SUNY Orange Human Resources�. a resource for your needs today, tomorrow and in the future! ____________________________________________________________ DATE: October 2, 2009 *IMPORTANT* PLEASE READ TO: All Employees Eligible To Be Covered By The College's Group Medical Insurance Program FROM: Lori Wilson Assistant Human Resource Officer RE: 2010 Annual Medical Insurance Option Transfer Period ____________________________________________________________ PLEASE READ THIS MEMO EVEN IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO CHANGE YOUR MEDICAL PLAN. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN ENROLL IN OR CHANGE YOUR HEALTH, DENTAL AND VISION COVERAGE, ENROLL IN THE FLEXIBLE SPENDING PLAN, PARTICIPATE IN THE MEDICAL BUYOUT AND ENROLL IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE (AFLAC). Once again, it�s time to think about your medical insurance and any changes you may want to make. Included in the information that follows is: the time period for the 2010 Annual Medical Insurance Option Transfer Period, participation in the Medical Buyout and AFLAC Insurance Company offering supplemental insurance for short-term disability, cancer plan, accident expense plan, a hospital confinement indemnity policy and life insurance. We have been notified by the Orange County Office of Risk Management that this year's annual transfer option period will extend from October 1 through October 30, 2009. Eligible employees can elect to participate in the New York State Empire Plan Health Insurance Program or Emblem Health which replaces GHI HMO Value Plan $20. Additional information from Risk Management is on the Human Resources website at www.sunyorange.edu/hr. Page Two October 2, 2009 BENEFITS FAIR: Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Shepard Student Center Fireplace Lounge. There will be representatives from the NYS EMPIRE PLAN, COUNTY DENTAL, TIAA-CREF, VALIC, ING, NYS EMPLOYEES� RETIREMENT SYSTEM, CSEA INSURANCE, NYS DEFERRED COMPENSATION, NY COLLEGE SAVINGS, PROGRAM, AFLAC, HUDSON HERITAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, AT & T, and MIDDLETOWN YMCA available to answer questions. There will also be an opportunity for all those who attend to enter a drawing for various gifts from our plan sponsors. Light refreshments will be served. TRANSFER OPTION PERIOD: Annually, during the option transfer period, the County has permitted employees to change their medical coverage options. Eligibility for these options require that employees are eligible for enrollment in a medical insurance program at Orange County Community College. Such transfer must occur by October 30, 2009 with coverage to be effective January 1, 2010. Change forms are available in the Human Resources department and on the Human Resources website at www.sunyorange.edu/hr/forms. INTRODUCING NEW YORK�S 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM New York's 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan provides a flexible, convenient, and low-cost way to save for college. The Program features a wide range of investment choices, tax-free withdrawals when used for qualified higher-education expenses*, and contributions that are tax-deductible (up to certain limits**) for New York State residents. You can save for a child, grandchild, friend -- or even yourself. And the Program includes a valuable opportunity to accelerate your college savings through Upromise rewards�-- a free service that returns a percentage of your spending at hundreds of America's leading companies and can transfer that money directly to your Program account.� For more detailed information regarding the above benefits, George Makras from the College Savings Program will be available at the benefits fair on Thursday, October 15, 2009 in the Shepard Student Center Fireplace Lounge. Page Three October 2, 2009 INTRODUCING NYS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN The NYS Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement savings program, created by federal and state law, that permits government employees to defer up to 100% of compensation after any required salary deductions, but not more than $16,500 in 2009. You can contribute a portion of your salary through payroll deduction before federal and New York State income taxes are calculated. For more detailed information regarding the above benefits, Tom Mignola from the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan will be available at the benefits fair on Thursday, October 15, 2009 in the Shepard Student Center Fireplace Lounge. SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE (AFLAC INSURANCE COMPANY) Supplemental insurance through AFLAC Insurance Company is available to full-time employees. The insurance