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

MEMORANDUM NO. 97-22

May 14, 1997

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

AUTHORIZATION: In accordance with the provisions of Section 5-259 of the Connecticut General Statutes and the SEBAC V Agreement, the following premium changes have been approved for state-sponsored health care insurance plans.

PAYROLL EFFECTIVE DATES: The changes announced herein will be effective on the following payroll periods:

CHARTS: Attached are revised rates for charts "A" through "I". Rate changes will be made centrally. Paired D/OEs for both pre and post-tax deductions are provided on all charts.

NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES: The 1997 Employees Health Care Planner, which is being mailed in the middle of May, includes a schedule of all applicable bi-weekly payroll deductions. Employees on other than a bi-weekly pay plan should be notified of the relevant rate changes.

PAYROLL PROCEDURES FOR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS:

1. For employees currently enrolled in the Blue Cross Advantage plan:
   1. Shut off BC Advantage (D/OE 6D through 6H)
   2. Either enter the employees new choice of plan, OR if there is no choice by the employee, change the D/OE to the corresponding D/OE for the new State BlueCare Point of Enrollment plan. If no payroll action is taken, neither a state nor employee share payment will be processed, as the D/OE's and table numbers will have a value of zero.

2. For employees currently enrolled in the Blue Cross Premier (POE) plan, no action is necessary unless the employee chooses to make a change. The present D/OE's and table numbers for the Premier plan will be used for the new State BlueCare Point of Enrollment plan.

3. For employees currently enrolled in the Blue Cross State Preferred plan: As a result of the three tier rate structure the employee premium share for the Subscriber Plus One coverage and Family coverage are no longer identical. The Subscriber Plus One employee premium share is now substantially less than the Family employee premium share. Because those eligible for Subscriber Plus One coverage cannot be identified by the Comptroller's office, the rate change for those employees cannot be made centrally. Employees enrolled in the Blue Cross State Preferred plan eligible for such Subscriber Plus One coverage should be encouraged to file a change form to switch to Subscriber Plus One coverage.

4. For employees currently enrolled in the Blue Cross State Preferred plan who reside outside of Connecticut:
   1. For employees who request a change by filing a new enrollment form and checking the Out of State box, a change should be processed to the Out-of-Area plan. Note that this plan exists for payroll deduction purposes only; the benefit schedule is identical to the Blue Cross State Preferred plan, while the employee share payments are equal to the State BlueCare Point of Service plan.

   2. Employees who do not request a plan change will have markedly increased payroll deductions effective June 20, 1997.

QUESTIONS: Personnel or payroll staff who may have questions concerning payroll related procedures should call the Comptroller's Central Payroll Division at (860) 702-3463. Questions regarding other health insurance issues should be directed to the Comptroller's Retirement and Benefit Services Division at (860) 702-3535.

PLEASE DO NOT REFER EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY TO THESE NUMBERS.

Very truly yours,

Nancy Wyman
State Comptroller

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