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Concordia Health Plan Preventive Medical Care Benefits (12/09)
CIGNA's Employee Assistance Program Ranked Number One for Fifth Consecutive Year (12/09)
It’s New Year Resolution Time – Commit to Savings with CRSP! (12/09)
Time to Spend Your Remaining FSA Dollars (12/09)
Ways to Help Handle Holiday Stress (12/09)
You Can Eat Healthy During the Holiday Season (12/09)
Michelle's Law (12/09)
2010 Prescription Drug Formularies (11/09)
Wellness Culture Survey Results (11/09)
Express Scripts responds to State of Emergency (11/09)
Employee Assistance Program (11/09)
2008 Annual Report Now Available (10/09)
Open Enrollment Going on Now (10/09)
National Save for Retirement Week (10/09)
Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Vaccine Coverage (10/09)
Help for Flood Victims in Georgia (9/09)
Resource Materials Help Employers Explain Consumer-Directed Health Plan Options (8/09)
'Today's Economy: Adjusting to Changes': Next Topic in CIGNA's Telephone Seminar Series (8/09)
Next CIGNA Telephone Seminar August 12 – ‘Know Your Numbers: A Guide to Understanding Your Health Status’ (8/09)
CIGNA HealthCare Customer Call Centers Now Open 24/7 (7/09)
CHP 2010 Choice Materials Mailing to Employers in August (7/09)
Recent Updates to Website (7/09)
CIGNA's Telephone Seminar Series Continues July 29 — 'Managers Guide to EAP' (7/09)
Concordia Plan Services Website, E-mail Off-Line July 11-12 (7/09)
CIGNA’s Telephone Seminar Series Continues July 8 – ‘Choosing Child Care for All Seasons’ (6/09)
Don't Ignore the Power of Prevention (6/09)
Learn About and Find BlueCross Centers of Excellence (6/09)
VSP Gives Members Added Value at No Additional Cost (6/09)
Pregnant Members Receive Incentive for Enrolling in CareAllies Program (6/09)
CIGNA’s Telephone Seminar Series Continues June 10 – ‘Sleep Well: How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep’ (5/09)
Express Scripts Announces Generics for Adderall, Topamax (5/09)
Employee Assistance Program Helps Members Facing Identity Theft (5/09)
Hit Hard by the Economy, Americans Risk Knockout without Disability Insurance (5/09)
Resources Address Concerns About 'H1N1 Flu' (5/09)
Blue Cross Earns “Excellent” Rating Reserved For Best Health Plans In The U.S. (4/09)
Take Preventative Steps to Protect Yourself, Your Health (4/09)
Filing an IRS Form 990? We can help! (4/09)
CIGNA's Telephone Seminar Series Continues May 13 — 'Giving to Your Community and Your Environment' (4/09)
Healthier Eating Today Could Make All the Difference Tomorrow (4/09)
Healthy Meal Preparation Tips Available to Members (4/09)
New Concordia Health Plan Option for Seminary Students (4/09)
Help for Flood Victims in North Dakota (3/09)
New Legislation Affects Special Enrollment Provisions of the Concordia Health Plan (3/09)
Website Maintenance – March 20, 2009 (3/09)
Website Maintenance – March 14, 2009 (3/09)
CIGNA Extends Customer Service Hours (3/09)
Free Telephone Seminars (2/09)
Health Assessment Debit Card Incentive (2/09)
With the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s recent recommendation to minimize the regularity of mammography and Pap smear screenings, Concordia Plan Services wants to remind workers that the Concordia Health Plan continues to provide preventive medical care* benefits, including mammography and cancer screenings.
Preventive medical care, which applies to Concordia Health Plan Options A-D, Options Blue HSA and HRA, and all HMO Options, is covered at 100% if provided by an in- network physician or facility (HMO members may incur an office visit copay). Preventive medical care, when performed for routine checkup purposes, includes the following:
- Mammogram and osteoporosis screenings
- Cancer screenings (such as, but not limited to, Pap smears, colonoscopies, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests)
- Well-baby and well-child checkups and standard immunizations (under age 6)
- Routine preventive medical evaluation (e.g. physical exam) (age 6 and over) and standard immunizations (including tetanus)
- Routine gynecological exams
- School/sports physicals
- Routine lab tests (such as, but not limited to, diabetes screening, and lipid profile, including total and HDL cholesterol
*The list of covered procedures, frequency limits per calendar year, and age restrictions are determined by the benefits administrator for your CHP Option and may change from time to time. View Blue Cross Blue Shield’s guidelines and CIGNA’s guidelines for more details. Preventive care benefits and guidelines for members with Medicare supplemental coverage are established by Medicare. Visit www.Medicare.gov for details. Click here for CHP Medicare supplemental coverage benefits.
Concordia Plans also provides members with a Provider Preventive Care Notice so they can share with their health care providers that the CHP pays for covered preventive care services at 100 percent with no deductible or coinsurance.
For an unprecedented fifth year in a row, readers of Business Insurance have named CIGNA's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) the best in the industry. CIGNA competed for the top spot among the nation’s largest providers of EAPs for the publication's "Readers Choice Awards," and was recognized for its long-term commitment to service, value, quality, and innovation.
"Pressures on employees and their dependents are greater than ever today, and EAPs are important resources for employers and the people covered through their benefit plans,” said Regis J. Coccia, editor of Business Insurance. “CIGNA’s remarkable consistency as the top choice of Business Insurance's employer readers is a strong indication that they value the services that CIGNA provides."
