of an occupational injury/accident.
Supplemental - premium rates lowered.
- Enhanced dental benefits — July
The Preferred Choice plan was added, raising the total of Trust dental plan offerings to three.
The orthodontia lifetime maximum was raised from $750 to $1,000 in the Quality Dental Plan, and the new Preferred Choice
plan matched that level for in-network orthodontic care.
1997 (JULY)
- Improved vision coverage
Major reduction in paperwork: Now, a member calls a network doc, and then shows up for the appointment, rather than having
to call to request a form, completing and mailing the form, and waiting for another form before you could actually schedule your visit.
- Improved DMO benefits
Benefit levels were raised in the DMO in several classes of service. Now, fillings, sealants, most oral surgery procedures
and root canals are paid at 100% when care was received by the member's chosen personal dentist, rather than 60%.
- Added Working Solutions Service
This innovative service was added to help members,
who told us they were being crunched by the special care needs of their
loved ones. Working Solutions is a referral and information service,
specially focused on elder care needs and special needs dependents,
including children with special needs.
1998 (JULY)
- Lowered supplemental
life rates for members
Premium rates for both members and dependents
were decreased when we switched coverage from Hartford to Prudential.
- Added a vision choice
The Cole vision plan was added, and the existing
VSP plan was retained. Eligible members could choose the type of plan
that best suited their families' eye care needs. Also, as the VSP and
Cole network had very little overlap in participating providers, members
now had a whole new network to consider - one in which they could obtain
higher benefits.
- Developed "Disability Gap" insurance
In response to the State's punitive measure in the 1997 collective bargaining sessions, disability gap coverage was
added. This special coverage restored members' disability coverage to pre-1997 levels, by negating the retroactive lifetime maximum.
1999
Future>>>>
To make sure we stay on track, the Trust will
- Continue to focus on our members and their needs
- Explore the expansion of our market base
- Expand communication to reach more of members through technology
- Increase member satisfaction with benefits as gauged through member input and
- Reinforce the identity of the Trust and supporting Unions.
Like we mentioned earlier, the funding of the Trust’s benefits has been the same or decreased
per person since 1993, but, in this same time period, the Trust cost’s to provide benefits and services has increased (mostly because of marketplace
changes). The Trust’s funding is negotiated by OCSEA during bargaining, and provided by the State. How have we been so successful in light of
our financial situation? We've been able to manage and increase benefits, despite insufficient funding, due to minimizing use of consultants, developing
in-house expertise, appropriately incorporating technology and making changes to the insurance companies when needed. However, we've pretty
much exhausted this flexibility: A successful negotiation of the Trust’s funding in 2000 will ensure that your benefits will be maintained and
kept under Union leadership.
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