Annual Renewal is Open Now Through September 22

Annual renewal for group benefit plans opened this morning, August 9. Rate sheets for 2018 were emailed to the primary benefits administrator at each cooperative—rates also are available online. Renewal calculations and other co-op-specific reports for experience-rated co-ops covering 100 or more lives were sent by a separate email.

Go online to send in your annual renewals for group benefit plans until September 22. You also can find out more about the actions you need to take and access the materials for annual renewal on the Annual Renewal page of the BA Guide.

Single rate for medical and prescription drug
As a reminder, you will see a single rate on your annual renewal rate sheet and on the screens for medical and prescription drug coverage on the Benefit Plan Rating and Renewal feature of the Employee Benefits website. As communicated previously, we are now rating medical and prescription drug coverage as one plan. This change better reflects the closer integration that exists between these benefits due to required combined out-of-pocket maximums for all plans and shared deductibles for high-deductible health plans. It also enables more accurate and flexible plan rating and simplifies group benefits billing and employer contributions for co-ops.

Enhancements for 2018
Also, don’t forget these enhancements:

• 24/7 nationwide telehealth service: As of January 1, 2018, NRECA Medical Plan participants and their dependents will have access to telehealth service through Teladoc. Teladoc provides 24/7 telephone and video access to U.S. board-certified, licensed physicians for non-emergency, common illnesses. More information and materials about this new service will be provided.
• Hearing aid benefit modernized: To improve workplace safety and overall quality of life for medical plan participants, the hearing aid benefit has been modernized to provide coverage for up to $10,000 in eligible expenses per lifetime for wearable hearing aids, including maintenance, subject to deductible, copays and coinsurance. (Maintenance includes ongoing fitting, orientation or checking of a hearing aid, as well as repair or modification of a hearing aid.)
• Age-based benefit reductions ending for certain life insurance and AD&D insurance plans: As of January 1, 2018, benefit levels for supplemental life, supplemental accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), spouse life, director’s life and AD&D, and director’s AD&D-only insurance plans will no longer be reduced based on an employee or director’s age. Participants in these plans who have already had their benefit reduced, up to the effective date (January 1, 2018), will remain at the previously reduced levels, but no future reductions will occur. Basic life and basic AD&D insurance plans will continue to have age-based reductions as outlined in your co-op’s summary plan description for life and AD&D insurance plans.

This update is in addition to other life insurance enhancements—will preparation, grief counseling, funeral planning assistance, travel assistance, third-degree burn coverage and estate resolution services—that were introduced or expanded last year.

Before you confirm your plans or make any other changes, we ask that you carefully review your plans to ensure that you are confirming the plan designs you intend to adopt for January 1, 2018.

If you have questions or need help with annual renewal, speak with your field representative. You also can contact the Member Contact Center at 866.673.2299 or contactcenter@nreca.coop.