CIGNA - Kansas East Conference's medical insurance carrier effective 1-01-2012, offers two plans to meet employee needs.
Enrollment Details - Contact the Benefits office, PO Box 4187, Topeka, KS 66604-0187, 1-877-972-9111 toll free or 785-262-9111 in Topeka.
Traditional Option (Open Access Plus Copay) - This traditional option plan has a $1,000 deductible per individual or $3,000 deductible per family. This plan offers traditional co-pays for those individuals who prefer to know what they need to pay at the time of service. The participant will be billed $227 above the normal rate when selecting this plan.
High-deductible Option (Choice Fund HSA Open Access Plus) - This high deductible plan option with a Health Savings Account (HSA) has a $1,500 deductible per individual or $3,000 deductible per family. Discounted amounts are paid at the time of service. All in-network medical and prescription costs are applied to the deductible.
Health Savings Account - How does an HSA work? Understand your medical plan options. Follow the web enrollment instructions. Notify the Benefits office when enrollment is completed. HSA enrollment is necessary for the Benefits office to make deposits into member accounts. Currently, the Board of Pensions front loads an employee's HSA account with $600 in January and applies $50 per month from the paying unit's premium to the member's account for a total of $1,200 per calendar year per unit. This benefit is not automatically guaranteed each year and is reviewed annually to ensure that adequate funds are available to provide this benefit. To modify (add to or change) an original enrollment amount to be deducted from payroll, provide completed add/change form to the Benefits office.
For expanded benefit descriptions and latest health information, link to CIGNA's web site. The newly designed, customized site is easier to navigate quickly. Search for a claim, find a doctor, manage your Health Savings Account (HSA), compare prescription costs, order additional or replacement insurance cards, and much more. Access a provider selection guide to help your search needs.
Eligibility - Clergy members with full-time Episcopal appointments can view clergy benefit requirements. A flat rate will be billed to the salary-paying unit whether or not the clergy member enrolls. A clergy member's share will be billed at 3% of the plan compensation. Local church employees who are scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week, or an employee of the conference scheduled to work 40 hours per week, are eligible to enroll. Contact the Benefits office for laity rates at 877-972-9111 in Kansas.
Eligible dependents - Generally. eligible dependents are a spouse (noting that domestic partners and same-sex spouses are not covered dependents) and Children (per plan and by age)
(Dependent children include natural children, stepchildren, legally adopted children, children placed for adoption with a plan member's family, children for whom the plan member is required by a court order to provide healthcare coverage, and other children for whom the member is a legal guardian.)
Enrollment - The enrollment period is within 30 days of the effective date of the following events:
Access a current health coverage enrollment form. After completing the form, send or take it to the Benefits office.
Each year open enrollment meetings are held in each district during the month of October with enrollments due by November 15th. This gives opportunity for benefit re-evaluation of needs and coverage adjustments for the upcoming plan year. Employees are allowed to add or drop coverage or dependent coverage at this open enrollment time without having a qualifying "life event" or family status change. At any other time during the year, the participant must experience a family status change (marriage, divorce, birth or adopton, a dependent's death, a child dependent's status change, or an employment status change) to make changes. When a family status change or life event happens, the insurance participant has 30 days from the event date to make benefit changes.
Declining coverage - Important information is avalable from CIGNA HealthCare. This notice covers declining enrollment, requesting special enrollment, releasing confidential information, and other important information that assist benefit election choices. If an employee declines coverage, the top portion of the enrollment form is to be completed. Check "waive participation," sign and date the form, and submit the form to the Benefits office.
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) - If one is eligible for health coverage from an employer but unable to afford premiums, a premium assistance program may help pay for health coverage. Important details are available.
CIGNA Pharmacy - Using the home delivery pharmacy is encouraged for prescription medications taken on a regular basis, such as those used for diabetes, high blood pressure, birth control, and more. Only the home delivery pharmacy can fill a 90-day supply. Local pharmacies may be used for monthly refills. Compare medication prices from local pharmacies with the home delivery pharmacy to make the best choices for you and your family. Prescription usage is applied to the deductible amount of the high deductible plan. For the best rate be sure to use an in-network provider. Traditional plan co-pays are not applied to the deductible.
CIGNA Behavioral Advantage - Health has a profound effect on happiness - and vice versa. CIGNA Behavioral Advantage is a platform to improve both physical and mental health to help establish wellness. Using this tool helps a participant to take control of health and wellness, coordinating with professionals to cope with anxiety or depression that can accompany illness.
Member Assistance Program (MAP) - Included in the medical coverage offered through CIGNA is access to MAP. This assistance program is available for members only; dependents do not have this benefit. Resources available through this program provide help and support with a variety of issues such as stress, depression, and marital problems. The benefit includes up to three face-to-face sessions with a licensed mental health provider free of charge. The participant also has access to the Life Events Program designed to help solve everyday challenges. Available 24/7, the program provides information, community resources, and referrals for numerous issues (finding child care, researching adoption alternatives, accessing senior care, and finding pet care resources). Just call the CIGNA HealthCare 24-hour health information line at 1-800-968-9949.
Wellness and Participant - Annual preventive health coverage includes some of the following:
Wellness for Children
Premium Credit - A clergy participant receives a one-month credit upon submitting a completed annual physical exam statement form. Submit the form to the Benefits office.
Healthy Rewards - Special discounts are offered for programs and services designed to enhance personal health and wellness. No referrals. No claim forms. No catch. Access a flier or visit http://www.cigna.com/ for more details.
Clergy Health Factors - A survey of 1,006 clergy identified 13 key factors that can differentiate people who are healthy from those who are unhealthy.
Additional Related Health Resources - Other organizations provide valuable health and medical resource information.
