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Attestation Requirements and Deadlines
With the annual Option
Period beginning soon, you must be proactive in fulfilling the annual
tobacco-free attestation requirements. If you or your dependents are enrolled
in the HealthChoice High or Basic plan and wish to remain enrolled for 2018,
you must complete the online HealthChoice Tobacco-Free Attestation for Plan
Year 2018. Access the attestation on the HealthChoice website.
Current
employees, your deadline to complete the attestation is Nov. 13, 2017. Retired,
vested and non-vested former employees, COBRA members, and surviving
dependents, your deadline is Dec. 7, 2017.
HealthChoice
waives the attestation the first year of enrollment in the High or Basic plan
but requires it each year thereafter. If you are in the process of quitting
tobacco, you must be tobacco-free for 90 days prior to the deadline to attest
to being tobacco-free.
If you cannot complete the attestation because you or your covered dependents are not
tobacco-free, you can still qualify for the High or Basic plan if you complete
one of the following alternatives by your deadline:
- Enroll in the
quit tobacco program through the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and complete three
coaching calls.
- Provide a letter from your doctor indicating it is not medically advisable for you or your covered
dependents to quit tobacco.
If you are not within the initial grace period and do not
complete the attestation or alternative, effective Jan. 1, 2018, you will
automatically be enrolled in the High Alternative or Basic Alternative plan. As
a reward for not using tobacco, the annual deductible in the High or Basic plan
is $250 less than the Alternative plans.
Attestation Does Not Apply to HDHP or Medicare Supplements
The attestation does not apply to the High
Deductible Health Plan or Medicare supplement plans. However, if you are a
Medicare supplement plan member and have covered dependents who are enrolled in
the High or Basic plan, you must attest if they are tobacco-free, or they must
complete one of the alternatives listed above.
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EGID has completed a move of its administrative reception
suite location to the 6th floor. The new address for EGID is 3545 N.W. 58th
St., Ste. 600, Oklahoma City, OK 73112.
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The Employees Group Insurance Division (EGID) has named
HealthSCOPE Benefits as the new third party administrator (TPA) for
HealthChoice medical, dental and life claims effective Jan. 1, 2018.
DXC (formerly HP Enterprises) will continue to process claims and
answer questions related to services incurred this year and prior until June 30, 2018.
Facts about HealthSCOPE Benefits include:
- Fourth largest TPA in the country.
- Ninety-seven percent of customer inquiries in 2016 were resolved during the first call.
- Average answer speed in call center is 19.65 seconds.
- Claim turnaround in 2016 averaged 3.57 days.
EGID is dedicated to making this a smooth and
seamless transition for you and your providers. Contact information for
HealthSCOPE will be available on the HealthChoice website during Option Period and on the new HealthChoice ID card you will receive by Jan. 1.
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To prevent delays in claims processing or missing
communications from HealthChoice altogether, please keep EGID informed of your current
contact information, including your name, mailing address, phone number and
email address. Additionally, Medicare requires eligible members report any
changes in name, address or phone number to their insurance plan.
Current employees,
contact your insurance/benefits coordinator to update your information.
Former employees,
fax changes with your member ID number and signature to member accounts at 405-717-8939 or mail to the attention of
member accounts at:
EGID
3545 N.W. 58th St., Ste. 600
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
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In 2015, 13 million Americans became victims of identity
theft at a cost of $15 billion according to a research company. Beyond the
financial ramifications, identity theft can affect your ability to get a job,
rent an apartment, obtain a mortgage or buy a car.
Identity theft protection is a $3 billion dollar industry with
approximately 50 to 60 companies currently providing these services to
subscribers who pay for more than peace of mind. These companies alert subscribers
on suspicious financial activity and help resolve the problems created by
identity fraud.
Most identity theft protection companies offer these basic
services to subscribers:
- Credit Monitoring – Review of up to three credit bureaus daily; alert subscribers to credit report changes and attempts to open a new account or of a negative collection item added to the report.
- Identity Theft Resolution Services – Management of resolution process by a dedicated caseworker who assumes administrative responsibility once you sign a limited power of attorney.
- Insurance – Insurance coverage of up to $1 million dollars in cases of identity fraud. Federal law already provides protection to all citizens by placing a limit of $50 liability for compromised checking accounts or credit cards. If you pursue litigation to fight fraudulent charges, insurance coverage may only cover expenses, including loss of wages, cost of transportation, and legal fees.
If you consider subscribing, ask yourself the following
questions and evaluate the features of each company before you make a
selection:
- Does the company continuously monitor credit reports for all three credit bureaus?
- Does the company continuously monitor the use of personally identifiable information online?
- How does the company notify subscribers about suspicious activity and potential fraud?
- Does the company assume power of attorney to act on my behalf; and work to mitigate the theft, restore my identity and clear my name with creditors, banks, employers and law enforcement agencies?
Due to personal
health information privacy laws, an identity protection company subscription
will not help you regarding medical identity theft. Continue to review your
billing statements and explanations of benefits to ensure the information is
accurate. Any suspicious activity should be reported to EGID toll-free at 866-391-3815 or
EGID.antifraud@omes.ok.gov.
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