2010 Annual Employee Notices

Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); Offer Free Or Low-Cost Health Coverage To Children And Families

If you are eligible for health coverage from your employer, but are unable to afford the premiums, some States have premium assistance programs that can help pay for coverage. These States use funds from their Medicaid or CHIP programs to help people who are eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage, but need assistance in paying their health premiums.

If you or your dependents are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP and you live in a State listed below, you can 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, you can 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, you can ask the State if it has a program that might help you pay the premiums for an employer-sponsored plan.

Once it is determined that you or your dependents are eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP, your employer's health plan is required to permit you and your dependents to enroll in the plan - as long as you and your dependents are eligible, but not already enrolled in the employer's plan. This is called a "special enrollment" opportunity, and you must request coverage within 60 days of being determined eligible for premium assistance.

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 April 16, 2010. You should contact your State for further information on eligibility: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

To see if any more States have added a premium assistance program since April 16, 2010, 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, Ext. 61565

Lifetime Limit No Longer Applies

The lifetime limit on the dollar value of benefits under the lona College medical plans no longer applies. Individuals whose coverage ended by reason of reaching a lifetime limit under the plan are eligible to enroll in the plan. Individuals have 30 days from the date of this notice to request enrollment. For more information contact Rosemary Bartolomeo, Manager for Benefits and Employment on extension 2049.

Newborns' Act Disclosure

Group health plans and health insurance issuers generally may not, under Federal law, restrict benefits for any hospital length of stay in connection with childbirth for the mother or newborn child to less than 48 hours following a vaginal delivery, or less than 96 hours following a cesarean section. However, Federal law generally does not prohibit the mother's or newborn's attending provider, after consulting with the mother, from discharging the mother or her newborn earlier than 48 hours (or 96 hours as applicable). In any case, plans and issuers may not, under Federal law, require that a provider obtain authorization from the plan or the insurance issuer for prescribing a length of stay not in excess of 48 hours (or 96 hours).

Notice of Opportunity to Enroll in connection with Extension of Dependent coverage to Age 26

Individuals whose coverage ended, or who were denied coverage (or were not eligible for coverage), because the availability of dependent coverage of children ended before attainment of age 26 are now eligible to enroll in the lona College medical plans. Individuals may request enrollment for such children for 30 days from the date of this notice. Enrollments will be effective January 1, 2011. For more information contact Rosemary Bartolomeo, Manager for Benefits and Employment on extension 2049.

Special Enrollment Notice

If you are declining enrollment in an lona College medical plan 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 and your dependents in an lona College plan if you or your dependents lose eligibility for that other coverage (or if the employer stops contributing toward your or your dependents' other coverage). However, you must request enrollment no more than 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 a result of marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents. However, you must request enrollment no more than 30 days after the marriage, birth, adoption, or placement for adoption.

To request special enrollment or obtain more information, contact Rosemary Bartolomeo, Manager for Benefits and Employment on extension 2049.

Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998

As required by the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998, the lona College medical plans provide benefits for mastectomy-related services including all stages of reconstruction and surgery to achieve symmetry between the breasts, prostheses, and complications resulting from a mastectomy, including lymphedema. For more information contact Rosemary Bartolomeo, Manager for Benefits and Employment on extension 2049.