IUOE News Winter 2013

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Benefits Plan We need to tighten our belts to keep enjoying our good benefits. Shawn Hatch, Administrator PBC Member Survey Results Thank you to everyone who took time to complete the Pacific Blue Cross Member Survey we sent out earlier this year. We are please to say that over 82 per cent of members expressed an overall “satisfied” or “very satisfied” opinion. The survey data are shown in the graph below. With the change to PBC, the Operating Engineers’ Benefits Plan office continues to maintain your enrollment records. However, we do not maintain your claims information. Members who have questions regarding their claims are reminded to call or fax the following Pacific Blue Cross numbers for claims questions: Extended Health Phone: 604-419-2600 Fax: 604- 419-2601 Dental Claims Phone: 604-419-2300 Fax: 604-419-2399 CARESnet Less than 30 per cent of our members have enrolled on CARESnet. We urge everyone to register on CARESnet as an easy way to administer claim information as well as access valuable plan information. Go to www.pac.bluecross.ca for details and to: • See what you are covered for • See how much is remaining for a benefit • Register for direct deposit of claim payments and online statements • Download an ID card or claims forms • Submit claims for massage, physiotherapy, chiropractor and vision care online • Access general plan information Time To Tighten Our Collective Belt Once again we will be facing an MSP premium increase of 4 per cent effective January 1, 2014. Also, drug claims paid over the year are up dramatically from the previous year. We all can benefit if members do what they can to help manage these rising costs, so here are a few suggestions. MSP Premium Assistance If your net income is under $30,000 you are eligible for premium assistance. Call 604-683-7520 or toll-free 1-877- 955-5656 or visit www.hibc.gov.bc.ca for more information. Shop Around For Your Prescriptions Speak to your doctor about generic medicine alternatives to see if they are right for you. In many cases significant savings can be realized by opting for a generic alternative, which is just as safe and effective as any other medicine. Also check into the dispensing fees and manufacturer’s mark-up your pharmacy is charging. For members who have shopping options, you will discover that these charges vary quite a bit from pharmacy to pharmacy. 50% 40% 30% Pacific Blue Cross Satisfaction Survey Results from the Pacific Blue Cross Member Satisfaction Survey show that over 82 per cent of members are either satisfied, or very satisfied with the services offered by our new health care benefits provider. 20% 10% 0% Very Satisfied Satisfied Neutral Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied 24 News December 2013
Benefits Plan Pharmacy Dispensing Fees & Mark-Ups $12 25% $10 20% $8 15% $6 10% $4 $2 5% $0 0% Dispensing Fees Markup This graph compares which popular pharmacies have the highest medicine dispensing fees (blue column) as at the end of 2013, as well as how much each pharmacy has marked up their medicines in the last three years (red column). With rising medicine costs, consider these numbers the next time you refill your prescription or buy your medicine, and insist on generic brands. As a guideline, Pacific Blue Cross has provided us with the average medicine dispensing fees charged by popular pharmacies for the rolling year ending June 2013, as well as their average mark-up percentages for the top 30 paid drugs over the past three years, shown in the chart above. To find your best price, Pacific Blue Cross has a useful “Pharmacy Compass” tool which locates the best pharmacy deal near you, available at www.pharmacycompass.ca. Special Authority Drug Subsidy If your doctor is prescribing a Special Authority Drug you may be eligible for a PharmaCare subsidy. To qualify for the subsidy you must register with PharmaCare online at www. health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare or by phone at 604-683-7151 (toll-free at 1 800 663-7100). If you are, or may be using a Special Authority Drug, speak to your doctor to request that he or she apply to PharmaCare for Special Authority on your behalf. A decision letter will then be sent to your doctor by PharmaCare. Once you have received it from your doctor, you must provide Pacific Blue Cross with a copy of that letter (even if the application is denied). Weekly Disability Benefit & EI Registration for Self- Employed Members Self-employed and Owner Operators please note; effective from January 1, 2014, if you are eligible but have not registered and have not been contributing to Employment Insurance at the time of any disability claim, you will be disqualified from receiving weekly disability benefits for the 15 week EI sick benefit carve out. Certain self-employed members are now eligible to register for Employment Insurance Special Benefits. Full details are available from Service Canada at www.servicecanada.gc.ca under their “Employment Insurance Special Benefits for Self- Employed People” section. You can also call their help line on 1-800-622-6232. Remember that you must contribute to EI for at least one year before becoming eligible for EI Special Benefits (15 weeks maximum sick benefits). If you have not contributed for one full year the Operating Engineers’ Benefits Plan will waive the 15 week EI Sick Benefits carve out, and continue paying you weekly disability benefits, provided you submit evidence of registration for EI Special Benefits. News December 2013 25
Page 1 and 2: News Operators look forward to a po
Page 3 and 4: There is much we can celebrate, and
Page 5 and 6: The “new kid on the block” is a
Page 7 and 8: Ups and downs in 2013, but a promis
Page 9 and 10: Work opportunities across B.C. cont
Page 11 and 12: It’s been a good year for us. Ste
Page 13 and 14: A successful year past, a busy one
Page 15 and 16: Operating Engineers have done thems
Page 17 and 18: Feature Article Right to Work Doing
Page 19 and 20: District Two continue to shift in t
Page 21 and 22: Everyone has had their fair share o
Page 23 and 24: 2013 has set the stage for large pr
Page 25: We should never stop appreciating o
Page 29 and 30: Feature Article based on the law, t
Page 31 and 32: Accreditation proves your Training
Page 33 and 34: Training Association Making up our
Page 35 and 36: Member Profile Union Brothers - Lit
Page 37 and 38: “I bought this small property in
Page 39 and 40: Member Recognition Honouring our me
Page 41 and 42: Member Recognition Welcome to 285 n
Page 43 and 44: Contact Details Local 115 District

IUOE News Winter 2013

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