2024 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS GUIDE SOUTHERN ELECTRIC COMPANY
WELCOME TO YOUR BENEFIT ENROLLMENT GUIDE 2024 PLAN YEAR
Southern Electric Company is proud to offer you a comprehensive benefits package for the upcoming plan year. This enrollment guide will assist you in determining the coverage levels that will provide you and your family with the protection that gives you peace of mind.
This guide explains each type of coverage, gives suggestions about how to effectively use your benefits, and provides examples to help you determine your benefit and payroll deduction amounts.
We encourage you to take the time to review the enrollment guide prior to enrollment.
Keep in mind that the benefits you select during this enrollment will be effective April 1 st , 2024.
Please note: This benefit guide contains the basic information about your benefits program. It does not cover every detail; but it does provide a general description of each benefit plan. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate. However, this guide is not an insurance policy. If there is any question as to coverage, benefit eligibility, or interpretation, the insurance contract and the Certificate of Coverage you receive from the insurance carrier will govern the administration of your benefits. If you would like additional or specific information, please contact the Human Resources Department.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ELIGIBILITY:
Benefits are available to full-time employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week. • Medical/Rx benefits are effective on the 1st day of the month following 60 days of employment • Dental benefits are effective on the 1st day of the month following 60 days of employment • Vision benefits are effective on the 1st day of the month following 60 days of employment • Basic Life/AD&D and Voluntary Life benefits are effective on the 1st day of the month following 60 days of employment
ABOUT DEDUCTIONS:
Under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code, you are allowed to pay certain group insurance premiums with tax-free dollars. This means your premium deductions are taken before Federal Income, State Income, and Social Security taxes are calculated, saving you 28% or more, depending on your tax bracket. Please make your benefit elections carefully, including the choice to waive coverage. Your pretax elections will remain in effect unless you experience an IRS approved qualified life event.
WHO IS AN ELIGIBLE DEPENDENT?
• Any spouse or domestic partner • Your child(ren) are covered to age 26 (medical/dental/vision insurance only) • Your child(ren) are covered six (6) months to age 19, 26 years if full-time student (life insurance only)
QUALIFYING LIFE EVENTS are events that cause an individual to lose his or her group health coverage. The type of qualifying event determines who the qualified beneficiaries are for that event and the period of time that a plan must offer continuation of coverage. Qualifying Life events include: • Marriage, divorce, or legal separation • Death of spouse or other dependent • Birth or adoption of a child • You or your spouse experience a work event that effects your benefits • A dependent’s eligibility status changes due to age, student status, marital status, or employment • Relocation into or outside of your plan’s service area You must notify Human Resources within 30 days of the qualifying life event. Depending on the type of event, you may be asked to provide proof of the event. If you do not contact Human Resources within 30 days of the qualifying event, you will have to wait until the next annual enrollment period to make changes.
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MEDICAL BENEFITS
RETAIL PRESCRIPTIONS
Drugs have the lowest copay. This tier will contain low cost and preferred medications that may be generic, single source brand-name drugs1, or multi-source brand-name drugs2.
Tier 1
Drugs will have a higher copay than those In tier 1. This tier will contain preferred medications that may be generic, single source brand-name drugs1, or multi-source brand-name drugs2. Drugs will have a higher copay than those on tier 2. This tier will contain non-preferred and high-cost medications. This will include medications considered generic, single source brand-name drugs1 and multi-source brand-name drugs2.
Tier 2
Tier 3
Tier 4
Specialty Drugs.
MAIL ORDER PRESCRIPTIONS You have the option of ordering pharmacy maintenance medications through the mail. This benefit offers the convenience of home delivery as well as lower copays. Mail order prescriptions are available through United HealthCare. Please call the customer service number on your ID card to see if your prescriptions are eligible for this service.
You may also manage your medical benefits through the United HealthCare website, www.uhc.com. You may access this site 24 hours a day to check your claims, find a provider, order an ID card and more.
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MEDICAL
Southern Electric Company offers the following plans through United HealthCare. Please reference the Summary Plan Description for more details.
