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Members in SelectBlue Point-of-Service (POS)

 December, 2006

If you are currently enrolled in SelectBlue, your medical benefits will be changing to a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, called PPOBlue, effective January 1, 2007.  Your new PPO plan provides the same benefits and uses the same network of hospitals, doctors and other healthcare providers as SelectBlue.  With PPOBlue, however, you are not required to select a primary care physician (PCP) nor do you need referrals for specialty care.  You will receive your new PPO identification card(s) in the mail before the end of the year.  If you have any questions concerning your new PPO benefits, contact member services at 1-800-299-1910.

Student Recertification

August, 2006

During August of each year, the Fund conducts its annual student recertification.  This applies to dependent children age 19 or older (but younger than age 25) for whom you previously provided verification of full-time student status.  If your dependent will be enrolled as a full-time student in the upcoming year, you must again provide verification from the school of his or her continued student status.  If you do not provide the verification by September 1, your dependent will no longer be eligible for benefits and coverage will terminate.

Please watch for the recertification notice in the mail and return it as soon as possible in order to avoid any interruption in coverage for your dependent.

Note:  Some participating employers have different eligibility rules for dependent children age 19 or older.  Check with your employer or refer to your summary plan description (SPD) to determine if this annual recertification applies to you.

Vision Benefits

July, 2006

You may have heard that Clarity Vision has recently changed its name to DVSC, Inc.  This is the result of a decision by Highmark to consolidate the services of its two wholly-owned vision companies, Clarity Vision and Davis Vision.  This change does not affect your current vision benefits, the network of vision care providers or the administration of your plan.  For more information about your vision benefits, visit the website at www.davisvision.com.

Care Away From Home

June, 2006

With the summer vacation season fast approaching, we want to remind you that your PPO or POS plan covers care when you’re away from home.  If you are traveling in the United States and an urgent injury or illness occurs, you should seek treatment from the nearest hospital, emergency room or clinic.  If the illness or injury is an emergency, the cost of the medical care will be paid at the in-network level.  If the illness or injury is not an emergency, benefits may be paid at the lower out-of-network level. 

Your plan also covers care and provides assistance for medical problems that occur while traveling outside of the United States. Services include making medical referrals and appointments, verbal translation and other special assistance, and arrangements for medical evacuation services.  To access these services, simply call 1-800-810-BLUE.  For health care services received abroad, you will need to pay the provider and then complete an international claim form and send it to the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center.  Claim forms can be obtained by calling 1-800-810-BLUE or the member services toll-free number on the back of your identification card.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Get Your Looking Healthward Newsletter Electronically

June, 2006

As a Fund Member, you are currently receiving quarterly issues of Highmark's member newsletter, Looking Healthward, in the mail.  Now you can get all of the useful benefits information and health tips from the newsletter every month via e-mail.

Save resources, speed up delivery and increase the number of issues by signing up for e-delivery of your member newsletter.  It is easy to do:

• Log onto www.highmarkbcbs.com
• Under the heading, "Your Life," at the top center of the page, click on "E-News"
• Put a check mark in the box next to "E-Delivery of E-Newsletter."  You may be asked to provide an e-mail address if one is not already on record.
• Click on "Submit"