SAR Open Enrollment for Kaiser and Western Health Advantage Medical Plans

The SAR Health Plans have HSA plans from Kaiser and Western Health Advantage

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are becoming more and more popular because of the need to keep rising medical costs down. This is the third year that the Association is offering them as one of their options. This year we added HSA options with Kaiser and Western Health Advantage. These plans have become more competitively priced and can be a viable option for the members to reduce monthly premium and set up a “savings vehicle” for future medical needs. During the open enrollment month of November 1st to November 30th, SAR members will be eligible to enroll in the HSA plan with Kaiser or Western Health Advantage to be effective December 1, 2007. Please contact Ames Grenz Insurance for more details about this plan design.

November is Open Enrollment month for all Kaiser and Western Health Advantage SAR Plans. If you are an existing SAR member on one of the plans, you are eligible to enroll in any of the Kaiser or Western Health Advantage plans, make changes to your plan or add a dependent during the month of November.  These changes will be effective December 1, 2007.

If you are currently a member of SAR, new or existing, and have not taken advantage of the opportunity to enroll in one of these plans, this is the month to join one of these benefit plans. All of the Western Health Advantage and Kaiser plans are guaranteed issue in the month of November. You can enroll in these plans to be eligible for a December 1, 2007 effective date.

The association also offers three dental plans. Premier Access Dental is offering low, middle and high option plans that allow members to choose from nearly any premium level. The low option plan keeps the members’ out of pocket costs to a minimum with copays for some procedures. The middle option plan combines the low option plan with the ability to see dentists that are in Premier Access’ expansive PPO network. The high option plan combines the low and middle option plans with the ability to go to any dentist in or out of the network.

Medical Eye Services administers the vision plan offered by the association. For very little premium, you can get frames, lenses, contacts and vision exams covered for a small copay.

The billing administrator, American River Benefit Administrators, is now accepting automatic withdrawals directly from your checking account. The Ames-Grenz staff will be available to answer any of your questions concerning Open Enrollment month. Please contact us at 916-486-2900 or email arba@amesgrenz.com.

Sincerely,