Review your benefits
during open enrollment
Now is the time to make selections
for health coverage and more in 2010
November 2, 2009
 The open enrollment period for 2010 benefits and travel privileges is now underway and ends at midnight Pacific time Nov. 30. This is the only time of the year to make any changes or enrollments without a “qualifying event” — such as marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, death, or a spouse’s loss or gain of employment or benefits.
Information packets with full details on open enrollment were mailed to employees’ homes last week. You should receive it in the next few days (if you haven’t already). The Nov. 30 deadline is firm. Exceptions can’t be made unless there’s a situation where Employee Self-Service failed and a manual intervention by the Benefits Department is necessary.
Web presentations on new health plan
Premera Blue Cross Web site
FAQ: Answers about health care,
travel privileges and more
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about your health care coverage, travel privileges and other benefits. For answers to health and other benefits-related questions not covered here, contact Benefits at AAG Benefits Inquire. For travel-related questions, contact Employee Travel at Employee Travel Inquire.
If I don’t want to change medical plans and have no changes to dependent coverage for 2010, do I have to do anything?
Yes. In the past, employees who did nothing were automatically enrolled in their current health care plan for another year. This year, if you are currently enrolled in the Alaska Health or High Deductible Preferred Provider Organization (HD PPO) plan, you’ll need to actively choose a new health care plan or you will lose your coverage on Jan. 1, 2010. This is because the Alaska Health and current HD/PPO plans are being eliminated. In their place, the company is introducing the new Health Savings Account Preferred Provider Organization (HSA PPO) plan.
If you are currently enrolled in the regular PPO or HMO plan, you don’t need to do anything if you wish to remain in your current plan. But you will need to take action of you want to add or delete dependents.
What’s the difference between the current high deductible PPO plan and the new HSA PPO plan?
The new HSA PPO plan (see related story for more details) includes two key elements not found in the current high deductible plan.
* Comprehensive preventive care is paid at 100 percent when participants use Premera BlueCard network providers (the same network that participants in Alaska’s regular PPO plan use). Preventive care includes physical and well baby exams; immunizations for common illnesses and diseases; lab work for cholesterol screenings and other issues; and mammograms, colonoscopies and other cancer screenings.
* Participants can make pretax contributions through payroll deduction to cover current and future medical expenses. This health savings account is similar to a flexible spending account, but the money does not need to be spent during a given calendar year and you take your savings with you when you leave the company. For the 2010 plan year, the airline will contribute $400 for employee only and $800 for family coverage to the savings account of those who enroll in the new HSA PPO plan.
How do the new HSA PPO plan deductibles compare with those for the regular PPO plan?
The 2010 deductible for this new plan — the amount participants must spend on health care before coverage begins — is $1,200 per individual and $2,400 per family for network providers; or $2,400 per individual and $4,800 per family for out-of-network providers. These deductibles are much higher than those in the regular PPO plan. That’s because they are mandated by the Internal Revenue Service due to the accompanying health savings account. Unlike Alaska’s regular PPO plan, the new plan’s deductible applies to medical and pharmacy costs.
What about the monthly premiums for the new HSA PPO plan?
Monthly premiums for the new Health Savings Account PPO plan and the regular PPO plan are listed in the open enrollment packet that you will receive by mail at your home.
May I see any doctor under the HSA PPO plan?
Like the regular PPO, employees who choose the new plan may see any doctor they choose. But you will receive the highest level of benefits when you use Premera BlueCard network providers. After meeting the annual deductible (which does not apply to in-network preventive care), the new plan will pay 80 percent of your covered expenses when you use a network provider and 60 percent for out-of-network providers — the same percentages as the regular PPO plan.
Are there any other changes to our benefit plans I should know about?
Yes. Starting Jan. 1, Premera Blue Cross is replacing FlexPlan Services as the administrator for our health care and dependent day care flexible spending accounts. In addition, Premera Blue Cross will introduce a new type of flexible spending account — called the limited-purpose FSA to be used only for unreimbursed dental and vision expenses — if you’re enrolled in the HSA PPO medical plan. Premera will also administer the new Health Savings Account.
Also new this year: All of Alaska’s medical plans will offer comparable benefits for mental, substance abuse and physical health issues in accordance with the new federal Mental Health Parity Act. This includes number of visits, length of hospital stay and lifetime coverage. The company is also introducing a voluntary smoking cessation program for employees called “Free and Clear.” Details about all of these new benefits are in the open enrollment information packet you will receive.
How do I contact the Benefits Department now that it has moved to the Horizon G.O.?
You may contact the Benefits Department by phone at (206) 392-5111, via FirstClass at AAG Benefits Inquire, through the Health Benefits contact information page on alaskasworld.com or in person at the Horizon General Office (19521 International Blvd., Seattle).
When coming to the Horizon G.O., it’s best to schedule an appointment in advance by contacting the appropriate Benefits Department — Health Benefits, Pension and 401(k), Medical Relations, Information Services or Travel. Though not required, making an appointment will ensure you have an adequate amount of time to ask questions.
Access to the new Benefits Department location in the Horizon G.O. is restricted to protect personal and company information and ensure the privacy of employees who are visiting. If you’re visiting the Benefits Department, an HR employee will need to escort you.
If I want to accrue the same amount in my flexible spending account (FSA) in 2010 as in 2009, do I have to do anything?
Yes. Whether the amount in your FSA is changing or not, you have to designate your amount during open enrollment every year. In order to participate in a flexible spending account, you must also participate in one of Alaska’s health coverage plans.
I changed my beneficiaries for my life insurance coverage using PeopleSoft. Do I need to do anything else?
Yes. You will need to submit a hard copy of Beneficiary Change Form (I-83) to make it official. The form is available on the Benefits tab of the Manuals & Forms / Company Forms page on alaskasworld.com. Scroll down to “I-83: Retirement Plans and Life Insurance Beneficiary Form,” then click on the beneficiary form for your workgroup.
I purchased optional life insurance or optional short-term disability for myself. What, if any, documentation is required?
If you never purchased optional life insurance before or are attempting to buy more than one level up from your current coverage, you must submit the Evidence of Insurability (EOI).The EOI form is no longer needed if you are applying for optional short-term disability during this open enrollment.
How can I ensure the open enrollment changes I made in PeopleSoft went through?
Log in to PeopleSoft , click on “Benefits” in the navigation box on the left, then click on “Benefits Enrollment.” If your changes were received, you’ll see one of two things: the box labeled “Event Status” will say “Submitted.” Or you’ll see a message stating, "You currently do not have an open event."
Don’t forget to print out a copy of the confirmation for your records as proof your changes have been submitted.
OK. I tried that, but I didn’t see those words. Does that mean my changes weren’t received?
That’s right. Your changes were not successfully submitted, probably because you forgot to click the “Submit” button each time you were prompted to do so. Resubmit your changes, making sure to click on the “Submit” button whenever prompted.
If I’m adding a new dependent or enrolling in a new plan, do I need to do anything more after I submit my changes via PeopleSoft?
Yes. You have to provide the necessary backup documentation to the Benefits Department by Nov. 30. This includes domestic partner certification, dependent documentation, etc.
In terms of travel privileges, do I have to select my Employee Designated Guest (EDG) every year?
No. Your EDG selection is no longer automatically dropped on Dec. 31. But open enrollment remains your chance to change or remove your EDG. If you choose not to do so, the EDG in place will continue.
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