Insurance Carrier:
United HealthCare Medical Insurance
Medical Plan:
$3,000 Deductible / 80% Coinsurance $5,000 Deductible / 80% Coinsurance
In-Network: Office Visit Copay - Primary Care Office Visit Copay - Specialist Care
$25 Copay $75 Copay $50 Copay
Deductible; then $25 Copay Deductible; then $75 Copay Deductible; then $50 Copay Deductible; then $300 Copay
Urgent Care Copay
Emergency Room Care
Deductible; then $300 Copay
Preventative Visit Copay
$0
$0
Plan Coinsurance
80%
80%
Employee Deductible
$3,000 $6,000 $8,150 $16,300
$5,000
Family Deductible
$10,000
Employee Out-of-Pocket Max
$7,000
Family Out-of-Pocket Max
$14,000
Inpatient Hospital
Deductible; then 20% Coinsurance Deductible; then 20% Coinsurance
Deductible; then 20% Coinsurance Deductible; then 20% Coinsurance
Outpatient Hospital or Facility
Out-of-Network: Coinsurance
50%
50%
Employee Deductible
$6,000
$10,000 $20,000 $14,000 $28,000
Family Deductible
$12,000 $16,300 $32,600
Employee Out-of-Pocket Max
Family Out-of-Pocket Max
Prescription Drugs: ( 30 Day Supply) Tier 1 - Generic
$10 Copay $35 Copay $75 Copay $250 Copay
$10 Copay $35 Copay $70 Copay $150 Copay
Tier 2 - Preferred
Tier 3 - Non-Preferred
Tier 4 - Specialty
Employee Weekly Deduction: Employee Only
$37.00 $147.00 $141.00 $244.00
$28.00 $118.00 $106.00 $191.00
Employee + Spouse Employee + Child(ren)
Family
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DENTAL
Regular dental exams can help you and your dentist detect problems in the early stages when treatment is simpler and costs are lower.
Keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy will prevent most tooth decay and periodontal disease, and is an important part of maintaining your medical health.
Your dental plan is through Guardian and offers “in and out-of-network” benefits.
Insurance Carrier:
Guardian Dental Insurance
Calendar Year Deductible
$50 Individual / $150 Family
Calendar Year Maximum
$1,000
Preventive Services
100%
Basic Services
100%
Major Services
60%
Employee Weekly Deduction:
Employee Only
$0.74
Employee + Spouse
$4.53
Employee + Child(ren)
$5.98
Family
$10.58
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VISION
The vision plan covers routine eye exams and also pays for all or a portion of the cost of glasses or contact lenses if you need them.
You can feel more confident with dental insurance that encourages routine cleanings and checkups. Dental insurance helps protect your teeth for a lifetime.
Your vision plan is through Guardian and offers “in and out-of-network” benefits.
Insurance Carrier:
Guardian Vision Insurance
In-Network $10 Copay $25 Copay $25 Copay $25 Copay
Out-of-Network
Vision Exam
Up to $59 Up to $30 Up to $50 Up to $65
Lenses - Single lined Lenses - Bifocal lined Lenses - Trifocal lined
$130 allowance; then 20% off remaining balance
Frames
Up to $70
Contacts (in lieu of glasses)
$130 allowance
Up to $120
Medically Necessary Contacts
Covered In Full
Up to $210
Frequency: Exam / Lenses / Frames
once every: 12 months / 12 months / 24 months
Employee Weekly Deduction: Employee Only Employee + Spouse Employee + Child(ren)
$1.56 $2.62 $2.67 $4.23
Family
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BASIC AND VOLUNTARY LIFE INSURANCE
Southern Electric Company provides Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment at no cost to employees that elect medical benefits. Insurance Carrier: Guardian Basic Life Insurance Basic Life w/ AD&D Eligibility Requirement All Full Time Employees Life Insurance Benefit $15,000 Guarantee Issue Yes Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit (AD&D) Same as basic life
VOLUNTARY TERM LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE
As a supplemental benefit, Southern Electric Company allows eligible employees to purchase additional life insurance coverage for yourself and your dependents. This coverage is paid for by you and is offered through Guardian. Rates for the voluntary term life insurance are based on age, and volume, and benefits are subject to applicable age reductions.
