February 2010 Newsletter
MANDIE BENSE AND AME HEIKKILA JOIN NISI
NISI is pleased to announce that Mandie Bense and Ame Heikkila have joined the NISI team. Mandie is a service representative for eastern North Dakota and Ame is a worksite benefit consultant for northeastern North Dakota.
Mandie is originally from the Bismarck area and moved to Fargo to earn a bachelor of science degree in sociology from North Dakota State University. She resides with her family in West Fargo. Prior to joining NISI, she worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota in Human Resources for four years.
“Mandie brings her HR expertise to the team and she will help us with that perspective in her position as service representative,” says NISI Manager Peg Dickelman. “That will be an asset when working with our employer groups because Mandie will think about things from a different angle than the worksite benefit consultants.”
“I’m looking forward to using my Human Resources background to thoroughly understand your benefit programs and in turn help you build and maintain a better benefits package,” Mandie says.
Mandie is based in the Noridian Mutual Insurance Building at 4510 13th Ave. S, Fargo. You can reach Mandie at 701-282-1156 or 800-575-9643.
Ame was born and raised in rural Minnesota and has worked for Noridian Mutual Insurance Company (NMIC) for more than 14 years. She spent most of her years of service working with employer groups in Fargo and the surrounding area. Prior to joining NISI, Ame worked in Grand Forks as an NMIC group benefits consultant. She and her family reside in Grand Forks.
“We are excited for Deborah Kolling’s new opportunity and to have Ame fill Deborah’s position as worksite benefit consultant,” Peg says. “Ame brings the health plan perspective to the team. She has knowledge of what an employer deals with when making health, dental and vision decisions. Ame understands how our products meet a need to help employers bring a whole benefits package together.”
“Supplemental insurance is a great way for employers to enhance their benefit package for their employees,” Ame says. “It helps defray some of the out-of-pocket costs that we are responsible for, along with providing the protection we need in today’s economic situation.”
“I am really looking forward to working with the group leaders and their employees one-on-one to help educate them on the different plans we have, so employees are able to make an informed decision on the coverage that would best fit their needs,” Ame adds.
Ame is based in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota District Marketing Office at 2810 19th Ave. S., Grand Forks. You can reach Ame at 701-795-5356 or 800-575-9643.
Peg added Heather Fried was featured in the last issue of NISI News. Heather serves western North Dakota as a Service Representative. Heather is based in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota District Marketing Office at 107 W. Main Ave, Bismarck. You can reach Heather at 701-255-5567 or 800-575-9643.
PRINT YOUR AVESIS MEMBER ID CARD
As part of its green initiative, Avesis no longer requires a Member ID card to receive service. If you would like an ID card, you can print one online with your name and group-specific information. Go to www.avesis.com. Then click Vision Programs/Members/Member Login to print your card.
HOSPITAL INDEMNITY PLAN CANCELED IN MINNESOTA
The Hospital Indemnity Plan has been canceled in Minnesota. As a result, the plan is no longer available to employees who live in Minnesota. However, Minnesota employees who currently have the product are grandfathered, but they cannot increase or decrease their coverage.
Employers can no longer offer Hospital Indemnity Plan to new employees who are Minnesota residents or to Minnesota residents during Open Enrollment. North Dakota residents are still eligible to enroll in the program.
COBRA SUBSIDY EXTENDED TO HELP LAID-OFF WORKERS
President Obama signed legislation in December to extend the subsidy some laid-off workers receive to offset the cost of continuing their employer health insurance through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).
The original deadline for signing up for the COBRA subsidy was December 31, but under the Defense Department Appropriations bill, people who lose their jobs as late as February 28, 2010, can qualify for the subsidy. The new legislation also expands the amount of time people can receive the subsidy from nine months to 15 months. The new legislation is retroactive for those who already used the nine-month subsidy.
The existing American Reinvestment and Recovery Act have helped some workers laid off between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, by paying 65 percent of the COBRA premium.
People who had dropped their coverage once they exhausted their subsidy must be notified of the changes Congress made to the COBRA subsidy, and they must be told of their opportunity to make retroactive premium payments.
People who paid the full COBRA premium to keep their coverage after exhausting the nine-month subsidy can either receive a refund of the excess money they paid or have that amount applied to future premium payments.
NISI does not handle COBRA issues. For more information, go to Discovery Benefits’ web site at www.discoverybenefits.com or refer to the U.S. Department of Labor web site.
EMPLOYEES NEED LONG-TERM CARE COVERAGE
Many employees think they are already covered for long-term care on their health plan or after age 65 through Medicare. In reality, only long-term care insurance covers day-to-day personal care assistance when you are unable to do activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating and toileting.
If you are interested in offering Long-Term Care as a group benefit, contact Group Long-Term Care Benefit Consultant Rhonda Peterson at 701-282-1595 or 866-392-4834. “This benefit does not have to cost the employer any dollars and there is no need to do payroll deductions to receive a group discount,” Rhonda says.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY
February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and is a major cause of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary heart disease is the common heart disease in the U.S., and it often appears as a heart attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one. High cholesterol, smoking, inactivity, high blood pressure, poor nutrition, diabetes and obesity are risk factors for heart disease.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month.
It’s never too early to stress the importance of oral health.s
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