- Sep
- 14
- 2017
Get Your Work/Life Balance Going On
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I am turning 65 yrs and an active employee enrolled in the value plan. Do I need to sign-up for Medicare part A/B at this time?
Hi Laura – Forgive me for the lengthy response but I want to make this is clear. Hospital insurance (Part A) helps pay for inpatient hospital care and certain follow-up services. There is No Cost to you. You must sign up three months before you reach 65. If you are still working, your Primary insurance is your coverage from Northwell Health and your Secondary insurance is Medicare Part A. You or your provider must submit your health expenses to Northwell Health’s plan first. Medical insurance (Part B) helps pay for doctors’ services, outpatient hospital care, and other medical services. You… Read more »
I’m looking through the different health insurance plans, however I don’t see any information regarding what the premiums are. How do we find out what we actually pay per pay-period for each plan?
Hi Adam – go to the employee intranet and click on the “I Need To” dropdown box – click on “Discover Benefits”. Under the Useful Links, click on the Open Enrollment folder. There you will find all the rates.
Hi Sally, My fiancé and I are expecting a child this coming Spring and was wondering if the team could answer some questions: 1. Do I need to give a headsup for possible policy changes? 2. We are currently not married, but if we choose the family plan, would this be an issue after we have chosen our respective insurances offered by our companies? 3. Do I need to add her as a domestic partner when I enroll in December or does this matter? 4. I saw the premiums for all four plans but if she becomes a domestic partner… Read more »
Hey Kirk – Congrats to you and your partner! Although I am not a plan expert and just a communicator, I will try to answer in generic terms: 1. No, there is no reason to contact anyone at this point. If you want to enroll in the Northwell benefits just proceed during Open Enrollment. 2. Northwell Health no longer covers domestic partners (Lenox Hill and Manhattan location have exceptions), due to the fact that same sex partners (historically referred to as Domestic Partners) are able to legally marry in NYS. 3. When (and if) you get married – that would… Read more »
When I make doctors appt for myself, I always include an appt for my husband & we see the doctor together & have lab work done together. By doing this he cannot escape nor give me an alibi for not seeing the doctor. If he gets sick, he can give me his virus to me & I refuse to get sick at all.
Are oral contraceptives 100% covered through Express Scripts or do they have a 10$ copay? Also, do they need to have a 90 day prescription through Vivo or mail order or can it be purchased monthly?
Dorothy and others – Oral contraceptives taken on a regular basis are considered a Maintenance Drug. Be sure to sign up for the Mail Order in 2017.
United Health Care has a program that rewards subscribers health care dollars for walking everyday measured by a fitbit/pedometer etc. Is this program of interest to Northwell Health? It’s a great incentive to move more!
Hi Lisa – Thank you very much for your suggestion. Northwell is launching a new wellness platform this summer. Referred to as myWellness+ the online platform will include a much more robust site, with shorter and more frequent challenges, a great social feed, educational videos, all connected to our rewards program. The program will also offer a savvy app – allowing you to track your healthy habits on the go. Much more to come!
What are the new “imputed” costs of the long term disability?
Annette – Today, employer paid premium for 50% LTD benefit gives you a taxable benefit. You pay the premium for a difference between 50% and 60% benefit and that portion of the benefit is tax- free. This causes a lot of confusion. Going forward, as of 1/1/18, in order for the 50% long term disability benefit to be tax free (like 60% portion of the benefit) you will pay taxes on the employer paid premium.
Question on loss of coverage for Cardiac Care as of July 2018. As my husband is on Medicare Part A, once he is required to pay 100% of costs for non Northwell doctors or facilities should he sign up for Medicare Part B again and buy a supplemental plan?
Maggie – Yes, if he wants to submit bills to Medicare as a secondary payer, he should sign up for Medicare part B/ supplemental plan and later talk to United Healthcare to make sure that they have his Medicare part B info for coordination of benefits. Hope this helps
How many hours a week do you have to work to be eligible for full time rates for medical insurance?
Laurie – 30 hours or more per week.
If I want to do the EE+children HDSP + HSA plan, will this be considered “family” or “individual” / “single” for deductibles, HSA funding/contribution amounts?
Rebekah – Family for HSA funding.