Dental Benefits change begin January 1, 2019
![Dentist and his assistant examining a happy patient.](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MNMMB/2018/07/2050304/2093646/adobestock-95303225_crop.jpeg)
The changes to dental benefits and premiums included in
the recently approved labor agreements and compensation plans will take effect
on January 1, 2019. These changes
include an expanded benefit set and increased premium. Due to the higher
premium, employees will be offered a new opportunity to add or drop coverage,
which will be during Open Enrollment for 2019, happening this fall.
Effective January 1, 2019, new benefits will include:
- No copayment for sealants
- Orthodontia benefits available to any member
- Benefits that were previously at 50% in-network
now covered at 80% in-network (after deductible)
- Implants now covered at 80% (after deductible)
-
Annual maximum benefit now $2,000 (excluding
orthodontia)
The employee share of the single premium will also
increase to $13.50 per month. Family premiums will increase as well, watch for
Open Enrollment materials coming this fall.
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Sign up for text message updates from SEGIP
Get important updates, announcements, and reminders
about your insurance benefits during Open Enrollment and throughout the year
using SEGIP’s text service. You can subscribe by texting “mn SEGIP” to 468311.
Standard data and messaging rates may apply.
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![121 Benefits logo](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MNMMB/2018/07/2050337/2093648/121-logo-big_crop.png)
Medical Dental Expense Account (MDEA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
– why do I get receipt requests?
Using your red Benny card or blue 121 Benefits debit card is
a convenient way to pay for eligible expenses. But you might still need to
prove the purchase is eligible under Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
regulations.
Many purchases made on your card are easily identified as
eligible and are automatically approved. But sometimes the debit card system
cannot automatically approve purchases when the dollar amount doesn’t match the
predicted copay amounts or when the charge is from a location not covered by
the State’s medical plan. In these cases, you will receive a receipt request to
verify that the purchase is eligible. Many dental and vision transactions will
require documentation too.
Acceptable documentation can be an itemized receipt or an
Explanation of Benefits. The documentation you provide must show the actual
date of service, description of service, and the patient portion of the
charges. The debit card should only be used for current year expenses.
If you
do not provide documentation by the deadline, your card will be suspended until
documentation is submitted. If you do not provide documentation by the plan
year’s filing deadline, the transaction amount may be included on your W-2 as
taxable income.
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!["Employee Benefits" written on a notepad on an office desk.](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MNMMB/2018/07/2050402/2093649/adobestock-108689805_crop.jpeg)
Revisit your benefits
Get ahead of emergencies. The next
time you log in to Employee Self Service, select the Benefits Summary link and review
your enrollment elections. Think about what coverages you or your family may
need. Next, read more about what the plans offer on the SEGIP website.
Medical
Take advantage of zero co-pays by using convenience clinics
or online care through https://www.virtuwell.com/
or https://www.doctorondemand.com/.
Dental
Use the cleaning and exam preventative benefits twice a year.
The links on the SEGIP website will
help you find an in-network provider.
Remind your dentist about getting a pre-approval before you
incur a large dental expense to ensure that cost is covered.
Life Insurance
Be sure your loved ones know about the life insurance you
have elected. You can change your beneficiary any time by accessing Securian’s
website.
Disability Insurance
Short Term and Long Term Disability plans give you added
security beyond your sick and vacation balances so you can pay bills when you
are out of work due to accident or illness or pregnancy.
Pre-Tax Accounts
These accounts allow you to purchase approved items with
dollars you were not taxed on. Visit the 121
Benefits website to see what purchases are eligible with your pre-tax
dollars and to securely access your online account.
Your employee insurance benefits
are valuable. Get the most by knowing your options and how to make your
benefits meet your needs now and in the future!
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Why Loneliness at Work Matters…and What to Do About It
Employees are happier, more engaged, and more likely to
bring their best when they have coworkers they consider friends and feel
they’re a part of the workforce ”family”. Loneliness is widespread, but it
doesn’t have to be; you can make a difference by addressing it. Try these 10 ideas to combat
loneliness and foster friendships in your workplace!
LifeMatters
EAP is a resource available for these and other concerns.
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![Hands holding up letters that together spell "Wellbeing".](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MNMMB/2018/07/2052369/2096497/adobestock-64564201_crop.jpeg)
Taking Wellness to a Higher Level
The SEGIP wellness program is shifting to health and
wellbeing. What does this mean for you? Wellbeing provides a broader scope of
options. Not only will you see traditional physical wellness services such as
tobacco cessation and weight loss, but you will get custom solutions for
financial, mental, and occupational health. These services can improve workplace
culture and your overall health and wellbeing.
We
are working to use interactive technology to make it easy and fun to reach your
goals. Watch SEGIP’s
website for more information about these changes in the coming months.
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![brain graphic.](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MNMMB/2018/07/2050482/2093652/brain-network-03_crop.png)
What if depression was a person?
You might wonder what depression
feels like if you’ve never experienced it up close. On the other hand, if you
know depression well, you might wonder if there’s a unique way to understand depression
or explain it to others. Enter “The Hilarious World of Depression,” a series of frank, moving, and, yes, funny
conversations with people who have dealt with this disease.
John Moe, a St. Paul comic and
writer, hosts the show and explains, “Comedians are able to describe the
experience much better than anybody else because a comedian’s job is to put
into really succinct words what people are thinking but not talking about.”
Moe put an interesting challenge out to his listeners and
posted a collection of several responses here: Imagine
Depression as a Person and Describe Them.
For more about depression (including an opportunity to take
a self-assessment):
- Go to www.mylifematters.com
- Enter the password STMN1
- Click on the Emotional Wellbeing tile
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![Compass hand pointing to the word "retirement".](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/MNMMB/2018/07/2050497/2093653/adobestock-78888315_crop.jpeg) Retiring at age 65 or older
Retiring takes paperwork, especially if you or your spouse
are 65 years old or older.
SEGIP provides medical coverage for retirees or spouses who
are age 65 or older through its Senior Plans. These plans work with your
Medicare A & B coverage. Senior Plans provide a rich Medicare D drug
benefit, where participants pay their listed copay for prescriptions while in
the donut hole (as opposed to paying 25-100% of the retail cost).
When it is time to enroll, you must make three critical
steps:
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Your Medicare A & B must be set to begin no
later than the first of the month following your retirement date. If
you or your spouse deferred enrollment into Medicare A and/or B, you must
notify Social Security that you would like to enroll via Special Enrollment.
- Complete and submit the Continuation of Coverage
Upon Retirement form with the help of your Human Resources department. SEGIP
can accept this form up to 60 days before your retirement date.
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Watch your home mailbox for the arrival of the group
Senior Plan enrollment kit. It includes forms that must be completed and
returned to your health plan administrator prior to the date your retiree
coverage is to start.
To get more information about the Senior Plans on the SEGIP website, select the Medical &
Dental tab and select Retiree or call 651-355-0100 and ask to speak with a
Retirement Specialist.
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