Update: Health and Welfare Plan enrollment packages to be mailed in October

"Update: Health and Welfare Plan enrollment
packages to be mailed in October."

During the first two weeks of October, UTU members eligible for the new National Railway Carriers (NRC)/UTU Health and Welfare Plan will be receiving enrollment packages.

The enrollment packages are being mailed to eligible UTU members only, and must be returned by October 29, 1999. Eligible UTU members are those active employees who work under UTU contracts on BNSF, Conrail, CSX, KCS, NS and UP.

The enrollment material will contain detailed information about the new NRC/UTU Plan and the options available to you and your family regarding the health care and other benefits. The package is being mailed later than was indicated in an August 5, 1999, letter due to administrative delays.

The enrollment materials will ask participants to select both the medical benefit program they desire (either Managed Medical Care Program [MMCP] or Comprehensive Health Care Benefit [CHCB]), and the company that will administer those benefits (Regence-BlueCross BlueShield [BCBS], United HealthCare or Aetna).

It is important that you fill out the enrollment forms and return them as soon as possible. If you do not return the enrollment materials, you will continue to receive benefits based on your current health care choices.

You will also be receiving provider directories, if you live in a MMCP network area, for both the current MMCP administrator (United HealthCare or Aetna) and BCBS to determine if your current doctors also participate with BCBS. If you like your doctor, make sure you select a program that includes your doctor.

The enrollment process is also used to designate your life insurance beneficiaries and to determine which company (either Magellan Behavioral Health if you select Regence, or ValueOptions if you select United HealthCare or Aetna) will administer your mental health and substance abuse benefits.

Minnesota Life Insurance will provide life insurance, and Merk-Medco will continue to provide the prescription drug benefit under the plan.

The new NRC/UTU Plan does not affect any of your other employee benefit plans such as dental, vision, or if you receive employee benefits through a Hospital Association. Nor will this new NRC/UTU plan be applicable to those members covered under GA-46000, Medicare or GA-23111.

If you have questions about the new plan or do not receive an enrollment package by the middle of October, you can obtain one by calling Regence BlueCross BlueShield, United HealthCare or Aetna.

The toll free phone numbers are:

Regence BlueCross BlueShield: (888) 977-2583
United HealthCare (MMCP): (888) 445-4379
CHCB: (800) 691-0013
Aetna: (888) 332-8742

If you have any questions once you receive an enrollment package, call the toll-free numbers of the various Plan benefit providers who will provide information regarding participating providers, transition of benefits, and answer other questions. The toll free numbers are included in the enrollment materials.

If you have other questions or did not get satisfactory responses from the vendors, call the UTU International Office at (216) 2280-9400.