HOW TO COMPARE INFORMATION FOR THE 2009 MANAGEMENT ENROLLMENT FOR HEALTH PLANS AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS using Checklists with a focus on the new SecureHorizons MedicareDirect health plan.

» The Goals of this Benefits Team Home Page.  The health care insurance decision for you and your family is extremely important for your health and well-being. SecureHorizon's website puts it this way:

"With so many options available and so much information to sift through, selecting a health plan can be an overwhelming task."

Many Retirees Report They are Considering Three Medicare Options 1) Staying with Alcatel Lucent's offer of a SecureHorizons's PFFS Plan or an HMO Do my doctors and hospitals that I use accept the PFFS plan? Is there a less costly drug plan? 2) Choosing a commercial Medicare Advantage plan (HMO, a PPO, or a PFFS plan) Where do I find insurers to consider? Including cost and coverage? Are there quality reports that can help me choose? 3) Choosing a Medigap supplemental insurance plan Can I enroll without losing coverage for pre-existing conditions? What are the pros and cons of Medigap versus other Medicare choices? Use the [TABS] above to help answer these questions for your own particular needs. Use the attached for keeping notes as you go along.

These decisions involve trade-offs between costs and the services you need, and the selection of health care providers (doctors, specialists, hospitals) that you would like to use. The Benefits Team has tried to organize the material on this home page to make your task easier and - most importantly - to help you reach your own personal goals.

» Be sure to do the following right now!

(1) Register yourself on the Alcatel-Lucent benefit web site at
www.resources.hewitt.com/alcatel-lucent/ so that you can stay current with your Alcatel-lucent coverage.

(2) If you are Medicare eligible, register yourself at Mymedicare.gov so you can stay current with your Medicare coverage.

» How the Home Page is organized. There are [TABS] above that can be clicked to provide you with specific information to help you in your decision process. One of your most important decisions is whether to continue with Alcatel-Lucent offered health and prescription drug plans, or to use commercial plans. The LRO Benefits Team doesn't take a position on these two options - other than to provide you as much information as possible for you to reach your own conclusion.

» 2009 Medicare SecureHorizons change. Alcatel-Lucent has notified Management Medicare-eligible retirees, who previously have been covered by the Traditional Indemnity plan, that their coverage will be replaced by a SecureHorizons Medicare Advantage Private-Fee-for-Service (MA PFFS) plan in 2009 (or a Medicare Advantage HMO, if one is available in your area). 

The [TAB] How to Use Guide provides detail information on how to compare health plans. The [TAB] Plan Checklists provides specific Checklists for you to enter both Alcatel-Lucent data and data from other plans that you will have considered from the [TAB] How to Use Guide. The other [TABS] provide useful supporting information for your effort.

» TIME TO START IS NOW.  The Medicare information for 2009 is now available. You'll be receiving your "yellow envelopes" from Alcatel-Lucent in early November. So, you can make a very good start right now. As additional information is available, the home page will be updated. And you'll be provided with e-mails recommending that you return here.

TABS on this BENEFITS TEAM HOME PAGE 

How to Use Guide

Plan Checklists

Rx Plans

Sources

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