[Publib] A call for ALA - Health Insurance

[Rawles-Heiser, Carolyn]

This has come up before.   I think that ALA cannot offer regular health
insurance to us partly because of the way health insurance works but I
can't remember the exact issues.   It may have to do with ALA members
not being employees of ALA and living in various states and countries.
But I'm not sure!   
Carolyn

Carolyn Rawles-Heiser
Library Director
Corvallis--Benton County Public Library
645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR  97330


-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of
mklibrarian at gmail.com
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 2:25 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] A call for ALA - Health Insurance


I think Su's suggestion is an excellent one.

The link James refers us to does *not* offer regular medical coverage,
only "Catastrophe Major Medical Insurance":

"Most basic health insurance plans have a limit or 'cap' on the total
lifetime benefits available to an insured... If your health care bills
go beyond that cap, then it's up to you to pay. The Catastrophe Major
Medical Insurance Plan will pay those costs that are in excess of your
basic health plan."

Perhaps someone at ALA who is subscribed to this list (if anyone is)
could respond to this thread, discrepancy and important issue to many of
us...and about 46 million of our neighbors.

-M!



Su wrote:
> For those active in ALA and those seeking election, I'd like to put 
> forth the request that the ALA expand its offerings of insurance  to 
> include a group health care plan.  (Not disability, not long term, but

> regular old, every day medical insurance.)

Then, James wrote:
> Dr. Epstein asks that ALA expand its "offering of insurance" to
include
> group health insurance.   Well, ALA has a Group Health Insurance Plan
(see
> below for MARSH Affinity Group) as a "Member Benefit".   The only
problems
>  with this plan are that you can be rejected by the company due to 
> pre-existing conditions, there is no discount for ALA Members, and I 
> am not, as an ALA Council Member, willing to say that this plan offers

> you anything that couldn't  be obtained elsewhere.  Nor am I saying 
> that the plan is particularly advantageous because of its affiliation
with ALA.
>
> Does anyone on this list know of a case where the MARSH Affinity Group

> Health Insurance plan rendered ALA Members better service or 
> advantages that could be available elsewhere?
>
> James B. Casey --- My own views
> Director of Oak Lawn Public Library
> ALA Council Member since 1996.
>
>>From ALA Web Site:
>
> New ALA Member Benefit
> MARSH Affinity Group -- Insurance for ALA Members
>
> All personal memb/ers of ALA are now eligible to apply for personal or

> family insurance coverage through MARSH Affinity Group.  You can 
> choose 'supplemental' or 'complete' coverage levels depending on your 
> need and availability in your state.  MARSH has been helping 
> associations provide insurance coverage to members for over 50 years. 
> They offer a line of insurance plans including:
>
>  *   Customized Major Medical - allows you to choose a health plan
right
> for you;
>  *   Short-Term Medical - gives you health insurance for your
temporary
> needs;
>  *   Catastrophic Major Medical - pays benefits if your basic medical
> insurance runs out;
>  *   Dental Insurance - helps cover the costs of preventative and
> necessary care;
>  *   Long-Term Care - supplements the costs associated with assisted
> living services;
>  *   Term Life Insurance - provides up to $210,000 of coverage;
>  *   Disability Income Plan - provides income to you or your family
when
> you are unable to work.
>
> Please note that program availability and coverage varies from state 
> to state.  Specific rate quotes and plan prospectus are available by 
> contacting MARSH directly.  They have set up a dedicated website and 
> Customer Service line to answer you questions.
>
> Visit https://www.personal-plans.com/ala/welcome.do, or call the 
> Member Insurance Administrator for ALA at 1-800-503-9230 to learn more

> about this program or to enroll today.  Please identify yourself as a 
> "member of the American Library Association" when calling for
information or a quote.
> The website will do that automatically for you if you use the link,
above.
>
> You can download a list of health insurance coverage by state by 
> clicking the link below.  Please note that this document is for 
> reference only and all questions about your personal eligibility must
be directed to Marsh.
>
>
>
> Related Files
>
>  *   Marsh Program by State as of February
> 2005<http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/membership/marshaffinitygro
> upinsuranceinformation/MarshHealthStates_Feb_05.rtf.pdf>
>
>
>
>
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