Group Medical Plan Summary of Material Modifications Available June 11

If your cooperative offers one of the NRECA medical plans, this week you will receive a message center alert directing you to a new summary of material modifications (SMM) for your plan.

Deliver the SMM to current plan participants by July 31, 2015. Then complete the online distribution acknowledgement form by August 14, 2015. Also, don’t forget to give the SMM to new plan participants at the same time you provide the Medical Summary Plan Description (SPD).

The new SMM reflects certain changes to the prescription drug benefit that were effective January 1, 2015. These changes are:

1. In the Prescription Drug Benefits chapter,

• Updated language in the Exclusive Choice section; and
• Updated and clarified the list of compound drugs covered by the plan, including prior authorization requirements.

2. Also, if applicable to your co-op, the Prescription Drug Cost Sharing table in the Plan Highlights chapter has been updated to reflect cost sharing at Exclusive Choice network, mail order, and specialty pharmacies.

Electronic Distribution
Department of Labor regulations allow employers to give out SMMs electronically (usually via email) only to certain employees who can “effectively access” the documents through computers that are an “integral part” of their work duties. Other participants—for example, linemen and meter readers—must receive paper copies. You’ll find detailed information about electronic distribution of SMMs and other ERISA-required notices on the Employee Benefits website.

Questions
If you have questions about downloading SPDs and SMMs, contact the Member Contact Center at 866.673.2299 or contactcenter@nreca.coop. For all other questions about SPDs or SMMs, contact the benefits compliance team at 866.673.2299, option 7, or at group.compliance@nreca.coop.