BENEFIT REPORT
January 2008
Transitioning from Priority Health to Blue Cross
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All hourly members who had Priority Health for 2007 should have received new heath care cards from Blue Cross for 2008. If you did not receive Blue Cross cards, contact Blue Cross Blue Shield at 1(800) 482-2210.
Medco Prescriptions Prescriptions benefits are with Medco. Fidelity sent enrollment data to Medco showing all dependents terminated. This is being corrected. If it is a problem for your family member, Fidelity can update Medco immediately by request at 1 (800) 489-4646. Benefits are then available with the pharmacy, billing with the enrollee’s Social Security number and temporary group number. You will not need a new health care card.
Medco will process your prescriptions locally at participating pharmacies. Walgreens does not participate.
Maintenance Drugs Maintenance drugs will be filled locally for the first three fillings, then the Medco mail order program must be used, or there will be no benefits. A welcome package from Medco will be mailed to all enrollees with forms and details.
Walgreens Healthcare Plus Mail Order will no longer offer benefits to hourly active and retired members as of January 1, 2008. Be sure to stop any automatic refills that you may have set up. Again, the local Walgreen’s drug store does not participate with Medco. If you use Walgreens, you will pay full price for your prescription.
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Allergy Shots Allergy shots have never been a covered benefit with Blue Cross. The allergy serum cost is refundable using a Medco reimbursement form available online or call 1(800) 464-4679.
Medical Equipment/Supplies If using or renting Durable Medical Equipment, such as wheel chairs, and CPAP machines, contact your provider to give them your new BCBS card information. Some items such as diabetic supplies are automatically sent monthly. Be sure you are using a Northwood NPN participating provider such as Airway Oxygen, CareLinc, Wright & Filippis, or others.
Participating Providers BCBS Participating providers can be found on the internet with a physician search at BCBSM.com. Blue Cross does not print physician directories. The best way to find out if your doctor participates with Blue Cross is to ask the doctor’s office. If you use non-participating physicians, you will pay more out of pocket.
Your UAW Local 730 Benefit Reps - Grant Holst, Jolan Jackson, Lauri Veneman
Alternates Benefit Reps – Denise DeBoer, Carrie Jackson, and Sylvia Lillard
Benefit Office: 246-3450 or 1(800) 730-8292 BCBS: 1(800) 482-2210 Medco: 1(800) 464-4679
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Blue Cross Blue Shield Information Meetings
January 9, 10, 11, 2008
Blue Cross Blue
Shield and Medco Representatives were in town for informational meetings at the
Local 730 Union Hall and Region 1D office. Over 300 active employees and 1400
retirees attended the meetings over the three day period of January 9, 10, and
11, 2008.
A big thank you goes out to Regional Director Don Oetman, Assistant Director Mike Bieber, Region 1D International Rep Dan Baldwin, Local 730 President Barb Henderson, and the secretaries at Local 730 for all the assistance in putting something of this scale together.
Jim King, our GM/Delphi International Benefit Representative, was here from Detroit and provided insight on the contractual changes and bargaining process. Jim explained why West Michigan lost the Priority Health HMO and shared ways to maximize benefits with Blue Cross and Medco.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Senior Account Representative Lenora Thomas was the main speaker for the six informational sessions. She provided valuable information on the GM healthcare contract. There were many questions regarding the five office visits covered with a $25 co-pay for active employees, and retiree deductibles and co-insurances. A big thank you goes out to Lenora and her support staff for all the preparation and effort to help educate us on the GM health care contract.