benefits are attainable for a cost (through payroll deduction) and will be effective January 1, 2010. Please note the following: * The following insurances currently available: SHORT TERM DISABILITY, CANCER PROTECTION PLAN, PERSONAL SICKNESS PLAN, ACCIDENT PROTECTION PLAN and LIFE INSURANCE. For more detailed information regarding the above benefits, Gina Hillman of AFLAC will be available at the benefits fair on Thursday, October 15, 2009 in the Shepard Student Center Fireplace Lounge. There will also be an opportunity for all those who attend the benefits fair to enter a drawing for various gifts from our plan sponsors. Light refreshments will be served. NEW YORK STATE EMPIRE PLAN HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM Risk Management has not been informed of any changes to the NYS Empire Plan health insurance. To enroll in the New York State Empire Plan Health Insurance Program you must complete and return an enrollment form to Human Resources on or before Friday, October 30, 2009. Forms are available in the Human Resources office. Copies of �The Empire Plan 2009 At A Glance� and a listing of participating physician providers are also available in the Human Resources office. For the most up-to-date participating providers, check out the website www.cs.state.ny.us. Page Four October 2, 2009 EMBLEM HEALTH Emblem Health is a new health insurance option that has resulted from the merger of GHI and HIP. It is similar to current GHI coverage. Although the Emblem Health provider network is not identical to that of GHI HMO, it is larger, and Risk Management has been advised that 93% of GHI HMO providers participate. The list of Emblem providers can be found on the Emblem Health website at www.emblemhealth.com. Office visit co-pays are $20, ER co-pay $50, generic drugs $0, preferred brand $30, and non-preferred brand $50. (A copy of the 2009 Formulary is available at Risk Management.) There is no Out-of-Network coverage. If you are interested in enrolling in Emblem Health, contact Risk Management (or OCCC Human Resources) for an enrollment packet and application. MEDICAL PLAN BUY-OUT OPTION: Active full-time employees are eligible for an annual Medical Health Plan Buy-Out that will run from January 1 through December 31 of a calendar year. The buyout amount is $2000 per year to be paid in quarterly installments. Employees must apply for this Buy-Out Option by completing the Request to Decline and Waive Medical Health Insurance Coverage and submitting the form to Human Resources on or before October 30, 2009. *NOTE* - Employees currently enrolled in the buyout for 2009 will automatically be continued for 2010 unless they submit a health plan enrollment application. A form is available on our website at www.sunyorange.edu/hr/forms. Forms are also available in the Human Resources Department. DENTAL/VISION COVERAGE: Employees who wish to change the status of their dental and/or vision coverage (family to individual or individual to family) without having a qualifying event (ex. Birth, marriage, etc.) can only do so during this transfer period. A change form is available in the Human Resources department and on our website at www.sunyorange.edu/hr/forms. Election of the family DENTAL benefit requires a payroll deduction of $17.07 per pay period. Election of the family VISION benefit requires a payroll deduction of $1.96 per pay period. Employees who wish to enroll in dental and/or vision coverage can only do so during this transfer period. ENROLLMENT IN DENTAL AND/OR VISION COVERAGE IS NOT AUTOMATIC. An enrollment form is available in the Human Resources department and at our website at www.sunyorange.edu/hr/forms. Page Five October 2, 2009 Your completed form must be received by the Human Resources department on or before October 30, 2009. SECTION 125 FLEXIBLE SPENDING PLAN: All active full-time Orange County Community College employees are eligible for the benefits provided under the Section 125 plan, effective for January 1, 2010. Our administrator for Section 125 is Fitzharris Administrators, Farmingdale, New York. Please see the 2010 Annual Option Transfer Period information packet, pages 7-8, located on the Human Resources website (www.sunyorange.edu/hr) for further information regarding the Section 125 Plan. An enrollment form is available in the Human Resources department and at our website at www.sunyorange.edu/hr/forms. *NOTE* - Employees currently enrolled in the flexible spending plan for 2009 must re-enroll for 2010 by completing an enrollment form and submitting the form to Human Resources on or before October 30, 2009. If you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me at Ext. 4661. LW:ms S:\HumanResources\Lori Folder\Option Transfer\Option 2009 memo.doc