September 2007 Newsletter
WHAT’S NEW
We’re pleased to announce our new web site, www.myNISI.com. It’s just one more tool Noridian Insurance Services, Inc., (NISI) offers to give you easy access to information about the benefits you carry. Now, you and your employees can go to one central place, myNISI.com, to get most of the information you need.
MyNISI.com provides links to our business partners. Addresses, information and claim forms are just one click away. You can access each of these business partner web sites through MyNISI.com: Lincoln Mutual, USAble Life, Discovery Benefits, Avesis and Companion Life.
In addition, myNISI.com provides your group with information pertaining to specific benefits you offer. Whether it’s the Cancer Elite plan or Short-Term Disability, myNISI.com is the place to start.
When you click on “Meet Your Rep,” you can view a short clip of the NISI representative serving your area. Your representatives’ phone numbers are listed for you, and they will be happy to answer any question.
Want to add more benefits to your package? This web site provides hassle-free, detailed information about all the voluntary products we can add to complement your benefit package. See how having Better Benefits can make your life and business easier.
DID YOU KNOW?
When you call 800-575-9643, chances are NISI Marketing Support Specialist Jan Erickson or Group Marketing Coordinator Cari Hintgen will answer your call. They are the foundation of NISI. Jan and Cari are available to help you and your employees with questions and concerns when the NISI representatives are visiting group sites and unavailable for calls.
STUFFERS AND POSTERS AVAILABLE
Looking for payroll stuffers or benefit posters? Please contact Cari Hintgen at cari.hintgen@noridian.com or call 800-575-9643. We are happy to prepare these materials for NISI groups at no additional charge.
AFRAID TO OFFER VOLUNTARY BENEFITS TO YOUR EMPLOYEES?
Are you uncertain what voluntary really means? If so, call us. We truly understand. We’ll take the time to show you how adding voluntary benefits to your benefit package can help you, your business and your employees.
We at NISI offer service and education to make sure the right products are being offered to the right people. We don’t push or over sell. We’ll work with your administrative staff to set up the benefit package to complement what you already offer. We will then sit down with your employees and show them what you now provide. Education and information will help employees make the best choices for their needs.
When the enrollment is done, we’ll provide documentation to your payroll department to proceed with the pre-tax and post-tax deductions. These deductions may save you money. When these deductions are under a Section 125 account, they can be taken on a pre-tax basis. This is a win-win for employee and employer. We have the knowledge to help you.
Call your NISI representative; we are here to help you provide Better Benefits to your employees.
OPEN ENROLLMENT TIPS
Exciting as it is, the fall season is open enrollment time for many January 1-effective employer groups. No matter what time of year your enrollment, here are some tips to help you set up a smoothly run enrollment for all involved.
- Plan with your NISI representative early on the dates for group meetings and one-on-one enrollment.
- Set the dates that work best for your location; remember to plan for employees who work off-site.
- Do you need one meeting for all employees to attend? Is it mandatory for each employee to complete the Flex form? If so, is enough time allotted for each employee to visit with the NISI representative?
- Are you adding any new benefits? Maybe this is the year to include Long-Term Care?
- Are you using our free payroll stuffers and posters to announce the date and time of the meeting?
- Do you want a Member Education representative to attend?
Enrollment time is the one time each year employees can make changes to current plans, add new benefits and receive the education necessary to make good decisions. The NISI enrollment representatives take this time to provide your employees with the tools they need. By encouraging participation in meetings, you protect yourself and employees.
See you soon!
OFFERING LONG-TERM CARE CAN BOOST EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY
If you have baby boomer employees, they’re probably more concerned about finding care for their parents than for their children. The boomers now in their 40s and 50s often have parents who have chronic conditions. According to a National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP survey, 21 percent of U.S. adults are caregivers and their average age is 46. More caregivers are employed than before, and more men are becoming primary caregivers, many of whom are managers or executives.
Annual losses in U.S. productivity as a result of caregiving accommodations by employers amount to $17.1 billion-$33.6 billion, depending on the level of care provided. For example, employees may need to come in late or miss work to give care.
Long-term care (LTC) services are not covered by most health insurance or long-term disability plans. Many people are unable or unwilling to meet Medicare and Medicaid requirements. To get needed help, many will use their savings or depend on family members.
Offering LTC voluntary insurance to your employees can help employees deal with the demands of caregiving. When you offer LTC insurance as an employee benefit, you can provide your employees with a group discount on their premiums. Employees can offer this benefit at the group discount to their family members even if the employees do not take the benefit themselves.
To see your insurance options, please go to our web site, www.myNISI.com.
REMEMBER TO FILE YOUR WELLNESS BENEFITS
Did you remember to file your wellness benefit last year? This is just one of the many important questions we ask employees each year during enrollment. Checking on wellness benefits is just one more reason it’s important for your employees to visit one-on-one with an NISI representative.
USAble Life Cancer plans and USAble Life Accident plans have an enhanced benefit built in, offering a wellness benefit each year. Your employees may be eligible for benefits ranging from $60–$75.
To be reimbursed, you can fax your name and policy number, along with an itemized billing statement from the clinic or hospital showing the date of service and screening performed, to 501-399-3806. A result letter from your wellness exam will also suffice. Or you may mail the information to:
Wellness Claim Reimbursement
USAble Life
P.O. Box 1650
Little Rock, AR 72201
Remember, the Cancer plan allows one screening per person per year for the following:
- Mammography
- Thermography
- Colonoscopy
- Hemocult stool analysis
- PSA
- CA125
- CEA
- Pap smear
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Chest X-ray
- Any diagnostic procedure which can lead to the positive diagnosis of cancer
The Accident plans allow one benefit per contract per year. This benefit includes the screenings listed above or any of the following:
- Annual physical exam
- Immunization
- Eye exam
- Blood screening
- Ultrasound
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