CARE 2008 BENEFIT CHANGES
CHANGE IN EXISTING PRECERTIFICATION & UTILIZATION COMPANY FOR 2008:
Effective January 1, 2008, Spectrum Review Services, Inc. will be the new Precertification & Utilization Review company for all primary plans, including Plan #1000, Plan #2000, Plan #5500, Plan #5100 and Plan #7000 under the CARE Health Plan. The new telephone number to call and obtain precertification will be (800) 258-5055. Prior to the end of the year, members in the primary plans previously mentioned will be receiving a new CARE identification card with updated information for precertification.
Also, effective January 1, 2008, members in Plan #1000, Plan #2000, Plan #5500, Plan #5100 and Plan #7000 will no longer be required to obtain precertification and/or preauthorization on outpatient physical therapy.
******************************
PLAN #3000 - INCREASE IN DEDUCTIBLE AND COPAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT
The annual limit for Plan #3000 is being increased from $1,600 to $2,200 as a result of deductible, out-of-pocket, and copayment changes recently made to the Health & Welfare Plan for Railway employees currently covered under the Managed Medical Care Plan* (MMCP) and Comprehensive Health Care Benefit** (CHCB). Therefore, beginning January 1, 2008, Plan #3000 will reimburse you up to $200.00 of your deductible in full for covered services, with the remainder of your deductible (if applicable) being reimbursed at 20%. In addition, the Association will reimburse you for the difference between the Amount Allowed and the Amount Paid by your primary carrier, NOT TO EXCEED 20% up to the CARE annual limit of $2,200.
*Managed Medical Care Plan (MMCP)
Office Visit copayment increased from $15 to $20; Office Visit copayment for Specialist increased from $15 to $35; Urgent Care copayment increased from $15 to $25; Emergency Room copayment increased from $30 to $50.
**Comprehensive Health Care Benefit (CHCB)
Annual Deductible increased from $100 to $200; Annual Out-of-Pocket increased from $1,500 to $2,000.
******************************
PLAN #4000 - INCREASE IN ANNUAL MAXIMUM FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT
The annual prescription drug maximum for Plan #4000 increased to $2,500 for Plan Year 2008. By increasing the annual maximum this allows CARE to provide creditable prescription drug coverage to its Medicare members for 2008.
PLAN #5100 - CHANGE IN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR 2008:
As information, Plan #5100 is now being extended to include dependents of early retirees who retired at 60 years of age and 30 or more years of service and/or 61 years of age and 30 or more years of service.
Also, this plan is now available to dependents of railway employees who have exhausted benefits under the National Health and Welfare Plan (GA23000) due to disability. Eligible dependents of disabled employees may apply for membership in Plan #5100 when the dependent loses coverage under the National Health and Welfare Plan (GA23000).
The disabled employee or disability annuitant would be required to enroll in Plan #3000 as a supplement to his/her GA23000 coverage for the remainder of the time they qualify. Disabled employees or disability annuitants who become eligible for Medicare must be enrolled or enroll in a Medicare supplement with CARE in order for dependents to qualify for Plan #5100.
Eligible dependents include:
 |
wife or husband |
|
unmarried children* under age 19 |
|
unmarried children* between the ages of 19 and 25 who are registered students in regular full-time attendance (12 hours**) at school |
*Children include: Natural or adopted children and stepchildren
**Full-time hours may vary depending on school type and institution.
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAN OUTLINE
|
80/20 Plan |
|
$150,000 Lifetime Maximum |
|
$150,000 Lifetime Maximum |
|
No Annual Maximum |
|
$100 Annual Deductible |
|
Percertification/Preauthorization Required on certain procedures |
For additional information regarding this plan contact our
Benefits / Customer Service Department at 1-800-334-1330.
|
**LIFETIME MAXIMUM INCREASED UNDER GA46000** As of January 1, 2008, the lifetime maximum benefit for each individual covered under the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (United Healthcare's GA46000) will increase from $101,200 to $107,7000.
Additional benefits payable apply to expenses incurred on or after January 1. |
|
Attention former members of the Santa Fe Employees Hospital Association, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Employees’ Benefit Association and Consolidated Associations of Railroad Employees
Open Enrollment for Plan #4000 and Plan #4100 Medicare Secondary Coverage has been extended indefinitely The plan year for CARE Medicare members is January 1 through December 31. New members enrolling in either Plan #4000 or Plan #4100 must remain enrolled in their selected Plan through December 31.
If you have any questions regarding our Medicare Supplemental Plans or to request additional information please contact our Benefits/Customer Service Department at 1-800-334-1330.
Please feel free to discuss this Open Enrollment opportunity with your friends who might qualify for this plan. Also, if you know of a surviving spouse of a BNSF deceased retired employee, please pass this information on inasmuch as we have no record of them and cannot notify them individually. |
|
CARE Open Enrollment For New Members Extended Indefinitely!
The Open Enrollment for Plan #3000, Plan #4000, Plan #4100, Plan #5000 and Plan #5100 have been extended indefinitely.
Plan #3000 is currently available to Active or Retired employees and/or dependents who have coverage with Aetna US Healthcare, Cigna, Highmark, United Healthcare GA23000, United Healthcare Plan 0690100, United Healthcare GA107300 or United Healthcare GA23111-E.
Plan #4000 and Plan #4100, both Medicare supplemental plans, are available to retired railroaders, their spouses or surviving spouses who are currently on Medicare. The plan year for CARE Medicare members is January 1 through December 31. New members enrolling in either Plan #4000 or Plan #4100 must remain enrolled in their selected Plan through December 31.
Plan #5000 is a supplemental plan available to retired employees and spouses who currently have primary coverage with United Healthcare Plan GA46000.
Plan #5100 a replacement plan for those dependents not wishing to continue GA46000 Cobra coverage upon the early retiree reaching 65 years of age or for dependents who have exhausted their GA46000 Cobra coverage.
If you qualify for any of these plans or know of someone who may be interested in receiving information on one of these plans contact the Membership/Customer Service Department at (800) 334-1330.
|
|
NARVRE MEETINGS IN TOPEKA, KANSAS ATTENTION TOPEKA CARE MEMBERS!!! REMEMBER THAT NARVRE UNIT 140--TOPEKA, KANSAS MEETS EVERY 2ND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH AT 9:15 A.M. AT COYOTE CANYON LOCATED AT 1251 S.W. ASHWORTH PLACE (ACROSS FROM HOME DEPOT)
For more information, you may contact Mr. Fred Shaw at 785-228-0676
|