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Connecticut State Teachers’ Retirement Board Health Plan. Administered by Stirling Benefits, Inc. 2014. TRB Plan. Governed by the Connecticut Teachers’ Retirement Board (TRB) Covering over 22,000 retired teachers Administered by Stirling Benefits Began service to TRB in 1996
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Connecticut State Teachers’ Retirement BoardHealth Plan Administered by Stirling Benefits, Inc. 2014
TRB Plan • Governed by the Connecticut Teachers’ Retirement Board (TRB) • Covering over 22,000 retired teachers • Administered by Stirling Benefits • Began service to TRB in 1996 • Service company, not an insurance company • Based on the Blue Cross High Option
TRB PlanFunding • Plan funding comes from three sources: • Active teachers pay 1.25% of salary into the health account, • The state is responsible for a third, and • The retiree pays a third
TRB Subsidies Retirees receive either: Local Board subsidy • $110 per retiree or spouse per month • $220 per month if not eligible for Medicare Or TRB coverage subsidy • Two thirds (66%) of the cost of Medical & Rx • Once on the TRB plan, TRB no longer pays local board
To obtain Medicare… • Need 40 Quarters of Eligible Employment, or… • Married 10 years to someone who has 40 quarters • Part A -- Paid by Medicare • Part B -- Cost Share with Retiree • Pre 1987 hires may not have 40 quarters • TRB members don’t need Part D
TRB Medical • Covers what Medicare allows • Same as Blue Cross High Option • No network, No Copayments, • No Pre-Existing Condition Limitations • No Individual Underwriting • Picks up remainder after Medicare pays • Coverage the same everywhere in the US and Puerto Rico
Lifetime Maximums • Unlimited maximum on Hospitalizations • Unlimited maximum on Basic Medical • Unlimited maximum on Prescriptions • $1 M max on a small portion of remaining claims (totaling about 3% of the total claims) • Applies to: out of country, extra 15% on unassigned Medicare claims, extra 20 days of skilled nursing care • No member has ever come close to hitting the limit.
Assignment of Claims • Medicare claims are either Assigned or Unassigned • Assigned Claims (95% of all claims): • Doctor agrees to accept what Medicare “allows” as full payment • Medicare and TRB plan pays the doctor • Doctor guaranteed to collect 100% of what Medicare allows. • Un-Assigned Claims (5% of all claims) • Doctor may charge 15% more than “allowed” • Medicare and TRB Plan pays Member • Doctor must bill and collect from member
Shingles Vaccine Covered • Effective 1-1-2013 • Plan reimburses 80% of the cost of vaccine • Up to total of $200 per person per lifetime • Send proof of payment to Stirling Benefits • TRB plan reimburses member by check
Out of Country • In-Patient Hospital – 30 days at 100% • Physician’s charges paid at 80% • Non-Emergency Only • 20% for services usually covered by Medicare • Cannot be used for experimental procedures.
Dental • $44.00 / Month (2014) • Administered by Aetna Dental • $50 annual deductible • 100% cleanings • 80% basic restorative • 50% Major Restorative • $2,000 annual maximum
Vision & Hearing • $5.00 / Month • Vision • Exams: $75 every 12 months • $100 toward frames and $60 - $200 allowance for lenses every 24 months, or $120 toward contacts every 12 months • Hearing Aids: $750 every three years • Administered by Stirling Benefits
For More Information… • Stirling Benefits, Inc. • 20 Armory Lane, Milford, CT 06460 • (203) 876-1660, ext. 0, www.StirlingBenefits.com • Teachers’ Retirement Board • 765 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105-2822 • (800) 504-1102, fax: (860) 622-2849, www.ct.gov/trb • CVS /Caremark (800) 318-2572 • Aetna Dental (855) 394-3874 • Medicare (800) 772-1213 www.Medicare.gov