Trust offers new group health plan

By Greg Cieslewicz
Communications Specialist
WEA Trust

May 2007

Rising health care costs affect nearly everyone. In an environment of increasing expenses, the WEA Trust has a new group health plan that helps curb costs and is easy to use. While other carriers may increase deductibles or trim benefits, the Trust continues to be an advocate for members by offering comprehensive benefits at a fair price.

The WEA Trust Preferred Provider Plan (Trust Preferred) does just that – maintains comprehensive member benefits and includes easy-to-use features such as a single statewide network.

"Trust Preferred is competitively priced and allows our members to receive the best value for their health care dollars,” WEA Trust Vice President Mark Moody said. “Plus, you’ll receive what we call ‘The Trust Difference’ – the personal attention and excellent service that we’ve always provided to our members.”

Highlights of Trust Preferred:

• The freedom to use your choice of physician, clinic, or hospital.
• No need to designate a primary care provider (PCP). However, members are still encouraged to develop an ongoing partnership with a physician so the provider can coordinate the care they receive.
• A single statewide Network. The Network offers members access to a broad selection of health care providers. When members receive care from a Network provider, they will pay the lowest out-of-pocket costs possible.
• Contracts with out-of-state providers. These contracts make it convenient for members who live and travel outside the state. When members receive covered services from out-of-state contracted providers, their coinsurance, deductible, and copayment amounts will be the same as when they use Wisconsin Network providers.

Plus, with Trust Preferred, all urgent care and emergency room services will be reimbursed at the highest level available regardless of where members seek care.

Preventive health care

“The Trust has always been the leader in advocating for our members’ health and wellness,” Moody said. “We were one of the first organizations in the country to address the issue of preventive health to help control rising health care costs. We go into the schools and help them set up health and wellness programs to help prevent future health problems. Not a lot of other insurance companies are willing to do that.”

In addition to wellness programs, Trust Preferred offers coverage for tobacco cessation, and programs addressing heart health, asthma, and diabetes.

“The difference is that we work for our members,” Moody said. “We’ve always taken that extra step to help keep our members healthy, and if they have a chronic health condition, we want to make sure they are receiving the highest standard of care.”

To learn more about the features and benefits that Trust Preferred offers, contact your Trust field representative or the Trust customer service department at 800-279-4000.

Healthy pregnancies, healthy babies

WEA Trust health plan members who are expecting a baby have a new helping hand. The Trust’s maternity education program, WEA Trust Club Mom, is available to all Trust members who are pregnant or preparing for a pregnancy.

In WEA Trust Club Mom, expectant mothers will work with Trust maternity nurses who have experience in caring for pregnant women and infants. Topics of discussion may range from health risks, pregnancy management, nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle changes to birth-process preparations, and infant care.

WEA Trust Club Mom will complement the care given by the expectant mother’s physician by providing additional resources and access to knowledgeable health care professionals. The program will use guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Healthy pregnancies save money

The Trust offers WEA Trust Club Mom for two important reasons. First, the Trust’s goal is for members to have healthier pregnancies and babies. Comprehensive prenatal care reduces infant and maternal deaths, decreases the number of babies who are pre-term and/or have a low birth weight, and prevents illness. Second, prenatal care can save money by reducing the incidence of medical conditions that can be extremely costly to treat. For example:

• Inpatient neonatal intensive care costs approximately $2,500 per day. With an average stay of 14 days, the total cost is $35,000.
• Average hospital charges for a low birth weight, premature baby are $75,000.

Educational materials

Participants also will receive:

• Risk assessments for specific stages of pregnancy.
• A packet of helpful materials, including “Your Pregnancy and Birth,” a comprehensive guide to the stages of pregnancy and newborn care developed by the ACOG.
• A $50 savings bond for the infant if the participant enrolled by the 20th week of pregnancy and completed the program.

Online enrollment

Mothers-to-be who have a Trust health plan as their primary coverage can enroll in WEA Trust Club Mom by going to weatrust.com/clubmom. For more information about WEA Trust Club Mom, members may call 800-279-4000, extension 8821.

How much do you know about your state pension plan?

WEA Trust Member Benefits is offering a free seminar – “Understanding Wisconsin Retirement System - Your State Pension” – throughout the state this summer for public school employees.
Whether you just started your career or are closing in on retirement, there is something in this seminar for you. You will learn how to:

• Read/interpret your pension statement.
• Calculate your WRS pension benefit.
• Choose an appropriate annuity option.
• Purchase forfeited service.
• Determine whether you will have a retirement income gap.

To register, call 800-279-4030, extension 8563, or go online to http://weatrust.com/wrsseminars.

Posted May 29, 2007