1.      We will be getting new health insurance cards in December.  Please note the following changes to your new card:

·         The employee’s social security number will no longer appear on the health card.  Spouses and children who use the cards will need to know the employee’s social security number when providing it to the doctor or pharmacy. 

·         The PPO name located in the lower left corner of card will change from Wellmark Select to Select First.

2.      The social security number will also no longer appear on the Explanation of Benefits which you receive after submitting a claim.

3.      Contact Frank at the Brooklyn Office to request additional cards for your college students.

4.      Your health insurance card is also a prescription discount card.   When you get a prescription filled and show them your card, you will receive an up-front discount.  Along with the discount, the pharmacy will also electronically file your prescription claim for processing according to our health plan.

5.      Although health care costs have been rising by double-digits and most likely continue to do so, we will only be increasing our health premium by 5% this next plan year.  These new premium rates will be effective January 1, 2005.

6.      Effective January 1, 2005, the  Manatt Group Health Plan will be implementing a Generic Incentive Plan.   Information on the plan will be mailed to all health insurance enrollees.  Included in this Plan, will also be information about Brand Name Drugs and alternatives for them.

 401K

1.      The 401k beneficiary form remains a “paper form” and we keep it on file in the Brooklyn Office.  If you have not completed a new beneficiary form, please do so as soon as possible.  Everything else you do direct with Fidelity either on-line or via phone.  

2.      The limits for 2005 401k are as follows:

·         Employee contribution $  14,000.00

·         Catch up contribution  $    4,000.00

3.      For 401k assistance, please contact Frank Heinen in the Brooklyn Office.

 CAFETERIA (FLEX) PLAN

1.      Claims incurred during 2004 must be submitted by Feb. 28, 2005 in order to qualify for reimbursement. 

2.      Contact Bev in the Brooklyn Office for assistance with correctly completing Flex claim forms or answering questions regarding eligible expenses. 

GENERAL