Insurance Carrier:
Guardian Voluntary Life Insurance
Voluntary Life w/ AD&D Eligibility Requirement Employee Benefit Amounts Employee
All Full Time Employees
Up to $200k Up to $25k Up to $10k
Spouse
Child(ren)
Guarantee Issue Employee
$50k $10k $10k
Spouse Children
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DISABILITY COVERAGE
The goal of Southern Electric Company’s Disability Insurance Plan is to provide you with income replacement should you be unable to work due to a non-work-related illness or injury. The company provides employees with the option to purchase Voluntary Short -Term Disability income benefits.
Insurance Carrier:
Guardian Short-Term Disability
Plan Type:
Voluntary
Benefit Percentage
60% of Weekly Earnings
Maximum Weekly Benefit
$1,000
Accident Waiting Period
0 days
Illness Waiting Period
7 days
Benefit Duration
26 weeks
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is included in the Medical Out-of-Pocket maximum? What is included in the Pharmacy Out-of- Pocket maximum? The Medical Out-of-Pocket maximum is the maximum amount a member must pay during the policy year for covered essential health benefits. The OOP includes a member’s deductible and any coinsurance member responsibility. The Pharmacy OOP includes only pharmacy co-pays. The Medical OOP does NOT include monthly premiums, or billing from out-of-network providers. What is an in-network vs out-of-network provider? United HealthCare contracts with a wide range of doctors, as well as specialists, hospitals, labs, radiology facilities and pharmacies. These are the providers that are considered “in your network”. Specifically, each of these providers has agreed to accept United HealthCare’s contracted rate for your medical care and services rendered. The contracted rate includes both United HealthCare’s share of the cost, and the member’s. Your share may be in the form of a co-payment, deductible, or co-insurance. For example, United HealthCare’s contracted rate for a primary care visit might be $125. The Plan has a $25 co-payment for the visit; the member will pay $25 of the cost and your insurance plan will pay the remaining $100. When can I change my beneficiary information for my Basic Life Insurance? Any time! It is important that all beneficiary information be kept up-to-date. You may need to change it after a marriage, divorce, or birth of a child. An “out-of-network” provider is a medical doctor or facility that is not in contract with United HealthCare. This means that the provider may charge members higher rates for medical services and care, outside of the standard “in-network” rates. For example, a out-of-network provider may charge $200 for a primary care visit. United HealthCare may pay an adjustment of an out-of-network benefit of $80 dollars to the provider, so the member may be balance-billed for the remaining $120 cost of the visit.
Term
Definition
Network Office Visit (PCP) The “per visit” co-pay cost for a primary care or standard network doctor.
The “per visit” co-pay cost for a specialized doctor (cardiologist, OB/GYN, orthopedic, gastrointestinal, etc.)
Specialist Office Visit
The amount of money a member owes for any In-network health care services before co-insurance coverage begins. These are generally services that are NOT covered under a standard co-pay (inpatient surgery, outpatient surgery, MRI, etc.) Deductibles run on a calendar year basis. After any applicable deductible is met, the remaining cost of any in-network health care service is divided between the insurance carrier and the member. A 70% / 30% network co-insurance would divide the cost of a service with 70% paid by the insurance carrier and 30% paid by the member. These are generally services that are NOT covered under a standard co-pay (inpatient surgery, outpatient surgery, MRI, etc.) The maximum amount a member must pay during the policy year for covered essential health benefits. The OOP includes a member’s deductible, any co-insurance member responsibility, primary care and specialist office visit co-pays, ER or Urgent Care co-pays, and prescription co-pays / costs. The OOP does NOT include monthly premiums, billing from out-of-network providers, or spending for non-essential health benefits. The cost of a one month supply of a prescription drug. All covered drugs are designated into tiered levels based on drug usage, cost, and clinical effectiveness. Tier 1 usually includes generics, while Tier 2 generally includes preferred brand name medications. Tier 3 typically includes non-preferred brand name medications, Tier 4 usually includes higher cost drugs and Specialty Drugs are covered under a separate tier.
