Bill Oswald – Medical Liaison
773-536-0450 ext. 312
billo@iaff-local2.org
IMPORTANT BENEFIT INFORMATION
The following information is from questions received from the Membership regarding health-related issues:
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When a Member or spouse/dependent is injured and seeks out medical attention, you will receive a letter from a Coghlan Law Firm 312-357-9200. Do not ignore this letter. Fill out the form and send it in. This is a subrogation firm hired by the City of Chicago, if ignored, this will hold up your healthcare insurance claims.
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What happens if a Member passes away? Many are not aware that medical benefits for your spouse and dependents end, when Active, your beneficiary is entitled to the city issued group Met Life Insurance for $75,000. When a Member retires, this benefit ends. Health Insurance continues for Retired Members until they become Medicare eligible at the age of 65 or when you are no longer a part of the employer’s group plan. Healthcare benefits end for your spouse and dependents. Medicare eligibility begins on the 1st of the month. For example, your birthday is March 29th, your Medicare begins March 1st. If your birthdate is on the 1st of the month your Medicare begins the previous month example, birthdate March 1st, Medicare begins February 1st.
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Member turning 65 and becoming Medicare eligible, the application process begins 3 months prior. Don’t wait until the last minute.
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Local 2 has partnered with Aetna/Labor First for supplemental insurance, call Labor First 312-248-6508 for the plans they offer.
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If you have Medicare and you are interested in Vision or Dental, please call: Met Life 312-454-6023
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When a Member has a child (newborn). First and the most important step is to call and enroll your newborn, call the City of Chicago Benefits Service Center 877-299-5111. You have 30 days. If you miss this step, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period. You have 180 days to supply the birth certificate to Benefits Management. Get the name of the representative you spoke with along with time and date.
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If your doctor orders a CT, Pet Scan or MRI you must call Telligen: 800-373-3727 to pre- certify the test and locate a center near you. The cost is fully covered.
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Routine labs, locate a free-standing lab not affiliated with a hospital so there’s no cost to you. You may be in a hospital and the doctor will send you for a test in the hospital, you will be charged.
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If injured on a call and or in the firehouse, report the incident to your company officer. Go to the hospital by CFD Ambulance. Best scenario you are fine and return to the firehouse. If you choose not to go to the hospital and days later you complain, this will not be covered.
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If you go the hospital for a duty related injury and the Emergency Room doctor informs you to follow up with you doctor, you need to follow up with CFD Medical and if determined a duty injury, they will refer you to a city approved doctor.
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Regarding Covid grievances, obtain the claim number from Gallager Bassett and Local 2 needs a copy of the positive test result if possible, to expedite the process.
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More detailed information is available at The City web site www.cityofchicago.org/benefits
Any questions related to our healthcare call Local2 773-536-0450 ext. 312
Bill Oswald Medical Liaison
Newborn Coverage: Two Step Process – Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, newborns are eligible for coverage as of the date of birth, provided that the Employee is enrolled or enrolls for coverage effective as of that date and completes the following steps:
Step One: The Employee must complete enrollment on-line at www.cityofchicagobenefits.org or by calling the Benefits Service Center at 1-877-299-5111 for coverage for the newborn within 30 days of the date of birth of the newborn.
Step Two: The Employee must also submit a certified birth certificate to the Benefits Service Center within 180 days of the child’s date of birth.
If the Employee completes the enrollment for coverage within 30 days and submits the certified birth certificate within 180 days, coverage is retroactive to the date of birth. If the online or telephone application for coverage is not made within 30 days or the certified birth certificate is not received within the required 180 days, coverage will be effective as of the first day of the next Plan Year, provided the enrollment is completed and the birth certificate is received by that date.
The enrollment and the certified birth certificate to establish eligibility can be done separately as each has a different due date. However, each form must be submitted on time. You will not need the newborn’s social security number to enroll newborns for coverage, but you will be required to provide the number at a later date.
Appeal Form
Medicare Eligible Retirees that were required to elect coverage last year. We are aware that you all have received your Medicare premium renewals from both Aetna and BCBS (City Sponsored Plan). After seeing the BCBS MAPD Option 1 premium increase and decrease in benefits (copays and out of pocket maximum), we are happy to see that the Local 2 Sponsored Plan with Aetna last year had proved to be a great benefit to our retired Medicare Eligible members and Spouses that were forced to find coverage. It looks like the Aetna plan option 1 $100.00 per month cheaper BCBS renewal rates. That is an annual savings of $1200 per member or $2400 for member and spouse. If anyone is interested in receiving information on the Local 2 Sponsored Aetna plan options, they should call Labor First at (312) 248-6508 or (877) 660-7919.
Attention Members – For active Members and spouses who have City of Chicago Health Insurance and are participating in Chicago Lives Healthy, a reminder letter went out last week for those who have not done their Well Being 5 (WB5) Assessment. This is the computer-based questionnaire that will take less than 15 minutes to complete. Everyone who is a participant in the Chicago Lives Healthy Wellness Program needs to get it done by February 28 to remain a “participant” and avoid the premium penalty. Do not wait until the last minute to complete it. After you complete the WBA5 you will receive a Health Advisor call and then you should be done for the year, UNLESS you received a letter from Telligen stating you are required to be a part of a Health Improvement Program (HIP) (each HIP has its own options and requirements, which should be explained in your initial call with Telligen).
Please also note that the HIP that is managed by Telligen is not a duplicate, additional wellness program. Telligen is contracted under Chicago Lives Healthy to manage the HIP feature and may refer you to additional vendors such as MBGH and Livongo. You may receive mail or a phone call from a company you are unfamiliar with.
There is now a reminder in place for those employees who have access to the City computer system. The reminder pops-up when you sign on. If you have any questions, please give Chicago Lives Healthy a call at 866-556-7671 or Telligen a call at 800-373-3727. If they cannot answer your questions, then call Local 2 at 773-536-0450. Thank you.