Reminder to parents: Make sure your college student’s shots are up to date (Empire Plan Enrollees) Is your child off to college this fall? If you’ve made a checklist of items to pack and things to take care of before he or she goes, you may want to add just one more item — make sure their shots are up to date. Growing research has found that some groups of college students may be at a higher risk of contracting bacterial meningitis, and that risk can be minimized by means of a quick injection. As Empire Plan enrollees and their eligible dependents gear up for another fall semester, the CSEA Health Benefits Department would like to remind those in charge of “planning” that the Empire Plan’s vaccination and immunization benefit was enhanced to include the meningitis vaccine for dependent children. Enrollees who have questions about whether their child has received the meningitis vaccination should contact their doctor’s office. If you would like to learn more about the Empire Plan’s vaccination and immunization benefit, including the meningitis vaccine, please contact United HealthCare, the Empire Plan’s medical/surgical provider, at 1-877-7NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447). Major dental plan enhancements coming soon The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund (EBF) has announced major enhancements to take effect Jan. 1, 2016. The EBF’s Board of Trustees recently approved the enhancements, which include an allowance for dental implants under certain plans and a new benefit for a dental consultation. Effective Jan. 1, 2016, a $750 per tooth allowance will be provided toward the cost of up to two dental implants annually for the following dental plans: New York State, Unified Court System (full time and part time only), Dutchess, Equinox, Horizon and Sunrise. The EBF will provide the allowance for the surgical placement of an implant body in addition to the plan’s existing allowable benefit. Up to two implants per calendar year will be allowed per member and/ or eligible dependent. For full plan rules and guidelines, new summary plan descriptions will be made available for download from cseaebf.com later this year. The insertion of crowns, bridges and dentures over implants are allowed per plan guidelines, creating added value of the new enhancement. It is important to note that dental providers (including the EBF’s participating providers) can charge the member the difference between the EBF allowance and their regular charge for the implant. In addition, all EBF dental plans will now allow a $100 benefit for a single dental consultation to be paid within the member’s and/ or eligible dependent’s annual maximum once per calendar year. This benefit also takes effect Jan. 1, 2016. It is important that a pre-determination be submitted to the EBF so that the patient and the dental provider both know exactly what is covered before a member has any major work done. The EBF also has a customer service department available that is trained to assist you with any questions you may have concerning your benefits. It can be reached at 1-800- 323-2732. Please visit our website at cseaebf.com for information about your dental, vision and reimbursement benefits. To see which EBF plans are available through your employer from the cseaebf.com home page, click “Benefit Search,” select your “Employer Type” and if you are a New York state member, you’ll see the plan link. If you are a local government member, select the county you work in and then you will be able to select your employer if you have EBF benefits available through your collective bargaining agreement. September 2015 The Work Force 17
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