Fall 2023 Spotlight on Benefits Newsletter Now Available

IN THIS ISSUE: 

• Board of Trustees Announces Three-Month Extension of the Free Major Medical Plus Plan for Eligible Participants Impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes. To lessen the health eligibility impact for those who lose Health Plan coverage due to the work stoppage resulting from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the Board of Trustees of the Directors Guild of America-Producer Pension and Health Plans has approved a three-month extension of a free major medical plan for eligible participants. This plan offers medical coverage within the Anthem Blue Cross network, including mental health and substance abuse benefits, and prescription drug coverage. For eligibility and coverage details, visit www.dgaplans.org/majormedicalplus.
• What Do You Mean My Prescription’s Not Covered?!. Most insurance companies, including the Health Plan, use a list of drugs called a formulary to determine which prescription medications are covered. You are encouraged to check any newly prescribed medications against the formulary before you leave your doctor’s office, so that you and your doctor can discuss other options, if necessary. To check if a drug is covered under the DGA-Producer Health Plan, use the Check Drug Cost & Coverage tool on the CVS Caremark website and mobile app or reference the Health Plan’s current formulary at www.dgaplans.org/formulary.
• Be. Well: Easy Ways to Follow and Benefit from the Mediterranean Diet. Be.Well is a new featured column containing wellness information for you and your family. In the column’s inaugural article, the Mediterranean diet is often praised as one of the healthiest diets to follow. But to receive the full health benefits, what should you eat and for how long? This article explains how the diet works and the benefits it can have on the mind and body for those who make it a lifestyle. How easy it is to follow and the benefit from the diet may surprise you.
• Your Business Manager Has Limited Powers: They Can Only Receive Your Plans-Related Information, Not Change It. You may prefer your business manager to collect and handle your Plans information. However, due to strict privacy guidelines, there are limits to what information a business manager can receive and actions they can take on your behalf. This article discusses the limits your business manager has when interacting with the Plans and best practices you should follow when using a business manager to conduct Plans business.
• Compounded and Counterfeit Semaglutide Can Pose Significant Health Risks. Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus have risen in popularity, causing a shortage and an uprise in counterfeit and compounded versions of the drugs’ active ingredient semaglutide. Compounded and counterfeit semaglutide are not FDA approved and are reported to cause adverse side effects that have resulted in hospitalization. This article discusses the differences between real Ozempic, real Wegovy and compounded or counterfeit semaglutide and can help you protect yourself from the fakes, whether purchasing weight loss drugs online, from a medical spa or even a pharmacy.
• Cybersmart(er): How to Stay Cybersafe This Holiday Season. The holiday season is here and with it comes an increase in cybercrime. This new article in the ongoing CyberSmart(er) series explores how to keep you and your devices safe while traveling and shipping and receiving packages.

INSERTS:

• The 2022 Summary Annual Report. The Summary Annual Report provides important information on the financial status of the Supplemental Pension Plan and the Health Plan, including asset values, expenses and total benefits paid from each plan.