March is the month to enroll/reenroll dependent(s)/ family for dental coverage. Please remember that you, the member, are covered at no additional charge. If you are covering a spouse or other eligible dependents, you must enroll them every year. The cost for dental during the plan year that runs July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 will be the same as last year. Enrolling a dependent(s) can only be done during the enrollment period of March 1 – 31. Dependents will be covered from July 1 - June 30. If you don’t re-enroll each year, you are electing to drop coverage for your dependent(s). Your dependent(s) must then wait 3 years to re-enter the dental plan. Dependent children are eligible for coverage from birth to their 26th birthday if they are not eligible for dental coverage under another plan. Please note that you use your variable benefit for the same year as the dental coverage is in effect, so you will be utilizing next year’s variable for next year’s dental coverage. A Variable Benefit Claim Form must be submitted w/ your dental enrollment. If you are planning on retiring, you are NOT eligible to utilize the Variable Benefit and may need to pay depending on the retirement plan you elect to participate in.
All Major Medical Deductible claims for 2020 need to be completed by January 30th. This would be for any out of pocket medical expenses you have incurred for out of network physicians or for medical deductibles you have paid out under a health care plan. The major medical benefit is $750.00 to match the amount for the district’s Aetna healthcare plan. Only claims for the calendar year 2020 are eligible ( Jan. 1st through Dec. 31st 2020). Please submit your claim form with proper documentation to The Preferred Group. All claims must be postmarked no later than January 30, 2021. This is not the variable benefit (reimbursement for copays and prescriptions). That is a separate claim due by July 31st. Claim forms and additional information can be found on the Benefit Fund website: http://www.mtabenefitfund.org/major-medical.html
UPCOMING CHANGE TO BENEFIT The MTABF Board of Trustees have determined it necessary to do away with the Major Medical Deductible Reimbursement. In an attempt to minimize the effect of this change, this benefit will be phased out over the next two years. The benefit for 2020 will remain at $650. The maximum reimbursement for 2021 will be $500.00, $250.00 in 2022 and discontinued after that. Please contact your building trustee if you have any questions. To reduce the impact of this change, members may want to consider utilizing the district provided Preferred Flex Plan . Enrollment and plan information was sent in an email sent by Michele Bellantoni on October 30, 2020. The deadline for enrollment or changes to the Flex Plan is November 30th.
The benefits of gratitude impact individuals in a physical, psychological and social matter, according to a study from the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. People that practice gratitude on a daily basis tend to have:
For the month of November, why not take a few moments to appreciate yourself and others in the MCSD community. Join the MTABF on November 1oth @ 4:30pm. If you missed the building meetings in October, here's another chance to learn about your benefits, brush up on what you already know, trustees available to answer questions. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87043073122?pwd=a0VGSzBxVTFpWFNKRzlmc0lTbUQyUT09 Meeting ID: 870 4307 3122 Passcode: 591962 One tap mobile +16465588656,,87043073122#,,,,,,0#,,591962# US (New York) +13017158592,,87043073122#,,,,,,0#,,591962# US (Germantown) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 870 4307 3122 Passcode: 591962 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kda9hrqaKl October is REVIEW YOUR BENEFITS MONTH Each year during the month of October, the MTABF hosts a series of meetings to REVIEW the BENEFITS allow members to ask questions & get general help with anything benefits related. This year we are hosting all 5 meetings via either Zoom or GOOGLE MEETS. Choose any or all of the following sessions, log in & educate yourself. 10.6.2020 at 3:40 - To join the video meeting, click this link: meet.google.com/qmw-mfsq-hwm 10.8.2020 at 2:10 - To Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84042693277?pwd=QzZNRW9nRjJwaHFEVDc3OHk4WnMyQT09 Meeting ID: 840 4269 3277 Passcode: 578680 One tap mobile +16465588656,,84042693277#,,,,,,0#,,578680# US (New York) +13126266799,,84042693277#,,,,,,0#,,578680# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 840 4269 3277 Passcode: 578680 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcrHzPobNt 10.14.2020 at 2:40 - To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/egm-ycax-unf 10.14.2020 at 3:30 - To join the video meeting, click this link: meet.google.com/gas-tyjy-vhh 10.21.2020 at 3 pm - To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/pfb-qjef-tzw As a member of the MTABF your are entitled to a fully paid, confidential financial review with a certified financial planner from Stacey Braun Associates. Stacey Braun Associates is committed to discussing your financial concerns & are offering financial consultations via phone or secure Zoom sessions. They will be available for these consultations on the following dates: If these dates do not work for you, you can still contact Stacey Braun & they will work with you to find a mutually convenient time. Phone: 888.949.1925
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Members who take advantage of web meetings, will still be able to have in person one on one meetings later once Stacey Braun resumes offering them. By offering a web meeting and face to face meeting later Stacey Braun hopes to prevent member’s from using the change to procrastinate or delay their use of the program and mitigate consultation bottle-necks down the road. Call Stacey Braun @ Telephone: (888) 949-1925 More Info on Financial Counseling: https://www.mtabenefitfund.org/financial-counseling.html
To help increase your awareness of home title fraud, how to avoid it and what to do if they think they have been victimized, please read the attached informational article. Under our legal services program, our firm’s attorneys, Mirkin & Gordon, are available for consultation for members who think they have been victimized.
