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Open Health Insurance Enrollment Fall 2008

By Dick Murra for Summer 2008 Prime Times

It is beneficial for each of us to consider what course of action we may desire to take when the Open Enrollment period for our retiree health insurance programs are opened this fall.  I suggest the following items be considered.

  • Are you happy with your current health and dental plans?
  • Do you plan on adding or deleting family members from coverage?
  • Have you reviewed your use of benefits for this year to determine type of coverage most beneficial for your health situation? That is, prescriptions, doctor visits, or hospital coverage. The plans offered may provide different levels of coverage for these requirements. Knowing which is more important to you due to your medical condition may point out which plan is best for you.
  • What are your travel plans for the upcoming year?  Which plan offers you the best out of state coverage if you plan out-of-state travel?
  • Of prime importance is to know in which agency (ADOA or ASRS) you are currently enrolled.  I assume that you will again be offered the opportunity to re-enroll in the ADOA plans if you retained either health or dental coverage in the ADOA plans. If you are covered only in the ASRS plans you will not have the opportunity to transfer back to the ADOA plans. Find out your agency affiliation now and post it on your refrigerator as a reminder for later consideration in making decisions.

In the fall, Open Enrollments will be held by both ADOA and ASRS.  Retirees retaining membership in one of the ADOA plans will receive the ADOA Benefit Options Open Enrollment Brochure.  They will also receive the open enrollment brochure for the ASRS programs. ADOA enrollees are free to review the ASRS plans to determine if one of the ASRS plans better meets their needs both as to coverage and costs. You are free to transfer either health or dental or both.  If you should elect to transfer out of the ADOA to ASRS you will need to advise the ADOA office of your transfer decision and give them the effective date of January 1, 2009. This may be accomplished by denying coverage for the health or dental coverage which you desire to transfer to ASRS.  You will have to complete the open enrollment requirements of the ASRS.

The Open Enrollment period sponsored by Medicare for Part D will also be sending you enrollment information for the Part D approved plans.  There are a multitude of companies offering many different plans which are approved under the PART D Medicare provisions of the Federal law. Limited descriptions of these plans are outlined in the Medicare Brochure "Medicare and YOU for 2008," although there may be changes for the 2009 year.

The major consideration in reviewing these plans is in the degree of prescription coverage offered. Since the State of Arizona Plans are considered to be "creditable" for prescription drug coverage (That is: the prescription coverage offered by the State plans is equal to or better than the Part D Medicare Plans.) Medicare eligible retirees may elect to remain with their State provided plans. In that case no action with Medicare is required. If the retiree later decides to leave the State supported plan and enroll in a Part D plan, they will not be subject to a late enrollment penalty for the Part D enrollment.  Retirees are reminded to retain the letter provided by the State Plan that attests to their prior enrollment in a creditable plan.

Retirees are encouraged to give the selection of their Health Insurance Coverage the priority that it deserves. Whether you retain your enrollment in a State Plan or elect to enroll in a Part D Medicare sponsored plan, make sure the plan provides the coverage that you desire at a cost that you can afford.  It is difficult to compare the relative benefits of the various plans. Get all the literature, study, and ask questions.  Don¹t buy a pig in a poke.  It's your life and your health -- ­ take care of it!