CIGNA’s Employee Assistance Program is available to Concordia Health Plan (CHP) members and their families. (However, this program is not available for Medicare Members.) It also provides employer resources for business managers and others who serve in supervisory roles. Those eligible for the program can contact CIGNA by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and directly access services without a referral. Typical calls received are related to stress, marital/partner issues, life changes, mood or anxiety issues, depression, career/job concerns, relocation, child care, and financial and legal issues. Personal advocates and wellness coaches help guide callers through their benefits, provide short-term counseling, and connect people to a wide range of services.
Research indicates that CIGNA's EAP helps people find services, such as child care or elder care, an average of 6 hours faster compared to finding those services on their own. This convenience often translates into improved productivity and increased satisfaction that benefits both the individuals served and their employers.
In addition to the extensive online EAP resources available to CHP members (except Medicare Members) at www.cignabehavioral.com, effective 1/1/10, members also have up to 6 free face-to-face counseling sessions available to assist them through life’s challenges.
Many of us prepare for the New Year by making a New Year’s Resolution. If you are an active worker, and your employer is enrolled in The Church’s Plan, why not make your 2010 resolution a commitment to save with the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan (CRSP)?
Contributions to the CRSP are an important part of your financial and retirement planning. The CRSP provides the opportunity to put a little aside each paycheck to provide more potential income in your retirement.
The CRSP provides the option to save for retirement with no hassle. Once you complete and submit a Salary Deferral Agreement, contributions are automatically withheld through payroll deduction. Contributions will be withheld on a pre-tax basis, which lowers your taxable income, and you have no additional paperwork.
In addition to your own contributions, the CRSP provides a Basic Match (matching 1% of the first 2% of total compensation you contribute) that will be automatically calculated and deposited into your account each quarter.
To learn more, visit the CRSP section of our website.
For additional information on financial and retirement planning, click on Financial Matters. (12/09)
Workers who have Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) through SelectAccount or another administrator are reminded to complete the spending of their 2009 FSA dollars.
Money in an FSA is “use it or lose it.” Workers must spend all of the funds in their accounts for expenses incurred during the plan year. Participants have three months after the end of the 2009 plan year to submit expenses incurred during that year. Some FSA plans may also have a grace period in which participants can incur expenses in the new plan year (e.g. 2010) and have them apply to the previous year’s (e.g. 2009) FSA balance. However, this is determined by the employer.
Any money left in the FSA after the determined amount of time is forfeited to the employer.
If you think you may have money left over after paying your medical, dental, and/or vision expenses, remember you can use your FSA dollars for certain over-the-counter items. Click here for a list of all FSA-eligible expenses. (12/09)
The holiday season is here and for many so is the stress that comes along with it. To help handle holiday stress, CIGNA is offering a free Wellness Workbook, “Coping with Holiday Stress: 10 Keys to Creating Healthy Holidays” as well as a telephone seminar “Stress Management 101.”
The strategies offered in the workbook and through the seminar are a great way to keep your family’s holiday expectations manageable and ensure that the true spirit of the season doesn’t get lost in all the modern-day details.
Click here for a copy of the Wellness Workbook.
To access a recorded playback of the telephone seminar, click here. Handouts will be available to download from the registration site. (12/09)
Thanksgiving has come and gone. Christmas is next and then New Year’s. Have you been able to eat the right foods, exercise, and avoid over indulging yourself on turkey, pies, cookies, and the assorted chocolate candies?
Making healthy choices can be challenging this time of year, but healthy holiday eating is possible. Cigna Behavioral Health offers some tips for eating healthy this holiday season, such as not skipping meals, pacing yourself, as well as planning and preparing meals in advance. Click here to find specific ways you can keep the feasting under control. (12/09)
In October of 2008 a federal law was passed allowing seriously ill or injured full-time college students who are covered dependents in a health plan to continue coverage under their parent’s health plan for up to one year while on a medically necessary leave of absence. The Concordia Health Plan (CHP) complies with Michelle’s Law, which will be effective on January 1, 2010.
Beginning in 2010, full-time students who are enrolled dependents in the Concordia Health Plan (CHP) and suffer from a serious illness or injury may be eligible for continued CHP coverage during a medically necessary leave of absence from school.
For more information on Michelle’s Law, click here.
For a Michelle’s Law Application, click here.
(12/09)
Updated prescription drug formularies are now available on our website. Click here to view the 2010 Express Scripts Formulary for all PPO Options, Options Blue HRA, Options Blue HSA, Medicare supplemental coverage, and Option CSS for Seminary students. Click here to view the 2010 CIGNA Formulary for all HMO Options.
Members should always check the formulary status of their medication before getting their prescriptions filled; this status is used to determine the applicable drug copay.
Members looking for additional ways to save on their out-of-pocket expenses will find lower copay amounts for medications on the formulary, especially when purchasing generic medications.
The formularies have been updated for 2010 and may be updated throughout the year as deemed necessary by the pharmacy benefit administrator.
If you have any questions about the changes made to the formulary, CHP members enrolled in Options A-D, Options Blue HSA, Options Blue HRA, Option CSS, and Medicare supplemental coverage should contact Express Scripts at 800-789-7488. Members enrolled in an HMO Option should call CIGNA HealthCare at 800-244-6224. (11/09)
During two weeks in August of 2009, surveys were gathered from 3,108 Concordia Health Plan members (see box) to help determine the existing and future health and wellness needs for LCMS church workers.
- 33% Pastors
- 33% Teachers
- 34% Non-commissioned
| - 54% Male
- 42% Female
- 4% (left blank)
|
The survey was designed to give insights into the health norms and attitudes of church workers and the environments in which they work.
The results are being used to help evaluate the next steps in creating a more vibrant culture of wellness in the LCMS in order to improve the health and well-being of church workers and their families.
