Spring 2020 Issue of Spotlight on Benefits Available Now
The Spring issue of the Spotlight on Benefits newsletter is available now. This issue includes important details regarding two temporary Health Plan coverage changes approved by the Board of Trustees: (1) effective March 13, 2020, a waiver of all patient cost sharing (i.e., co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles) for COVID-19 related testing, and (2) effective March 16, 2020, temporary coverage of both network and non-network telemedicine and telepsychology visits. Both changes are in effect until further notice and are subject to existing Health Plan rules.
In this issue:
Information in Response to COVID-19
For a complete list of the Plans’ responses to the COVID-19 outbreak, please refer to our News page.
- Temporary Health Plan Coverage Changes. During this challenging and unprecedented time caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the Board of Trustees has decided that all patient cost sharing (i.e., co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles) will be waived for COVID-19 related testing, and telemedicine/telepsychology visits will be covered until further notice.
- How Health Plan Eligibility Works. In response to concerns about Health Plan eligibility during this time, this article describes the eligibility requirements for the current earnings periods and for the benefits period beginning April 1, 2020.
The Board of Trustees is closely monitoring the situation. Should the Board of Trustees approve additional benefit changes or as legislation is enacted, the Plans will be communicating those changes through the website, email blasts and newsletter.
- Updated Summary Plan Descriptions Now Available. The 2020 Summary Plan Descriptions are currently available online and in the myPHP benefits portal. If you have not elected to receive electronic copies, hard copies will be mailed in the upcoming weeks.
- Health Plan Summary Plan Description Corrections. A list of corrections and changes made to the new Summary Plan Description.
Other Benefits Information
- Non-Network Claims Can Now Be Submitted Online at Anthem.com. Registered users of the Anthem online portal may now submit non-network claims online at Anthem.com. If you are a currently covered Health Plan participant who has not yet registered, have your Plan ID ready and go to Anthem.com. For technical assistance with the online claims submission process, contact Anthem Blue Cross at (866) 755-2680.
- If Orthopedic Surgery Is Your First Course of Treatment, Request a Predetermination of Medical Necessity to Avoid Unexpected Costs. A predetermination is a written analysis, provided by the Health Plan upon request, which evaluates the medical necessity of a particular treatment of procedure before you receive it. When it comes to procedures like orthopedic surgeries, requesting a voluntary predetermination beforehand can help you avoid significant out-o-pocket expenses by indicating which procedures might be considered not medically necessary and therefore not covered by the Health Plan.
- Important Considerations While Reviewing Your Pension Plans Annual Statement. When using your annual statement to anticipate future benefits, the benefit amounts shown may differ from the actual amounts available upon retirement, due to a variety of factors, including additional work in covered service, the date benefits commence, any Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) in effect, adjustments due to audits of employer contributions, and any legal requirements that must be satisfied. These factors may cause increases or reductions to your benefits that would not be reflected in the annual statement.
- 2019 Annual Funding Notice. The 2019 Annual Funding Notice is an annual government-mandated notice that provides summarized financial information for the Basic Pension Plan as of December 31, 2019. The Basic Plan remains financially strong.
