Annual Notice
To All Employees and Dependents:
This Notice is to inform you of the following:
- Increase in your routine physical examination benefit
- AIG transplant network clarification
- Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act Annual Notification
- New COBRA regulations.
Routine Physical Examination Benefit Increase
(Employees and Spouses in All Classes)
Routine physical examinations performed through the Health Dynamics Preferred Provider Preventive Care Program are covered in full, up to the maximum amount approved by the Trustees. Trustees recently approved a fee increase for the Health Dynamics Program from $478 to $492. To align with the amount payable for the Health Dynamics Program, we are pleased to announce that the benefit for routine physical examinations under Comprehensive Major Medical Benefits for the employee and spouse also will increase from $478 to $492 per person per calendar year effective January 1, 2005.
AIG Transplant Network Clarification
Please note that Fairview University Medical Center in Minneapolis is not in the AIG transplant network as originally noted. For transplants which are already in progress at Fairview, benefits will be payable as if part of the network. However, claims for any new transplant cases which are incurred at Fairview will be payable as out-of-network.
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act Annual Notification
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires that we notify you annually of the coverage required under this Act. This Notice fulfills that requirement.
The Act amended ERISA by requiring group health plans which provide medical and surgical benefits for a mastectomy to provide the following coverage if you elect breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy, in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient:
- reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy has been performed
- surgery and reconstruction of the contralateral breast to produce symmetrical appearance
- coverage for prostheses and physical complications of all stages of mastectomy, including lymphedemas.
- AND -
Subject to any applicable deductible and copayment requirements, your Plan provides coverage for the preceding items. Such surgical benefits are payable on the same basis as any other surgical procedure covered by the Plan.
New COBRA Regulations
There are new COBRA regulations which take effect on January 1, 2005. Enclosed is a General Notice of your COBRA rights, as revised to incorporate the new legislation. Please keep this Notice and consider it as part of your Summary Plan Description (SPD) booklet for future reference.
If you have any questions about this information, feel free to contact the Fund Office.
Yours very truly,
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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