These Q's
come from your fellow members, asked of our customer service
representative over the phone and via e-mail. We'll update
this section whenever a generally applicable question is asked
from the site customer service e-mail or over our toll-free
hotline.
How much do I have in supplemental life insurance?
Please call Prudential: 800-778-3827.
Or, you can use myUBT to confirm supplemental life amounts for you and your dependents.
How do I enroll in supplemental life insurance?
There are two opportunities to enroll in supplemental life insurance; within 90 days of hire or at any open enrollment. You can enroll during the
Trust enrollment (the next enrollment will be spring 2011). If you are eligible and would like this coverage, please complete the supplemental
life application and mail it to Prudential.
How do I file a death claim?
Send a certified copy of the death certificate to:
Prudential
ATTN: Life Claims Supervisor
PO Box 13676
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Who is my beneficiary?
Prudential has that information, and will release it if you request your beneficiary information in writing. You may phone them for assistance: 800-778-3827.
If you believe that your beneficiary information is incorrect, you may simply submit a new beneficiary designation. Make sure you sign and date the form before mailing it. Your change becomes effective when Prudential receives your beneficiary designation form.
How can I change my beneficiary?
Download a Beneficiary Designation Form or contact Prudential at 800-778-3827. Complete and mail it to:
Prudential Insurance Company of America
PO Box 5072
Millville, NJ 08332
What happens to my Supplemental life insurance when I leave State service?
When your employment with the State ends for any reason, you have the option to convert or port your basic and supplemental life insurance--and your dependents' supplemental life coverage. Prudential will contact you within 31 days of you leaving State employment with information about the conversion and portability options including the cost associated with each option.
The amount that may be ported or converted is the amount of coverage you, your spouse and dependent children carry at the time you leave State employment. For additional information, refer to your plan booklets or contact Prudential at 800-778-3827.
The Trust and your former Human Resource Officer cannot help you once you port or convert your coverage. The conversion and portability plans are administered though an insurance contact between you (the member) and The Prudential Life Insurance Company of America.
Who is my beneficiary?
Prudential has that information, and will release it if you request your beneficiary information in writing. You may phone them for assistance: 800-778-3827.
If you believe that your beneficiary information is incorrect, you may simply submit a new beneficiary designation.
Make sure you sign and date the form before mailing it. Your change becomes effective when Prudential receives your beneficiary designation form.
How do I change my beneficiary?
Download a Beneficiary Designation Form or contact Prudential at 800-778-3827, complete and mail it to:
Prudential Insurance Company of America
PO Box 5072
Millville, NJ 08332
What is my coverage amount?
Your coverage amount is equal to one times your regular pay (if full time) rounded to the next higher thousand, up to a maximum of $150,000. The amount
adjusts automatically when you receive any pay increase to your regular pay. Check your paystub for the "total rate" to see what your regular pay is.
What happens to my basic life insurance when I leave State service?
When your employment with the State ends for any reason, you have the option to convert or port your basic and supplemental life insurance--and your dependents' supplemental life coverage. Prudential will contact you within 31 days of you leaving State employment with information about the conversion and portability options including the cost associated with each option.
The amount that may be ported or converted is the amount of coverage you, your spouse and dependent children carry at the time you leave State employment. For additional information, refer to your plan booklets or contact Prudential at 800-778-3827.
The Trust and your former Human Resource Officer cannot help you once you port or convert your coverage. The conversion and portability plans are administered though an insurance contact between you (the member) and The Prudential Life Insurance Company of America.
How do I enroll in the legal service plan?
You may enroll during any Trust-sponsored open enrollment, so your next opportunity will be the spring 2009 open enrollment period. New members (within 90 days of hire) may
enroll between hire date and 90 days of service.
This plan is voluntary, meaning members need to enroll
to obtain coverage, and can only enroll at hire or during special enrollment periods. The payroll deductions will occur once
a month, and will be $13.40 a month for single coverage, or
$16.45 a month for family coverage.
Once your coverage is effective, you must remain in the plan until the following June 30. You will be able to change or drop coverage during any Trust open enrollment. You do not need to re-enroll
to maintain coverage (similar to how supplemental life insurance operates).
(Asked
by a Corrections Officer)
Will the plan cover me if I'm
sued personally by an inmate?
This question we had Hyatt answer,
because it really falls in a gray area: the plan doesn't cover work-related matters, but is designed to protect you personally.
Hyatt told us that they would cover personal suits under the Civil Litigation Defense coverage when a prisoner sues a Corrections Officer as long as the issue is outside the scope of employment and there is no conflict with the State of Ohio.
The Civil Litigation Defense coverage would also apply when
any Trust member is sued personally by a member of
the public or institutional resident, as long as the matter
is outside the scope of employment and there is no conflict
with the State.
