Exciting Improvements in Your Health Insurance

Christine Burke, Executive Director, MEABT

    Given the uncertainty about federal health care reform, this is a good time to review our current MEA Benefits Trust plan for participants. And, it affords me the opportunity to explain how the MEA Benefits Trust is enhancing the plan and improving the health care delivery system in our state.

    As many of you know, the MEA Benefits Trust provides health insurance for 99% of the schools in the state. Although the amounts the schools contribute to the premium differ from school district to school district, the premium for the Trust’s Standard Plan or the Choice Plus Plan remains the same.

    Schools in northern and southern Maine are offered the same premium amounts, and then they decide, pursuant to collective bargaining, what they will contribute toward that premium.

    Our health insurance plans are truly comprehensive at a very competitive price.

    A full review of what is covered is contained in your benefit booklet that was mailed to you earlier this school year. If you did not receive your booklet, contact us by emailing sbeaulieu@nea.org or calling 1-888-622-4418 ext. 2207.

    I am also pleased to remind you that on October 1st you received a letter introducing some exciting new enhancements, including Condition Care Incentive Program, Future Moms and IncentOne.

    The Condition Care Incentive Program (CCIP) is an educational program for people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease or diabetes.

    When members enroll in CCIP, they may have their co-pay waived for physician visits and for pharmacy items needed for maintenance medication related to their condition.

    In return, the patient works with a nurse care manager at Anthem for a year during which time you learn more about the disease and how to manage it properly.

    Future Moms is another program that assists members by helping to manage pregnancy. It is a thorough program that provides the expectant mom with printed materials and consultations with a condition care nurse who acts as a resource during this exciting time.

    For those enrolled in either of these programs, there is a complimentary new program called IncentOne that rewards participation with financial incentives.

    Enrolled members receive $100 gift cards for completing a health risk assessment and reaching one of their health goals established in conjunction with their condition care nurse. In the case of Future Moms, they will receive another $100 gift card when they complete the program through to their postpartum visit.

    There are three ways members can determine eligibility for confidential Condition Care:

(a) Anthem may contact you based on a review of your medical claims;

(b) A self-referral based upon a diagnosis of any of the defined conditions may be made by calling 866-596-9812; or,

(c) Your doctor may refer you to Condition Care by calling 866-596-9812.

    Members qualifying for Future Moms may self-refer by calling 866-347-8360.

    All Condition Care Programs are voluntary and confidential.

    Next month, I hope to share with you some of the work that the MEA Benefits Trust is doing to improve the health care delivery system in the state. It is exciting work that essentially uses the power of the largest union in Maine to motivate transformational change in the health care delivery system!