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| Questions and Answers | ||||
| Help
for stress and depression Q. I have been feeling very stressed and depressed, and I am worried that I will become worse during the holiday season. How can I get help? A. The city’s Employee Assistance Program can help you and your family deal with personal problems. EAP provides short-term consultations, assesses your condition and may refer you to Magellan Behavioral Health. They also provide crisis intervention for specific emergency situations. Using EAP is voluntary and confidential. Call (713) 866-4242 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Magellan is the mental health provider for employees covered under the HMO and POS in-network plans. You can self-refer to Magellan. However, following the steps below will help get the timely care that you and your dependents need. 1. Select a provider listed in the “Blue Cross Blue Shield Provider Directory” under the behavioral health providers’ section. If you have selected one who is not listed, call Magellan to verify the provider is a member of the network. 2. Set up an appointment with the Magellan provider. 3. Before your first appointment, call Magellan, (800) 729-2422, to get authorization to use the provider. Without it, you may be responsible for the entire cost. 4. Each time you change to a new provider, you must get an authorization from Magellan before your first visit. 5. Patients over 18 must make the appointment with the provider and get an authorization from Magellan. Parents or guardians of patients under 18 may make the appointment and get authorization. Charges: EAP services are free. For outpatient services, HMO members’ copayment is $25 per session; and POS in-network members, $30. Both plans allow 20 sessions each calendar year. POS out-of-network members’ copayment is 40 percent after the $500 annual deductible. Out-of-area members’ copayment is 30 percent after a $350 annual deductible. The POS out-of-network and OOA plans have a $1,000 calendar year benefit Q. Q. When I resign Dec. 31, I will not have the 70 points I need to begin receiving my municipal pension. I will have 70 points in five years. Can I keep my medical coverage so I’ll have it when I get my pension? A. Yes, you are considered a deferred retired employee, meaning that within five years, you will reach the age to have 70 points and become eligible for pension benefits. Until then, you must continue paying the same premiums active employees pay for medical, dental and life insurance. When you begin receiving a pension, your premiums will increase to the amount retirees’ pay. Some provisions of the life-insurance plan will not apply during your deferred retiree status. If you die from an accident or injury on another job, the double-indemnity provision will not apply. Classified police officers and firefighters can also keep their benefits if they are due to receive a pension within five years after they leave the department. To learn how to keep your benefits, call (713) 837-9400. Q. I was disabled in a car accident and might not be able to keep my job. Can I still get benefits if I can’t keep working? A. You should contact your HR liaison or the Human Resources Department’s benefits division to discuss your eligibility for these benefits: • If you are in the compensable sick-leave plan and have worked for the city for two years, you may qualify for a long-term disability plan benefit. The monthly benefit will be at least 50 percent of your predisability wages. You must apply for LTD within 12 months of missing work due to your disabling condition. • If you are vested in the HFD, HPD or municipal pension plan, you may qualify for a service or disability pension. If you qualify, you can keep your medical, dental, and reduced life insurance as long as you receive a pension. • If you exhaust all your personal leave hours before you qualify for LTD or a pension, you may qualify for accrued leave donation. ALD lets employees donate vacation hours to your sick-leave bank, so you can keep receiving a paycheck. • You may qualify for a premium waiver under the life-insurance plan, which lets you maintain your life insurance without a premium payment. The waiver ends when you are approved for pension. If your condition is terminal within nine months, you may qualify for an accelerated death benefit. You could receive 75 percent of your life insurance in a lump-sum payment. The balance will be paid to your beneficiary after your death
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