Network Deductible
Co-Insurance
Network Out-of-Pocket Maximum (OOP)
Prescription Drug Tiers and Monthly Co-Pays
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LEGAL NOTICES
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Offer Free or Low-Cost Health Coverage to Children and Families If you or your children are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP and you’re eligible for health coverage from your employer, your state may have a premium assistance program that can help pay for coverage, using funds from their Medicaid or CHIP programs. If you or your children aren’t eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you won’t be eligible for these premium assistance programs but you may be able to buy individual insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov. If you or your dependents are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP and you live in a State listed below, contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office to find out if premium assistance is available. If you or your dependents are NOT currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and you think you or any of your dependents might be eligible for either of these programs, contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office or dial 1-877-KIDS NOW or www.insurekidsnow. gov to find out how to apply. If you qualify, ask your state if it has a program that might help you pay the premiums for an employer- sponsored plan. If you or your dependents are eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP, as well as eligible under your employer plan, your employer must allow you to enroll in your employer plan if you aren’t already enrolled. This is called a “special enrollment” opportunity, and you must request coverage within 60 days of being determined eligible for premium assistance. If you have questions about enrolling in your employer plan, contact the Department of Labor at www.askebsa.dol.gov or call 1-866-444-EBSA (3272). If you live in one of the following states, you may be eligible for assistance paying your employer health plan premiums. The following list of states is current as of January 31, 2022. Contact your State for more information on eligibility –
ALABAMA - Medicaid Website: http://myalhipp.com/ Phone: 1-855-692-5447 ALASKA - Medicaid The AK Health Insurance Premium Payment Program Website: http://myakhipp.com/ Phone: 1-866-251-4861 Email: Customer Service@MyAKHIPP.com Medicaid Eligibility: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/medicaid/default. aspx ARKANSAS - Medicaid Website: http://myarhipp.com/ Phone: 1-855-MyARHIPP (855-692-7447) COLORADO - Medicaid Website: http://www.colorado.gov/hcpf Customer Contact Center: 1-800-221-3943 KANSAS - Medicaid Website: http://www.kdheks.gov/hcf/ Phone: 1-785-296-3512 KENTUCKY - Medicaid Website: http://chfs.ky.gov/dms/default.htm Phone: 1-800-635-2570 LOUSIANA - Medicaid Website: http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/ subhome/l/n/331 Phone: 1-888-695-2447
FLORIDA - Medicaid Website: http://flmedicaidtplrecovery.com/hipp/ Phone: 1-877-357-3268 GEORGIA - Medicaid Website: http://dch.georgia.gov/medicaid - click on Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Phone: 404-656-4507 INDIANA - Medicaid Healthy Indiana Plan for Low-Income Adults 19-64 Website: http://www.hip.in.gov Phone: 1-877-438-4479 All other Medicaid Website: http://www.indianamedicaid.com Phone: 1-800-403-0864 IOWA - Medicaid Website: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/hipp/ Phone: 1-888-346-9562 MAINE - Medicaid Website: http://maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/public-assistance/ index.html Phone: 1-800-442-6003 TTY: Maine relay 711
MASSACHUSETTS - Medicaid and CHIP Website: http://www.mass.gov/MassHealth
Phone: 1-800-462-1120 MINNESOTA - Medicaid Website: http://mn.gov/dhs/ma/ Phone: 1-800-657-3739
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LEGAL NOTICES
MISSOURI - Medicaid Website: http://www.dss.mo.gov/mhd/participants/pages/hipp.htm
RHODE ISLAND - Medicaid Website: http://www.eohhs.ri.gov/ Phone: 401-462-5300 SOUTH CAROLINA - Medicaid Website: http://www.scdhhs.gov Phone: 1-888-549-0820 SOUTH DAKOTA - Medicaid
Phone: 573-751-2005 MONTANA - Medicaid Website: http://dphhs.mt.gov/ MontanaHealthcarePrograms/HIPP
Phone: 1-800-694-3084 NEBRASKA - Medicaid
Website: http://dss.sd.gov Phone: 1-888-828-0059 TEXAS - Medicaid Website: http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/hipp/ Phone: 1-888-346-9562 UTAH - Medicaid and CHIP Medicaid Website: http://health.utah.gov/medicaid CHIP Website: http://health.utah.gov/chip
Website: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/Children_Family_ Services/AccessNebraska/Pages/accessnebraska_ index.aspx Phone: 1-855-632-7633 NEVADA - Medicaid Website: http://dwss.nv.gov/ Phone: 1-800-992-0900 NEW HAMPSHIRE - Medicaid Website: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/oii/documents/hippapp.pdf Phone: 603-271-5218 NEW JERSEY - Medicaid and CHIP Medicaid Website: http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs/clients/ medicaid/ Medicaid Phone: 609-631-2392 CHIP Website: http://www.njfamilycare.org/index.html CHIP Phone: 1-800-701-0710 NEW YORK - Medicaid Website: http://www.nyhealth.gov/health_care/medicaid/ Phone: 1-800-541-2831 NORTH CAROLINA - Medicaid Website: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma Phone: 919-855-4100 NORTH DAKOTA - Medicaid Website: http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/medicalserv/medicaid/ Phone: 1-844-854-4825 OKLAHOMA - Medicaid and CHIP Website: http://www.insureoklahoma.org Phone: 1-888-365-3742 OREGON - Medicaid Website: http://healthcare.oregon.gov/Pages/index.aspx http://oregonhealthcare.gov/index-es.html Phone: 1-800-699-9075 PENNSYLVANIA - Medicaid Website: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/hipp Phone: 1-800-692-7462
