Former Governor Edwin Edwards to Speak at 4th Annual RSEA Fall Conference

The Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana (RSEA) 4th Annual Fall Conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge. The dates of the conference are October 1-3, 2012, and registration is only $50 per person for RSEA members or their guests. Non-member state retiree's registration is $70 and includes a membership in RSEA.

Edwin Edwards, former Governor of Louisiana, is the guest speaker on October 2. Representatives from LASERS, the Office of Group Benefits, Social Security, and Great-West Retirement will provide retirement updates in a panel format.

Click here for the conference registration form.

For additional conference information, visit the RSEA website.

Office of Group Benefits will consolidate HMO & EPO plans and Blue Cross awarded contract

The Office of Group Benefits has awarded a contract to Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana to administer OGB’s self-insured Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) health plan, effective July 1, 2010. The company's proposal received the highest score during a competitive bid process mandated by state law.

The contract will enable HMO plan members to access an extensive nationwide network of doctors, hospitals and other medical care providers. As a result, OGB will merge the HMO plan with the self-insured Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) health plan, which has a nationwide provider network.

“Having access to medical care across the U.S. is key for retirees who live in other states and also for employees and retirees with children attending out-of-state colleges and universities,” explained OGB chief executive officer Tommy D. Teague. “Having an HMO plan with a national network eliminates the need for a separate EPO plan, so OGB has withdrawn the notice of intent to contract (NIC) for an EPO plan administrator issued previously.”

Current EPO plan members who do not select another OGB health plan during Annual Enrollment in April will be automatically enrolled in the HMO plan.

Office of Group Benefits announce premium increase for 2009-2010 plan year

Premium rates will increase three percent for the 2009-10 plan year and benefits will remain the same for state employees covered by the PPP, EPO or HMO plans. As in previous years, OGB will mail premium rate information to plan members.

In the face of state budget cuts and rising health care costs, OGB has taken these additional steps:

• Some Annual Enrollment meetings have been combined to reduce the number of meetings.

• Unlike previous years, OGB is not mailing a special newsletter to retirees with Medicare. The spring 2009 issue of For Your Benefits newsletter is the only Annual enrollment newsletter you will receive.

• OGB is no longer printing provider directories. Instead, a current list of network providers for all OGB standard plans is accessible online any time via the OGB website (http://www.groupbenefits.org/).

You can search by provider or facility name, specialty, region, city or state. If you do not have a computer at home, visit a nearby public library for free Internet access and help from friendly
librarians, or call or visit your local OGB Customer Service office.

Thousands face State Group Benefits insurance cutoff

The State Office of Group Benefits is making a final appeal for policyholders to submit required documents to verify their legal relationship to each dependent covered under their insurance plan.

Some 12,000 people who get their insurance through the state’s Office of Group Benefits are facing loss of coverage at month’s end, CEO Tommy D. Teague said.

The people are the unverified dependents of state employees and retirees who have insurance under Group Benefits policies.

Beginning Monday, insurance claims will not be paid on the 12,335 people for whom verification has not been received, Teague said. Coverage will end Dec. 31, he said.

“If they get their documentation in this week, their coverage won’t be canceled and claims won’t be held up,” Teague said.

Plan members can visit the special dependent verification Web page on Group Benefits’ Web site, http://www.groupbenefits.org, which features complete details, a list of documents required for each category of dependent and a compilation of useful resources to obtain certified copies of required legal documents.

Office of Group Benefits takes steps to assist plan members affected by Hurricanes

Many OGB plan members have been affected by Hurricane Gustav and
Hurricane Ike. To help plan members obtain the prescription drugs
they need, OGB has implemented two changes:

Plan members can refill prescriptions without the usual 30-
day restrictions.

Plan members who use an out-of-network pharmacy will pay
no penalties.

As always, a two-year history of medical claims for all covered
family members, including lab tests, X-rays and prescriptions,
can be viewed and printed using secure member login from the
OGB website (www.groupbenefits.org).

