Member Advocate position created

Last month, the Board announced that a member advocate position has been created. The member advocate will provide clarity and understanding among all the parties to a problem: the member, the Board of Pensions, and the provider. The Board appointed Annette Donald, who has a great deal of knowledge surrounding the Benefits Plan and its administration, to this new position.

Although member services representatives remain the first point of contact, Ms. Donald will help members who encounter complex or unique situations that require special attention from Board staff or our Medical Plan's third-party vendors. She is empowered to intervene on behalf of the member in a supportive manner when either the member or the third-party provider misunderstands or misinterprets the Benefits Plan.

Members should continue to reference Pensions.org or call 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN) with questions about the Plan. Calls may be referred to Ms. Donald as the situation warrants.

Express Scripts maintenance medication program reviewed

Last fall, the Board began encouraging members to obtain maintenance medications* through Express Scripts' Home Delivery service. The maintenance medication program officially launched on January 1, 2008.

Under the maintenance medication program, members can fill a 30-day prescription at a local pharmacy up to two times before additional copayments - $5 for generic drugs, $10 for brand-name formulary drugs, and $15 for brand-name non-formulary drugs - are incurred. If you order maintenance medications directly from Express Scripts, not only can you avoid these charges, but you can have a 90-day supply of maintenance drugs delivered directly to your home, usually for a lower copay than you would be charged at retail pharmacies for the same quantity.

We hope that members will find the Home Delivery service to be an efficient and economical means for purchasing prescription drugs. If you have questions about the maintenance medication program or the Home Delivery service, you can contact Member Services at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN) or Express Scripts at 800-344-3896.

*Maintenance medications are drugs taken regularly for long-term, chronic conditions.

Stewardship of Self debuts at Regional Benefits Consultations

Stewardship of Self, the Board's comprehensive effort to help Plan members improve self care, was a primary focus of this year's Regional Benefits Consultations (RBCs). At these events, the Board introduced Stewardship of Self through presentations by Pat Haines, senior vice president of benefits, Karen Babik, director of communications, public relations, marketing, and education, and Cindy Beach, director of member education.

An annual forum for updates and feedback on Board benefits and programs, the RBCs provided an ideal opportunity to share the Stewardship of Self concept and explain its future directions. The workshops not only demonstrated the shared responsibility that Stewardship of Self represents, but used tools like a health-related quiz and pledge form to reinforce the goal of enriching all aspects of one's life: spiritual, vocational, health, and financial. The commitment to self care is one that the Board encourages every member to make, and Stewardship of Self will serve as an ongoing reminder to use the Board's benefits, programs, and services effectively for the benefit of the entire Presbyterian Church community.

2007 Annual Report now available

The Board of Pensions' 2007 Annual Report is now available. You can obtain a copy by visiting Pensions.org or calling Member Services at 800-773-7752 (800-PRESPLAN). Copies also will be mailed to churches and employing organizations later this month.

The 2007 Annual Report provides a window on the work we do at the Board of Pensions to support our clergy, other church workers, and their dependents who participate in the Benefits Plan. It is recommended reading for anyone who is covered by the Benefits Plan of the PC(USA) or its related programs.

Spring 2008 Issue of EducationTalk posted

The Board has published the spring 2008 issue of EducationTalk. This edition features informative articles that focus on your education, finances, health, and personal life.

The education section includes an overview of the Tax Resource Center and a reminder about the seminars available to members. The finance section alerts members to the adoption of new federal 403(b) retirement savings plan regulations and highlights Teach Children to Save Day. Information about National Healthcare Decisions Day and annual preventive exams are featured in the health section, and the benefits of children's gardens and how to relieve stress comprise the personal life section.

For complete details, read this issue of EducationTalk.

Web site guide published

A guide to the new Pensions.org and BenefitsConnect is now available. Designed to assist members navigate the site, it introduces members to the new sections on Pensions.org, including:

• Benefits & Assistance
• Life Stages & Events
• Educational Resources
• Treasurers & Administrators
• Middle Governing Bodies
• Giving Opportunities
• Forms & Publications
• Calculators

The brochure also explains BenefitsConnect, the online tool that enables members to view and update personal information and to learn about Plan benefits. It reviews who is eligible to access the site, what information is available to them, and which calculators are exclusive to this secure site.