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Once Again Knox Wins "Healthiest Company Award"
Knox College was recognized as one of the "Healthiest Companies in America" and for the third year in a row is maintaining the same health insurance rates for its employees. Knox is one of just 34 companies nationwide honored with the award from Interactive Health Solutions. IHS gathered data from its clients -- 1,300 firms with more than one million insured employees and spouses. When medical/Rx trend hovers around a 10%-11% increase, we should congratulate ourselves on taking steps to be healthier and better health care consumers.
How Did We Measure Up With 2009 Screenings?
The following illustrates Health Risk Assessment Improvements (2008 vs 2009).
| Repeated Tests | Total Participants Previous Evaluations |
Same | Regressed | Improved |
| Cholesterol above 220 | 66 | 14 | 13 | 39 |
| Glucose above 110 | 23 | 2 | 12 | 9 |
| HDL below 35 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 12 |
| LDL above 160 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 20 |
| Triglycerides above 200 | 29 | 2 | 9 | 18 |
Good News/Bad News
The good news is 67% of participants are healthy. The not so good news is 2% have serious and/or life threatening conditions. The great news is they now have knowledge of their medical condition and can take steps to improve their health.
What can we do to improve our health scores?
How Can You Help Control Medical and Rx Costs?
Nexium
Beginning October 1, the co-pay for Nexium will be $40. There are many alternative gastrointestinal medications most of which are available over the counter (i.e. Prevacid, Omeprazole. Prilosec, Ranitidine). Other generic equivalents (i.e. Cimetidine, Dicyclomine, Famotidine, etc) are available for $4 (or $10 for 3 months) at participating pharmacies. Talk with your physician or pharmacist.
Health Care Reform
There have been many questions regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed March 23, 2010. The most frequently asked question is in regard to dependent coverage. From the Kaiser Foundation: "...a young adult can qualify for this (health) coverage even if he or she is no longer living with a parent, is not a dependent on a parent's tax return, or is no longer a student. Both married and unmarried young adults can qualify for the dependent coverage extension." Effective 7/1/2011, you have the option to enroll your child in the Knox Health Plan during the 30 days of open enrollment beginning 7/1/2011. Exception: If the young adult is offered health insurance through their employer they would not be eligible to enroll in their parent(s) plan. Notices will be sent to employees in late spring.
Other upcoming provisions
Effective 1/1/2011:
As final regulations become available, employees will be notified of changes that may directly affect their health care coverage. For up-to-date information visit the government website at www.hhs.gov. With over 2,100 pages plus another 453 pages of manager's amendments, we are just starting to understand the final rules.
Open Enrollment Change
Effective 1/1/2011, open enrollment will be changed to once a year during the 30 days of June with coverage commencing 7/1. As most of you know, July is the beginning of our new plan year. This change will accommodate the upcoming regulations and enactment periods due to health care reform.
Hospital Report Cards Available
The April 15, 2010, Zephyr ran an article reviewing costs of area wide hospitals. It is important to remember these costs can vary widely from patient to patient. It is also important to take into consideration our PPO discount.
Example from article: Tonsillectomy.
Download the full Zephyr article. It's an eye opener!
Compare Hospitals
A great government website for hospital comparisons: www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
Colonoscopy Discount-Proctor Hospital
Proctor Hospital (Peoria) discount for colonoscopies is a whopping 85%.
Stressed? Depressed? Anxious?
At one time or another most people feel stressed, overwhelmed, or depressed. Knox employees and their family members may receive counseling for a wide range of personal problems, including marriage and family problems, alcoholism, drug abuse, financial problems, eating disorders, stress, depression, and anxiety. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides up to five hours of assessment and counseling with no cost to Knox employees. Services are provided by Advanced Behavioral Health (309-342-6852) and Chapin Russell Associates in Peoria (309-681-5850). Services are completely confidential.
Please contact my office if you have had any recent changes in marital or dependent status.
Summary of Annual Reports
Knox College's Summary Annual Reports for the period January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009 can be accessed at the HR Resources & Links page. The reports have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
The reports represent:
Notice of HIPAA Privacy Practices Reminder
The HIPAA privacy rule requires health plan to remind individuals -- once every three years -- that a Notice of Privacy Practices is available.
Questions about coverage or benefits?
I encourage all employees to contact my office at x7474 with questions regarding your health benefits and coverage. Unexpected charges may be avoided or reduced by knowing your benefit coverage. Also you may contact Benefit Administrative Systems directly at 1-800-523-0582.
