Report from the Benefits Committee Chair Dean McMullen

The members of the ARTA Benefits Committee met on Feb. 7 for its first meeting of 2005. The committee did a critical review of our 2004 operations and made considerable progress on our objectives for 2005.
It has been five years since we have called for tenders from insurance companies on our Benefits Program. This will be done this year to ensure that our members are receiving the best possible rates. The role of the Insurer and the role of the ARTA Benefits Program Administrator will be reviewed as part of this five year analysis.
The committee received the cost implications associated with various revisions to the Benefits Plans suggested by members of the committee or ARTA members at large. Further study will be undertaken regarding the addition of palliative care as part of our home/hospital care benefit and the inclusion of treatment by an Athletic Therapist as part of the current coverage for physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment and massage therapy. It was also determined that the minimum increase in the Extended Health Care premium if a Direct Billing Card system for pharmaceuticals was implemented would be 12%. However, the increase could go as high as 20% because groups who have implemented this plan have experienced increased costs of this magnitude.
The committee meets again in May with the main order of business being the finalizing of the components of the various benefit plans and the premiums necessary for each. The committee welcomes feedback from ARTA members regarding our Benefits Program.

ARTA Long Term Care Plan - Have you applied yet?
The Long Term Care Plan can ease the uncertainty of the future for you and your family. Since the rates are tied to your age at the time of your application, the earlier you apply the lower your rates will be. To qualify you must provide satisfactory evidence of good health to an insurance company. You may qualify even if you have a pre-existing medical condition or have been treated for a chronic illness. Unless you already require assistance with any activities of daily living or suffer from a cognitive impairment, there is a good chance you will be approved for coverage. If you have been considering making an application for the Long Term Care Plan, here is what you can expect when you apply:

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ARTA © 2005

1. Complete a medical questionnaire in your application form as accurately as possible. It provides a basic source of information regarding your health, your lifestyle and your living environment.

2. A medical underwriter will contact you to conduct a telephone interview to verify the answers you supplied on the medical questionnaire and get additional information directly from whenever possible.

3. The underwriter may request medical records from your physician(s) to complete your file and to assist the underwriter in qualifying your application. If your physician charges a fee for the release of your medical records, the cost is borne by the insurance company.

4. Your medical records are treated with the utmost confidentiality and are only accessed by the medical underwriter reviewing your application. Full disclosure is important because once you are approved you are covered for all pre-existing conditions and your coverage cannot be terminated if your health deteriorates.

5. On average, the application process takes six weeks from the time you submit your application to the time you are notified if you qualify for the Long Term Care Plan.

If you have questions about the ARTA Long Term Care Plan or would like assistance in completing your application, contact Johnson Inc. at 1-877-LTC-PLAN (enquiries) or 1-800-461-4597 (underwriting)

Questions and Answers:
How many locations does Johnson Inc. have in Alberta and where are they located?
Red Deer - two service staff
504 - 4901 - 48 Street Tel: 403-343-2091
Red Deer. T4N 6M4 Toll free:1-877-343-2091
Fax: 403-309-3626

Edmonton - 19 service staff
West Chambers Building Tel: 780-413-6612
Suite 301, 1220 Stony Plain Rd. Toll free: 1-800-661-1973
Edmonton. T5N 3Y4 Fax: 780-420-6082

Calgary - 23 service staff
Suite 300, 736-8th Avenue SW Tel: 403-263-6424
Calgary. T2P 1H4 Toll free: 1-800-661-1233
Fax: 403-262-3054

Lethbridge - one service staff
480 Scenic Drive S Tel: 4034-317-3695
Lethbridge. T1J 4S3 Toll free: 1-866-837-3965
Fax: 403-317-3699