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FAQ's
- Insurance
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Health/Life/LTD
When does my insurance become effective?
If you are a new employee, your health, life and/or
LTD insurance become effective on the first day of the month following two full
months of employment. See
Effective Dates.
If you are making a change during Annual Enrollment,
the change will become effective July 1.
The Group Life and Disability Insurance provided
through the ORP becomes effective the same day that ORP becomes effective and
depends on when you sign and submit the required paperwork.
My insurance isn't effective until November 1. Why are premiums being
deducted from my October paychecks?
Premiums for health, life, and LTD insurance are
paid one month in advance. Therefore, when you enroll for the first time or make
a change to your health plan, you will see the deduction change in the month
prior to the effective date.
When can I change my health plan?
Employees can only change their health plans during
the Annual Enrollment period (April to May), UNLESS:
- you move out of the area covered by your current
health plan;
- you lose coverage through your spouse;
- you retire
How do I add my spouse? A new baby?
You need to complete a GIC Form 1 to change
to family coverage effective the first day of the month following your marriage.
You also need to complete a GIC Insurance Data Form (IDF), a form for
your HMO/PPO (if applicable) and provide a copy of the marriage certificate (to
add a spouse) or birth certificate (to add a child).
If you already have family coverage, you just need
to complete a GIC Insurance Data Form (IDF), a form for your HMO/PPO (if
applicable) and provide a copy of the marriage/birth certificate.
Newborns are automatically covered for the first 30
days following their birth.
All forms are available in the Payroll Office.
My spouse has lost his/her health insurance coverage. Can I add him/her to
my insurance? What do I need to do?
If you already have individual coverage, you must
complete a GIC Form 1 and change to family coverage effective the first of the
month following your spouse's termination date. You also need to complete a GIC
Insurance Data Form (IDF), a form for your HMO/PPO (if applicable), provide a
copy of your marriage certificate, and obtain a letter from your spouse's
employer stating the loss of coverage and termination date.
If you are not carrying any insurance with the
state, then you need to follow the same procedure but it will be new enrollment
rather than a change.
If you need to add any other dependents, you must
provide a birth certificate for each dependent.
All forms are available in the Payroll Office.
My son/daughter just turned 19. Can I still carry him/her on my health
plan?
Yes, new regulations allow you to
carry student and non-student dependents up to the age of 26 providing they meet
the eligibility requirements. Visit the Group
Insurance Commission's website for complete details and to download an
application (also available in the Payroll Office).
My son/daughter is full-time student. What do I have to do to keep him/her
on my health plan.
You need to fill out a
Dependent Age 19 or Over Application for Coverage form
(available in the Payroll Office), sign it and forward it to the Group Insurance
Commission.
If your son/daughter has already been terminated by
the GIC, you will need to complete an Insurance Data Form (IDF) and a HMO/PPO
application (if applicable) to add your dependent in addition to the
Dependent Age 19 or Over Application for Coverage form.
It is also important to remember
that your health plan will periodically verify your dependent's continued
eligibility. IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE VERIFICATION REQUESTS, YOUR
DEPENDENT'S COVERAGE WILL BE TERMINATED.
Dental
When does my dental insurance become effective?
Dental insurance for all union members becomes
effective the first day of the month following six full months of employment.
Dental insurance for non-unit employees is effective the first day of the month
following two full months of employment (the same as health insurance).
Where can I get a listing of participating dentists?
AFSCME (Classified Employees) members should contact
their union steward for information regarding their dental plan.
Employees covered under MetLife Dental should go to
MetLife's website and click on "Find a
Dentist". It is an interactive website that locates dentists in your area. There
is no hardcopy of the provider listing.
I never got a dental card. What do I give to my dentist?
MetLife does not provide dental cards. You can get
obtain an "information" card from the Payroll Office that you can carry in your
wallet. Your dentist should be able to verify your coverage via MetLife's
website.
AFSCME (Classified Employees) members should contact
the Massachusetts Public Employees Fund at 1-800-325-5214.
Where can I get claim forms?
If you use a participating dentist, you should not
need to file claim forms. However, if your dentist does not participate in the
plan, you can download a claim form from
MetLife's website.
AFSCME (Classified Employees) members do not need
claim forms.
Vision
Do we have vision care insurance?
AFSCME (Classified Employees) members have
vision care included with their dental plan. Contact your union steward for
complete information.
Vision care coverage for APA, MSCA and
Non-Unit Employees is included with your dental plan and is provided by Vision
One Eyecare Program. Click
here for more information.
What about the Dental & Vision Care insurance offered through the GIC?
Higher Education employees are not eligible for that
coverage because we have dental coverage provided by the unions or the Board of
Higher Education.
Miscellaneous Insurance
Do we have a "cafeteria" plan for health care costs?
Not in the traditional sense that allows you to pick
and choose what coverage you would like to fit your budget and circumstances;
however, employees may elect to contribute to a Health Care Spending Account and
use those funds to pay for medical expenses not covered by your health/dental
plan.
Click here for more information on the
HCSA.
Is there any Long Term Care insurance?
Non-unit employees are eligible to purchase
long-term care insurance at a discounted rate through John Hancock. For complete
information, click here.
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