2005 Active Employee Health Insurance Handbook - Open Enrollment Information

If you are an active employee, your Open Enrollment will be October 25, 2004 - November 5, 2004. The deadline to submit your application to your agency's health insurance coordinator is November 5, 2004.

If you are a retiree or a COBRA participant, your Open Enrollment will be October 25, 2004 - November 5, 2004. The deadline to submit your application is November 5, 2004.

• Retirees - you must submit your application to your respective retirement system.
• COBRA participants - you must submit your application to your prior agency's insurance coordinator.

Processing Note:

1. Complete and sign your application by November 5, 2004.
2. Take/Send your application to your agency’s insurance coordinator by November 5, 2004.
3. Insurance coordinator processes application.
4. Insurance coordinator sends to Department for Employee Insurance (DEI).
5. DEI processes application.
6. DEI sends application to health insurance carriers.
7. Carriers process and mail identification cards to employees.

All applications received by the health insurance carriers from the Department for Employee Insurance on or before December 10, 2004 will receive identification cards by January 1, 2005. Therefore, it is critical that you complete your application as early as possible and that your insurance coordinator forwards your application for processing as quickly as possible.  Do not send your application to the carrier.

Applications will be processed in the order they are received.

Failure to complete and sign your application by November 5, 2004 will result in your inability to have coverage on January 1, 2005.

You MUST complete a new application for 2005 even if your current carrier is still available or if you waived coverage for 2004 and wish to continue to waive coverage for 2005. If you fail to complete a health insurance application, you will not have health insurance coverage for 2005 or a Flexible Spending Account if you are continuing to waive coverage.

What do I have to do during Open Enrollment?

• You should carefully read this Health Insurance Handbook. There have been several changes for 2005. Familiarize yourself with your plan prior to the start of the Plan Year to ensure that you are prepared when a medical need arises.
• If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program available to you, you should review any information you receive from your employer regarding the FSA program. If you are a state employee, you are eligible for participation in the Commonwealth Choice Flexible Spending Account Program. Review the Commonwealth Choice Handbook.
• You should review the section on [Region Selection & Carrier Availability] to determine which carrier is available in your Region.
• You should review the [Benefits Grid] to determine which option best suits you and/or your family’s needs.
• You should review all information you receive from health insurance carriers.
• You should contact your agency's health insurance coordinator or the Department for Employee Insurance with any questions regarding your health insurance.
• You MUST complete, sign and return your health insurance application to your agency's health insurance coordinator by the [deadline] . If you fail to do so, you will not have health insurance for 2005.
• You MUST complete, sign and return your FSA application if you decide to enroll in a Health Care or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. If you are a state employee - the Flexible Spending Account application information is in Section VI of the health insurance application.