Click here to see highlights from the survey. (11/09)
A state of emergency has been declared for the states of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia, as well as the New Jersey county of Cape May due to tropical storm IDA.
In order to better serve Concordia Health Plan (CHP) members in these areas, Express Scripts is implementing emergency procedures for prescription drug fills.
Prescription refills will be permitted for patients from the disaster areas who have lost or damaged medication resulting from the storm, even if the refill occurs too soon according to Express Scripts' standards. (These procedures do not apply to CHP members enrolled in HMO Options because prescription drug benefits for these members are administered by CIGNA HealthCare.)
Pharmacies will need to enter a special override code (provided by Express Scripts) in order to process the claims for affected members in the specified areas. Emergency procedures are effective immediately and extend to the following dates:
- Florida - expires Jan. 09, 2010
- Alabama - expires Dec. 21, 2009
- Louisiana - expires Dec. 07, 2009
- Mississippi - expires Dec. 21, 2009
- Virginia - expires Dec. 30, 2009
- Cape May County New, Jersey - expires Jan. 1, 2010. (11/09)
Beginning January 1, 2010, members will have access to six free face-to-face visits with a counselor through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Previously, the EAP provided five free visits; however new research has shown most EAP issues are resolved in six visits. Now members will be able to take advantage of this sixth visit, with no extra charge!
EAP services are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 866-726-5267 to speak to a representative or visit www.CignaBehavioral.com to access all of the online resources the EAP has to offer!
All CHP members and dependents can get help through the EAP; click here for more information on EAP services. (11/09)
The 2008 Annual Report is now available online. The report summarizes the financial and investment activities of the Concordia Plans and Concordia Plan Services and is derived from the audited financial statements. Complete financial statements are available upon request from Concordia Plan Services. (10/09)
Open Enrollment for the Concordia Health Plan is currently underway. This year, the annual event runs October 19 – November 20.
Annual Open Enrollment gives active full-time workers employed by Concordia Health Plan-participating employers the opportunity to enroll themselves and/or their eligible dependents in the health plan (subject to certain guidelines). Workers wishing to enroll themselves or dependents must complete an Annual Open Enrollment Application Form and return it to their employer, who will forward the form to Concordia Plan Services by November 20.
Learn more about Annual Open Enrollment, including pre-existing condition limitations, possible waiver of this limitation, and the application process. (10/09)
You’ve pictured what you want to do in retirement and look forward to retiring one day. However, you may be so busy with daily life that retirement seems far away. Now is the time to plan for retirement, because it is never too early, or too late, to start saving.
The 2009 Retirement Confidence Survey, conducted by the Employee Benefits Research Institute reports that half of all Americans have less than $25,000 in savings and investments when they retire (excluding the value of their home and other assets).
This is why Concordia Plan Services is helping to promote National Save for Retirement Week. This year, Congress has designated National Save for Retirement Week as October 18-24. Raising awareness about retirement planning will help our workers think beyond the benefits and resources they currently have and encourage them to take steps to prepare for their retirement.
Learn more on our National Save for Retirement Week page. (10/09)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that certain groups of people get vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu (previously referred to as the swine flu).
Distribution of the H1N1 vaccine has begun and is being handled at the state level, meaning each state will determine where the vaccine will be available. It is anticipated that most states will choose to make the vaccine available at community clinics or schools so it is easily accessible to the majority of people. These community clinics may be held at retail drug stores.
The CDC is recommending that pregnant women, young people from the age of 6 months through 24 years, people younger than 65 who have flu-risky conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, caregivers for the at-risk (including newborns), and health care workers should receive the H1N1 vaccine first. However, there should be enough vaccine available for everyone who wants to get vaccinated.
The H1N1 vaccine will be purchased by the federal government and made available (at no charge) to vaccinators; however, there will be a charge for the physical administration of the vaccine by a health care practitioner.
Both the seasonal flu vaccine and the administration charge for the H1N1 vaccine will be covered at 100% as preventive services for CHP members. Each state will determine where the H1N1 vaccine will be administered in that state, so it was important to come up with a solution that would be available to all members. Therefore, Concordia has arranged for the charges for the seasonal flu vaccine and administration of the H1N1 vaccine to be covered by both our medical vendors and by Express Scripts so that our members can obtain these recommended vaccines where they are made available and where it is most convenient – in many instances with no up-front, out-of-pocket cost.
For coverage and claim submission information for each of our benefit administrators and health plan options, click here. (10/09)
The communities impacted by the extreme flooding in Georgia are in our thoughts and prayers. We wanted to share with you information from two of our benefit administrators who have special procedures in place offering assistance during this difficult and stressful time.
Express Scripts, Prescription Drug Benefits
Express Scripts has been monitoring the flooding in Georgia and continually stays abreast of issues which may cause a delay in receipt of medication or potentially a complete loss of medication for its customers.
Due to the flooding, Express Scripts is communicating with the local retail pharmacies to ensure that Concordia Health Plan members in the affected area (the Georgia counties of Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker) can gain access to needed medication, even if it would normally be too soon to refill the prescription. These procedures will stay in place until October 9, 2009.
If members have any questions or concerns, they are encouraged to contact Express Scripts toll-free at 800-789-7488.
CIGNA Behavioral Health, Employee Assistance Program
Because employers and workers who are directly affected by community-wide disasters sometimes need special help to cope with added stressors, the Employee Assistance Program is ready to help – either through counseling or other available resources..
Specifically the Disaster Resource Center provides LCMS employers, who are members in the Concordia Health Plan, and their workers with disaster-related information and links to resources to help them through this time of need. A helpful listing of phone numbers of disaster relief agencies is also provided..
