From oebb_alltopic at listsmart.osl.state.or.us Mon May 21 14:52:48 2012 From: oebb_alltopic at listsmart.osl.state.or.us (OEBB information) Date: Mon, 21 May 2012 14:52:48 -0700 Subject: [OEBB_alltopic] 2012-2013 OEBB Comparability Assessment Message-ID: Our records indicate that your district, or an employee group within your district, last applied for a comparability assessment in 2010. Oregon Administrative Rule 111-020-0001(3) requires Provisional Non-Subject Districts to submit an application requesting to be excluded from participating in the OEBB benefits program by May 31 at least once every two years. The policy, application and summary of enrollment and premium form used for comparability assessments can be found at: (http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/OEBB/entity/eeForms.shtml#Comparability_Asses sment ) You will note that the definitions of comparable plan design and cost remain the same as we have used in the past. We are in the process of revising the policy language relating to when a district or employee group moving to the OEBB benefits program must join the program in the event OEBB meets the comparability requirement. The current policy would require this move on October 1 of the year OEBB met the comparability requirement. However, our past practice has been to acknowledge the plan year used by the specific entity or group and base the comparability assessment on the proposed rates for that specific plan year versus calculating estimated rates by applying a trend factor to the entity's current rates. We will be asking each entity to identify whether broker and consultant fees and/or commission amounts are included in the rates submitted for the upcoming plan year. Those costs are included in OEBB's rates, but we understand that these can sometimes be a separate cost for entities and should be factored in during the cost comparability assessment. One other change we will be making as a result of conversations with the advisory group formed to discuss some previously proposed changes to the comparability definitions and methodology is to request each entity provide information on any rate "buy down" activities using reserves or funding received from the Early Retiree Reimbursement Program (ERRP). We will send more details on how we propose to consider this information in the comparability assessment for your review and comment. However, even if this is not used as a factor in the assessment itself, it will increase the transparency of this process. We still request that each entity wanting to remain outside of OEBB submit the Comparability Application by May 31, 2012. However, the due date for the benefit plan handbooks and summaries and the Summary of Enrollment and Premium Rates form will depend on the plan year used by the entity or employee group as follows: Entities with plan years of: * July - June must submit the benefit handbooks/summaries and Summary of Enrollment and Premium Rates form along with the application; * October - September must submit the benefit handbooks/summaries and Summary of Enrollment and Premium Rates form by June 30, 2012; * January - December must submit the benefit handbooks/summaries and Summary of Enrollment and Premium Rates form by September 30, 2012; and * February - January must submit the benefit handbooks/summaries and Summary of Enrollment and Premium Rates form by October 31, 2012. Once the required information is received, OEBB will conduct a comparability assessment on the medical, dental and vision plans to be offered in the upcoming plan year to determine whether OEBB is able to meet the comparability requirements. You will receive a report of the results within 45 days following submission of all of the required information. If you have any questions, please contact Glenn Baly at glenn.w.baly at state.or.us or 503-378-4960. Thanks for your assistance. Denise Hall Deputy Administrator Oregon Educators Benefit Board -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: