RSA Benefits Trust - Chairmans Message

Board of Trustees Enacts Major Changes

By Pat McNamara, Chairman - RSA Benefit Trust

If our membership has been following the series of articles published -in the All Point's Bulletin (APB), we should all know healthcare rates are soaring. Although, we are facing increases, we are more fortunate than other groups around us. We hope to continue to keep our members ahead of the curve In this difficult marketplace. Additionally, we will continue to keep you informed about healthcare developments through the APB.
One Important health carrier note, Aetna has declined to continue its relationship with RSA. Most carriers have underwriting guidelines that are sometimes not enforced. One of Aetna's requirements Is that Aetna has at least 50% of the total participants In Aetna plans. Of our 1,800 participants, 42 are In Aetna and Aetna has elected to discontinue the relationship. Members currently enrolled in Aetna must fill out an application enroll in another health plan.

We have very modest or no increases on our dental and vision plans. Delta DPO Dental and PacifIcare Dental prepaid are holding current rates. Both Delta and PacifiCare Dental prepaid have made slight modifications to their plans. These differences can be reviewed at the RSA website listed below.

The following pages include plan comparisons and rates. The Open enrollment begins October 1, 2002 and ends October 31, 2002. The RSA office will be closed October 14 in observance of Columbus Day, RSA staff and personnel from Brown Insurance Services will be available to assist you with any questions or changes you wish to make. open enrollment is the time to change carriers, add dependents, and change providers. You may also take this occasion to review the optional life and cancer insurance programs sponsored by RSA or change your beneficiary designation.

Please note: Provider changes can be done throughout the year but dependants cannot be added without a qualifying event such as marriage, newborns, or loss of coverage. When a dependant Is being added during the year, a change form must be completed and returned the RSA office within 30 days of the event or there is a possibility you may have to wait until the next open enrollment.

One final note, on October 17, 2002 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. RSA Is holding its annual Health Fair. For more information please call the RSA Benefits Office at 909-653-8014 or log on to www.RCDSA.org and click on RSA Benefit Trust.

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