Bremerton School District

Employee Benefits

2007 – 2008 Employee Benefits Updates

The 2007-08 Employee Benefits Handbook is now available online. This benefit handbook provides you with valuable information when selecting your benefits program. It will serve you well this school year as a reference for a number of items related to your benefit plans.

The book includes valuable phone numbers and email addresses and information on maintaining District-paid benefits, retirement protocol, COBRA, benefit plan comparisons, 2007-2008 premium rates, TSA options and voluntary benefits. There will be one handbook copy at each location (with the office coordinator) for your reference. If you prefer your own copy, please contact Ioanna in Finance and Operations.

The District contributes $700.90 per month per full-time equivalent employee towards your benefit costs. This figure is up $18.36 from the 2006-2007 level of $682.54. Please refer to pages 37-39 for specific premium information for your plans. There have been both rate increases and some rate decreases, so do take the time to review.

A number of changes have been incorporated into the handbook. Please note: the new handbook reflects a few rate changes that are significant, but there are also some benefit enhancements, too.

Medical Plans: (Rates and Benefit changes, effective October 1, 2007)

Applies to both WEA/Premera Blue Cross Plan 1 and Plan 2	Current	Renewal
Limiting age for dependent children	To age 23	To age 25
Preventive care benefit limits	Up to $500 for children through age 3 and up to $200 for ages 4 and older	Up to $600 for children through age 3 and up to $300 for ages 4 and older
Chemical Dependency Treatment	Maximum benefit: $13,000 in 24 months	Maximum benefit: $13,500 in 24 months
Applies to all KPS plans except as specifically noted	Current	Renewal
*Plan 4 Only -* Well baby care limit	Up to $300 per year	Up to $400 per year
Chemical Dependency Treatment: All Plans	Maximum benefit: $13,000 in 24 months	Maximum benefit: $13,500 in 24 months
Applies to Group Health Cooperative	Current	Renewal
Organ Transplants	$200,000 lifetime benefit and a 12 month waiting period	$250,000 lifetime benefit and a six month waiting period
Chemical Dependency Treatment	Maximum benefit: $13,000 in 24 months	Maximum benefit: $13,500 in 24 months

Dental Plan Changes:

WEA/WDS:

They have increased the limiting age for children from age 23 to age 25. In addition, WDS is incorporating its evidence-based changes into the contract as well and these are noted below:

The addition of prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste and antimicrobial mouth rinse, when dispensed in a dental office, as a covered benefit following periodontal surgery or other covered periodontal procedures.

Coverage limitation for a complete series of x-rays is changing from once in a three-year period to once in a five-year period.

Coverage limitation for supplementary bitewing x-rays is changing to once in a benefit period.

Coverage limitation for crowns, veneers, inlays (as single tooth restorations) and onlays on the same teeth is changing from once in a five-year period to once in a seven-year period

Standard for BPEA and SEIU:

The family deductible language has been amended from “$25 per person/$75 per family” to “$25 per person with a maximum of three deductibles per family.” This is clarification only.
The frequency for preventative and diagnostic services changes from once each 5 months to twice per calendar year. (Again, this is a clarification and is not a material change to the benefit.)
Surgical periodontal benefits will be paid at 80% effective October 1st rather than the current 50% benefit level.
Crown repair will now be paid at 50% rather than the current 80% effective October 1st.
For SEIU only, eligibility for orthodontia benefits has been expanded to include adults rather than only children to age 19. This is also effective on October 1st.

Willamette Dental (New offering for all eligible employees)

Willamette Dental will be available October 1st as an HMO alternative for all eligible employees. When you review the Willamette benefits in the handbook, you will note that there are no deductibles or benefit maximums, although co-pays apply to most services. It is important to remember that you may only receive services from Willamette Dental clinics for benefits to be provided. They have a local clinic in Silverdale as well as several in Pierce County. You will want to review the benefits and the clinic locations to see if Willamette is a good fit for you. A couple of items to note with Willamette are found below:

SEIU members who are eligible for the Standard dental plan will enroll in a Willamette Dental option that includes coverage for both adult and child orthodontia benefits.
All other employees will have access only to the Willamette Dental option without orthodontia coverage. However, you will be able to seek orthodontia services directly from Willamette Dental at a discount as a private individual.

There are no other significant changes on the other plans to note.

Other important information to remember:

For an Open Enrollment change to be effective on October 1, 2007, the enrollment forms must be in the Payroll Office on or before September 17, 2007.
Open Enrollment change forms received between September 17th and October 5th will delay your coverage effective date to November 1, 2007.
Open Enrollment forms will not be accepted after October 5, 2007.
If you are currently enrolled with Premera and/or WDS and will need to re-enroll dependent children between the ages of 23 and 25, please see the WDS and Premera Blue Cross Representatives at the benefits fair for an enrollment form. NOTE: You must complete an enrollment form to re-enroll these dependents!

On a final note, the District has made arrangements with American Fidelity to be available on September 13th and 14th in the Administration Building Curriculum Library to provide you assistance with enrolling in the Section 125 offerings (Unreimbursed Medical Expenses and Dependent Care Accounts). Please contact Linda Dodman at 1-866-576-0201, ext. 33, to set up an appointment..