header links

___________________________For all Delta people who have truly touched the High Life!__________________________________
PCN Web Site____PCN FORUM___PCN Ads_____ About______ Calendar______ G-Group______ Links______ Sign Up______ FAQ______ Archives______ Contact ______________________High Life Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adw772km7PQ&ob=av2e

Latest High Life Issue

Latest and LAST HL 376 published Dec 17, 2025. Not all sections of Blog are on first page. Click OLDER POSTS to view additional newsletter sections. For PDF version and all archived list CLICK HERE. Look for next issue soon!

Airlines news

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Insurance - HL 262 (2)



Earlier Medicare Reimbursement question:


From: John Birge
Date: 10/16/2016 5:43:47 PM
Subject: Medicare reimbursement?

Dear Mark,
I am sure I am not the first one to write and ask the question about what is Medicare reimbursement mentioned by letter in HL-261. Have I completely missed the boat on this? Please clarify when you get a chance.
Thanks for all your good work.
John Birge
Response:
Date: 10/17/2016 10:33:43 AM
Subject: Re: Medicare premium reimbursement

Cam (John), I think that this was a contract provision for pre-1997 retirees (I retired on 01/01/1994).  
Also, after looking at  the Medicare Advantage programs, we are sticking with our Medigap insurance.   Too risky to leave Medicare when our future health needs are unknown, as they are for all of us.  Advantage programs are money savers  when you are healthy and don't have medical problems, but "look out below" if you do!!  You might not be able to get back in a Medigap program if you opt out, and, even if you do, the premiums could be very high.
I did go through the Employee Service Center "grinder (as I said)" and it really wasn't so bad.  They did inform me that as long as you are paying the Medicare B premium, which you do through either Medigap or Advantage programs, then the Delta reimbursement remains in place for those who are receiving it.
Didn't mean to open up these issues, but hope this clears up what I might have started
Thanks,
Bill


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Delta OPEN ENROLLMENT   now until Nov 18th.    Visit the DeltaNet>HR> Self Service

AS A REMINDER TO ANY RETIRED PILOT OVER AGE 60 AND NOT ON MEDICARE, DELTA GRANTS A PREMIUM SUBSIDY (I believe 49%) FOR YOUR ENROLLMENT IN THE DPMP (DELTA PILOT MEDICAL PLAN).  ENROLLMENT FOR ANY OF DELTA SPONSORED HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS IS NOW OPEN THROUGH NOV 18TH. 

For Pilots enrolled in the DPMP and turning 65: (Excerpts from 2005 Retired Pilot Roadshow):
MEDICAL PLAN PREMIUMS AFTER MEDICARE
• Delta plan premiums drop substantially when you become eligible for Medicare.
• Medicare premiums change annually. For 2004, they are, per person:
          – Part A (Basic Hospital Insurance):
No charge if receiving Social Security
          – Part B (Supplementary Insurance):
• Doctors’ services, x-rays, lab tests, etc.
Pilots Retired prior to the 1996 working agreement are reimbursed for Part B premiums by Delta
MEDICARE
• Medicare automatically becomes primary coverage at Medicare eligibility date
• You are automatically switched to "out-of-area" coverage
• Claims are filed first with Medicare and then with the Delta plan
• Delta’s plan pays only the amount it would have paid as the primary plan less the amount Medicare
pays
• It is imperative that you elect to enroll in Medicare Part B when it is available to you, as Delta’s plan
benefits will be paid as if you have Medicare whether or not you enroll

+++++

RE: DeltaNet Access Problems
 
I am seeing some “access” requests like Denise’ below and because the time for open enrollment at Delta is short (Until Nov 18th) please note the following. 
Also, for your reading reference, attached to this email notice, is a 2017 Enrollment Summary, and a FAQ for Retirees!
From: OnYourLeft
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2016 11:56 PM
Subject: Can you provide any insight - cannot access Open Enrollment
Hi Mark,
I've been reading the PCN and haven't seen any info on the open enrollment - other than a mailed postcard.
I tried unsuccessfully to access the Benefits Direct through the deltnet login and lost access because we don't have any microsoft 365 account or access.
We are dependent survivors all under the age of 60 and do not have utilize access to deltanet other than our yearly benefit signup. 
Realize this is a time sensitive issue as we need to sign up before Nov 17th - appreciate any help you can provide
Do you have any info other than trying to call the ESS? Is anyone else having a problem signing on? 
Thanks!
Denise Bench
(Access problems may be a worse issue with the CHROME browser.  See also the link below that is incredibly long but gets you directly to login page)
Date: 11/5/2016 10:19:12 AM
Subject: Deltanet.delta.com
Read this post with  interest as I am a retiree also, abet a  FA.  I had that signin problem also.  Contacted ESS and was told it was a problem with Google chrome.  They hoped to have it fixed soon.  It works with other search engines. Hope this helps.  Fran
Hi, Denise.....re: login access for deltanet 
hard to remember entry ..   I just type deltanet.delta.com into my browser and look for deltanet/extranet option that shows ssaa in the entry....you might get a privacy connection warning page but just click advance and you can proceed (nothing seems simple anymore)....... click advance and look to bottom of page to proceed....don't be alarmed with the privacy warning page.  Once signed in, then everything is pretty much the same in Deltanet.
Thx/Carol
DeltaNet Login direct link:  (they have goofed around and changed the old link to this page so copy and use the following to get directly to login page):

