Enhanced Delta Dental Coverage - Motion Picture Industry Pension
Transcription
Enhanced Delta Dental Coverage - Motion Picture Industry Pension
update plan U p d a t e t o Yo u r S u m m a r y P l a n D e s c r i p t i o n Enhanced Delta Dental Coverage The Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans recently approved certain enhancements to the Health Plan’s Delta Dental Coverage. Effective January 1, 2014, specified Diagnostic and Preventive benefits are now covered at 100% (after your deductible) when you receive treatment from a Delta Dental PPO Dentist. Benefit changes approved for services provided by Delta Dental Premier and Non-Delta Dental dentists will be effective July 1, 2014. continued on page 4 This Plan Update contains important information about your rights under the Motion Picture Industry Pension, Individual Account and Health Plans under ERISA. Please keep it with your Summary Plan Descriptions for future reference. april 2014 update p l a n Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans Welcomes New CEO Julia Nicholson Plan Update is published for Participants of the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans. This newsletter contains important information, including changes to the Plans and your benefits. Please keep it with your Summary Plan Descriptions for future reference. Please note that as a result of unique agreements associated with mergers of various Locals throughout the years, information reflected in this newsletter may not apply to all Participants. Contact Us Participant Services Center E-mail [email protected] Phone Call toll-free (855) ASK-4MPI Ms. Nicholson is a seasoned executive with experience guiding and overseeing plans like MPIPHP. Formerly, Ms. Nicholson served as a consultant for William M. Mercer, Inc., CEO of Central Valley Schools Health and Welfare Trust (a Taft-Hartley plan serving school districts in California), and SVP of Labor Relations for Keenan & Associates (an insurance brokerage and consulting firm specializing in benefits for school districts). She is the instructor on Board Governance for the Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy (CAPPP) program of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) and is a regular speaker on board governance and employee benefits for the IFEPB. “I am honored to join MPIPHP,” Ms. Nicholson says. “I look forward to serving all those associated with MPIPHP and continuing its legacy of making a significant difference in the lives of our Participants.” Fax (818) 766-1229 (CA) (212) 634-4952 (NY) Web site Ms. Nicholson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from University of Missouri and a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Denver. www.mpiphp.org Mailing Address MPIPHP P.O. Box 1999 Studio City, CA 91614-0999 A New Name for MPI’s Newsletter Office Locations 11365 Ventura Boulevard Studio City, CA 91604 Hours: 8 am to 5 pm (Pacific Time) 145 Hudson Street, Suite 6-A New York, NY 10013-2103 Main Phone (212) 634-5252 Toll Free (888) 758-5200 Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (Eastern Time) © 2014 MPIPHP 2 The Board of Trustees of the Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans (MPIPHP) recently appointed Julia Nicholson Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Ms. Nicholson served as Vice President of Operations for UFCW & Employers Trust, LLC, an entity based in Walnut Creek, California, that administers two health and welfare plans and four pension plans and provides benefits to over 120,000 members. For 22 years, MPI has shared benefits changes and important information with you in our For Your Benefit and Plan Update publications. Now, that’s about to change, with a re-fresh of the publication’s title. Beginning with our next issue, FYI from MPI will offer you the same, vital healthcare and pension-related content under a new name and banner. Stay tuned for the unveiling… plan update Important Changes to Your Prescription Drug Coverage in 2014 W hile the cost of many brand-name prescription drugs continues to rise, generic drugs have never been so widely available to treat medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or high blood pressure, and using generics helps reduce your prescription costs. Managed by Express Scripts and in accordance with the findings of a national panel of physicians and pharmacists, your MPI prescription benefit takes advantage of these options in 2014 by replacing some brand-name drugs with medically comparable, but more affordable generics. January 1, 2014 Some Drugs Become “Non-Preferred” Effective January 1, 2014, some drugs you take may cost you more because they are considered “non-preferred.” If you are taking one of these medications, Express Scripts will send you a letter so you can decide whether to take action. Your doctor may choose to prescribe another medication that is preferred and is proven to be effective. To see which medications are considered preferred as of January 1, 2014, please visit Express Scripts online at www.express-scripts.com/covered. changes, and if necessary, get a new prescription for a safe, effective and covered alternative. Visit Express Scripts online at www.express-scripts.com, login, click on “Health Benefits Information” on the menu at the top of the page, and select “Learn About Formularies” from the drop down menu. Then, search your medication by name or category, and determine whether the drug is preferred or non-preferred. Additionally, to ensure that your prescription maintenance medications are covered, sign up for Express Scripts home delivery pharmacy services, and let Express Scripts deliver a 90-day supply right to your home. For more information, call Express Scripts Member Services at 1 (800) 987-5247. April 1, 2014 Some Drugs No Longer Covered Beginning April 1, 2014, non-preferred medication will be no longer covered, and if you try to fill this type of prescription, you may be required to pay the full, non-discounted retail price. Two Ways to Save in 2014 To avoid paying more for your medications in 2014, speak with your doctor about the 2014 drug list MPTF Closes Glendale Health Center The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) closed its Glendale Health Center on January 17, 2014, due to under-utilization, and the Glendale physicians have relocated to other MPTF health centers. If you are a former Glendale Health Center patient, you can utilize the Toluca Lake Health Center, conveniently located near the studios and other entertainment industry workplaces in the Burbank area. april 2014 3 MPI’s Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Enhanced Delta Dental Coverage continued from page 1 Here are the quick and easy answers! Q: What‘s the best time to call MPI’s Participant Service Center? A: Your call is very important to us, and while representatives are available from 8:00am to 5:00pm, we experience the highest call volumes between the hours of 11:30am and 2:00pm. So, try us in the morning or later afternoon for a faster response. Dial 1 (855) ASK-4MPI. Q: Are there pre-authorization requirements for imaging and diagnostic testing using network providers and facilities? A: There are no pre-authorization requirements. However, if you are seeing an MPTF (Motion Picture and Television Fund) provider and have a pending referral for diagnostic testing or outpatient services, please contact MPTF for status at 1 (800) 876-8320, and press Option 2. Q: I am an MPI Participant living in LA County and am enrolled in the Anthem Blue Cross PPO. How can I save money on my comprehensive physical exams? A: If you are 18 and older and you reside in LA County, you must use an MPTF physician at one of the health centers listed below in order for the exam to be covered. If you see any other physician for this type of service, you will be responsible for the full cost of the visit. The chart below highlights the improved dental benefits and allows you to compare costs for categories of treatment when you visit: •A Delta Dental PPO network provider •A Delta Dental Premier network provider •A non-Delta dentist To find out whether a dentist in your area is a Delta Dental PPO or Delta Dental Premier network provider, visit www.deltadentalins.com. Delta Dental Coverage New benefit coverage changes are indicated below in bold Delta Dental PPO Copayments Diagnostic and Preventive (D & P) Basic Crowns Cast Restorations Prosthodontics Child Orthodontics Dental Accident Deductibles MPTF Health Centers Customer Service: (800) 876-8320 www.mptf.com Bob Hope Health Center 335 North La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 634-3850 Santa Clarita Health Center (661) 284-3100 25751 McBean Pkwy., Suite 210 Valencia, CA 91355 Toluca Lake Health Center 4323 Riverside Dr. Burbank, CA 91505 (818) 556-2700 Westside Health Center (310) 996-9355 1950 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 130 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Jack H. Skirball Health Center (818) 876-1050 (formerly Woodland Hills Health Center) 23388 Mulholland Dr. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 4 Maximum MPI Plan Pays Age Limitations Per patient per calendar year Per family per calendar year D&P exempt from deductible? Per patient per calendar year Orthodontic lifetime maximum Dental Accident calendar year maximum Child (years of age) Student (years of age) Delta NonDental Delta Premier Dentist Changes effective January 1, 2014 Changes effective July 1, 2014 Changes effective July 1, 2014 100% 80/20 80/20 70/30 50/50 50/50 80/20 80/20 70/30 70/30 50/50 50/50 50/50 50/50 50/50 85/15 85/15 85/15 $25 $25 $25 $50 $50 $50 No No No $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 19 19 19 23 23 23 plan update Important 2013 MPI Pension Plan Funding Information 2013 Annual Funding Notice For Motion Picture Industry Pension Plan Introduction This notice includes important information about the Motion Picture Industry Pension Plan (the “Plan”) and general information about the benefit payments guaranteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”), a federal insurance agency. All traditional pension plans (called “defined benefit pension plans”) must provide this notice every year regardless of their funding status. This notice does not mean that the Plan is terminating. It is provided for informational purposes and you are not required to respond in any way. This notice is for the plan year beginning January 1, 2013 and ending December 31, 2013 (the “Plan Year”). How Well Funded Is The Plan? The Plan must report how well it is funded by using a measure called the “funded percentage.” This percentage is determined by dividing the Plan’s assets by its liabilities on the Valuation Date for the plan year. In general, the higher the percentage, the better funded the plan. The Plan’s funded percentage for the 2011-2013 Plan Years, along with a statement of the value of the Plan’s assets and liabilities for the same period, is set forth in the chart below. The Plan’s Funded Percentage 2013 2012 2011 Valuation Date January 1, 2013 January 1, 2012 January 1, 2011 Funded Percentage 81.6% 82.1% 83.2% Value of Assets $3,354,512,000 $3,211,854,000 $3,088,722,000 Value of Liabilities $4,109,941,000 $3,910,275,000 $3,714,500,000 continued on page 6 april 2014 5 Important 2013 MPI Pension Plan Funding Information Year-End Fair Market Value of Assets Asset values in the Funded Percentage chart on page 5 are actuarial values, which are estimates, not market values. While market values tend to show a clearer picture of a plan’s funded status as of a given point, they fluctuate daily based on changes in the stock market and other factors. Pension law allows plans to use actuarial values to smooth out those fluctuations for funding purposes. The fair market value of the Plan’s assets as of the last day of Plan Years 2011-2013 is shown in the following table: December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012 December 31, 2011 $3,206,704,000 $2,998,436,000 $2,756,090,000 Fair Market Value of Assets Critical or Endangered Status As of January 1, 2013, the Plan was not in endangered or critical status. Under federal pension law, a plan generally will be considered to be in “endangered” status if, at the beginning of the plan year, the funded percentage of the plan is less than 80 percent or in “critical” status if the percentage is less than 65 percent (other factors may also apply). If a pension plan enters endangered status, the trustees of the plan are required to adopt a funding improvement plan. Similarly, if a pension plan enters critical status, the trustees of the plan are required to adopt a rehabilitation plan. Rehabilitation and funding improvement plans establish steps and benchmarks for pension plans to improve their funding status over a specified period of time. Participant Information The total number of Participants in the Plan as of January 1, 2013 was 74,326, which includes 45,618 Active Participants, 14,916 Participants who have Retired or separated from service and are receiving benefits, and 13,792 Participants who have Retired or separated from service and are entitled to future benefits. Funding and Investment Policies Every pension plan must have a procedure for establishing a funding policy to carry out plan objectives. 6 A funding policy relates to the level of assets needed to pay for benefits promised under the plan currently and over the years. The funding policy of the Plan is to confirm that the minimum funding requirements of ERISA are being satisfied and to determine that anticipated employer contributions will not exceed the amounts deductible under the Internal Revenue Code. The policy for the 2013 Plan Year includes a target contribution amount sufficient to amortize the unfunded liability over an 16-year fixed amortization period (as of January 1, 2013) and meet the normal cost if all actuarial assumptions were met. Each employer makes contributions weekly pursuant to collective bargaining agreements. Once money is contributed to the Plan, the