Please be aware that the NYS Department of Financial Services has advised that patients are NOT TO BE CHARGED for personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and gowns, (collectively “PPE”) by dentists who participate in an insurer’s participating provider network Additionally, healthcare providers are to REFUND fees charged to patients. If YOU are moving, getting married (or divorced), or expecting a new arrival from the stork, etc., it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to update the MTABF. Fill out a new enrollment form and check the box that says change of status. Include a copy of the needed documentation. Without this information you will not be able to file for claims reimbursement. CHANGE OF STATUS If you are getting married (or divorced) this summer or expecting a new arrival from the stork, moving, et al., it is your responsibility to update the benefit fund. Fill out a update enrollment form and check the box that says change of status. Include a copy of the needed documentation. Also don’t forget….. If you are submitting a claim form for The Variable Fund benefit, the plan year ends June 30th. Claims must be filed and postmarked no later than July 31st, 2020. Claims that are not properly completed or filed after July 31st will be returned to the member. The plan year runs from July 1 2019-June 30, 2020. Please fill in the claim form and submit it with proper documentation to The Preferred Group. If you are not sure if you have used up your variable benefit please contact Preferred 518-641-0321. The Variable Fund provides reimbursement up to $650.00 for all in network medical co-pays, prescriptions, optical, and charges in excess of the dental plan fee schedule. Please visit the website www.mtabenefitfund.org for a complete list of benefits. The CARES Act provides fast and direct economic assistance for American workers and families, small businesses, and preserves jobs for American industries. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Everything you need to know is provided in a half-hour webinar that was prepared by the financial planners at Stacey Braun Associates, Inc., the firm that offers our Financial Counseling Program. Learn what the government has made available to you during these stressful times and know what your options are to keep your personal finances in order. You can access the webinar at: https://vimeo.com/414045605/bca7bdc26e MTABF has knowledge of 16 people RETIRING THIS SPRING. We want to make sure everyone gets the info to continue their MTABF BENEFITS.... which are DIFFERENT FROM & IN ADDITION TO what MCSD offers you. If you are RETIRING (or know someone who is) please contact Christine at: MTABenefitFund@gmail.com Forms & virtual meetings will be forthcoming in June. For those who are ALREADY RETIRED re-enrollment packets were mailed by Preferred on Friday, May 15th. Dear Retiree, We hope that this letter finds you in excellent physical and mental health and enjoying your retirement. Enclosed with this letter you should find 3 things:
There is one change to certain retirement plans that we need to bring to your attention. If you choose to maintain a LEGAL BENEFIT with the MTABF, there is an annual increase of $6.00 ($0.50 monthly) to the plan. There are no other changes to the plan. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` There are a variety of ways to keep yourself informed of all MTABF updates: ❖ Website: www.mtabenefitfund.org ❖ Facebook: www.facebook.com/MTABF ❖ Twitter: twitter.com/MTABF1 ❖ Sign up for email updates by emailing: mtabenefitfund2@gmail.com Working with YOU, for YOU, The MTABF Trustees Reminder... if you decided to pay for your dependent(s) dental in 3 installments, # 3 is due to Preferred by May 31st. Get all the info here: https://www.mtabenefitfund.org/blog-news-4-u/dont-forget-enroll-for-dental-for-2020-2021-school-year-now THIS WAS EMAILED TO ALL EMPLOYEES FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON MAY 8TH. THE MTABF ARE PASSING THE INFORMATION ON & IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUR AETNA HEALTH INSURANCE. PLEASE CONTACT THE DISTRICT OFFICE REGARDING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the closure of the Mahopac School District, the open enrollment period for health insurance changes and buyout elections has been changed to AUGUST 15 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2020. Please carefully read the attached notification. Have a good day. Michele M. Bellantoni Health Benefits Assistant/District Office bellantonim@mahopac.org (845) 628-3415 x10200 (845) 628-0261 Fax
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