May 23, 2013
Other Benefits

HIPAA-The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability act of 1996
Requires self-funded and fully insured group health plans to reduce any pre-existing condition (ex, heart trouble, high blood pressure) limitation periods by days of prior creditable coverage. If coverage has been continuous for the last 12 months (and no break in coverage over 63 days) there will be no pre-existing condition limitation. Your former insurance carrier (ex. if you leave WGSD, United HealthCare will be the issuer) will issue the HIPAA letter to you. It is important to keep this letter with your other important papers.

COBRA Coverage
Under Federal law, if your group health benefits end due to a "qualifying event", you may elect to continue your coverage under the plan. A qualifying event is any of the following:
  1. Termination of the employee's employment or reduction of hours worked which renders the employee ineligible for coverage
  2. death of the employee
  3. divorce or legal separation
  4. for a spouse and eligible dependents, loss of coverage due to the employee becoming eligible for Medicare, or
  5. for a dependent child, ceasing to qualify as a dependent under the plan
This coverage can be purchased through the District plan for a period of 18 months and/or 36 months depending upon the qualifying event.

Once the business office is notified of a termination, a COBRA informational/application/letter is sent by "Certified" mail to your residence. The COBRA premiums are the same as the current group insurance rate and are quoted in the Cobra mailing. Medical and/or Dental can be continued. COBRA premiums are due from the date of the qualifying event.

Retiree Insurance
School Districts are required by law to allow vested Non-Teacher and Teacher Retirement participants, who are eligible for insurance at the time of retirement, to continue their health insurance coverage with the current carrier at the same premium as active members.

Once the Business Office is notified of your intent to retire, a letter will be sent to you regarding continuing coverage and will contain the current premiums. Medical and/or Dental can be continued. If you do not elect continuing coverage within one year, you will no longer be eligible to participate.

Long Term Care Insurance
Is available through John Hancock - 1-888-333-4046. Other information is available through http://Csd.jhancock.com, and to access the website the user name is "CSD" and the password is "Mybenefit".

Information is also available through the http://www.Mybenergy.com located in the Work/Life Section. The user name for this site is "WebsterK12" and the password is "CSD".