money is invested by plan officials called fiduciaries, who make specific investments in accordance with the Plan’s investment policy. Generally speaking, an investment policy is a written statement that provides the fiduciaries who are responsible for plan investments with guidelines or general instructions concerning investment management decisions. The Plan’s investment policy is to seek a total rate of return from the Plan’s assets that provides, together with employer contributions, sufficient assets to fund participant benefits. In order to accomplish this goal, the Plan seeks well-managed investments and a competitive long-term return in a wide variety of asset classes. plan update Important 2013 MPI Pension Plan Funding Information Under the Plan’s investment policy, the Plan’s assets were allocated among the following categories of investments, as of December 31, 2013. These allocations are percentages of total assets: Asset Allocations Percentage 1. Cash (interest bearing and non-interest bearing) 6.10% 2. U.S. Government securities 13.72% 3. Corporate debt instruments (other than employer securities): Preferred All other --9.25% 4 Corporate stocks (other than employer securities): Preferred Common --18.42% 5. Partnership/joint venture interests --- 6. Real estate (other than employer real property) 5.25% 7. Loans (other than to participants) --- 8. Participant loans --- 9. Value of interest in common/collective trusts 2.70% 10. Value of interest in pooled separate accounts 1.04% 11. Value of interest in master trust investment accounts --- 12. Value of interest in 103-12 investment entities 17.79% 13. Value of interest in registered investment companies (e.g., mutual funds) 23.38% 14. Value of funds held in insurance co. general account (unallocated contracts) --- 15. Employer-related investments: Employer Securities Employer real property ----- 16. Buildings and other property used in plan operation 0.64% 17. Other 1.71% For information about the Plan’s investment in any of the categories described in the chart above, please contact the Plan by calling toll-free at 1 (855) ASK-4MPI or by mail at MPI Pension & Health Plans, P.O. Box 1999, Studio City, CA 91614-0999. Right to Request a Copy of the Annual Report A pension plan is required to file with the US Department of Labor an annual report called the Form 5500 that contains financial and other information about the plan. Copies of the Plan’s annual report are available from the US Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration’s Public Disclosure Room at 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Room N-1513, Washington, DC 20210, or by calling (202) 693-8673. For 2009 and subsequent plan years, you may obtain an continued on page 8 april 2014 7 Important 2013 MPI Pension Plan Funding Information electronic copy of the Plan’s annual report by going to www.efast.dol.gov and using the Form 5500 search function. Or you may obtain a copy of the Plan’s annual report for a nominal copying fee by making a written request to the Plan. Individual information, such as the amount of your accrued benefit under the plan, is not contained in the annual report. If you are seeking information regarding your benefits under the plan, contact the plan administrator identified below under “Where To Get More Information.” Summary of Rules Governing Plans in Reorganization and Insolvent Plans The Department of Labor requires the Plan to include this section, but it does not pertain to the Plan because the Plan is not in reorganization or insolvent. Federal law has a number of special rules that apply to financially troubled multiemployer plans. Under so-called “plan reorganization rules,” a plan with adverse financial experience may need to increase required contributions and may, under certain circumstances, reduce benefits that are not eligible for the PBGC’s guarantee (generally, benefits that have been in effect for less than 60 months). If a plan is in reorganization status, it must provide notification that the plan is in reorganization status and that, if contributions are not increased, accrued benefits under the plan may be reduced or an excise tax may be imposed (or both) to each contributing employer and the labor organization. Despite these special plan reorganization rules, a plan in reorganization nevertheless could become insolvent. A plan is insolvent for a plan year if its available financial resources are not sufficient to pay benefits when due for that plan year. An insolvent plan must reduce benefit payments to the highest level that can be paid from the plan’s available resources. If such resources are not enough to pay benefits at the level specified