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April
2008
NCMS Plan's 10th
Anniversary
On August 1st,
2008, the North Carolina Medical Society Employee Benefit Plan (NCMS Plan)
completes its 10th year of partnering with physician practices to provide
employee benefits. The NCMS Plan, sponsored by the North Carolina Medical
Society, continues to be a unique choice in the benefits marketplace,
offering competitive health, dental, and life products and pricing with a
focus on meeting the needs of the physician community. As always, we thank
you for your commitment and loyalty to the NCMS Plan, and we look forward
to serving you and your employees for another decade and
beyond. New Plan Year (2008-2009) Begins
August 1st
With the beginning
of the 2008-2009 plan year approaching, here is important information you
need to know: 2008 Survey: Satisfaction Remains
High
The NCMS Plan
conducted its annual Customer Survey in February. Again this year, the
response rate was excellent with over one-third of all surveys returned.
We appreciate the feedback and we are happy to report that NCMS Plan
practices continue to have a positive overall feeling towards the NCMS
Plan and the service provided. ·
95% would
recommend the NCMS Plan to others. Same as last year.
·
96% of
respondents felt that customer service provided by MMIC Agency, Inc. was
good or excellent. Up from 94% last year. ·
88% of
respondents felt that the NCMS Plan was a good value for the money. Up
from 84% last year. ·
91% of
respondents were satisifed with the accessibility and responsiveness of
their agent. Up from 87% last year. We are pleased
with the results of the survey, but acknowledge there are areas where we
can improve. As an example, we will work closely with MetLife, the NCMS
Plan dental carrier, to monitor and improve their service to you. MetLife
received an 83% satisfaction rating, not bad by most standards, but a
rating that we believe can be improved. Small Business Health Insurance
Tax Credit
Effective for tax
years beginning on or after January 1, 2007, small businesses in North
Carolina that provide qualifying health insurance for all of its eligible
employees during the taxable year may be able to claim a tax credit. A
taxpayer that employs no more than twenty-five (25) eligible employees at
any one time during the taxable year is considered a small business.
Ask George
Question: My
son is attending a university in another state and may need to have
medical services. Can he receive our benefits
out-of-state? George Fanelli is
an Account Service Representative with the NCMS Plan. If you have a
question you would like answered in a future issue of CHOICES,
e-mail George at [email protected]. Copy/Paste
Member
Services
Feel free to
customize and share this article with your employees in your newsletter,
on your intranet, by e-mail, or on a bulletin board. ·
Enroll in
health programs to help you get started on the road to better health.
·
Get advice
from a specially trained nurse. ·
Earn prizes
for health activities. ·
View your
claims history. Visit www.bcbsnc.com/memberservices/public/demo
to take a tour of Member Services. To register go to http://bcbsnc.com/memberservices. Form 5500 Not
Required
Employers
participating in a self-funded multi-employer welfare association (the
health benefits of the NCMS Plan) do not have to file a Form 5500 on that
benefit plan as long as the NCMS Plan is making a filing. The NCMS Plan
files a Form 5500 so participating employers do not have to. Wellness in the
Workplace
According to
estimates by Be Active North Carolina, Inc., physical inactivity and poor
nutrition cost North Carolina $24 billion per year in health care
expenses, lost productivity and workers' compensation. Workplace wellness
programs are demonstrated to reduce these costs, yet few employers
implement such programs. Many believe that wellness programs are too
expensive, or take too much time. The fact is that many programs and
policies cost nothing and can take little to no time to implement, such
as: ·
Make your
workplace entirely smoke-free ·
Allow
employees to use sick time for preventive care physician visits
·
Provide
healthy snack options in break rooms ·
Encourage
and remind employees to get routine physical exams and screenings
·
Consider
offering on-site health screenings Free and low-cost
resources are available online at http://www.fittogethernc.org/, http://www.beactivenc.org/, and http://www.welcoa.org/. Practice Manager's
Forum
New Network Delivers Urgent Drug
and Product Recalls by E-Mail
Have you ever
wished that you knew about drug recalls and medical product safety issues
sooner? A nationwide initiative that began in March of 2008 will soon make
that possible. The Health Care Notification Network will alert physicians
and practice administrators by e-mail of urgent drug and product recalls
and FDA warnings. About the North Carolina Medical
Society
As the largest
physician organization in the state, the North Carolina Medical Society
(NCMS) is devoted to representing the interests of physicians and
protecting the quality of patient care. The NCMS Plan, sponsored by the
NCMS, is the only statewide employee benefits plan designed specifically
for North Carolina physicians. | |||
© 2007
North Carolina Medical Society Employee Benefit Plan. All rights
reserved. |
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