The OLDC-OCA Insurance Fund recently began a Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit (DEVA). The Fund has contracted with a company named Secova to conduct this audit.

What is a DEVA?
A Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit (DEVA) is a process to confirm that only eligible dependents are enrolled in the insurance plan.

Why is the Insurance Fund doing this audit?
As everyone knows, rising healthcare costs are a nationwide problem. By removing any dependents who are not eligible (and therefore should not be enrolled), the Insurance Fund will save money by eliminating their claims.

What will I have to do?
If you are eligible for insurance benefits and have enrolled dependents (spouse, children, etc.), you will be required to provide documentation to Secova (not the OLFBP Fund Office) to prove the eligibility of your dependents.

Even if you have previously submitted the same documentation to the OLFBP Fund Office to enroll your dependents, you will still be required to submit all requested documents to Secova. If you do not submit the requested material, your dependents will lose their insurance.

It is understood that many members will view this as an unnecessary aggravation; however, OLFBP and the Board of Trustees feel that it is a necessary step to be taken to help ensure the future of the Insurance Fund.

If you do not have any enrolled dependents (spouse, children, etc.), you will not be required to do anything. The DEVA will not affect the insurance eligibility for members.

Who is Secova and can they be trusted with my personal information?
Secova is an independent firm who specializes in dependent validation. Please be advised that confidentiality is extremely important to Secova and the Insurance Fund. All documents that are submitted to Secova will be shredded after the DEVA is complete.

Additionally, Secova will have a dedicated call center staff, phone and fax numbers, and secure confidential website for OLFBP members.

Timeline for DEVA:
First Week in September: Introductory letter from Secova will be mailed to members. The letter will include the definitions for all eligible dependents. The receipt of this letter will also start the voluntary drop phase of the audit. At this time, if you know one of your dependents should not be eligible for insurance benefits, you will be able to contact Secova and remove the dependent. For example, if a member has an ex-wife listed as a dependent, the member will be able to call Secova to remove her.

Late September: Verification Packet will be mailed; members will need to complete forms and submit the requested documentation to Secova. This can be done by mail, fax, or internet.

Mid October - Mid November: Secova will contact members who have not responded.

November 22, 2010: Document Submission Deadline.

Late November - Late December: Members will have the opportunity to appeal the removal of dependents

OLFBP has recently started accepting credit card payments for members making self-payments/COBRA payments to continue their insurance eligibility. If you would like to pay by credit card, simply contact the Insurance Department at the OLFBP Fund Office by phone and supply your credit card information. You must call each month you wish to pay this way; OLFBP will not make automatic repeating charges to your card. There is a processing fee each time you make a payment using your credit card. Both Visa® and MasterCard® are accepted.

OLFBP and the Insurance Fund’s Consultants are continuing to monitor the developments of the recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to see how it will affect you and your insurance benefits. To date, there have been two definite changes identified that will begin January 1, 2011.
1. The Lifetime Maximum will be removed for medical claims. Currently the Insurance Fund pays a $1 million lifetime maximum benefit.
2. Children of eligible members may be able to be covered by the Insurance Fund until they turn age 26. Currently the plan only covers children until age 19, or age 23 if enrolled as a full-time student.

Members will be contacted by the OLFBP Fund Office in November 2010 to start the potential enrollment of “older” children. At that time, OLFBP will provide all of the eligibility requirements for this provision, which have not yet been finalized.

If you believe you have a dependent that should be enrolled and eligible under this provision and you are not contacted by the OLFBP Fund Office by December 10, 2010, please contact the Fund Office for enrollment instructions.

OLFBP will continue to notify you of any other potential healthcare changes.