To access the workers’ Disaster Resource Center, go to: www.cignabehavioral.com and locate “Members” and then click on “More” under the “Find Resources and Information” menu. Locate the Disaster Resource Center near the middle/top of the page. **.
Employers seeking help through the Disaster Resource Center should go to www.cignabehavioral.com and click on “Benefits Managers.” Under the “Find Reporting and Other Tools” menu, click on “More” Find the Disaster Resource Center at the middle/top of the page.
Members and employers can also log in to the site to access even more information under the “Find Work/Life Resources” menu, such as After A Disaster: Support Strategies, Returning Home Safely After a Flood, After a Disaster: Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim, Air Quality Problems Caused by Floods, Flood Fire Safety, and Post-Natural Disaster Money Tips. In addition, assistance from CIGNA Behavioral Health is available 24 hours a day, toll-free at 866-726-5267.
Contact Concordia Plan Services toll-free at 888-927-7526 if you need the login ID or other assistance. (9/09)
Interest in our consumer-directed health plan Options – Options Blue HSA and Options Blue HRA, and their applicable personal spending accounts – continues to grow. Because many workers may not understand how these plan options differ from traditional PPO or HMO options and work with personal spending accounts, Concordia Plan Services has created new educational resource material to help employers share information with their workers.
The materials are packaged based on the health plan option and personal spending account type that employers elect to offer their workers. There are 3 sets to choose from:
- Options Blue HSA paired with a Health Savings Account,
- Options Blue HSA paired with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or
- Options Blue HRA paired with a Health Reimbursement Arrangement
The materials, packaged as a set of six notecards, are designed to share information in small bits to help workers evaluate their healthcare needs and see how a consumer-directed health plan model can fulfill those needs. They also offer tips for saving money on medical expenses and estimating annual healthcare costs.
Employers have a couple of options for distributing the notecards to staff. The series of notecards is available in either pre-packaged printed sets or electronically as PDFs—either as one PDF of the set (like attached) or as individual PDFs of each notecard of the set. Each notecard is independent from the other, so the cards can be distributed incrementally throughout the open enrollment period or as a complete set depending on the employers preference and communication needs.
Some employers may find that both electronic and printed versions of the notecards would be helpful to meet the needs of their staff and Concordia Plan Services is happy to accommodate your needs.
Send your request by email to Jason Williams or call Jason at 888-927-7526, extension 6806. (8/09)
A timely topic, “Today’s Economy: Adjusting to Changes”, will be the focus of the next CIGNA Employee Assistance Program telephone seminar on August 26.
The “Today’s Economy: Adjusting to Changes” seminar will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) and last one hour. Please pre-register
at least 48 hours in advance. You will need the confirmation code 8742565 to access this seminar. Handouts are available to download:
A recorded playback of each seminar will be available starting two hours after the seminar until midnight on the 10th day from the teleconference date. The dial-in number and pass codes for the replay of seminars are available on the registration site.
To see a list of planned telephone seminars complete with access information, see the schedule provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health. (8/09)
CIGNA’s Employee Assistance Program is offering its next telephone seminar, “Know Your Numbers: A Guide to Understanding Your Health Status”, on August 12.
The “Know Your Numbers: A Guide to Understanding Your Health Status” seminar will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) and last one hour. Please pre-register at least 48 hours in advance. You will need the confirmation code 7064694 to access this seminar. Handouts will be available to download from the registration site.
A recorded playback of each seminar will be available starting two hours after the seminar until midnight on the 10th day from the teleconference date. The dial-in number and pass codes for the replay of seminars are available on the registration site.
To see a list of planned telephone seminars complete with access information, see the schedule provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health. (8/09)
CIGNA HealthCare U.S. Customer Call Centers that support medical, dental, and pharmacy employee health plans are now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The increase in service hours is good news for Concordia Health Plan members who, depending on the Option in which they are enrolled, may need to contact CIGNA about their benefits and claims.
In addition, select CIGNA service representatives will proactively monitor Twitter and Web Logs in order to find people covered by the company’s health plans who are in need of assistance. In those cases, CIGNA service representatives will reach out to these individuals with an offer of help, with the goal of reviewing and addressing issues raised by those covered by CIGNA health plans.
Call 800-244-6224 to contact the CIGNA HealthCare Customer Call Center or click here to find out other ways CIGNA HealthCare can assist members.
Click here to view CIGNA’s News Release. (7/09)
Next month, Concordia Plan Services will be mailing employers their 2010 Concordia Health Plan (CHP) Choice materials. By mid August, all employers should receive their packet of materials, including:
- An Annual Rate Notice,
- A CHP Employer Guide to Choice,
- An Employer Guide to Personal Spending Accounts, and either
- An Election Information and Form for Employer Choice* employers, or an Election Worksheet and Form for Employers with Worker Choice**
Click here for important CHP Choice Election deadlines.
*“Employer Choice" allows an employer to only offer one Concordia Health Plan Option to all of its workers. (Note: the majority of participating employers only qualify to offer Employer Choice.)
**“Worker Choice” allows an employer to offer more than one CHP Option at the organization, and then allows the workers to choose the CHP Option that best fits their needs. Employers must meet eligibility requirements in order to offer Worker Choice. Eligibility requirements state that employers must have at least 15 workers enrolled in the Concordia Retirement Plan, have at least 75% of those workers enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan (no less than 10 workers), not offer any other health coverage, and have a history of on-time invoice payments with Concordia Plan Services. Employers who qualify for Worker Choice do not have to offer multiple CHP options; they can still choose to offer only one CHP Option.
