Orthodox Health Plan announces open enrollment period
In a memo issued during the last week of October 2010 by Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America, it was announced that clergy and other qualified lay Church workers may join the Orthodox Health Plan Groups during the open enrollment period that begins October 25 and runs through December 31, 2010.
The text of Father Eric’s memo reads as follows.
“The Orthodox Health Plans (OHP) is pleased to offer an open enrollment period. OHP is the Orthodox Church in America’s official health plan for clergy and lay workers. This plan is a joint effort with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Serbian Orthodox Church in America, and other Orthodox jurisdictions. The OHP is a PPO Plan which offers our clergy and lay employees the broadest and most flexible coverage and includes a prescription, drug, and dental benefits. Our health insurance carrier is Aetna which is one of the single largest healthcare providers in the nation.
“Through our consultations with Aetna, we are able to announce an open enrollment period from October 25 to December 31, 2010. During this period, you may enroll and join our Orthodox Health Plans Group regardless of any pre-existing conditions for you and/or your eligible dependents. You may go to the OCA website and download material for review. https://www.oca.org/CAbenefitprograms.asp?SID=8. The monthly premium for a family is $1755 and for a single person is $832. Please note that due to excellent management of the program there was only a 1% increase in premiums this year.
“We should explain that access to the Orthodox Health Plans is generally available only during our annual open enrollment period. That is why we urge you to take the time now to explore the benefits of OHP participation. We believe it is the best choice. Over the last five years, through high in-network usage and negotiation with our carrier, we have kept our annual renewal increase under 5% and our plan benefits have remained unchanged.
“Some of the advantages for your enrollment are: broad medical coverage, prescription drugs benefits, parish transfer without interruption of coverage, just to name a few. You can find a full description of the plan, participating physicians and hospitals, at the web site www.orthodoxhealthplans.com. The plan includes medical, dental, prescription drug coverage as well as a vision component.
“It is important to stress that you should not discontinue any coverage you currently have until you have received confirmation that your participation has been approved. In order to be accepted, your completed enrollment form with your first month’s premium must reach the Plan Administrator no later than December 28, 2010. All coverage issued under this open enrollment period will be effective January 1, 2011.
“For additional information on these offered plans, enrollment forms, or questions, please call our Plan Administrator at GDC Financial 1-800-785-4432 or see the web page at www.orthodoxhealthplans.com”