Phone: 1-877-543-7669 VERMONT - Medicaid Website: http://www.greenmountaincare.org Phone: 1-800-250-8427 VIRGINIA - Medicaid and CHIP Medicaid & CHIP Website: http://www.coverva.org/programs_premium_as- sistance.cfm Medicaid Phone: 1-800-432-5924 CHIP Phone: 1-855-242-8282 WASHINGTON - Medicaid Website: http://www.hca.wa.gov/free-or-low-costhealth-care/program-ad- ministration/premiumpayment- program Phone: 1-800-562-3022 ext. 15473 WEST VIRGINIA - Medicaid Website: http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/bms/Medicaid%20Expansion/Pages/ default.aspx Phone: 1-877-598-5820, HMS Third Party Liability WISCONSIN - Medicaid and CHIP Website: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p1/p10095.pdf
Phone: 1-800-362-3002 WYOMING - Medicaid Website: http://wyequalitycare.acs-inc.com/ Phone: 307-777-7531
To see if any more States have added a premium assistance program since January 31, 2022, or for more information on special enrollment rights, you can contact either:
U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration www.dol.gov/ebsa 1-866-444-EBSA (3272)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services www.cms.hhs.gov 1-877-267-2323, Menu Option 4, Ext. 61565
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LEGAL NOTICES
Important Notices about Medical Coverage
HIPPA Special Enrollment Rights If you are declining enrollment for yourself or your dependents (including your spouse) because of other health insurance or group health plan coverage, you may be able to enroll yourself or your dependents in this plan if you or your dependents lose eligibility for that other coverage (or if the employer stops contributing towards your or your dependents’ other coverage). However, you must request enrollment within 30 days after your or your dependents’ other coverage ends (or after the employer stops contributing toward the other coverage). In addition, if you have a new dependent as result of marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents. However, you must enroll within 30 days after the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption. Effective April 1, 2009 special enrollment rights also exist in the following circumstances: • If you or your dependents experience a loss of eligibility for Medicaid or your State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) coverage; or • If you or your dependents become eligible for premium assistance under an optional state of Medicaid or SCHIP program that would pay the employee’s portion of the health insurance premium. NOTE: In the two above listed circumstances only, you or your dependents will have sixty (60) days to request special enrollment in the group health plan coverage. An individual must request this special enrollment within sixty (60) days of the loss of coverage described at bullet one, and within sixty (60) days of when eligibility is determined as described in bullet two. Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 Annual Notice If you have had or are going to have a mastectomy, you may be entitled to certain benefits under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA). For individuals receiving mastectomy- related benefits, coverage will be provided in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and the patient, for all stages of reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed; surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance; prostheses; and treatment of physical complications of the mastectomy, including lymphedema. These benefits will be provided subject to the same deductibles and co-insurance applicable to other medical and surgical benefits
provided under this plan. Our plan complies with these requirements. Benefits for these items generally are compatible to those provided under our plan for similar types of medical services and supplies. Of course, the extent to which any of these items is appropriate following mastectomy is a matter to be determined by consultation between the attending physician and the patient. Our plan neither imposes penalties (for example, reducing or limiting reimbursements) nor provides incentives to induce attending providers to provide care inconsistent with these requirements. If you would like more information on WHCRA benefits, call Yates at (706) 323-1600.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104- 13) (PRA), no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid Office of Management and budget (OMB) control number. The Department notes that a Federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA, and displays a currently valid OMB control number, and the public is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3507. Also, not withstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the collection of information does not display a currently valid OMB control number. See 44 U.S.C. 3512. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average approximately seven minutes per respondent. Interested parties are encouraged to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Office of Policy and Research, Attention: PRA Clearance Officer, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-5718, Washington, DC 20210 or email ebsa.opr@dol.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1210-0137.