Note: The election form provided in the CHP Choice packet will indicate whether or not the employer is eligible to offer Worker Choice in 2010. (7/09)
There have been some recent changes and additions made to the Concordia Plan Services website. Check out these updates!
Concordia Plan Services strives to maintain a useful and comprehensive website. We hope you find the recent additions helpful. (7/09)
CIGNA’s Employee Assistance Program offers you seminars on a variety of topics to foster healthier living and better well-being. The next telephone seminar, “Managers Guide to EAP”, is July 29. Employers are encouraged to come take a closer look at how the EAP can help employees through life’s day-to-day challenges, as well as some services designed specifically for employers.
The “Managers Guide to EAP” seminar will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) and last one hour. Please pre-register at least 48 hours in advance. You will need the confirmation code 4929130 to access this seminar. Check out the following seminar materials — Managers Guide to EAP Presentation and Managers Guide to EAP Handouts.
A recorded playback of each seminar will be available starting two hours after the seminar until midnight on the 10th day from the teleconference date. The dial-in number and pass codes for the replay of seminars are available on the registration site.
To see a list of planned telephone seminars complete with access information, see the schedule provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health. (7/09)
In order to provide our members with quality Internet and e-mail communications, the Concordia Plan Services Information Technology Team will be shutting down website and e-mail capabilities starting Saturday, July 11, at 11 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST). Service will resume at 3 a.m. (CST), Sunday, July 12.
The planned improvements will provide more reliable Internet and e-mail connections for our members so they can conveniently and quickly access information about the benefits and resources provided through Concordia Plan Services. (7/09)
CIGNA’s Employee Assistance Program offers you wellness seminars on a variety of topics to foster healthier living and better well-being. The next telephone seminar, “Choosing Child Care for All Seasons”, is July 8.
The “Choosing Child Care for All Seasons” seminar will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) and last one hour. Please pre-register at least 48 hours in advance. You will need the confirmation code 4295370 to access this seminar. Handouts will be available to download from the registration site.
A recorded playback of each seminar will be available starting two hours after the seminar until midnight on the 10th day from the teleconference date. The dial-in number and pass codes for the replay of seminars are available on the registration site.
To see a list of planned telephone seminars complete with access information, see the schedule provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health. (6/09)
National Men’s Health Week is this week. This is a good starting point for men to take some preventative steps to establish good health and healthy lifestyles. And if you are a Concordia Health Plan member, then taking these steps may be at no cost to you.
Concordia Health Plan members (excluding CHP Medicare members) have 100% coverage for expenses incurred for routine physical exams, as well as screenings involving diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension, colonoscopy, etc., if provided by a network physician. For a comprehensive list of preventative care services that are covered at 100% click here if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield medical benefits or here if you have medical benefits coverage through CIGNA.
Preventative Care Guidelines are provided as recommended preventative care; however, members’ physicians should always check with the network manager to verify coverage. If care is secured from a physician who is not in the managed care network for your plan, charges for such care are not covered. Concordia Plan Services has prepared a Provider Preventative Care Notice that members can share with their doctors.
And, because good oral health is also important, expenses for routine dental checkups, including cleaning and bitewing x-rays twice per calendar year, are reimbursed at 100%. For more information about dental care benefits, click here and then select your CHP Option. (6/09)
BlueCross Centers of Excellence, called Blue Distinction Centers, are recognized for successful results for transplants, bariatric surgery, cardiac care, and complex and rare cancers. Also, Blue Distinction designations will launch later this year for knee and hip replacement as well as spinal surgery. Blue Distinction Centers are just one more outstanding resource provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield for Concordia Health Plan members.
The Blue Distinction designation is based on rigorous, clinically meaningful measures (or "selection criteria") established in collaboration with expert recommendations from physicians and medical organizations. The goal is to help consumers find healthcare facilities that have demonstrated better overall outcomes (e.g., fewer medical complications, fewer readmissions and higher survival rates) in the delivery of specialty care.
For each specialty area, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies collaborate with leading medical organizations to do a thorough review of nationally established measures and include input from physicians. For more details, read "A better healthcare system for the future" provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
See a map for the Centers of Excellence and find a Blue Distinction Center nearest you. (6/09)
Beginning July 1, VSP, the vision benefits administrator for all Concordia Health Plan Options, will be enhancing coverage for CHP members.
Members will receive a new 30% discount on additional pairs of prescription glasses or sunglasses purchased the same day the member receives his or her exam, by the same VSP doctor.
To discover all that VSP has to offer its members, click here. (6/09)
Understanding how to stay healthy during pregnancy is one of the first steps a woman can take to help her baby get a healthier start in life.
CareAllies’ Healthy Pregnancies/Healthy Babies program gives Concordia Health Plan (CHP) members the information they need to make the best choices for themselves and their growing baby. When members enroll in the program they will not only receive a packet of valuable educational materials to use as a resource throughout their pregnancy, they will also receive a monetary incentive for participating.
CHP members (including pregnant dependents) who enroll by the end of their first trimester can earn $150 from CIGNA. Members who enroll by the end of their second trimester receive $75. Members must participate in the program throughout their pregnancy, including a post-partum assessment, before receiving the incentive.
Visit www.mycareallies.com or call CareAllies at 1-800-605-6621 for information. (6/09)
CIGNA’s Employee Assistance Program offers you wellness seminars on a variety of topics to foster healthier living and better well-being. The next telephone seminar, “Sleep Well: How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep”, is June 10. Enjoy this seminar and others to learn more about new topics, get a refresher, or find tips for friends and family.