Other ways to gain help below.  You can call or email or even snail mail the Employee Service Center at: 
Phone
Please call the Employee Service Center (ESC) at 1-800 MY DELTA (1-800-693-3582) to speak with a Customer Service Representative. Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time (except holidays) to assist you.
E-mail:                        
 USPS Mailing Address:
Delta Employee Service Center
P.O. Box 52045
Phoenix, AZ 58072

PLEASE ALSO REVEIW ATTACHMENTS!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark Sztanyo, PCN Dir

 

 

++++

Open Enrollment election period open now through Nov. 18

Published Date 11/1/2016 12:00 PM
​​​​​By Gabrielle Chavers, HR Communications
Benefits-eligible Delta people are now able to enroll in their 2017 benefits until the window closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 18.
To make an election, employees should click on the banner on Deltanet's homepage or access Open Enrollment Headquarters (OE HQ) here.  Click on the fourth step entitled, "Enroll." Employees will then be routed to Benefits Direct where they can make their 2017 benefit elections.



What to Do Before Enrolling in a Plan Option     


Learn about the options through resources available on OE HQ:
  • Watch the Health Plan 101 video. Employees and their spouse or eligible same-sex domestic partner enrolled in an account-based health plan option will earn $50 in Delta Health Rewards each for deposit in January 2017 if they watch the video between Oct. 4 and Nov. 18. The rewards for watching the video will be deposited into their Optum Bank HSA or their HRA depending on their enrollment in January 2017.
    • ​​​Note:  This year, after clicking on the Health Plan 101 Video on OE HQ, employees will be directed to Rally.com. If the video does not appear at the top of the Rally dashboard page, simply click "View Full Program."  If an employee has not already registered on Rally, they will be prompted to register.
  • Get reacquainted with ALEX, an interactive benefits counselor who helps Delta people compare their medical plan options and makes recommendations based on the information they enter into the tool and their own personal situations. 
  • Find and attend an in-person seminar or register for a webinar with a Delta benefits expert.
  • OE HQ also includes additional resources for employees who want to dig deeper into the details. These include a document library with resources like the healthcare benefit handbook, the prescription drug lists, summary documents and more. 
Employees can also access the Health Plan Evaluator (HPE). The HPE provides a look at your 2017 healthcare benefit options based on 12 months of your actual historical claims information.  The HPE provides recommendations based on your real life experience, but you are also able to make changes if you do not expect to have the same claims experience in 2017.

Spouses and eligible same-sex domestic partners can review plan information and watch the Health Plan 101 video at DeltaHealthDirect.com.

Summary of What's New for 2017


Minimal increases or changes
The focus on overall health and the commitment Delta employees have shown in making good health decisions is paying off. There will be smaller premium increases and fewer plan changes in 2017.
  • Monthly premiums for the account-based medical options will increase no more than $6 per month for employee only coverage and no more than $20 per month for family coverage depending on which medical option and coverage level is chosen.
  • There are no changes to the medical option's deductibles, coinsurance maximums or out-of-pocket maximums.
  • There will be a slight increase in premiums for dental and long-term disability buy-up benefits.
  • There are no premium increases to the Davis Vision plan, short-term disability, or the optional life insurance and AD&D benefits. 
Real-Time Rewards in 2017
Employees will no longer have to wait until the following year to receive deposits for their earned Delta Health Rewards (DHR) dollars.
    • In 2017, DHR dollars will be deposited to employee accounts as they earn them in real time, or as quickly as possible after qualifying health actions are completed.
      • This means that due to the transition to real-time DHR deposits in 2017, employees may receive double deposits - DHR dollars in January and/or April for their completed 2016 health actions plus DHR dollars in real time as they complete their 2017 health actions. This will only happen in 2017.
      • Employees and their covered spouse/eligible same-sex domestic partner have until Dec. 31, 2016 to earn Delta Health Rewards for deposit in April of 2017.
         
Family-Sized Delta Health Rewards
The following applies to employees enrolled in the Gold or Silver HSA options and the HRA option for 2017. Employees enrolled in the Bronze HSA do not receive child funding, either automatic or through DHR.
In 2017, the total amount of child funding is increasing from $500 to $600.
    • Automatic deposits will total $250.
    • The additional $350 has been added into the employee's potential DHR earnings. Employees who cover children will be able to earn up to $1000 in DHR. Spouses still earn up to $650. The activities aren't different for the employee and spouse but, the amount earned for the employee is increasing for a few of the health actions. To learn more, find the DHR earnings chart in the OE booklets mailed to employees' homes in early October and on OE HQ.
    • This means that a family can receive a deposit of up to $1900 in 2017. ($250 automatic child funding + $1000 potential DHR for the employee + $650 potential DHR for the spouse)  If a family is enrolled in the Gold HSA, they could receive nearly 75 percent of their family deductible!
​For questions about Enrollment, call the Employee Service Center: 1-800 MY DELTA (1-800-693-3582), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.  For questions about Medical Plan Options, Call Delta Health Direct – 877-912-1820, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET.
 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Full post disclaimer in left column. PCN Home Page is located at: http://pcn.homestead.com/home01.html

No comments: