SEGIP Newsletter - August 2018

Minnesota Management and Budget State Employee Group Insurance Program
SEGIP website

SEGIP’s website is getting a makeover!

Visit the SEGIP website on September 5, 2018 to see a new and improved design and layout. This reorganization reduces the number of pages, requires fewer links to arrive at desired content, and adds additional improvements to achieve the goal of a user experience that is efficient, clear, and positive. 

a diverse group of college students working on a project together.

Point of Service – Covering your dependents living out of state

Question: My daughter is attending college at UW River Falls, and my son is at Kansas State. Can they both stay on my state employee health coverage?

Answer: Yes. The Minnesota Advantage Health Plan (Advantage) does not stop at the state border.

River Falls is in the service area so your daughter will be able to access an in-network Primary Care Clinic (PCC). She may want to select a PCC near River Falls. Members can change clinics monthly, with the change becoming effective the first day of the following month.

Advantage will also work for your son at Kansas State. Covered dependents who move out of state may be covered through the Point of Service (POS) benefit.

POS is available for any Advantage member that permanently lives outside of the service area. Students are eligible when they temporarily live outside of the service area for more than six months.

Contact SEGIP without delay when your child moves outside of the service area to attend school. Requests for POS are NOT retroactive and begin the day we receive your form.

To get enrolled in POS:

  • Call SEGIP at 651-355-0100 or email SEGIP to see if they are eligible.
  • Complete the Point of Service form and submit it to SEGIP. You can find this form on the SEGIP website.
  • Call your claim administrator’s customer service at the phone number on the back of your medical ID card. Let them know about your request and discuss how to locate and use POS physicians in the national network.

With POS coverage your dependent will have a $350 single deductible (it is $700 for two or more POS covered dependents). Services, including routine medical care, are covered at seventy percent. Your out-of-pocket costs are limited to the maximum associated with the PCC your son maintains in Minnesota and/or the service area.

Spouses, employees, retirees, and former employees who meet the eligibility criteria may also be covered by POS. Contact SEGIP for more information.

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Get SEGIP news through texts

Sign up to receive text messages with important benefit information from SEGIP by texting “mn segip” to 468-311. You will receive text messages during open enrollment as well as a few times throughout the year. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying “mn stop” to the same number.

StayWell Logo

The StayWell wellness program offered to SEGIP members will end on October 31, 2018.

  • If you are using online or phone coaching, take steps to complete your program by October 31, 2018.
  • You’ll also need to print or download resources such as your health profile, favorite recipes, and wellness tips from the StayWell portal before the program ends.

Woman on the phone in her living room.

SEGIP Contacts List

Due to an upgrade to the phone system, some SEGIP phone numbers have changed. 

Refer to the current SEGIP contacts list for the most up to date contact information.

Happy family.

Family Activities and Goals: Strengthen Your Family Bond

With the fast pace of life these days, it’s easy to let weeks, even months, pass without having quality family time.  When we don’t spend time with our family, we fail to nurture the relationships that matter most.  Even though work and busy schedules may try to get in the way, it’s important that you make building better relationships a priority in your household.  When you plan specific times to get together, you will strengthen the bonds.  Take time to enjoy each other as a family with these simple ways to spend more time together – it’ll be the best investment you’ll ever make!

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness month

Check out CDC’s new interactive guide to learn what vaccines are recommended for preschool and elementary school years as well as preteen and teen years.  You’ll also find recommendations for adults. Specific vaccines can help your family stay safe from vaccine-preventable diseases. Questions — talk with your doctor about vaccines recommended for you and your family. Additionally, the Minnesota Department of Health is an important resource for immunization information including vaccine recommendations and immunization laws.

Call the customer service number on the back of your Minnesota Advantage Health Plan card to learn more about your vaccination coverage and requirements.

A retired couple walking through a state park together.

SEGIP top 10 action items for continuing insurance during retirement

  1. Review retirement information on the SEGIP website.
  2. Determine your eligibility; contact a SEGIP Retirement Specialist.
  3. Attend a retirement seminar, agency retiree meeting, or retiree Open Enrollment meeting.
  4. Decide which benefits you will continue when you retire. It’s important to remember, once you end a benefit as a retiree you can’t re-enroll!
  5. Complete all necessary retiree insurance continuation forms.
  6. Enroll in Medicare A & B if you and/or spouse are age 65 or greater.
  7. Complete and return the senior plan (age 65 and greater) enrollment forms mailed to you by the insurance plan.
  8. Watch for new membership cards from the insurance plans.
  9. Pay the premium invoices from the insurance plans and/or SEGIP.
  10. Contact a SEGIP Retirement Specialist if you need help or have any questions.

Diabetes testing supplies, weight and grapefruit.

Gain an advantage over diabetes

Advantage Value for Diabetes (AVD) allows Minnesota Advantage Health Plan Members, age eighteen or older, diagnosed with diabetes have access to reduced out-of-pocket costs for high-value medical services that are primarily for diabetes. Eligible medical services include physician office visits, dietitian office visits, diabetic retinal eye exams, lab tests, diabetic testing supplies and pharmacist consults.

Benefits are for care through your primary care clinic or referred in-network provider. All care not primarily related to diabetes will be covered under the standard plan benefits.

CVS Caremark formulary medications for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, and depression drugs are covered under AVD. Members should call their health plan administrator (BCBS, HealthPartners, or PreferredOne) to determine what is covered through the medical benefit, or CVS Caremark to learn where to purchase equipment or testing supplies.

All members diagnosed with diabetes, age eighteen or older, will receive discounts without the need to enroll. Please visit the AVD webpage for the most up-to-date information, or for more details about the plan including the list for eligible drugs and Frequently Asked Questions.

Nurse holding an elderly womans hand

Employees enrolled in Long-term Care insurance will now pay premiums directly to CNA

CNA mailed a letter in late July to all employees enrolled in Long-term Care insurance (LTCi) explaining a change in how premiums will be collected. Until now, these premiums were paid through payroll deductions. Beginning in September, employees enrolled in this coverage must pay CNA directly for their LTCi.

 If you are enrolled in LTCi:

  • The premiums have always been paid on a post-tax basis so you are not losing a tax deduction.
  • The pay period ending August 21, 2018 will be the last pay period in which premiums for LTCi will be deducted. Going forward, any employee who remains enrolled in LTCi coverage will be billed for the coverage directly by CNA.
  • You will receive your first direct bill from CNA in late September 2018.

CNA Customer Service representatives are ready to answer questions about your LTCi:

  • Call CNA at 1-800-528-4582, Monday through Friday from 8a.m. to 8p.m., ET.
  • The group policy number is 9938 and is on the letter you received.