We followed up with Hyatt to ask what would happen if
a Corrections Officer were sued by an inmate's family following failure to perform CPR. Hyatt repeated that as long as the Contract
does not require performance of CPR as a job duty and there is no conflict with the employer, that a civil lawsuit brought by an inmate's family under
these circumstances would trigger the Civil Litigation Defense. If this is a concern, we strongly encourage you to check with Hyatt and if you receive an answer
within your comfort level, to consider enrolling in the plan.
What will this plan cover?
This is
a comprehensive plan. The Hyatt legal plan will offer full
coverage in network on many covered topics, such as identity
theft, personal bankruptcy plans, will preparation or sale/purchase
of a home. In addition, the Hyatt plan offers phone consultations
on complex matters such as divorce or separation for the member only. Of course,
there are some exclusions, and coverage for service from attorneys who
do not participate in plan will be limited. Read more highlights
and consult the legal service plan booklet.
What is my dental plan?
As of 7/1/10, all State employees have the Delta Denta plan. You can check your plan and find a provider on MyUBT.
Is my dentist in network?
Check for a provider on Delta Dental's website.
Where do I get a dental claim form?
Members have several options for obtaining forms. You may get a form by:
contacting your HR officer; downloading the form here; contacting the Trust; or contacting Delta Dental. When you receive your form, make sure it has the correct filing address:
DELTA DENTAL
P.O. BOX 9085
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48333-9085
How do I get a provider list?
Go online at Delta Dental's website or call them at 1-800-524-0149
How do I get a provider list for specialty dentists?
In general, the provider list contains specialty dentists as well.
Why didn't Delta Dental pay my claim?
Review your EOB with Delta Dental at 1-800-524-0149. If you need additional assistance, please contact Benefits Trust customer service.
How often may I receive an eye exam or glasses? Does my age matter?
Members and dependents enrolled in either the VSP or EyeMed vision plans can obtain:
an eye exam every 12 months, and
contacts every 12 months or lenses and frames every 12 months.
How do I get a vision form?
No form is needed for service from a network provider in either EyeMed or VSP. When you make the appointment with the eye doctor, mention the
name of the vision insurance you chose, and let them know you are a State of Ohio employee covered by the Benefits Trust. When going out of network, please follow these procedures for filing a claim.
Is my eye doctor in network?
Please call the numbers below or you may refer to the web site where appropriate:
VSP: 800-877-7195
EyeMed: 866-723-0514
Do you plan to cover laser surgery?
A discount on corrective laser vision surgery is available through EyeMed or VSP; both plans have partnered to offer discount programs to the members enrolled
in their vision plan. Here are the discount plans offered by the vision plans. Contact your vision
plan for additional information.
How is UBH tied to Working Solutions?
The Trust's Working Solutions program is currently administered by UBH. This plan is separate and distinct from any other plan you may have by UBH, and is completely confidental; so much so that the Trust, the Union and/or the State does not receive any personal data about you or your plan usage.
What does the enhanced child/family service offer?
This service is prepared to help you through all stages of child development (prenatal and newborn to college), and also attend to the entire family's
needs too. Contact Working
Solutions for more information on this broad topic, as well as research
and offer referrals to different providers in your area.
How much does this cost me?
The cost is paid by the Trust for all members, who are automatically enrolled upon hire.
Are my dependents covered?
Yes. All your dependents are covered, and the service can also help you with dependents who are not blood relatives; anyone who affects your ability to
work is considered a dependent, whether a neighbor, friend, distant relative, church member, etc.
What does Working Solutions do?
Offers you information and referrals on a variety of issues related to your dependents who are adults or have special needs (special needs dependents
includes children).
How is Working Solutions different from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
Well, we don't sponsor the EAP, but in general, Working Solutions focuses on issues surrounding adult/elder dependents and special needs children. These
dependents can require specialized attention, and Working Solutions has a nationwide network that can help.
Who covers education benefits?
The Union Education Trust, which is not part of the Union Benefits Trust, covers education benefits for OCSEA and CWA members. Members of SEIU/1199, OSTA, FOP/OLC and SCOPE/OEA receive any education benefits
from their employer, the State. Neither the Benefits Trust or Education Trust provide computer loans.
Who do I contact if I see a strange deduction on my pay information (paycheck)?
Your agency HR officer is the best resource for questions about deductions from your pay. As of November 2007, we were told that a new code is appearing on members' pay information: UBT, for $70. This reflects the funding that we receive per the Collective Bargaining Agreements, and is NOT a deduction from your pay. This listing is part of the OAKS clean-up as we are still working to make sure all eligible members receive their benefits.