The “Sleep Well: How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep” seminar will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) and last one hour. Please pre-register at least 48 hours in advance. You will need the confirmation code 3490220 to access this seminar. Handouts will be available to download from the registration site.
A recorded playback of each seminar will be available starting two hours after the seminar until midnight on the 10th day from the teleconference date. The dial-in number and pass code for the replay of seminars are available on the registration site.
To see a list of planned telephone seminars complete with access information, see the schedule provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health. (5/09)
Express Scripts, the prescription benefits administrator for Concordia Health Plan’s Options A through D, Options Blue HRA and Options Blue HSA, is announcing that generics are now available for Adderall® XR Capsules and Topamax® Sprinkle Capsules.
Now that generics are available in the marketplace, Express Scripts is removing the brand-name drugs from Express Scripts formularies and replacing them with equivalent generics. The brand-name drug Adderall XR will be converted to non-formulary status on May 15 and Topamax Sprinkle Capsules will be converted June 1.
In addition to Adderall XR and Topamax, several other drugs are scheduled to lose patent protection in 2009, which means they will also be designated as “non-formulary” when generics are established in the marketplace. They are:
- Cardizem LA
- CellCept
- Prandin
- Alphagan P
- Allegra D®
- Acular
- Prevacid Naprapac
- Activella
(Note: Although a key drug patent expires, generic products are not always readily available. There are many issues that may delay their availability, including litigation, patent settlements, final approval from FDA, and additional patents and granted exclusivities.)
For more information, contact Express Scripts at 800-789-7488.
(5/09)
As with many of life’s challenges, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is by your side should you be faced with identity theft issues. Concordia Health Plan members (excluding CHP Medicare Supplemental coverage members) have access to the EAP’s Identity Theft Support benefit at no additional charge. This is just one more way the EAP can help restore CHP members’ peace of mind.
Eligible members can call the EAP to report an identity theft event and receive a 60-minute free consultation with a fraud resolution specialist. The specialist and the member will work through seven emergency response activities to help restore your identity and good credit. The specialist can:
- Counsel on notifying the proper authorities, agencies, and creditors
- Provide forms or letters to help members report and itemize each fraudulent occurrence
- Advise on how members can dispute fraudulent debts
A specialist can also advise members on how to be proactive by:
- Obtaining and monitoring their credit report
- Placing a fraud alert or credit freeze (if allowed by state law) on their credit file
- Taking future preventative measures
For a brochure on identity theft support, click here. To speak with a fraud resolution specialist call 866-726-5267 or go to www.cignabehavioral.com and log in. Your EAP is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need assistance accessing the services available through the CHP, call Concordia Plan Services at 888-927-7526. (5/09)
The results of a new survey conducted by the nonprofit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) show the historic recession has left many Americans with less in savings and investments. And, as a consequence, they are more vulnerable to serious financial hardship if they were to become sick or hurt and unable to work.
The LIFE Foundation released the survey findings to support Disability Insurance Awareness Month, a national campaign targeting the estimated 90 million U.S. workers who lack disability income protection.
According to the survey more than a quarter (27 percent) of working Americans say they would have trouble supporting themselves financially “immediately” following a disability that keeps them out of work, while nearly half (49%) would reach that point in a month or less. Three out of four (74 percent) would face financial trouble within six months.
One of the most cost-effective ways to obtain disability insurance is through an employer. Churches, schools, and other employing organizations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod can offer peace of mind to their workers through the Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan (CDSP) provided by Concordia Plan Services. If the employer offers the CDSP, all full-time workers (those who are employed more than 20 hours per week and more than 5 consecutive months a year) must be offered the opportunity to enroll themselves and any eligible dependents in the CDSP. (Part-time and temporary workers are not eligible.) The CDSP provides a disability income benefit after a worker is unable to work for 14 consecutive days due to an approved disability.
Learn more about the CDSP by visiting the Disability & Survivor section of our website or calling Concordia Plan Services at 888-927-7526. (5/09)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CIGNA, and Express Scripts, all of which administer benefits for the Concordia Health Plan, are offering resources to help address concerns surrounding the H1N1 novel influenza virus (swine flu). The Centers for Disease Control and Department of Health and Human Services are also providing information on their website.
LCMS employers and workers are encouraged to visit the links below for up-to-date information and tips for preventing the spread of the H1N1 flu.
PLEASE NOTE: Any specific benefit or coverage information mentioned in the linked articles may not apply to Concordia Health Plan members. Before receiving care, members are encouraged to verify eligibility for the services they are seeking.
For Employers:
For Workers:
We offer our prayers for health and healing and will continue to monitor the situation so that we may share helpful information as it becomes available. (5/09)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, which administers the medical benefits for Concordia Health Plan PPO Options and Consumer Directed Health Plan Options, has earned the highest possible accreditation status of “Excellent” for health plans by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA).
“NCQA’s Excellent Accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “It is only awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA’s rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement and deliver excellent clinical care.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota earned the Excellent Accreditation for two lines of business: its commercial preferred provider organization (PPO) plans and Medicaid-based health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
“NCQA is the gold standard in health plan accreditation, so we’re very proud of our achievement,” said Lori Hough, vice president of consumer health for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “Earning the status of ‘Excellent’ from NCQA reflects a great deal of hard work, enthusiasm, and determination from our employees.” (4/09)
In the latest edition of “Your Health & Well-Being” (a monthly newsletter provided by CIGNA), members are encouraged to become proactive in taking care of themselves and monitoring their health. For example, some health problems, such as heart disease and cancer, can often be caught early and treated successfully. Others, like diabetes and high blood pressure, need regular monitoring and treatment.
