August 1998 Trust Talk

Survey Says

A brief wrap-up of the 1998 Trust survey

Your opinions are important to the Trustees and staff of the Trust. To better understand your concerns and views, the Trust mailed over 6,000 surveys to randomly-selected Union-represented State employees this past winter. The survey was conducted and analyzed by an independent organization.

Almost 10 percent responded, and the independent analyst reports that the characteristics of the participants such as dental plan elected, years of service and bargaining unit representation were proportional to that of the entire member population served by the Trust.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions by survey participants.

What does the Trust do? Can you do something about my medical coverage?

In 1993, the Trust was organized to more effectively serve the non-medical insurance needs of Union-represented State employees. Benefits currently administered by the Trust include: dental, vision, basic and supplemental life and disability gap insurance, and Working Solutions Service. Medical plans are negotiated by the JHCC, not the Trust.

Who runs the Trust?

The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees representing the five largest participating Unions, and a representative from the State. Union members can contact the Trust directly with questions, or they can raise them with leaders of their Unions or any Union Benefits Trust Trustee.

What portion of my dues pay for the Trust? How much out of my paycheck goes to the Trust?

The Trust provides benefits by negotiating with insurers through a set bid procedure. The funds used to administer your benefits are negotiated by the Unions during Collective Bargaining, and do not come from Union dues. The only amount that would come out of your paycheck is the supplemental life insurance contribution you elect for yourself and your dependents. If you've elected any supplemental life insurance from the Trust, you'll see the monthly amount of that contribution under the BT1 box on your paystub.

Here's what was said about communications/customer service:

• 55% would like information available in different formats. This coincides with what members have requested of Trustees; as such, the Trust is currently exploring a fax back service, an automated phone system to complement the live customer service now, and a web site. Of these three interactive media formats, the web site will be operational the most quickly – possibly before the end of 1998!
  
  
• Only 44% of members were aware of the Trust's dedicated line for customer service. The Trust will work to promote this service, especially as we develop an automated phone system with 24-hour access to benefits information. Trust customer service operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., State workdays, for your benefits questions and advocacy on your behalf. Call extension 12 at 614-488-8322 in the Columbus area, or 800-228-5088 elsewhere in Ohio.

About Trust benefits, participants indicated:

• Dental and vision are considered to be the most valuable plans, followed in importance by basic life, supplemental life and Working Solutions.
  
  
• 65% indicated they would like to purchase other services through the Trust such as automotive or homeowner insurance.

Most members feel the Trust should offer an opportunity for member feedback each year. This is, of course, in addition to the feedback we get from members throughout the year. If you'd like to learn more about the 1998 survey or have comments, please contact Trust customer service at 800-228-5088, extension 12 or 614-488-8322, extension 12.

Trust Talk contains highlights of your benefits and is not a plan document. See the official plan documents for full plan details of if a discrepancy exists between this newsletter and the plan documents; the plan documents are always the final authority.