Sent: 2011-04-07
From: EIU Benefits Office
To: Employees
Subject: Important Message Regarding Upcoming Benefits Changes
As many of you have heard by way of local news reports, Health Alliance lost their contract with the State of Illinois effective July 1, 2011. Many of you have questions as to what this means if your current Health Care Plan is Health Alliance.
The information we have received at this time indicates that Health Alliance customers will not lose access to their current Providers (Primary Care Physicians). This may be accomplished by enrolling in one of the other offered plans. It will be important as you begin receiving information on various plans during the annual BENEFITS CHOICE period in May, that you carefully evaluate your situation and select the plan that meets your current needs. This may mean following up with some of your current providers to make sure they are in the plan you are interested in selecting.
Central Management Services has issued a Question and Answer Fact Sheet. To access this piece of information please click on this link http://www.state.il.us/cms/download/pdfs_benefits/HFS-Fact_Sheet.pdf
The Benefits Office will be providing additional information and will update the Benefits website with new information as we receive it. To access the Benefits website, click here http://www.eiu.edu/~humanres/benefits/untitled.php
News reports indicate that Health Alliance has a period of time to appeal this decision and in addition, area representatives may challenge some of these decisions. Again, the Benefits Office will notify our employee population of any confirmed information as soon as we receive notification.
Please watch your mail and e-mail for important information on the changes that will be affecting your Health Benefits.
Linda C. Holloway
Assistant Director Payroll & Benefits
Eastern Illinois University
217-581-5825 (phone)
benefits@eiu.edu
