Almost 500 members responded to ARTA's Group Benefits Program Survey distributed in the Fall 2005 issue of News and Views. Your participation ensures that the benefit plans meet the needs of the majority of members within a 95% confidence interval. Below are the highlights of the survey:

The majority of ARTA members (84%) who responded to the survey agreed that having ARTA sponsor Health and Insurance Plans is a valuable Membership benefit and 96% would probably recommend ARTA's Plans to new retirees and others who are eligible.

The majority of members who responded are satisfied with ARTA's Benefits Plans:

Extended Health Care (96%), Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Coverage (98%), Dental Care (81%), Life Insurance (78%), Long Term Care (69%), Home Insurance (88%) and Auto Insurance (89%).

The majority of members who responded to this question are satisfied with ARTA's Benefits Services:

Extended Health Claims Payment (94%), Dental Claims Payment (89%), Enrollment Procedures (97%), Changes to Coverage (80%), World Access Travel Emergency Assistance Helpline (90%), Home Insurance Quotes (74%), Auto Insurance Quotes (78%).

Members receive most of ARTA's Benefits Program Information from several sources:

ARTA News and Views (69%) Johnson Inc. Service Representative (40%), Benefits Package (33%), ARTA Office (31%), Johnson Inc. Annual Benefit Statement (28%). Half of members indicated that they are at least "fairly knowledgeable" about ARTA's Benefits Program. However, (72%) indicated that

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ARTA © 2005

the material is easy to understand.

ARTA's Benefits Program is comprehensive and all the services provided are considered important by the majority of members who responded to the question:

Prescription Drugs (95%), Vision Care (93%), Travel Emergency Assistance (82%) were rated among the most important Health Benefits. Basic and Preventative (94%), Endodontics (88%) and Crowns (88%) were rated among the most important Dental Benefits.

Members expressed some need for the following benefits:

Critical Illness Insurance (38%), Pay-Direct Drug Card (18%), Member Assistance Program (17%), Prepaid legal Services (10%), Prepaid Funeral Expenses (24%), Additional Life Insurance (9%), Group RRSP/Financial Products (8%)

Your ARTA Benefits Committee will be reviewing the results in more detail over the next few months. Your participation in the benefits survey provided input and feedback on the design and services levels of the plan. Most of you who responded were members of at least one of the plans available:

Auto 13%, Home 11%, Long Term Care 3%, Life Insurance 4%, Dental Care 32%, Travel Emergency 44% and Health Care 58%.