SEASONAL FLU SHOT CLINICS
By now most of you know that the seasonal flu shot clinics originally scheduled for October 28 and November 5 had to be postponed due to a shortage of the flu vaccine.
For those of you who did not get the word and showed up for a clinic on 10/28 or 11/05, I apologize for the late notice. We did not get the word about the supply shortage until the last minute and there was not enough time to send out a mailing to those of you who receive this newsletter in the paper format.
Once a supply of the vaccine becomes available, the postponed clinics will be rescheduled. Notification will be sent via e-mail and the information will be posted on the 4J website as well (http://www.4j.lane.edu/). Due to the timeline required for publication, the rescheduled flu shot clinic dates will not be published in this newsletter.
H1N1 INFLUENZA
H1N1 (swine flu) is a new virus and people generally have little or no protection against it. This strain of the virus spreads the same way the “regular flu” spreads – through droplets that form when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes, laughs or talks. You can also become infected if you touch a surface on which droplets have landed and then transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.
To avoid spreading the virus, there are simple steps you can take to protect your health. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the used tissue in the trash after you use it. You may also try sneezing into the corner of your arm (unless you spend time holding children). Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs can spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. When you are able, get the H1N1 vaccine.
The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. Please note that some people may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
If you experience symptoms of the flu, avoid unnecessary contact with others and get plenty of rest. Stay home from work, school, church, travel, shopping, public gatherings or other social activities until the symptoms have subsided for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing drugs).
Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs. However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care professional about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season. If you get sick with flu symptoms and are at high risk of flu complications or are concerned about your illness, call your health care provider for advice.
You can find a great deal of additional information about the H1N1 virus on the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT
Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code allows employees to contribute into a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through the payroll process. Money is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax and put into your FSA. During the plan year, you submit receipts for qualifying expenses and are reimbursed from your FSA. Since the amount of your FSA contribution is not included as taxable income, the effect is that you will save between 30-44% on those expenses.
You can use a Healthcare Expense FSA to set aside pre-tax money to pay for healthcare expenses that are not covered by our health plan. Eligible expenses include health insurance deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, dental care, vision care, prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs.
You can use a Dependent Care FSA to set aside pre-tax money to pay for dependent care expenses. (This benefit applies to adult dependents as well as children, for instance elderly / disabled parents living with you who may need care while you work.) You may either participate in this FSA or take the IRS standard dependent care tax credit, but not for the same expense. Many times, the FSA provides a greater tax savings than the tax credit option, but you must evaluate which will provide the greater benefit in your particular situation.
You determine the amount of your contribution based on your expected expenses. It is important to keep in mind that at the end of the plan year any unused funds in your FSA are forfeited, so your budgeting process is critical.
Our FSA plan is administered by Manley Services, and there is no cost to you to participate—the District pays the monthly administration fee.
The open enrollment period will begin Sunday, November 15 and will run through Tuesday, December 15, 2009. The FSA plan year runs from January 1 through December 31, 2010. Watch your e-mail for plan enrollment information, including dates and times for regional meetings. If you have questions, please call (790-7682) or e-mail me (wenzl@4j.lane.edu).
Please note that retirees are not able to participate. Couples who have double insurance coverage may find little benefit to participation in a Healthcare Expense FSA.
JOINT BENEFITS COMMITTEE
The Joint Benefits Committee (JBC) is responsible for designing and managing benefit programs, managing the insurance reserve fund, and communicating with members on benefit issues.
You are welcome to contact any member of the JBC if you have questions or concerns regarding our benefits. Your licensed JBC representatives are:
After 11 years on the JBC, Mark Nyegaard has decided to step down from his representative position. On behalf of the JBC, I’d like to thank Mark for all his work on behalf of members.
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY
For you retirees who are still receiving a paper copy of this newsletter, I would encourage you to make the switch to electronic delivery. It’s easy to do, it saves resources, and you will receive information about benefits issues (for example, flu shot clinics!) more quickly than paper delivery allows.
To initiate the change, please send me an e-mail from the address to which you would like your newsletter delivered. That e-mail should be sent to wenzl@4j.lane.edu.
Eugene Education Association