by law (see Benefit Payments Guaranteed by the PBGC, in the following column), the plan must apply to the PBGC for financial assistance. The PBGC will loan the plan the amount necessary to pay benefits at the guaranteed level. Reduced benefits may be restored if the plan’s financial condition improves. A plan that becomes insolvent must provide prompt notice of its status to participants and beneficiaries, contributing employers, labor unions representing participants, and PBGC. In addition, participants and beneficiaries also must receive information regarding whether, and how, their benefits will be reduced or affected as a result of the insolvency, including loss of a lump sum option. This information will be provided for each year the plan is insolvent. 8 Benefit Payments Guaranteed by the PBGC The maximum benefit that the PBGC guarantees is set by law. Only vested benefits are guaranteed. Specifically, the PBGC guarantees a monthly benefit payment equal to 100 percent of the first $11 of the Plan’s monthly benefit accrual rate, plus 75 percent of the next $33 of the accrual rate, times each year of credited service. The PBGC’s maximum guarantee, therefore, is $35.75 per month times a participant’s years of credited service. Example 1: If a participant with 10 years of credited service has an accrued monthly benefit of $500, the accrual rate for purposes of determining the PBGC guarantee would be determined by dividing the monthly benefit by the participant’s years of service ($500/10), which equals $50. The guaranteed amount for a $50 monthly accrual rate is equal to the sum of $11 plus $24.75 (.75 x $33), or $35.75. Thus, the participant’s guaranteed monthly benefit is $357.50 ($35.75 x 10). Example 2: If the participant in Example 1 has an accrued monthly benefit of $200, the accrual rate for purposes of determining the guarantee would be $20 (or $200/10). The guaranteed amount for a $20 monthly accrual rate is equal to the sum of $11 plus $6.75 (.75 x $9), or $17.75. Thus, the participant’s guaranteed monthly benefit would be $177.50 ($17.75 x 10). The PBGC guarantees pension benefits payable at normal retirement age and some early retirement benefits. In calculating a person’s monthly payment, the PBGC will disregard any benefit increases that were made under the plan within 60 months before the earlier of the plan’s termination or insolvency (or benefits that were in effect for less than 60 months at the time of termination or insolvency). Similarly, the PBGC does not guarantee pre-retirement death benefits to a spouse or beneficiary (e.g., a qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity) if the participant dies after the plan terminates, benefits above the normal retirement benefit, disability benefits not in pay status, or non-pension benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, death benefits, vacation pay, or severance pay. Where to Get More Information For more information about this Funding Notice, please contact the Plan toll-free at (855) ASK-4MPI (855-275-4674), or by mail at Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health Plans, P.O. Box 1999, Studio City, CA 91614-0999. For identification purposes, the official plan number is 001 and the plan sponsor’s employer identification number or “EIN” is 95-1810805. For more information about the PBGC, go to PBGC’s website, www.pbgc.gov. plan update MPI Health Plan Simplifies Premium Payment for Participants Health Premium Notices Have New, Easy-to-Read Format We’ve re-tooled our Active Health Plan premium notices to make them clearer and easier to read with: •An itemized “amount due” box for your current eligibility period •Payment options and instructions •A form for the removal of dependents from Plan coverage For detailed information about your current and reported work hours and eligibility status, visit www.mpiphp.org. Click the red, “Log In” button on the home page to access your personal and protected information. Premium Payment Terminal Now Available For your convenience, MPI has installed a dedicated Premium payment computer terminal in the lobby of our Studio City headquarters for the immediate payment of any balance due. Using your Visa, MasterCard or American Express branded credit or bank debit card, an easy-to-use touch screen allows you to make a payment quickly. The terminal is available during normal MPI business hours: 8 :00 am - 5 :00 pm (Pacific Time). april 2014 9 Qualifying for Your Short-Term Disability Benefits “Break a leg” is a familiar phrase wishing others good luck. It has become common the world over, but it has its roots in “show biz.” And, while working in the Motion Picture Industry is not the same hazardous