DENTAL PLAN LIMITATION

The restorative coverage in our dental plan provides amalgam (silver-colored material) fillings on posterior (back) teeth and composite (tooth colored material) fillings on anterior (front) teeth for the treatment of decay.  Composite, resin, or similar (tooth colored) restorations on posterior teeth are considered optional services as they are usually more expensive than amalgam fillings.  If your dentist uses a composite filling to restore a posterior tooth, your benefits are limited to the amount that would have been paid for an amalgam filling and you will be responsible for paying the difference.

According to the American Dental Association, amalgam has been safely used in tooth restorations worldwide for more than 100 years.  While questions have arisen about the safety of dental amalgam relating to its mercury content, the major U.S. and international scientific and health bodies, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, among others have been satisfied that dental amalgam is a safe, reliable and effective restorative material.

This coverage limitation is not new to our plan since coming under OEBB, but has actually been in effect for several years.  If you find yourself in need of a filling, It is important that you are aware of this restorative limitation and that you discuss your options with your dentist.

RETIRING THIS YEAR?

If you are considering retirement sometime this spring or at the end of the school year, there are two simple steps you’ll need to take.

First, contact me and let me know three things:

1.    What is your anticipated retirement date?
2.    Will you have 30 years (or more) of PERS service by that date?
3.    Who are you planning to cover under your insurance when you retire?

Using the information you provide, I will create a worksheet for you outlining your retiree insurance costs and, if you are a plan A retiree (hired in 4J before July 1, 1998), your early retirement stipend information.  I will also provide you with other details important for you to consider.  Once I have completed your worksheet, we can meet in person to review the particulars, or we can discuss them over the phone, whichever is more convenient.  To get this process started, please call (541-790-7682) or e-mail me (wenzl@4j.lane.edu).

Once you have made your decision about which insurance plan best meets your needs, you’ll need to set up an appointment with Jackie McLaughlin in 4J Human Resources to complete your 4J retirement paperwork.  Jackie can be reached at 541-790-7675 or at mclaughlin_j@4j.lane.edu.

Article 4.10.1.b of our contract outlines the timeline required for plan A retirees:

By April 1st, unit members must give the District Human Resource Department a written commitment which specifies a retirement date if they intend to retire during the period from April 1st through November 15th.  If unit members provide this commitment by April 1st, they shall be advanced two payments of the monthly supplemental retirement stipend in the first month following termination from the District.  If unit members do not provide this commitment by April 1st and retire during the period from April 1st through November 15th, the unit members shall not be paid the monthly supplemental retirement stipend or the District insurance contribution during the first two months following retirement. 

4J Human Resources has requested that if you plan to retire April 1, 2010, you sign your retirement paperwork by March 5, 2010.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT DEADLINES

If you currently have a Flexible Spending Account set up for unreimbursed health-related expenses or dependent care expenses, please remember that all expenses must be incurred between January 1 and December 31, 2009 to be eligible for reimbursement.

In order to claim the money you set aside, you’ll need to complete a “Request for Reimbursement” form and submit it to Manley Services along with the appropriate documentation.  You can contact Manley Services for the form or you can download it from the web:  http://manleyserv.com/pdfs/102_RFR.pdf

The deadline for reimbursement requests for the 2009 plan year is March 31, 2010.  If you have questions, please call Manley Services customer service at 541-485-7488.

If you are planning to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account for 2010, remember that your enrollment form must be turned into 4J Human Resources no later than December 15, 2009.  Late forms will not be accepted.

PERSONAL LEAVE RELIEF FUND AND SICK LEAVE BANK

The Eugene Education Association manages two charitable banks for EEA bargaining unit members:  the Personal Leave Relief Fund (PLRF) and the Sick Leave Bank (SLB).  Both banks are voluntary programs.

Once you donate a day to the PLRF you are not required to donate again unless you access days from the fund.  During the fall PLRF enrollment period (September 1 – 30, 2009), 96 members donated for the first time, 17 members donated a second day and five members donated a third day.  The PLRF is now 254 members strong, with membership growing each year. 

In order to maintain an active membership in the SLB, you must donate one day every two years.  During the SLB fall enrollment period (September 1 – November 2, 2009), 305 licensed employees made a donation of one or two days, 25 of them for the first time.  3 donors donated the maximum allowed (16 hours) despite fact that they worked less than 1.0 FTE.  There will be a second SLB enrollment period this school year from February 1 – April 2, 2010, and e-mail reminders will be sent at that time.

If you’d like more information on either of these programs, you can find detailed information on the EEA website: http://www.eugea.org/.  From the home page, pull down the Member Area menu to read the guidelines of either bank or to access forms.

If you are planning to retire this year and have a great deal of leave accumulated that you will not use, please consider a donation to one or both of these banks. 

In these tough economic times when charitable giving is down in many areas, it’s heartening to see the generosity of so many people.  Thanks PLRF and SLB members!

WINTER VACATION

Like all teachers, I will be on winter vacation from December 19, 2009 through January 3, 2010. 

If you need assistance with your benefits during that period, you can access a great deal of information as well as forms on the 4J website: http://www.4j.lane.edu/hr/benefits. 

For recorded information about a wide variety of benefits topics, you can call the 4J Benefits Information Hotline at 541-790-7667.

Some other phone numbers you may need:

•    Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB) • 1-888-469-6322.
•    ODS Medical Customer Service • 1-866-923-0409
•    ODS Dental Customer Service • 1-866-923-0410
•    ODS Pharmacy Customer Service • 1-866-923-0411
•    Wellpartner (mail order pharmacy provider) • 1-866-680-4672
•    BioScrip (specialty medications provider) • 1-877-316-8921
•    Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)  • 1-800-433-2320

Have a wonderful vacation and go Ducks!