Chair Talk

November 2008

On Monday, November 3, 2008 SERA representatives (Alvin Whitfield, Lee Hall, John Bantjes, Duane Marlan, Helen Bailey and I) met with BC/BS (Arva Overton, Patricia Soyemi and Monica McKinney) and Jan Winters (CS), Jill Nowicki (OSE) and Susan Kant (Emp. Ben.). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss problems with the Medicare Advantage Plan and work toward getting more out-of-state providers to accept the plan. Blue Cross has set up several seminars next week to further educate those retirees that leave the state for the winter months. Packets will be provided for retirees to give to providers in the states where they spend the winter. Hopefully, the seminars and information provided will help retirees this winter. There will also be seminars scheduled after the first of the year for those retirees that stay in Michigan for the winter. A list of the seminars for retiree “snow birds” will be available at the November 7 quarterly CC meeting. We were also informed at the meeting that the updated Explanation of Benefits (EOB’s) are scheduled for services after December 1, 2008. The EOB’s will have provider names, addresses and procedure codes. There will also be more information shared with providers for use of preventive services and the codes utilized for those services. We have been working closely with Blue Cross and Employee Benefits in order to resolve problems as quickly as possible.

The recent problems retirees have had in getting flu shots (Kroger’s, Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid, Meijer’s, Shopko etc.) are not the fault of either Employee Benefits or Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Apparently these businesses contract with companies to administer the flu vaccine. The contracted companies were supposed to download software from CMS (Center for Medicare Services) in order to bill various insurances (Medicare Advantage). Some of those companies did not obtain the software and are unable to do the billing for payment. Retirees can pay for the flu shot upfront, get a receipt for the administration of the vaccine and then send that receipt to BC/BS for reimbursement. There is a hand-out that will be distributed with instructions as to where to send the bill.

I would like to remind all retirees that they should contact (phone or e-mail) their representatives and voice their opposition to HB 5545. That is the bill that would move the selection/administration of our health benefits from Civil Service to the Office of Retirement Services. SERA delegates believe that this move would not be in the best interest of retirees. There may be an attempt to move this bill in the lame-duck session.

Editor’s note: Bob Kopasz is Chair of the Michigan SERA Council. He may be reached at P.O. Box 692, Mt. Morris, MI 48458; phone 810/240-8380

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