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Public Employees' Benefit Board

July 2008 Newsletter
Download the Newsletter as PDF

Download the July newsletter, print it and take it home to share with your family. 
 
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Worksite Health Screenings
Who?
YOU!
What?
FREE health screening
Where?
Your worksite
When?
As soon as you can
 
 
 
 
Are you at risk for a heart attack or a stroke? What are your risks for diabetes or heart disease? Find out at a free health screening at your worksite.
 
It takes only about 20 minutes to find out your risks and what you can do to reduce them.
It’s a fast, convenient way for you to find out your "numbers" – your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass levels. Screenings also identify individual and family factors that can put you at risk. Plus, medical professionals will help you interpret your results and provide more information about your health.
 
 
The screenings include important tests most adults should get on a routine schedule. Providing free screenings at the worksite removes cost and time factors that could act as barriers for employees.
Your Benefit Board works with all PEBB medical plans to sponsor these screenings as part of your benefit.
 
Agencies are working with PEBB to host the screenings at worksites around the state now through december.
 
Check the PEBB Web site at www.oregon.gov/DAS/PEBB / to find out when a screening will be held at your worksite and how to set up your appointment.
 
"This was an eye-opening experience"
Screening participant

Grilled Peaches

Ingredients:
  • Cooking oil
  • 4 peaches
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Honey
                                     
 
 
Directions:
 
Boil ¼ cup vinegar to reduce by half; cool and add two tablespoons honey. Halve peaches and remove pits. Brush cut side of peaches and grill rack with oil. Grill peaches, cut side down for five minutes over medium-hot grill. Turn and cook three minutes more. Drizzle honey-vinegar mix over top.

Waist Circumference
Did you know that where your body builds up fat may affect your health?
 
If you carry fat mainly around your waist, you are more likely to develop health problems than if you carry fat mainly in your hips and thighs.
 
 
Women with a waist measurement of more than 35 inches and men with 40 inches may have a higher disease risk because of where their fat lies.
 

Good News about Your Benefits
During the June meeting, your Benefit Board voted to renew contracts with current benefit plans for 2009. This means you can continue your 2008 core benefit choices through next year.
 
Good News on Rates
 
Your healthcare premium rates will increase by about five percent next year. This is about half the increase for most employer-sponsored plans around Oregon and across the U.S.
 
Even Better News on Life Insurance
 
Your basic life insurance coverage will increase to $25,000 in 2009, with the added premium cost covered by plan assets. The Board studied many options on making sure you benefit from life insurance reserves and cash-out. Increasing basic life coverage fits most criteria.
Basic life coverage is a guarantee issue. This means you will not have to provide a medical history or fill out any forms. The company cannot deny you this coverage, even if it turned you down in the past.
 
Look for More News this Fall
 
You can find details on all your choices for 2009 online this fall. PEBB will alert you through e-mail as Open Enrollment approaches in October.
 

Planning for Braces?
How to Use Your FSA
Many PEBB members use a flexible spending account (FSA) to help them pay for high-cost medical services not covered by their plan. They choose an amount that’s deducted – tax free – from their pay each month, and submit a claim for reimbursement after they receive the service.
 
FSAs work differently for braces. Typically, you sign a contract with the orthodontist, make an initial payment and submit a claim for the initial reimbursement. Then, you pay the provider as treatment progresses and submit claims as you pay.
 
Contact ASIFlex for more information.

Upcoming Board Meeting Topics
July 15
Board Meeting
Discuss member cost sharing
Publish 2009 premium rates
Self insurance presentation
 
July 8
Operations Subcommittee Meeting
Review 2007 utilization and financial data on medical plans
 
Public Comment
Board and committee meetings include a time slot for public comment. To see agendas and to sign up to provide comment refer to
 

Connect with your Benefit Board

Voting members
 
Chair,Sue Nelson; Vice Chair, Rich Peppers;
Peter Callero; Rocky King; Diane Lovell;
Paul McKenna; Jeanene Smith; Bret West
 
Advisory Members:
 
Rep. Tina Kotek;
Sen.William Morrisette

Resources


Public Employees' Benefit Board   
1225 Ferry St SE Salem, OR 97301  
E-mail: Eligibility and Enrollment
E-mail:Comments for the Board   
(503) 373-1102, fax (503) 373-1654  

Medical PlansDental Plans
       ●   Kaiser Permanente        ●    Kaiser Permanente 
       ●   Providence Choice         ●    ODS 
       ●   Regence BCBS        ●    Willamette Dental 
       ●   VSP (Vision Service Plan)   
Mail-order PrescriptionsOptional Plans
       ●    Kaiser Permanente        ●    The Standard 
       ●    PPS        ●    UnumProvident 
       ●    Walgreens Other Benefits
       ●    Wellpartner       ●    Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 
        ●    Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
              (800) 433-2320