undertaking it was at the dawn of cinema, potential dangers still lurk behind sets and stages, lights and electrical cables. That’s why it’s important to be careful and to understand your MPI health benefits in the event of an injury or illness that temporarily prevents you from working. If you are at risk of losing your health plan eligibility due to reduced work hours attributable to an injury or illness, your disability still may be counted as work time. Eight hours will be credited for each workday in the Qualifying Period (excluding holidays and weekends) for which you were paid disability benefits (or would have been paid such benefits if you resided in California). These disability hours are added to any credited work hours (not to your Bank of Hours) for the Qualifying Period. If the total is 400 hours or more, eligibility and coverage for you and your dependents will be extended for the new Benefit Period. Qualifications for Short Term Disability In order to qualify for a Short-Term Disability extension, your disability must meet all of the following requirements: •Your disability must be certified by a doctor. •The Claim effective date must occur within 90 days of your last reported hours. •Your disability must last for at least seven days. •If the state in which you reside maintains a state disability system, you must apply for and receive state disability to qualify for this extension. Please note that you may not have two consecutive Short-Term Disability extensions, you may not have more than one extension based on the same disability, and you may not combine hours in your Bank of Hours with disability-credited hours. Additionally, any Short-Term Disability extension granted after your initial qualifying event will reduce your COBRA period by six months for each extension. How to Apply for a Short-Term Disability Extension To apply for a Short-Term Disability extension, please provide either copies of check stubs/disability checks or a payment history from the Employment Development Department (EDD) in California or applicable state agency if you reside in another state. These documents will verify the period of your disability. If your disability was work-related, you may submit a statement from the Workers Compensation carrier regarding the period of disability. Grandfathered Status of the Active Health Plan T he Motion Picture Industry Health Plan is considered a “grandfathered” health plan under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Act). A grandfathered health plan can preserve certain basic health coverage that was already in effect. Being a grandfathered health plan means that your plan may not include certain consumer protections imposed by the Act on other plans (for example, the requirement for the provision of preventive health services without any cost sharing). However, grandfathered health plans must comply with 10 certain other provisions in the Act (for example, the elimination of lifetime maximums on benefits payments). Questions regarding which provisions apply and which provisions do not apply to a grandfathered health plan and what might cause a plan to change from a grandfathered health plan status can be directed to the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor at (866) 444-3272 or visit www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform, which has a table summarizing which provisions do and do not apply to grandfathered health plans. You may also contact the MPI Participant Services Center at (855) ASK-4MPI. plan update aspirin The Virtues and Dangers of D erived from the bark of a willow tree, it treated the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt 4,000 years ago, and Socrates was known to have made a tea using it to reduce fever. It’s a medication so ubiquitous that it can be found in virtually every medicine cabinet around the globe and so well known that its beneficial effects are quite commonly ignored. Now, scientists recognize that ordinary aspirin prevents different types of cardiovascular disease. But, can an aspirin a day really help keep the cardiologist away? Well, the short answer is “yes.” Aspirin effectively suppresses blood clotting, the mechanism responsible for many heart attacks and ischemic strokes (caused by a blocked artery in the brain). On the other hand, aspirin also increases the risks of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal region and in the brain. The answer to whether you should be taking low-dose aspirin (81 mg/day) for prevention should be based on an evaluation of your risks of cardiovascular disease due to factors like family history and lifestyle versus the dangers of taking it. For Those with