Be Aware of Your Medicare Status

As you or your spouse approach age 65, it is very important that you contact your local Social Security office to determine whether or not you are eligible for Medicare.

You can receive a reduction in your Office of Group Benefits health care premium if you are enrolled in both Medicare Part A, which is free, AND Part B, which has a monthly fee. It is OBG’s policy to pay benefits to you as if you are enrolled in Medicare A and B.

If you are not eligible for Medicare coverage, you must send OGB a copy of a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that you are not eligible. You can contact the Social Security Administration in several ways:

· You can visit the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov

· You can call Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Have your Social Security number handy.


Remember, in order to receive your OGB premium reduction, you must be enrolled in both Medicare A and B.

2008 Office of Group Benefits Open Enrollment Dates

The state Office of Group Benefits has scheduled state agency open enrollment meetings for the month of April.

Personnel from the Office of Group Benefits (OGB) will conduct meetings during the month of April (1-30) to educate state employees concerning insurance information for the fiscal year 2008/09.

For dates and times click here.

No Second Annual Open Enrollment

Chief Judge Ralph Tyson of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana has declared a new state law unconstitutional and issued a permanent injunction that prohibits the Office of Group Benefits from implementing it.

The ruling bars OGB from awarding additional contracts to Louisiana-based health maintenance organizations and ends preparations for a second annual enrollment period originally set to begin September 17, as mandated by Act 479.

The law was passed by the Louisiana Legislature and took effect July 19 when Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed it. Its constitutionality was subsequently challenged by UnitedHealthcare and Humana. The companies currently have contracts with OGB to administer health plans in all nine regions of the state for the 2007-08 plan year, which began July 1.

“As always, OGB will continue to operate in compliance with court mandates and state and federal laws, as we did this summer by preparing to implement Act 479,” noted Tommy D. Teague, OGB chief executive officer. “The judge’s decision means the month-long annual enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans will take place as scheduled in November for plan members who have Medicare Part A and Part B. Any plan changes they choose to make will take effect January 1 on schedule. There will be no additional annual enrollment period for all OGB plan members.”

Federal judge expected to rule on OGB implementation of Act 479 following October 12 hearing

The Office of Group Benefits will delay implementing a second annual open enrollment period until a decision is rendered by a federal court to decide whether the agency will be required to contract with Louisiana-based companies to provide additional health insurance plans to state workers.

U.S. District Judge Ralph Tyson of the Middle District Court of Louisiana is expected to rule within 10 days on whether the Office of Group Benefits can legally implement Act 479, a new state law that took effect July 17. A hearing on the matter, which began September 14, concluded on October 12.

Both Humana and United Healthcare filed challenges in federal court to prevent implementation of Act 479, which took effect July 17. A September 10 temporary restraining order remains in effect until the ruling is issued. The order bars OGB from awarding additional contracts to Louisiana-based health insurance companies and suspends preparations for a second annual enrollment period originally set to begin September 17.

Authored by Rep. Charles McDonald of Monroe, Act 479 directs OGB to contract with up to three Louisiana-based insurance companies in each region to provide fully-insured HMO plans in addition to the self-insured EPO, PPO and HMO plans
OGB now offers.

The new law also directs OGB to reopen annual enrollment within 60 days. The additional 30-day enrollment period would give 138,000 state workers, school employees and retirees another chance to choose a health plan for the 2007-08 plan year, which began July 1.

It is possible OGB will not be able to implement Act 479 until a judgment is rendered by the court and any subsequent appeals are resolved,” noted Tommy D. Teague, OGB chief executive officer.
“If Act 479 is upheld, OGB will reopen annual enrollment, and changes in coverage will take effect January 1.”

Second Annual Open Enrollment?- Federal judge again extends order halting OGB implementation of Act 479; trial continued until October 11

The Office of Group Benefits will delay implementing a second annual open enrollment period until a decision is rendered by a federal court to decide whether the agency will be required to contract with Louisiana-based companies to provide additional health insurance plans to state workers.

