To continue to excel and grow, Jefferson must strive to be the premier provider of healthcare services in this area and must control operating costs, including the cost of providing healthcare benefits to employees.
"After an 18-month process of reviewing and evaluating alternative medical plans, we've arrived at a custom medical plan design that makes efficient use of both employees' and Jefferson's healthcare dollars," says John P. Sullivan, Vice President for Administration, TJU. "Beginning in 1998, the OPT flexible benefits program will help Jefferson continue to succeed by offering a new medical plan option designed to encourage greater use of JeffCARE physicians and Jefferson facilities."
This new option called JeffPlus is an enhancement to our existing HMO options Aetna U.S. Healthcare and Keystone HMOs. Most JeffCARE physicians and hospitals are already participating in one or both of the HMO networks. JeffPlus rewards you for using the Jefferson providers and facilities that are part of the existing HMO network.
Going "Jeff" Just Makes Sense
We believe Jefferson provides the best health care in the country, so why not take advantage of it, and save money in the process. By using our own physicians and hospitals Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalFord Road, Methodist and duPont Hospital for Childrenyou and your family receive the highest quality care available, and you and Jefferson make the best use of our healthcare dollars.
Under a lower-cost option called JeffPlus, Keystone Health Plan East and Aetna U.S. Healthcare HMO plan members will now have a choice between using JeffPlus providers (composed of ONLY Jefferson primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals, skilled nursing and other facilities) OR providers who are not a part of JeffPlus but who are part of the HMO Network.
| The JeffPlus Difference | |
| JeffPlus Primary Care Physician | $5 copay |
| HMO Primary Care Physician | $15 copay |
| JeffPlus Hospital | No copay |
| HMO Hospital | $500 |
Benefits to You
You'll receive higher benefits when you use the JeffPlus program participating physicians and hospitals. Selecting JeffPlus providers (with referrals when required), will result in these HMOs paying 100 percent of the cost of most services, including hospital admissions. You will pay a $5 copay for office visits. All other HMO Network Providers/Facilities (non-JeffCARE providers) that you elect to use under these plans will result in a $500 copay for each hospital admission and $15 for each office visit. The $500 copay will not apply to hospital admissions for mental health or substance abuse.
While JeffPlus applies only to the Aetna U.S. Healthcare and Keystone HMO options, you can keep your healthcare dollars in the "Jefferson family" no matter which option you choose. Under the Personal Choice, Blue Cross CompSelect and Blue Cross High Option medical plans, be sure to use JeffCARE physicians, and when possible, ask your physician to admit you to Jefferson hospitals.
| 1199C Employees - OPT for Your Optimum
Benefits It's time for 1199C Employees to choose between the benefits provided to you in accordance with your collective bargaining agreement OR joining the OPT Program, Jefferson's flexible benefits program for non-union benefit-eligible employees. |
Information Coming Your Way
The OPT flexible benefits program offers comprehensive, competitive benefits with options you choose to ease some of the concern for protection against personal financial loss. An enrollment kit has been mailed to all benefits eligible employees including those in District 1199C. Included in the enrollment kit is a brochure describing the new JeffPlus option in more detail. Other important information and your personalized enrollment form have been mailed to you. The enrollment kit reviews your benefit choices and includes plan summaries to help you make your benefit selections. Enrollment kits are also available upon request.
Please study this information carefully and choose medical coverage that best suits your needs and those of your family. In addition, telephone numbers for each plan are provided for specific questions about plans. If you have questions about your benefits, please call the staff of the Benefits Office at 5-8100.
Employees must fill out their personalized enrollment form and return it to the Human Resources Department not later than November 14, 1997. Forms received after this date cannot be guaranteed to be processed.
Get a Free Massage
Detailed descriptions of benefits changes will be provided to employees along with their OPT Benefits Kits. Be sure to attend this year's OPT Benefits Fair on November 10, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at McClellan Hall, second floor, Jefferson Medical College. For the answers to all your benefits questions, and a quick free massage from a massage therapist, the Benefits Fair's the place to be. Stop by to receive information from Jefferson's benefits staff as well as our insurance carriers and vendor representatives about Jefferson's benefits. You'll also have a chance to win prizes and have some refreshments.
This year, representatives from the following organizations and Jefferson departments will be on hand to answer your questions:
Also participating in the Benefits Fair are representatives from Jefferson Advantage, our expanded employee assistance program, and representatives from Carebridge, a family care service organization.
| Help Is On the Line You can also call the Human Resources Department at 215-503-8100 for answers to your questions. The benefits hotline is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. At other times, please leave your message on voicemail at 3-2959. Someone will get back to you as soon as possible. |
For more information about the Center or for an appointment, please call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.