What happens to my dental, vision and life benefits if I am laid off?
Depending on the benefit, you may be able to continue coverage for yourself and all enrolled
dependents through continuation or COBRA. Click here to learn more.
What happens to my dental, vision and life benefits if I'm called to serve on active
military duty?
The State has enacted legislation that provides for the continuation of dental, vision and basic life benefits
when public employees are called to active duty. Supplemental life may be continued for the member, but not for dependents, and Working Solutions
remains available to members and dependents. Learn more in the Click here to learn more.
How do I change my address for Trust mailings?
Change your address with your Payroll/Personnel officer, and we will receive the updated address electronically, usually within one month.
When do my benefits go into effect?
For dental and vision benefits, please refer to the last paystub
of the month or contact your Payroll/Personnel officer. In general, basic life insurance coverage begins the first of the month following your one-year anniversary of State service, provided that you
are actively at work. For legal plan or supplemental life benefits, your coverage begins the first of the month following your first deduction for that coverage.
Check your pay information for the BTL code (legal) or BT1 code (supplemental life).
Is my dependent covered?
Please check with your Payroll/Personnel officer.
Who handles my medical coverage?/prescription coverage?/ mental health coverage?
The Trust does not provide
these services: for information, contact the Office
of Benefits Administration or call at 466-8857 or
800-409-1205, or e-mail the State at benefits@das.state.oh.us.
When am I eligible?
The legal service plan, supplemental life insurance and Working Solutions are available to you upon hire. You have 90
days from your date of hire to purchase supplemental life insurance and/or the legal service plan, and will have the opportunity to enroll in or change coverage at each Trust-sponsored open enrollment. For dental, vision and basic life insurance coverage, you must have one year of continuous State
service; and once elected, your coverage will be effective the first of the month following your enrollment. The Trust will notify you before your upcoming
anniversary by sending you an anniversary booklet that includes all the necessary forms to enroll. Please complete the forms as instructed and submit them as
soon as possible before your anniversary date. Turning your forms in early will help to ensure that coverage begins the first of the month following
your enrollment/anniversary date.Coverage is available to you and your eligible dependents.
How do I make changes to my plan choices or change dependents' coverage?
You may change your coverage level (single or family) during the year if you have a family status or employment-related coverage change. You must complete and return an Enrollment and Change form
and, if necessary, an Affidavit of Dependent Status, within 31 days of the change or you will have to wait until the next open enrollment to adjust your
coverage level.Depending on your situation,
you may also be able to enroll in coverage throughout the
year following a family status/employment related coverage
change. See Eligibility for
more information.You may not switch plans throughout the year if your provider of choice leaves the dental or vision
network. Also, you may not change to another plan, even if you move within Ohio, until the next Trust-sponsored open enrollment.
When does my coverage end?
Your coverage with the Trust ends when you are no longer covered by a bargaining unit the Trust serves and actively employed by the State.
If your and/or your dependents' dental or vision coverage ends, you may extend it temporarily under COBRA. COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act, is a federal law requiring employers to extend group rates to employees and/or their dependents who would otherwise lose their coverage. COBRA is
available for the Trust's dental and vision plans. You are responsible for the full cost of coverage and an administrative fee (up to 2% of the coverage's
cost). If you fail to make a COBRA premium payment, you will lose coverage under this plan permanently. Your Payroll/Personnel officer will provide you
with COBRA information when you lose coverage.
Your basic life insurance policy and supplemental life policy (if you have enrolled) terminate when you leave State service.*Basic life insurance terminates on the end of the month in which you leave State service.*Supplemental life insurance ends the last day of the month following your last deduction because it is a prepaid benefit; for example, if the deduction
was taken in March, insurance will end April 30. In some circumstances, it may be up to three months before your policy is cancelled, and you are responsible for premiums during that time frame.
If you wish to carry insurance after leaving State service, you may request information on portability or conversion. Portability means that if you and your family are covered under the term life insurance programs when you leave state employment, you may keep your insurance, your spouse’s insurance and dependent children’s life insurance. Your rates will change; however, the coverage will be term life insurance at term life rates. In most cases they will be much less than the conversion rates. The amount that may be ported is the amount of coverage you, your spouse and dependent children carry at the time you leave state employment. For additional information refer to your plan booklets available at www.benefitstrust.org or contact Prudential at 800 778 3827.
Working Solutions ends when your employment ends, but will complete matters that you have opened with them before leaving.
Coverage under the legal plan will end the last day of the month after your last payroll deduction. For instance, if you had an October deduction taken under the "BTL" code, and left State service October 31, your coverage would end November 30.
Hyatt will also complete matters that you have opened before your coverage ends.
Updated January 2009
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