At a September 25 hearing, U.S. District Judge Ralph Tyson again extended a September 10 temporary restraining order that bars the Office of Group Benefits from implementing Act 479 until he rules on the constitutionality of the new state law. Trial of the case, which began September 14, is scheduled to resume October 11 in the Middle District Court of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.

Both Humana and United Healthcare filed challenges in federal court to prevent implementation of Act 479, which took effect July 17. Judge Ralph Tyson extended an earlier restraining order that bars OGB from implementing the law pending further action by the court. Testimony is slated to resume on September 24.

Authored by Rep. Charles McDonald of Monroe, Act 479 directs OGB to contract with up to three Louisiana-based insurance companies in each region to provide fully-insured HMO plans in addition to the self-insured EPO, PPO and HMO plans OGB now offers.

The new law also directs OGB to reopen annual enrollment within 60 days. The additional 30-day enrollment period would give 138,000 state workers, school employees and retirees another chance to choose a health plan for the 2007-08 plan year, which began July 1.

It is possible OGB will not be able to implement Act 479 until a judgment is rendered by the court and any subsequent appeals are resolved,” noted Tommy D. Teague, OGB chief executive officer. If Act 479 is upheld, OGB will reopen annual enrollment, and changes in coverage will take effect January 1.”

Second Annual Open Enrollment?-Office of Group Benefits awaits ruling on Act 479 (HB 247) implementation after Federal Judge extends stay order

The Office of Group Benefits will delay implementing a second annual open enrollment period until a decision is rendered by a federal court to decide whether the agency will be required to contract with Louisiana-based companies to provide additional health insurance plans to state workers.

Both Humana and UnitedHealthcare filed challenges in federal court to prevent implementation of Act 479, which took effect July 17. Judge Ralph Tyson extended an earlier restraining order that bars OGB from implementing the law pending further action by the court. Testimony is slated to resume on September 24.

Authored by Rep. Charles McDonald of Monroe, Act 479 directs OGB to contract with up to three Louisiana-based insurance companies in each region to provide fully-insured HMO plans in addition to the self-insured EPO, PPO and HMO plans OGB now offers.

The new law also directs OGB to reopen annual enrollment within 60 days. The additional 30-day enrollment period would give 138,000 state workers, school employees and retirees another chance to choose a health plan for the 2007-08 plan year, which began July 1.

It is possible OGB will not be able to implement Act 479 until a judgment is rendered by the court and any subsequent appeals are resolved,” noted Tommy D. Teague, OGB chief executive officer.
“If Act 479 is upheld, OGB will reopen annual enrollment, and changes in coverage will take effect January 1.”

Second Annual Open Enrollment?-Office of Group Benefits awaits ruling on Act 479 (HB 247) implementation

The Office of Group Benefits will delay implementing a second annual enrollment period until a decision is rendered by a federal court to decide whether the agency will be required to contract with Louisiana-based companies to provide additional health insurance plans to state workers.

Both Humana and UnitedHealthcare filed challenges in federal court to prevent implementation of Act 479, which took effect July 17. Judge Ralph Tyson has scheduled a hearing on September 14.

Authored by Rep. Charles McDonald of Monroe, Act 479 directs OGB to contract with up to three Louisiana-based insurance companies in each region to provide fully-insured HMO plans in addition to the self-insured EPO, PPO and HMO plans OGB now offers.

The new law also directs OGB to reopen annual enrollment within 60 days. The additional 30-day enrollment period would give 138,000 state workers, school employees and retirees another chance to choose a health plan for the 2007-08 plan year, which began July 1.

It is possible OGB will not be able to implement Act 479 until a judgment is rendered by the court and any subsequent appeals are resolved,” noted Tommy D. Teague, OGB chief executive officer. “If Act 479 is upheld, OGB will reopen annual enrollment, and changes in coverage will take effect January 1.”