| |
Know about your life insurance
The city pays the cost to provide basic life insurance at one times annual base salary for eligible employees. If your spouse is also a city employee, he/she cannot be your dependent under the life insurance plan. Each of you may elect voluntary life insurance of up to four times your annual base salary. Only one of you may cover dependent children. You and your spouse should each review your benefits file to ensure neither of you is a dependent of the other. Human Resources maintains your official benefits file at 611 Walker, 4th floor.
Check your pay stub
It is important for you to ensure your deductions match the benefits coverage you want to have. You can check your paper check stub for your deductions or utilize the Employee Self Service for reviewing your personal record. You can access current deductions and your last three paycheck stubs by logging in from any Internet location. Go to https://cohapp.cityofhouston.gov/HRSelfService and logon as a first-time user and follow the instructions. Click on employee deductions on the left side of the screen. If the deductions are wrong, please contact your payroll representative to correct them.
top
Got allergies?
You may suffer allergic reactions caused by common outdoor allergens, such as airborne tree, grass and weed pollen or mold. Or, you may suffer from indoor allergens, such as animal dander, mold, droppings from dust mites and cockroach particles. The city’s health plans cover testing for allergies, allergy serum and injections. HMO members’ copayment is 50 percent of the usual and customary cost. If members use PPO in-network providers, the copayment is $30 in their primary care physician’s office, $50 in a specialist’s office, or 20 percent after their annual deductible is met if they don’t have an office visit. If PPO members use out-of-network providers, they will pay 40 percent after the annual deductible. If you have questions, call the benefits division at (713) 837-9400.
When dependents become ineligible
Complete the appropriate form to drop ineligible dependents from your benefits plans. You are financially responsible for medical and dental expenses paid on their behalf. A life insurance claim will not be paid for the death of an ineligible person. When benefits end, dependents may elect COBRA for medical/dental coverage and convert life and supplemental plans to individual policies.
See the chart below for situations in which dependents become ineligible for coverage.
Events that affect dependent eligibility |
Event |
Result |
Your dependent child marries. |
All benefits end for dependent child. |
You divorce. |
All benefits end for ex-spouse. |
Your dependent child turns 21. |
If dependent child is not a full-time student, life insurance ends. Other benefits may remain effective until child is 25. |
Your dependent child turns 25. |
All benefits end for dependent child. * |
Dependent child is on active military duty. |
Medical, dental and life insurance benefits end for dependent child. Supplemental plans remain. |
Dependent becomes covered under another group health or dental plan. |
Medical and dental benefits end. Life and supplemental plans may remain effective until child is 25. |
Dependent dies. |
All benefits end for dependent. |
* If a disabled dependent had medical, dental and life insurance coverage before age 25, the disabled dependent may be covered after age 25. Proof of disability may be required.
top
What’ll you have, water or cola?
Water
- Lack of water triggers daytime fatigue.
- Research indicates that five to 10 8-ounce glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers.
- A mere 2 percent drop in the body’s water can trigger short-term memory loss, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on a computer screen or printed page.
- Drinking just five glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon and bladder cancer.
- One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100 percent of dieters studied.
Cola
- In many states, highway patrol cruisers carry two gallons of Coca-Cola in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
- To clean car battery terminals, pouring Coke over the terminals bubbles away corrosion.
- To loosen a rusted bolt, apply a cloth soaked in Coke to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
- To carry Coca-Cola syrup concentrate, commercial trucks must use hazardous materials placards.
- Distributors of Coke have been using it to clean truck engines for about 20 years.
Seventy-five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. In more than one-third of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.
Drink water. Your body will appreciate it.
Source: The University of Washington.
Extra healthy discounts
BlueExtras offers discounts for Blue Access members and their covered dependents to Jenny Craig and Curves.
To learn more, log on to www.bcbstx.com/member. Click on the My Coverage tab, then Your Discounts.
Click on the Jenny Craig logo. Fill out the registration form and click SUBMIT. Your special-offer coupon should appear on the screen. Print your coupon and present it with your BCBSTX ID card for your free consultation.
To take advantage of the Curves discount, present your BCBSTX ID card at any Curves location. For locations, visit
www.curves.com or call (800) CURVES-30.
top |
|
|
