Health Insurance

General Information:
The 2010 health insurance rates are listed in this web site. These rates are effective January 1, 2010.

The following rates represent the full monthly premium and do not reflect the health insurance premium reduction benefit.

Health Insurance Enrollment Form
Health Insurance Disenrollment Form
The enrollment and disenrollment forms for Health/Dental/Vision insurance are fillable forms. Please fill out your form online, then print and sign it before mailing it to the Plan.

IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT AETNA HEALTH AND ANTHEM SMARTVALUE. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:

As you know, the Denver Employees Retirement Plan (The Plan) conducts its annual Open Enrollment for health, dental, and vision insurance during the month of October. Open Enrollment is the time when members may add, delete, or change their insurance options. Eligible dependents may also be added at this time. All changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1, 2010.

Enclosed is information describing the options and rates for health, dental, and vision insurance for 2010. There are two major changes that the Plan would like to bring to your attention regarding your options.

For our non-Medicare-eligible retirees, the Plan offers the same health insurance plans that the City and County of Denver offers to its current employees. For 2010, the City has elected to switch from Aetna Health to United Healthcare. If you are a current Aetna subscriber and wish to switch to United, there is nothing you need to do. The Plan will submit your information directly to United Healthcare in December and you should receive your new health insurance card from United before the 1st of January. Most likely, your current primary care physician (PCP) who you are seeing under the Aetna plan is also contracted with United Healthcare. However, you will want to check with your doctor to confirm this, or you can visit www.myuhc.com and check the online United Healthcare provider list to be sure.

Unfortunately, health insurance premiums continue to rise. Those Medicare-eligible retirees who are covered by the Anthem SmartValue PFFS plan will see a very significant increase in their monthly premium for 2010. That monthly premium amount will be $279.18 per member per month. As you might remember, when the Plan contracted with Anthem for 2008, the premium for the Anthem coverage went down very significantly from the premiums in place at the time with SecureHorizons and Rocky Mountain Health. The Plan secured a two-year rate-cap guarantee for the Anthem plan. That cap expires at the end of 2009.

The total monthly cost of the Anthem coverage (the portion paid by Medicare plus the portion charged to the individual subscriber) is going up from approximately $1,040 per month in 2009 to approximately $1,168 per month in 2010 - - an increase of $128 or about 12%. However, the portion projected to be paid by Medicare to Anthem will increase by only $4 per month. That leaves a very large increase of $124 per month coming onto the member’s portion of the premium. Please keep in mind that the amount you pay for Anthem coverage, as with all coverage offered by the Plan, is reduced by the amount of Premium Reduction Benefit to which you are individually entitled.

Anthem did suggest an alternate product to us that would have doubled some required co-pays for doctor-visits and in-patient hospitalization and significantly reduced the coverage for prescription drugs, while still raising the members’ portion of the premium to well over $200 per month. The Retirement Board decided unanimously that it is more important to maintain the same level of benefits offered in 2009 rather than reducing benefits and incurring a steep premium increase at the same time.

As you read through the different options for 2010, if you have questions or would like to make changes to your existing coverages, please contact a Membership Service Representative at the Plan at your convenience. We are eager to help answer any questions you may have about this.

Health Insurance Premium Reduction Benefit - Denver Employees Retirement Plan contributes a portion of the monthly health insurance premium if the member is enrolled in group insurance offered by the Plan. The contribution is based on service with the City/DHHA (excluding purchased permissive service).

Effective January 1, 2009, the Plan will continue to contribute $6.25 for each year of service for members age 65 and over. The Plan contributes $12.50 for each year of service for members under age 65.

Dental Insurance - The Plan offers CIGNA Dental Insurance to retired members. Members who enroll in CIGNA Dental must continue coverage for one full year. Any remaining balance in the member's health premium reduction benefit may be applied toward dental insurance premiums.

Prescriptions
Did you know that pharmacies such as King Soopers, Target, and Wal-Mart are offering 30-day generic prescriptions for $4? Many of these are commonly prescribed medications that you may be taking now. The use of these $4 prescription programs could help you save money. Contact your doctor or pharmacy for more information.

Medicare-Eligible Members - Members who are age 65 or older or who have been receiving Social Security Disability benefits for two years are Medicare eligible. In order to enroll in health insurance through the Plan, Medicare eligible members must be continuously enrolled in both Medicare Part A (Hospital) and Part B (Medical) and enroll in one of the Medicare Advantage plans offered by the Plan.

Medicare Part D - The Medicare Advantage plans offered by the Plan include prescription drug coverage (also known as Part D). Therefore, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with the Plan, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part D. You DO NOT (and SHOULD NOT) need to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan. If you are not enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan offered by the Plan or you cancel your insurance, but want to continue carrying a prescription drug plan, please contact Medicare to get information on Medicare Part D plans available to you. Be aware that there are specific enrollment periods and penalties that may apply if you do not enroll when eligible.

Because of Medicare regulations, members can only make changes to their health insurance during Open Enrollment or if the member has a qualifying life status change (LSC).

Members can get answers to Medicare questions by calling 1-800-633-4227. The Medicare web site is www.medicare.gov