Cardiovascular History For those who have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or who have already suffered a heart attack or certain types of strokes, the case for taking aspirin is clear, and it statistically outweighs the risks. According to a recent study of 10,000 at-risk individuals, aspirin likely prevented 250 cardiovascular events and sudden death, with just 40 cases of serious bleeding. The ratio of april 2014 of risk-to-benefit equates to roughly six people helped for every one harmed. For Those in Good Health When aspirin is used to prevent cardiovascular disease in those exhibiting good health, the risk-to-benefit ratio is not quite as convincing. For every 10,000 people taking low-dose aspirin, an average of seven people will be helped – mostly by preventing heart attacks – to every four harmed. Naturally, the chance that aspirin will help you rises with your compounding risk factors such as age, smoking, elevated cholesterol and being overweight. A study in the June 6, 2012, Journal of the American Medical Association prompted some debate about low-dose aspirin for disease prevention. Health records of more than 400,000 low-dose aspirin users were examined, and 20 out of every 10,000 people experienced a major bleeding incident — many times more than the bleeding rate seen in previous clinical trials. However, since that study, several academics have pointed out that the study’s subjects likely were at a higher baseline risk for bleeding, and the overall benefits of the aspirin were not substantively tracked. Overall, there is strong evidence to support the use of aspirin to decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke and death from cardiovascular disease. The following studies confirm a net cardiovascular benefit that exceeds the bleeding risk, especially for high-risk patients, such as diabetics and cigarette smokers: •Physician’s Health Study •British Doctor’s Trial •Thrombosis Prevention Trial •Primary Prevention Project •Women’s Health Study •Aspirin for Asymptomatic – Atherosclerosis Trial •Japanese Primary Prevention of Atherosclerosis with Aspirin for Diabetes Trial •Prevention of Progression of Arterial Disease and Diabetes Trial The United States Preventive Services Task Force now recommends aspirin (unless the risks outweigh the potential benefits) for men ages 45 to 79 and women ages 55 to 79. Additionally, there is new information indicating that daily aspirin use (and other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs) can decrease the incidence of gastrointestinal tract tumors, particularly colon cancer, and may reduce the risk of brain, breast, lung and prostate cancer. So, should you take low-dose aspirin as a regimen to maintain your cardiovascular health? It really depends on your health and condition, and you should always consult your physician before taking any medication. 11 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Los Angeles, CA Permit No. 4848 P.O. Box 1999 Studio City, CA 91614-0999 Electronic Service Requested Qualifying Periods for Monthly Health Eligibility Eligibility for Active Health Plan Benefits is determined on a monthly basis according to the schedule below. After satisfying the initial eligibility requirement of 600 work hours in one six-month Qualifying Period or two consecutive Qualifying Periods, Participants must work at least 400 hours in subsequent Qualifying Periods to maintain health benefits during the corresponding Eligibility Period. s Enhanced Delta Dental Coveragecover s MPIPHP’s New CEO 2 s Prescription Drug Coverage Changes 3 s MPI’s Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 4 s 2013 Annual Funding Notice 5 s New, Easy-to-Read Health Premium Notices 9 Qualifying Periods Eligibility Periods Work 400* or more hours during this Period Receive MPI Active Health benefits during this Period 8/25/13– 2/22/14 5/1/14–10/31/14 9/22/13– 3/22/14 6/1/14–11/30/14 10/27/13– 4/19/14 7/1/14–12/31/14 11/24/13– 5/24/14 8/1/14– 1/31/15 s Grandfathered Status of the Active Health Plan 10 12/22/13– 6/21/14 9/1/14– 2/28/15 s The Virtues and Dangers of Aspirin 11 1/26/14– 7/26/14 10/1/14– 3/31/15 2/23/14– 8/23/14 11/1/14– 4/30/15 3/23/14– 9/20/14 12/1/14– 5/31/15 4/20/14–10/25/14 1/1/15– 6/30/15 5/25/14 – 11/22/14 2/1/15 – 7/31/15 *Participants must first work a minimum of 600 work hours in one six-month Qualifying Period or two consecutive Qualifying Periods. 12 table of contents s Short-term Disability Benefit Qualifications 10 MPI Holiday Office Closures Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Christmas May 26 July 4 September 1 November 27, 28 December 25 plan update
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