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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

4358.0. "Who is "Benefits Express"?" by VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK (Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly) Thu Jan 11 1996 11:26

Hello,

I seem to be having some problems and I can't get a resolution.  I've
looked for related notesfiles, but I see nothing close.  One of the
reasons I'm replying here is because of the problem... I can't get
an answer, I don't even get a call back.

The problem deals with health benefits.  Is benefits express part of
digital, or is it outsourced?  I work for a living, and after a month
trying to resolve this issue, I passed it onto my wife to let her get
this deal sorted out, I don't have the time or energy to chase this down..

Here's the deal:

I've had Kaiser for over 8 years, even prior to coming to digital.
I've moved to a "far away" area and was considered "out of Kaisers zone".
We'd travel 60 miles to get to the office (they just built a kaiser office
40 miles away).  My health benefits came up for renewal, and I said
I'd stick with kaiser.  Benefits express (BE) figured out after a month
that "I couldn't do that, I was out of the zone".  They tossed me
into dec plan 1.  Too expensive.  I said "I want kaiser".  BE said
"We'll see if THEY'LL WAVE THE REQUIREMENT AND ACCEPT YOU".  They called
back and said "KAISER SAID THEY DON'T WANT YOU, YOU'RE TOO FAR AWAY".  I 
was angry at Kaiser and accepted the Aetna plan.  
My wife was mad (ho ho).  She still wanted to go to kaiser.  The last week
of 1995 she brought our children to kaiser for a checkup.  She discussed
this with the folks there, and they said "HEY, WE WANT TO KEEP YOU.
WE DIDN'T THROW YOU OUT.  HAVE YOUR COMPANY PEOPLE CALL xxxxx at this
number and get it fixed."  The first week of 1996 Kaiser mailed us all new
health care cards.  Haven't got anything from Aetna yet.

My wife took over this situation:  She's called the BE phone# a whole
lot.  No call backs in over 2 weeks.  As it stands now, we got Aetna.
I guess.  She's been on the phone (on hold) for over 30 minutes and she 
didn't look too pleased.  She's going to go to a local Dr. and send the
bill to digital and let them figure it out.

Can someone point me in the right direction to get this sorted out?

Thanks,

MadMike
VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK  mail
(706) 216-1589 work #
(706) 216-1717 Laura (my wife)
                    
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4358.1MROA::YANNEKISThu Jan 11 1996 11:3221
    
    Hi MadMike,

    I believe Benefits Express is outsourced.

    If it is Digital or not does not matter; the lack of response is
    unacceptable.  If it were me I would start escalating in a big way.

    1) Ask for the name and number of the president of benefits express (I
    always skip the going up one level at a time route .. my time is too
    valuable).  Tell this person about the abysmal service and what you
    want and when.

    2) CC these communications to Digital's VP of HR.

    You should be able to get closure quickly.  It may not be the result
    you want but getting to an answer should not be a gruesome process.

    Greg

                 
4358.2ROWLET::AINSLEYLess than 150 kts. is TOO slow!Thu Jan 11 1996 11:326
    Mike,
    
    Digital outsourced the admin of SAVE and Benefits (with a few
    exceptions like life insurance) to Benefits Express.
    
    Bob
4358.3PADC::KOLLINGKarenThu Jan 11 1996 13:447
    vtx hccz_us tells you, in response to your zip code, what
    plans are available.  My experience with Benefits Express has
    been that if they can answer the question on the spot, they
    probably give you the right answer.  If they say they'll get back
    to you, chances are good they never will.  I assume no monitoring
    of Benefits Express is being done.
                          
4358.4exitMKOTS3::MACDONALDThu Jan 11 1996 17:267
    Suggest you call the People Support Network (PSN) at dtn 592-7500,
    or 800-544-9944.
    
    When I had a customer service problem with HMO Blue, the PSN contacted
    management at HMO Blue and within a 1/2 hour, my problem was resolved.
    
    
4358.5FABSIX::J_RILEYEmbalming fluid is not intended for use on the living.Thu Jan 11 1996 22:387
    
    	I had a similar situation.  I moved out of my HMO's area and was
    allowed to keep them for 12 years.  When they (DEC) finally wanted me 
    moved so my zip code would match the system they just tripled the 
    premium.  I moved.

    Joe
4358.6What's in an address?RMULAC.DVO.DEC.COM::S_WATTUMOSI Applications Engineering, RockyMtnsFri Jan 12 1996 01:292
Of course the simple solution would be to rent a PO box in the zip code of your
choice..........
4358.7Befits ExpressJULIET::SMITH_PMon Jan 15 1996 17:4917
    I have found the Human Resource and Benfits Express responsive but I am
    comfused on how they communicate.  I recently contacted Benfits Express
    for the first time since joining the company to ask how to use our
    Dental Insurance.  I found at this time they understood me to have
    individual coverage and no Medical.  I was asked whether I sent in my
    information on time and I stated "YES" and informed them the fact that
    I was paying for family coverage in both.  It appears that Human
    REsources never forwarded to appropriate info to Benfits express.  I
    also contacted Human REsources and their computer was "down" and my
    file was missing from the folder.
    
    In all this frenzy of work , I have since been contacted back by
    Benfits Express in a timely fashion and all the info has been
    corrected.
    
    Alls well that ends well.  Mistakes are made but when the correction is
    prompt, no harm no foul. 
4358.8fixedVMSNET::M_MACIOLEKFour54 Camaro/Only way to flyMon Jan 15 1996 18:1611
    I should follow up on this.  An hour after the origonal note was posted,
    my phone rang... I am indeed out of kaiser and into Aetna.
    The next day I got a package (postmarked the day before) of "welcome
    to aetna" info.  Guess what... the aetna office is right next to
    the kaiser office.
    
    Personally, I don't care who I have for medical (I care about cost).
    My wife is the one who was happy with kaiser.  I guess she'll learn
    to deal with aetna now.  Thanks.
    
    MadMike
4358.9An old suggestionRMULAC.DVO.DEC.COM::S_WATTUMOSI Applications Engineering, RockyMtnsMon Jan 15 1996 19:2311
Hey MadMike,

This is really a very easy problem to solve (unfortunately, you'll need a change
of family status at this point - divorce and then re-marry your spouse ;-)

All you do is get a PO box in a zip code that Kaiser serves; then you give
Digital a change of address, and you should be all set.

Sure, it's a stupid game; but sometimes you gotta play.

--Scott