Because it’s important to have regular medical check-ups, your Concordia Health Plan provides coverage for preventative care. Members are encouraged to review the preventative care guidelines provided by their specific network manager as some frequency and age limits do apply to many services:
For your convenience, a Provider Preventative Care Notice outlining Concordia Health Plan’s preventative care coverage is also available, which you might find helpful to take along with you to your preventative care appointments. You can also work with your physician to get the screenings and preventative care information you need. (4/09)
An IRS Form 990 is an annual return that certain tax-exempt organizations must file. If your organization is a Non-Qualified Church-Controlled Organization (Non-QCCO), you may need to file this form. (Non-QCCOs are generally universities, colleges, and most social service organizations.) The form has been revised this year to require the reporting of additional benefit information for certain workers, officers, directors, and trustees.
The IRS is now requiring that the “increase in present value” of certain workers’ accrued benefits under a defined benefit plan (i.e., the Concordia Retirement Plan) be provided. In addition, the amount that the employer has contributed on the workers’ behalf to a defined contribution plan (i.e., the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan) must also be supplied. This is the first year for the revised form, and we are happy to help you provide the information.
If your organization is required to file a Form 990:
- Contact Concordia Plan Services at 888-927-7526, and we will send you a document to provide us with the name(s) and Social Security Number(s) of your applicable worker(s), officer(s), director(s), and trustees(s).
- After you have added this information, simply return the document to our office.
- We will then add the benefit information to the document, which will represent a reasonable estimate of the “increase in present value” of the Concordia Retirement Plan benefits and, if applicable, the Basic Match contributions your organization funded for the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan in 2008, and return the document to you.
- If your organization also provided an employer optional matching contribution for your workers in the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan, you will need to add that information.
- If your organization provided any additional matching funds during the calendar or fiscal year, through a tax-deferred savings vehicle other than the Concordia Retirement Savings Plan, it will also need to report those funds as well.
The IRS Form 990 is to be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month following the end of your organization’s fiscal year or the calendar year. For example, if your year-end is December 31, then the due date is May 15. However, you can file an extension if necessary. If you have additional questions about this form, please visit the IRS website – Form 990 Frequently Asked Questions.
Note: Concordia Plan Services does not offer tax, financial, or legal advice; for advice please contact a financial consultant or tax advisor. (4/09)
CIGNA’s Employee Assistance Program offers you wellness seminars on a variety of topics to foster healthier living and better well-being. The next telephone seminar, “Giving to Your Community and Your Environment”, is May 13. Enjoy this seminar and others to learn more about new topics, get a refresher, or find tips for friends and family.
The “Giving to Your Community and Your Environment” seminar will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) and last one hour. Please pre-register at least 48 hours before the conference. You will need the confirmation code 1934247 to access this seminar. Handouts will be available to download from the registration site.
A recorded playback of each seminar will be available starting two hours after the seminar until midnight on the 10th day from the teleconference date. The dial-in number and passcode for the replay of seminars are available on the registration site.
To see a list of planned telephone seminars complete with access information, see the schedule provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health.
(4/09)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota is motivating people through its Every Helping Helps campaign to make food choices today that can help everyone have a healthier tomorrow.
Research shows that eating more fruits and vegetables has multiple health benefits – it protects against heart disease and cancer, helps control diabetes and weight, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduces the likelihood of heart attack or stroke. Fresh, frozen, canned, or dried, every helping of fruits and vegetables helps.
For ways to make positive changes in your home and workplace, as well as other helpful tips, visit www.everyhelpinghelps.com. (4/09)
In March CIGNA presented a telephone wellness seminar titled, “Healthy Meal Planning.” With so many health conditions related to unhealthy eating habits and childhood obesity on the rise, it’s more important than ever to take care of ourselves and our families, and to teach our children to make healthy choices.
Concordia Health Plan members who were unable to participate in CIGNA’s “Healthy Meal Planning” seminar can still get all the important meal preparation and eating tips made available during the seminar by clicking here. For a copy of CIGNA’s March 2009 “Your Health & Well-Being” newsletter, click here. (04/09)
Beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, Concordia Plan Services will be providing CHP coverage to LCMS seminary students in St. Louis and Fort Wayne.
The new healthcare Option represents a breakthrough for seminary enrollees and will provide improved, affordable, and comprehensive coverage that will meet the needs of students and their families. It will also ease the transition from the student plan into the Concordia Health Plan for active workers upon graduation.
In the past, the two seminaries worked separately with independent brokers to develop limited health insurance coverage for their students. Neither plan offered the comprehensive coverage that is available through Concordia Plan Services. Now, seminary students and their families, for costs similar to their current independent insurance, will receive the all-inclusive healthcare components that are available to active LCMS workers.
Rev. Timothy R. Puls, Assistant Vice-President for Church Relations at Concordia Theological Seminary Ft. Wayne, said, “We are very enthused about the amount of collaboration and concern which has generated so much fruitful planning and discussion with both seminaries over the past couple years to bring this wonderful plan to fruition.”
The seminary student plan will become part of the Concordia Health Plan portfolio of medical care options. Additional coverage, which is not available in the current package for seminary students, includes: dental care benefits, preventive medical services, expanded prescription drug coverage, employee assistance program, health and wellness programs, vision care, and hearing treatment discounts.
All seminary students, including those in the deaconess program, with seven credit hours or more will be required to have health coverage during their enrollment at the seminaries. In addition, coverage will continue during periods of vicarage, internship, or foreign study. There will be exceptions for students who qualify as eligible “opt-outs” by having coverage, for example, through a spouse’s or parent’s group health plan.
