Annuity Board to hold info meeting in Missouri
September 9, 2003
Annuity Board representatives will be conducting informational meetings in Missouri to answer questions about the new medical plans that will be available to Southern Baptist ministers, church and denominational employees and seminary students in 2004.
Weldon Doherty, regional director for the Annuity Board’s Insurance Marketing Department, and Gene Foster, Annuity Board representative for Missouri, will lead a series of meetings to explain the Annuity Board’s redesign of its health care coverage. Informational meetings will be held Sept. 15, 10-11:30 a.m., at National Heights Baptist Church, Springfield; Sept. 16, 10-11:30 a.m., Nashua Baptist Church, Kansas City; and Sept. 17, 10-11:30 a.m., Jefferson Baptist Association, Festus.
The new PPO plans will offer a wide variety of costs and benefit levels.
"With input from churches, organizations and individuals, we’ve redesigned all of our self-funded medical plans," said Doug Day, executive officer of Benefit Services. "We believe this wider range of plan options will better meet the health care and financial needs of Southern Baptist employers and their employees."
Benefits of the new PPO plans include copays for doctor’s office visits, a variety of coinsurance levels and deductibles ranging from $0 to $3,000. So that individuals feel comfortable trying a new medical plan, the Annuity Board will allow participants to enroll in a new plan for 2004 and then transfer to any other available Annuity Board medical plan the following year without providing proof of good health.
While the Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana HMOs will still be available in Missouri in 2004, the Annuity Board’s current self-funded medical plans will be replaced with the new preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. Anyone currently participating in one of the Annuity Board’s self-funded medical plans will be required to select a new plan for 2004.
Final negotiations are underway with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield® to provide PPO medical plan participants in Missouri with a choice of networks beginning Jan. 1. The new Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO network, along with the networks currently available through The Principal Financial Group (The Principal®), would allow participants to choose the network that offers the best provider access for them.
Anyone who is currently participating in an Annuity Board medical plan should receive re-enrollment materials, including rates and benefits of the new PPO plans either in the mail or from their employer in September. Participants are encouraged to bring their packets and any questions they might have to the meeting that is most convenient for them. Annuity Board staff will be available to answer questions about the new medical plans and other life and health plans available.
For additional information about the statewide informational meetings in Missouri, contact Gene Foster at 1-800-736-6227 ext. 330.