This is the fourth in a five part series of articles noting changes in benefit related plans as a result of the 2003 contract negotiations. In the first three articles, changes in Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, SUB, Personal Savings Plan, and the Prescription Drug Program were detailed. Other Health Care related changes are the focus of this article.

New hires will no longer be forced to enroll in an HMO plan, if available, when first employed. Employee’s who were subject to this rule when they were hired, will now have the option to switch to traditional coverage.

New language has been added clarifying eligibility guidelines for same-sex domestic partners and their dependent children.

Open Enrollment has been changed to a "Rolling Enrollment" that will commence February 2, 2004. This process will allow primary enrollee’s to change their health care elections any time during the year. Medical and dental options may be changed at different times of the year. Once a coverage option change is elected, no further change will be allowed for 12 months, with the exception of ‘life change events’.

Changes will take effect on the first day of the second month following receipt of completed enrollment change forms by the GM National Benefit Center. As of this date, both the PPO and HMO options have been frozen.

Existing PPO networks will be restructured to become more cost effective and deliver higher quality services. PPO’s successful in restructuring networks by January 1, 2005, will be retained for the life of this contract. Annual out-of-pocket maximums for 2004 are increased from $500 to $1000 per individual, and from $1000 to $2000 for a family.

Effective July 1, 2004, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Traditional option will be restructured into the "Traditional Care Network", which will be designed to encourage use of provider networks for the delivery of health care. Under this plan enrollees retain choice of providers; however, coverage levels are expanded when services are delivered by a TCN provider. More detailed information will be provided at a later date regarding this program.

• Whole and packed red blood processing charges will now be covered.
• Chemotherapy follow-up visits are covered for up to 30 days. Previously this was 20 days.
• Rabies follow-up care is covered in an outpatient setting, as well as, a physician’s office.
• Hyperbaric Oxygenation will be covered in an outpatient setting for certain conditions.
• Pulmonary Function Testing will be covered in an outpatient setting.
• An Integrated Care Management Program will be implemented January 1, 2005.
• MRI frequency limit is increased from two to three per year per condition.
• Injectable medications are covered when used with covered diagnostic tests.

Respectfully submitted,

Benefit Plan Reps

1st Shift: Stu Wilson, Jerry Reid, and Jolan Jackson

Alternates: Grant Holst and George Casarez

2nd Shift: Lauri Veneman, Alternate Denise DeBoer