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MEDICARE PART D
Medicare Part D Notice of Creditable Coverage
Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Southern Electric Company and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice. There are two important things you need to know about your currant coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage: 1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium. 2. Southern Electric Company has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by United HealthCare plans are on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is therefore considered Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug plan. When Can You Join a Medicare Drug Plan? You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from October 15th through December 7th. However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan. What Happens to Your Current Coverage if You Join a Medicare Drug Plan? If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your current Southern Electric Company coverage may or may not be affected. See pages 7-9 of the CMS Disclosure of Creditable Coverage to Medicare Part D Eligible Individuals Guidance (available at https:// www.cms.hhs.gov/Creditable Coverage/ ), which outlines the prescription drug plan provisions / options that Medicare eligible individuals may have available to them when they become eligible for Medicare Part D. If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current Southern Electric Company coverage, be aware that you and your dependents may or may not be able to get this coverage back.
When Will You Pay a Higher Premium (Penalty) to Join a Medicare Drug Plan? You should also know that if you drop or lose your current coverage with Southern Electric Company and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later. If you go 63 continuous days or longer without a creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following October to join. For further information, call Yates at (706) 323-1600. NOTE: You’ll get this notice each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, and if this coverage through Southern Electric Company changes. You may also request a copy of this notice at any time. More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the “Medicare & You” handbook. You’ll get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare drug plans. For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage: Medicare Part D Notice of Creditable Coverage, cont. Visit www.medicare.gov Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the inside back cover of your copy of the “Medicare & You” handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at www. socialsecurity. gov , or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800- 325-0778). Remember: Keep this Creditable Coverage notice. If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and, therefore, whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium.
14 Southern Electric Company 2024 Benefits Guide
COBRA
What is COBRA continuation health coverage? The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to require group health plans to provide a temporary continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated. What does COBRA do? COBRA requires continuation coverage to be offered to covered employees, their spouses, former spouses, and dependent children when group health coverage would otherwise be lost due to certain specific events. COBRA continuation coverage is often more expensive than the amount that active employees are required to pay for group health coverage, since the employer usually pays part of the cost of employees’ coverage and all of that cost can be charged to individuals receiving continuation coverage. What group health plans are subject to COBRA? The law generally applies to all group health plans maintained by private-sector employers with 20 or more employees, or by state or local governments. The law does not apply to plans sponsored by the Federal Government or by churches and certain church-related organizations. In addition, many states have laws similar to COBRA, including those that apply to health insurers of employers with less than 20 employees (sometimes called mini-COBRA). Check with your state insurance commissioner’s office to see if such coverage is available to you. Who is entitled to continuation coverage under COBRA? In order to be entitled to elect COBRA continuation coverage, your group health plan must be covered by COBRA; a qualifying event must occur; and you must be a qualified beneficiary for that event. Plan Coverage COBRA covers group health plans sponsored by an employer (private-sector or state/local government) that employed at least 20 employees on more than 50 percent of its typical business days in the previous calendar year. Both full-and part-time employees are counted to determine whether a plan is subject to COBRA. Each part-time employee counts as a fraction of a full-time employee, with the fraction equal to the number of hours that the part-time employee worked divided by the hours an employee must work to A qualified beneficiary is an individual covered by a group health plan on the day before a qualifying event occurred that caused him or her to lose coverage. Only certain individuals can become qualified beneficiaries due to a qualifying event, and the type of qualifying event determines who can become a qualified beneficiary when it happens. A qualified beneficiary must be a covered employee, the employee’s spouse or former spouse, or the employee’s dependent child. In certain cases involving the bankruptcy of the employer sponsoring the plan, a retired employee, the retired employee’s spouse or former spouse, and the retired employee’s dependent children may be qualified beneficiaries. In addition, any child born to or placed for adoption with a covered employee during a period of continuation coverage is automatically considered a qualified be considered full time. Qualified Beneficiaries
