Users Group: News
Visitor Insurance Renewal for FY 2008-2009 - a message from Sue Ewing
JLab's visitor's medical insurance annual renewal for FY 2008-2009 begins on October 1, 2008. Everyone currently enrolled in the insurance plan is required to visit the VARC front desk to receive a new insurance card and complete the new 2008-2009 forms. The current insurance cards will no longer be valid after the October 1, 2008 date. The new insurance cards will be available on or after Wednesday, October 1, 2008.
Over the past three years, we have been working with the insurance company to keep our visitor insurance rates reasonable and affordable. Unfortunately, this year we are faced with a significant rate increase due to a steady increase of high volume claims. The claims paid out by the insurance company this past year were substantially high resulting in changes to our rates, coverage, and plan structure.
Our claims this year included many with payouts of over $5K each and there were numerous people who had a high rate of multiple claims per day for doctors and medical institution visits.
JLab's Medical Services Office is planning Medical Information Classes every three months beginning October 28, 2008. These classes are being conducted in order to help our medical insurance enrollees better understand circumstances of what to do when an illness or accident occurs, what can be done for an ordinary cold, headache, etc., what type of symptoms accompany certain illnesses, what can be obtained from places like Walgreens instead of going to a urgent care or doctor's office, etc. Everyone enrolled in the insurance plan is asked to attend these sessions to ask questions to become better informed in these areas. Notices will go out announcing all sessions.
If, over this next year, the insurance company sees a positive change in our claim pattern, then we will be considered for a rate reduction for the next year's renewal.
Please contact Sue Ewing at x7687 or ewing@jlab.org with any questions.
The new monthly rates and coverage changes are listed below.
Student/Postdoc Rates
Student: $185.00
Spouse: $362.00
Child(ren) $260.00
Researchers
Researchers are rated by age:
Age Band [41 41-50 51-60 61-64 65+]
Researcher $241 $288 $362 $417 $473
Spouse $428 $506 $599 $708 $838
Child(ren) $260
Overview Coverage Changes:
Coinsurance 80% In Network at Beechstreet Provider / 60% Out of Network
Deductible $250 In Network at Beechstreet Provider / $500 per plan year Out of Network
Benefit Maximum for Researchers is now $50,000 per injury/ sickness
Pregnancy exclusion for Researchers only
ER Copay $250 per occurrence, waived if admitted to hospital only, NOT waived if referred by SHC
Office Visit Copay $30 per visit, then 100% (not subject to 80% coinsurance or Deductible) / 60% Out of Network, subject to Deductible.
Physician Office and Hospital/Urgent Care visits limited to 1 visit per day per person.
Assistant Surgeon limited to 25% of surgeon fee.
Anesthesia limited to 25% of surgeon fee.
Outpatient Prescriptions at 25% coinsurance