Flexible Benefit Plan enrollment materials now available
CLEVELAND, October 21 — BLET members should be receiving their Railroad Employees Flexible Benefit Plan enrollment package from United Healthcare, which were mailed last week.
The BLET National Division strongly encourages all eligible members to participate in this money-saving plan.
The package includes an enrollment form, a claim form, and a plan description. These forms are also available for download from the BLET website at:
http://www.ble-t.org/fsa
Members who do not have their forms yet may download them from the website above, or they can contact United Healthcare at (877) 311-7849.
In much the same way that a 401k program allows individuals to use pre-tax dollars to save for retirement, the Railroad Employees Flexible Benefits Program allows members to use pre-tax dollars to pay for certain medical expenses or dependent care expenses.
Members must enroll in the plan by November 12, 2008. Additionally, a minimum number of BLET members must enroll in the program or it will be terminated.
Side Letter #8 of the 2007 National Contract specifies that at least 5 percent of eligible BLET members must participate in the plan or it will be terminated as of December 31, 2009. Current participation levels are below the 5 percent threshold, and the BLET is encouraging all members to enroll in the program using the materials mailed by United Healthcare last week.
If you have any questions, please contact United Healthcare at (877) 311-7849.
(As an aside, the United Healthcare mailings contain a form explaining online enrollment. However, this option is only available to those members who are already enrolled in the Flexible Benefits Plan. First time users cannot enroll online, and all who wish to enroll, whether it be a new enrollment in writing or reenrollment online, must enroll by November 12, 2008.)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
bentley@ble.org
