STATE OF CONNECTICUT
NANCY WYMAN COMPTROLLER	OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER 55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775	MARK OJAKIAN DEPUTY COMPTROLLER

MEMORANDUM NO. 95 - 12

March 1, 1995

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

1. INTRODUCTION

   The 1995 health insurance open enrollment for state employees is scheduled to be conducted from May 1 to May 31; coverage selected during the open enrollment period will take effect July 1, 1995.

   In that connection, the purpose of this memorandum is to provide an overview of the open enrollment process; payroll-related matters will be addressed in subsequent communications from the Comptroller's Office.

2. Discussion

1. Open Enrollment Fairs

   At the outset, it is important that no appearances by insurer representatives are to be unilaterally arranged by agencies. This policy must be followed in order to guarantee the systematic, efficient, and unimpeded planning of the state-sponsored enrollment fairs.

   As in previous open enrollments, scheduling of the fairs will be arranged through the Department of Administrative Services (DAS); all fairs will be presented during the month of May. If you are interested in having representatives from Blue Cross, M.D. Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente and CIGNA dental visit your agency during the open enrollment, please immediately contact Thelma Ball, Employment Relations Director, at 566-4669 to make the necessary arrangements. In early April, a statewide schedule of May enrollment fairs will be sent to all agencies.

   Additionally, representatives from DAS and the Comptroller's Office will attend the March 21, 1995 meeting of the Personnel Council to answer any questions pertaining to the open enrollment.

2. Health Care Planner

   In late April employees will be sent a Health Care Planner providing a benefit comparison for all plans offered by the State. The Planner will contain a comparison of all plans, including any applicable employee premium share, and offer certain general guidelines to assist employees in making their choices. New this year, brief marketing pieces provided by each insurer will be inserted with the Planner; unlike in prior years, there will not be a general mailing of marketing material to all employees. Phone numbers will be listed by each insurer for those employees seeking further information on a particular plan. Also, the insurers will distribute single copies of their additional plan information and subscriber agreements to each agency for examination of individual employees.

3. Open Enrollment Applications

   The open enrollment application, CO-1048A, will undergo minor revision this year. Among the changes will be the new designation as "Health Insurance Enrollment Application", reflecting its appropriateness for use throughout the year. Agencies should use their existing CO-1048A stock prior to distributing this year's revised form. Additional enrollment applications may be obtained by contacting Donald Kiebke of the Benefits Division, at 566-1831.

   Enrollment applications will not be included with the Planner or any marketing material sent to employees at their request, nor will insurers have applications available at the enrollment fairs. Employees electing or changing coverage will do so through their personnel or payroll office which will be the repository of enrollment applications. This procedure is intended to insure that vendor marketing efforts and enrollment processing are maintained as entirely separate functions.

4. Premiums

   Additional memoranda pertaining to changes in employee health insurance premiums and monthly rates for COBRA continuation coverage will be sent to agencies once these new amounts are available.

3. Conclusion

To reiterate, inquires concerning enrollment fair scheduling should be immediately directed to Thelma Ball at 566-4669; the Comptroller's Employee Services Bureau, Benefits Division, is available to respond to health insurance inquiries at 566-1831.

Sincerely,

Nancy Wyman
State Comptroller

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