Your Benefits

Information about this and other benefits is available by contacting
the Benefits Center, 505 E. Green St., Champaign; 333-3111.


Collection of Social Security Numbers for Insured Dependents...

Federal legislation effective Jan. 1 includes new requirements for
reporting information about insured dependents. Information that must be
reported includes member (employee) and dependent names and Social Security
numbers, type of coverage (single or family), name and address of group
health plan, and name and address of employer.

Of the information required, only dependent Social Security numbers are not
currently maintained on employee insurance records.

This information is to be used to establish a Medicare/Medicaid Coverage
Data Bank to identify and collect amounts paid by Medicare that should have
been paid by another insurance carrier. The law prohibits the employer from
providing any information about the health status of the member or his/her
dependents, the cost of coverage, or any limitations on a member's specific
coverage.

In order to comply with the new requirement, the Benefits Center is sending
letters that ask for Social Security numbers from the state's Department of
Central Management Services to employees insuring dependents.  Responses are
due by March 15 and can be returned to the Benefits Center or directly to
Central Management Services.


and Medical Care and Dependent Care Assistance Plan Participants

The Benefits Center also has learned that CMS recently sent a letter to the
participants in the Medical Care and Dependent Care Assistance Plans asking
for names and Social Security numbers of "dependents eligible to be claimed
on their federal income tax return," whether or not they are insured under
the health plan as dependents. For employees insuring dependents, this will
be duplicate reporting; however, CMS has apparently determined that
separate reporting is necessary.

CMS also requests the form be returned indicating no dependents if the
participant has none. Completed forms can be sent to the Benefits Center by
campus mail for forwarding to CMS or mailed direct to CMS.

The Social Security numbers already should have been provided when
employees enrolled in the Dependent Care Assistance Plan; therefore, the
letter is asking employees to confirm the Social Security numbers on file.


Claims Payments Update for Quality Care Health
and/or Dental Plan Members

Recent months have brought significant improvement in the time between
processing and the release of claim payments under the Quality Care Health
and Dental Plans. At present, medical claim payments to members are being
released approximately 10 working days from the date of process; medical
claim payments to providers and all dental claims are being released 20
working days from the date of process.

If you have a medical or dental claim you feel should have been paid by
now, your first step should be to call the appropriate 800 number to
confirm your claim was received and to request a status report.

     Cigna/Equicor   (800) 654-8777
     Dental Care Plus        (800) 999-1669

When you call, you should be prepared to give the date of service, provider
name and amount charged. The claims administrator should then be able to
tell you when that claim was received, when it was processed, how much and
to whom the benefit was paid. With the process date you can estimate when
payment should be received. If you are having trouble resolving a claim
payment, contact the Benefits Center. Your counselor will be happy to
assist.


Mail-order drugs

Included in the state of Illinois Pharmacy Network are two mail-order
pharmacy options - Caremark and Stadtlanders. The mail-order option may be
advantageous to members who require multiple and/or expensive maintenance
prescription drugs. To learn more about how the mail-order options work,
to compare drug costs, etc., call the following numbers:

     Caremark        (800) 654-4903
     Stadtlanders    (800) 238-7828

Most major pharmacy chains continue to participate in the pharmacy network
as well as many independent local pharmacies around the state.  Advantages
of using a participating pharmacy include discounted drug costs and direct
claims filing by the pharmacy. If your deductible has been satisfied, some
pharmacies, including the mail-order options, are willing to charge you
only the 20 percent copayment; the remainder due will then be paid directly
to the pharmacy by Cigna/Equicor.


Member Assistance Program

The Quality Care Health Plan provides higher benefits to members who
receive outpatient mental-health and substance-abuse services from a
network provider through the state's Member Assistance Program. There are a
limited number of network providers in the Urbana-Champaign area; however,
Carle Clinic recently was added as a network provider. To obtain the most
current information regarding other providers in the area, members should
call Biodyne at (800) 862-2878 or the Benefits Center, which obtained a
recent register of area network providers.

Benefits applicable when services are precertified (by calling (800)
862-7828) through the Member Assistance Program and a network provider is
used:

 * 80 percent of negotiated rate.
 * 95 percent of negotiated rate for Department of Alcoholism and
   Substance Abuse-licensed programs for substance abuse services.

Benefits applicable when services are NOT precertified through MAP or if a
network provider is not used:

 * 50 percent of reasonable and customary fee up to a $40 maximum
   payment per visit for a maximum of 50 visits per contract year.
   Services must be rendered by physicians, psychiatrists or licensed
   clinical psychologists.
 * 80 percent of reasonable and customary fee for DASA-licensed programs
   for substance abuse services.