beneficiary. An employer’s agents, independent contractors, and directors who participate in the group health plan may also be qualified beneficiaries. Are there alternatives for health coverage other than COBRA? If you become entitled to elect COBRA continuation coverage when you otherwise would lose group health coverage under a group health plan, you should consider all options you may have to get other health coverage before you make your decision. There may be more affordable or more generous coverage options for you and your family through other group health plan coverage (such as a spouse’s plan), the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Medicaid. If you become entitled to elect COBRA continuation coverage when you otherwise would lose group health coverage under a group health plan, you should consider all options you may have to get other health coverage before you make your decision. There may be more affordable or more generous coverage options for you and your family through other group health plan coverage (such as a spouse’s plan), the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Medicaid. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), if you or your dependents are losing eligibility for group health coverage, including eligibility for continuation coverage, you may have a right to special enroll (enroll without waiting until the next open season for enrollment) in other group health coverage. For example, an employee losing eligibility for group health coverage may be able to special enroll in a spouse’s plan. A dependent losing eligibility for group health coverage may be able to enroll in a different parent’s group health plan. To have a special enrollment opportunity, you or your dependent must have had other health coverage when you previously declined coverage in the plan in which you now want to enroll. You must request special enrollment within 30 days from the loss of your job-based coverage. Losing your job-based coverage is also a special enrollment event in the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace). The Marketplace offers “one-stop shopping” to find and compare private health insurance options. In the Marketplace, you could be eligible for a tax credit that lowers your monthly premiums and cost-sharing reductions (amounts that lower your out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, coinsurance and co-payments), and you can see what your premium, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs will be before you make a decision to enroll.
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EXCHANGE NOTICES
New Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options and Your Health Coverage
Form Approved OMB No. 1210-0149 (expires 6-30-2023)
PART A: General Information When key parts of the health care law take effect in 2014, there will be a new way to buy health insurance : the Health Insurance Marketplace. To assist you as you evaluate options for you and your family, this notice provides some basic information about the new Marketplace and employment based health coverage offered by your employer. What is the Health Insurance Marketplace? The Marketplace is designed to help you find health insurance that meets your needs and fits your budget. The Marketplace offers "one-stop shopping" to find and compare private health insurance options. You may also be eligible for a new kind of tax credit that lowers your monthly premium right away. Open enrollment for health insurance coverage through the Marketplace begins in October 2013 for coverage starting as early as January 1, 2014. Can I Save Money on my Health Insurance Premiums in the Marketplace? You may qualify to save money and lower your monthly premium, but only if your employer does not offer coverage, or offers coverage that doesn't meet certain standards. The savings on your premium that you're eligible for depends on your household income. Does Employer Health Coverage Affect Eligibility for Premium Savings through the Marketplace? Yes. If you have an offer of health coverage from your employer that meets certain standards, you will not be eligible for a tax credit through the Marketplace and may wish to enroll in your employer's health plan. However, you may be eligible for a tax credit that lowers your monthly premium, or a reduction in certain cost-sharing if your employer does not offer coverage to you at all or does not offer coverage that meets certain standards. If the cost of a plan from your employer that would cover you (and not any other members of your family) is more than 9.5% of your household income for the year, or if the coverage your employer provides does not meet the "minimum value" standard set by the Affordable Care Act, you may be eligible for a tax credit. 1 Note: If you purchase a health plan through the Marketplace instead of accepting health coverage offered by your employer, then you may lose the employer contribution (if any) to the employer-offered coverage. Also, this employer contribution -as well as your employee contribution to employer-offered coverage- is often excluded from income for Federal and State income tax purposes. Your payments for coverage through the Marketplace are made on an after-tax basis. How Can I Get More Information? For more information about your coverage offered by your employer, please check your summary plan description or contact . The Marketplace can help you evaluate your coverage options, including your eligibility for coverage through the Marketplace and its cost. Please visit HealthCare.gov for more information, including an online application for health insurance coverage and contact information for a Health Insurance Marketplace in your area.
