Health Insurance

We have two issues with health insurance to consider this month. The  first  is  the new  lower benefit Blue Cross & Blue Shield  (BC/BS) basic and  that  is  coupled with  the higher cost buy-up BC/BS insurance. The higher cost  for the buy-up  is directly  caused by  the higher deductible,  co- pays and higher cost shares of the basic plan. There is simply more to buy-up, more costs for the buy-up  to  cover, so  the cost of  the buy-up  increases. Since the SLMPD decided to cut their cost for health insurance, retires under 65 have two choices – pay  the higher deductibles, co-pays, and cost shares OR pay the higher cost of the buy-up. There is no free lunch. The Department did a shift of costs from the SLMPD to us.   Now we will be paying for our own  lunch  (buy-up insurance).

The second  insurance issue  is one  I hope  you didn’t notice.   Someone at BC/BS erroneously ended Retiree BC/BS insurance on June 20 and they conveyed that  information  to Express Scripts, our pharmacy benefit manager. Those of us  that tried to fill a prescription, make a doctor office visit, or had some hospital or outpatient procedure scheduled after June 20 found that  the providers were being told  that our  coverage ended June 20, 2010.  Some hasty phone calls had to be made to verify that our coverage did not expire on June 20, some from the hospital before a needed surgery could be started.

BC/BS  in  their  usual bureaucratic  customer  service procedures did not move to re- establish  coverage  for  al l retirees when  they  learned of their mistake.  Instead, BC/BS restored  coverage one member at a time—but only after the member  contacted BC/BS or  SLMPD benefits  office.   What  BC/BS should  have done  is  to  restore benefits  for the entire group when  they learned of  their mistake. But they did not.

 If you made no BC/BS health or pharmacy  claims on or  immediately after  June 20 you were not affected by  the BC/BS  screw-up.  Come July 1, 2010, the new reduced benefit   Basic went into effect along with the higher cost Buy-Up premiums.

August and September SLPVA Meetings

Our next  meeting  is August 11, 11:30 AM at  the SLPOA Hall.

The May Gendarme calendar incorrectly listed August 11 as our Cook-Out.

We will have our regular monthly meeting on August 11 at the SLPOA Hall. Our Fall Cook-Out will be September 8, 12:00 Noon, in Willmore Park, Pavilion #1, next to the tennis courts.

Retiree Class Action Health Insurance Lawsuit

All  claims had  to be  filed by  June  14,   2010,   and we have passed that deadline. Now the administrator must calculate  how much each claimant is due.  Checks must be written, and  the  judge must approve  the  settlement .    A check will be mailed to the address you furnished on  the claim  form.   All  this will  take some time so don’t be planning on buying  that new flat  screen in the next few weeks.

SLPVA Contact Information

 Information on our meetings, applications, and other things of interest are all available on  the SLPVA website, www.slpva.com.   The SLPVA accepts e-mail at mail@slpva. com .  You can also send mail to:  SLPVA,  c/o SLPOA, 3710 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109

Sick List

Don Strate

Charlie Shine

Lou Rizzuti