Report from the Benefits Committee Chair
Dean McMullen

The mandate of the ARTA Benefits Committee is to provide members with a comprehensive benefits program at an affordable price to meet the needs of the majority of our members, regardless of age. The committee approved a Market Study be conducted by our program administrator, Johnson Inc.. Three companies submitted proposals and the recommendation after detailed study was to stay with our current carrier, Manulife.
The Long Term Care (LTC) component of our benefits program is experiencing slow growth. An aggressive marketing plan was reviewed and approved to ensure that our members are aware of our LTC plan.
The "home" and "auto" components of our insurance plans are now reported and considered separately. Impressive growth has occurred in both of these areas in 2005.
At the May meeting of the committee a sub-committee was formed to investigate the whole area of "wellness" as it relates to our members.
The Benefits Committee wants to express sincere appreciation to our Benefits Program Administrator, Johnson Inc., and particularly to Shannon Patershuk and Kathy Short for their competent, professional support and advice.

Changes in Alberta Health Care for Seniors and impact on ARTA plans
ARTA's Benefits Committee is attempting to integrate ARTA's Plans with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to provide the majority of members with the most comprehensive coverage at an affordable price. On September 13, 2005, the Benefits Committee addressed the topic of potential changes to Chiropractic coverage and the financial impact to members. Although it is too late to change the Plan for this renewal, the Committee is monitoring the recent changes in legislation and projecting the impact on ARTA's Plans.
For the reasons given below, Chiropractic coverage under ARTA's Extended Health Care Plan has not changed in accordance with the July 1, 2005 changes in Alberta Health Care next column >>>

ARTA © 2005

legislation. Any changes would be effective on the next renewal date, September 1, 2006.
Changes in Public Coverage
The public AHCIP provides an annual benefit of $200 for Chiropractic services and $250 for Podiatry service, with per visit maximums of $13.23 for Chiropractic services and variable amounts for Podiatry services, depending on the specific service provided. Prior to July 1, 2005, Alberta Health and Wellness regulations prevented private benefit plans from covering the patients' portion of Chiropractic or Podiatry services until their annual (AHCIP) benefit was exhausted. Effective July 1, 2005, the legislation was changed, allowing for private benefit plans to cover excess charges for both services starting from the first visit.
Private plan contract wording surrounding both coverages varies from plan to plan. Although the change in legislation permits patients to submit excess expenses, from the first visit onward, to the private plan under which he or she is covered, it is the plan's current contract wording that determines the coverage. Because ARTA's Extended Health Care contract currently indicates that Chiropractic and Podiatry expenses may only be covered by the plan once annual government funding has been fully accessed, plan members will continue to be responsible for any per-visit amounts in excess of what is provided by Alberta Health and Wellness until the yearly maximum benefit is reached. The Certificate states that when applicable, benefits are only payable in excess of the yearly maximum benefit payable under the insured individual's provincial plan. Furthermore, ARTA's booklet states that ARTA is not responsible for any government actions implemented during the policy year that may impact on ARTA plans.

ARTA Review Process
As a result of the annual review in May, 2005, for the policy year September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 ARTA's Extended Health Care Plan reimburses 80 percent of charges for the services of paramedical practitioners. This includes up to $500 per person combined for Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Athletic Therapy and Massage Therapy services (plus $30 per calendar year for Chiropractic x-rays).