Students can purchase the plan for themselves only, or for their spouses and dependent children. As in the Concordia Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and CIGNA Healthcare will administer the medical benefits and wellness programs, while Express Scripts Inc. will manage prescription services.
In addition, students and eligible dependents will be able to keep their coverage up to twelve months following graduation if they are working on their dissertation or waiting for a call.
(04/09)
The communities impacted by the extreme flooding in North Dakota are in our thoughts and prayers. We wanted to share with you information from two of our benefit administrators who have special procedures in place offering assistance during this difficult and stressful time.
Express Scripts, Prescription Drug Benefits
Express Scripts has been monitoring the flooding in North Dakota and continually stays abreast of issues which may cause a delay in receipt of medication or potentially a complete loss of medication for its customers. They are currently aware that mail is being redirected to alternate locations for customers to pick up each day.
Due to the flooding, Express Scripts is communicating with the local retail pharmacies to ensure that Concordia Health Plan members can gain access to needed medication, even if it would normally be too soon to refill the prescription.
If members have any questions or concerns, they are encouraged to contact Express Scripts toll-free at 800-789-7488.
CIGNA Behavioral Health, Employee Assistance Program
Because employers and workers who are directly affected by community-wide disasters sometimes need special help to cope with added stressors, the Employee Assistance Program is ready to help – either through counseling or other available resources.
Specifically the Disaster Resource Center provides LCMS employers, who are members in the Concordia Health Plan, and their workers with disaster-related information and links to resources to help them through this time of need. A helpful listing of phone numbers of disaster relief agencies is also provided.
To access the workers’ Disaster Resource Center, go to: www.cignabehavioral.com and locate “Members” and then click on “More” under the “Find Resources and Information” menu. Locate the Disaster Resource Center at the bottom of the page.
Employers seeking help through the Disaster Resource Center should go to www.cignabehavioral.com and click on “Benefits Managers.” Under the “Find Reporting and Other Tools” menu, click on “More” Find the Disaster Resource Center at the bottom of the page.
Members and employers can contact CIGNA Behavioral Health 24 hours a day, toll-free at 866-726-5267. (3/09)
The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 has caused an addition to the Special Enrollment qualifying events of the Concordia Health Plan. Under the new provisions, effective April 1, 2009, health insurance carriers and group health plans (including the Concordia Health Plan) are required to permit an eligible worker (or dependent of the worker) to enroll for coverage, if the following occurs:
- The worker (or dependent) is covered under a state Medicaid or state children’s health insurance plan and coverage is terminated as the result of the loss of eligibility for Medicaid or state children’s health insurance coverage; or
- The worker (or dependent) becomes eligible for premium assistance—to purchase coverage under the group health plan—provided by the applicable state Medicaid or state children’s health insurance plan; and
- The worker requests coverage no later than 60 days after the date that eligibility for state Medicaid or state children’s health insurance plan coverage is lost or the date the worker (or dependent) is determined to be eligible for state premium assistance.
Note: All other provisions of Special Enrollment qualifying events (COBRA coverage exhausted, loss of other health coverage, or new dependent due to marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption) require that the worker requests coverage for himself/herself (or dependents) no later than 30 days after the qualifying event.
Click here for a Special Enrollment Application. (3/09)
Concordia Plan Services will be conducting website maintenance beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT on Friday, March 20 and lasting approximately three hours. Visitors to our website may experience interruptions in accessing our website during this time. We apologize for any inconvenience; the downtime will be minimal. (3/09)
Concordia Plan Services conducted website maintenance during the weekend of March 14. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused in accessing and obtaining information from our site. (3/09)
Because being available for members is important, and because sometimes assistance is necessary beyond the standard work week, CIGNA is extending their Customer Service hours.
The new hours include Saturdays (7:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m. ET) and holidays (7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. ET). These new hours are already in effect and add to their weekday service hours of 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
The extended hours apply to CIGNA HealthCare, the administrator for HMO medical and prescription drug benefits, and will therefore affect Concordia Health Plan members who are enrolled in any of the three HMO Options. The customer service number is 800-CIGNA24 (244-6224).
CIGNA Dental has also implemented the extended weekend and holiday hours. This will apply to all Concordia Health Plan members (excluding those with Medicare supplemental coverage.) The toll-free number for CIGNA Dental is 800-CIGNA24 (244-6224).
CIGNA Behavioral Heath representatives are still available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all CHP members (excluding those with Medicare supplemental coverage) for Employee Assistance Program services and mental health and substance abuse assistance (excluding Options Blue HSA members). Contact a CIGNA Behavioral Health representative at 866-726-5267. (3/09)
CIGNA Behavioral Health, administrator of our Employee Assistance Program, offers free telephone seminars periodically throughout the year.
These seminars allow you to learn helpful tips or gain insights to various topics right in the comfort of your home or office and generally last about one hour. Each seminar begins at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time (11:00 a.m. Pacific time).
To listen to a seminar, you’ll need to pre-register at ww4.premconf.com/webrsvp at least 48 hours before the conference begins. You will need to have your seminar’s confirmation code (provided on the seminar schedule) to register. The dial-in number and passcode will be provided to you on the registration site, along with any accompanying handouts.
For a list of all Telephone Seminars, and confirmations codes, see the seminar schedule.
If there is a topic you are interested in, but are unable to listen to the seminar live, you can hear a recorded playback of each seminar starting two hours after the seminar ends until midnight on the 10th day after the seminar was held. (2/09)
All qualified active workers and CHP members: if you took your online Health Assessment between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008, you should have received your $75 debit card incentive award. If you have not yet received it, call Concordia Plan Services at 888-927-7526. Reward cards will NOT be available after March 20, 2009. (2/09)
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