1 An employer-sponsored health plan meets the "minimum value standard" if the plan's share of the total allowed benefit costs covered by
the plan is no less than 60 percent of such costs.
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EXCHANGE NOTICES
PART B: Information About Health Coverage Offered by Your Employer This section contains information about any health coverage offered by your employer. If you decide to complete an application for coverage in the Marketplace, you will be asked to provide this information. This information is numbered to correspond to the Marketplace application. 3.Employer name 4. Employer Identification Number (EIN)
84-3857022
Southern Electric Company
5. Employer address
6. Employer phone number
510 Winkler Drive, Suite 100
(770) 740-9553
8. State
9.ZIP code
7. City
Alpharetta
GA
30004
10. Who can we contact about employee health coverage at this job?
Shanna Newsome
11. Phone number (if different from above)
12. Email address
Here is some basic information about health coverage offered by this employer: • As your employer, we offer a health plan to: All employees. Eligible employees are:
X
Full-time
Some employees. Eligible employees are:
• With respect to dependents:
X
We do offer coverage. Eligible dependents are:
We do not offer coverage.
If checked, this coverage meets the minimum value standard, and the cost of this coverage to you is intended to be affordable, based on employee wages.
** Even if your employer intends your coverage to be affordable, you may still be eligible for a premium discount through the Marketplace. The Marketplace will use your household income, along with other factors, to determine whether you may be eligible for a premium discount. If, for example, your wages vary from week to week (perhaps you are an hourly employee or you work on a commission basis), if you are newly employed mid-year, or if you have other income losses, you may still qualify for a premium discount.
If you decide to shop for coverage in the Marketplace, HealthCare.gov will guide you through the process. Here's the employer information you'll enter when you visit HealthCare.gov to find out if you can get a tax credit to lower your monthly premiums.
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EXCHANGE NOTICES
The information below corresponds to the Marketplace Employer Coverage Tool. Completing this section is optional for employers, but will help ensure employees understand their coverage choices.
13. Is the employee currently eligible for coverage offered by this employer, or will the employee be eligible in the next 3 months? Yes (Continue) 13a. If the employee is not eligible today, including as a result of a waiting or probationary period, when is the employee eligible for coverage? (mm/dd/yyyy) (Continue) No (STOP and return this form to employee)
14. Does the employer offer a health plan that meets the minimum value standard*? Yes (Go to question 15) No (STOP and return form to employee)
15. For the lowest-cost plan that meets the minimum value standard* offered only to the employee (don't include family plans): If the employer has wellness programs, provide the premium that the employee would pay if he/ she received the maximum discount for any tobacco cessation programs, and didn't receive any other discounts based on wellness programs. a. How much would the employee have to pay in premiums for this plan? $ b. How often? Weekly Every 2 weeks Twice a month Monthly Quarterly Yearly If the plan year will end soon and you know that the health plans offered will change, go to question 16. If you don't know, STOP and return form to employee.
16. What change will the employer make for the new plan year? Employer won't offer health coverage
Employer will start offering health coverage to employees or change the premium for the lowest-cost plan available only to the employee that meets the minimum value standard.* (Premium should reflect the discount for wellness programs. See question 15.)
a. How much would the employee have to pay in premiums for this plan? $ b. How often? Weekly Every 2 weeks Twice a month
Monthly
Quarterly
Yearly
• An employer-sponsored health plan meets the "minimum value standard" if the plan's share of the total allowed benefit costs covered by the plan is no less than 60 percent of such costs (Section 36B(c)(2)(C)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)
18 Southern Electric Company 2024 Benefits Guide
CONTACT INFORMATION
Southern Electric Company Human Resources
Shanna Newsome - snewsome@southernelectriccompany.com (770) 740-9553
Yates Benefit Broker / Agency
Billy Eissler - beissler@yatesins.com (404) 486-2239
COVERAGE
PROVIDER PHONE NUMBER
WEBSITE
Medical
United HealthCare
(866) 801-4409
www.uhc.com
Dental & Vision
Guardian
(888) 482-7342
www.guardianlife.com
Life Insurance
Guardian
(888) 482-7342
www.guardianlife.com
19 Southern Electric Company 2024 Benefits Guide |
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