Frequently Asked Questions

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This is a confidential voluntary service available to all employees as well as spouses and children.  Visit the Best Doctors site for more information.

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Best Doctors is a free service that we encourage you to use when you are uncertain or have questions about the diagnosis or treatment of a health condition.

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Yes, if your spouse/domestic partner chooses to be in the Choice PLUS+ plan they must also complete a biometric screening.

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A key factor in understanding your health risks is to know your numbers by understanding important measures of health such as blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass index. These numbers are key indicators of risk factors. OneBeaocn believes all employees should take steps to understand their health risks. Many risk factors are modifiable, which means you have the ability to change or manage them. The Choice PLUS+ plan requires the screenings in exchange for lower payroll contributions but OneBeacon still offers the Choice plan for people who would prefer not to do the screenings

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Yes, there is a fasting associated with the on-site screenings and remote screenings.  It is recommended that you fast 9-12 hours prior to your blood draw.  This will give the most accurate results.  You are allowed to have water and take regular medications as needed.  You may also have black coffee. 

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For the on-site screenings, you will get your results immediately following your screening from the nurse or technician. If you go to a remote location for your screenings, you will receive results by mail within approximately 2 weeks. No, by federal law all information submitted to BCBSMA will remain confidential and will not be shared with OneBeacon. OneBeacon will only receive aggregate reporting.

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A key factor in understanding your health risks is to know your numbers by understanding important measures of health such as blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass index. These numbers are key indicators of risk factors. Many risk factors are modifiable, which means you have the ability to change or manage them.

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Learn more about Online Commuter Benefits and open your account at www.flexdirect.adp.com.

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Visit the BCBSMA and OneBeacon micro site to see if your dentist participates in the network. 

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No, you will only have access to dependent care funds that have been deducted from your paycheck each pay period.

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No, you will need to determine whether the dependent care account or the tax credit is more advantageous to you. This depends on your personal tax situation.  In some cases, if your income (and your spouse's) is relatively low and the amount of dependent care expenses incurred is small, you might benefit more, from a tax viewpoint, paying your dependent care expenses directly and claiming the dependent care income tax credit, rather than electing a salary reduction under the Plan. If there is any question about which method is more advantageous to you, you should try to project your tax liability under the two alternative approaches and then decide whether to particpate in the plan. You should also consult a tax advisor for assistance.

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Yes, when you elect a Health Care Spending Account you will automatically receive your VISA Card in the mail.  If you need more than one card you must request that through your flexdirect account. 

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Here are some tips to avoid overpayment on your card:
• Only use your card for eligible expenses
• Use your card with approved merchants who will validate your eligible purchase at the point of sale
• Save all of your receipts- and submit complete, itemized documentation
• Don't use your card for doctor's visits or procedures where you'll pay a coinsurance amount; instead wait until insurance pays their portion and you get a bill from the provider

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Under current IRS regulations, the "use it or lose it" rule  causes you to forfeit any funds that are not claimed by the end of your coverage period.  Therefore, if you have money left in your health care spending accounts near the end of the plan year, make sure to spend it all.  Check for any receipt you may not have submitted, schedule additional eligible services, or purchase additional eligible mediations including over-the-counter medications.

Also, OneBeacon does provide the Grace Period extension for employees employed through 12/31/11 as allowed by the IRS that provides you with additional time to submit and incur your claims.  Log into your flexdirect account for more information. 

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Health Advocate is only available to employees (and their dependents) who enroll in the OneBeacon medical plan.

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Health Advocate is a service, paid by OneBeacon, that provides personalized assistance programs to help you and your family navigate the complexities of the healthcare system.

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Yes, you may submit expenses through the Health Care spending account even if they are not enrolled in a OneBeacon plan.

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You should log into your ADP account to find a full listing of eligible expenses. 

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Once you make your annual election during Open Enrollment, OneBeacon will fully fund your account at the begining of the plan year with your total election amount.  OneBeacon will then deduct the election amount from your paychecks in equal amounts throughout the year.

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Knee Example

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Yes, effective January 1,2011, OneBeacon changed the eligibility criteria to allow your children to stay on your medical plan until the age of 26, regardless of whether the child is attending school, whether the child lives with you, or whether the child has other coverage available.

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Visit the BCBSMA and OneBeacon micro site to see if your doctor is in the BCBSMA network.

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You may view the 2012 rates here for the Choice and Choice PLUS+ plan.

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The key benefits of the Choice PLUS+ plan are as follows:

•  Significantly lower biweekly contributions
• Up to $150 reimbursement for Fitness Center membership or Weight Loss Programs
  In exchnage of those two benefits, participants in the Choice PLUS+ plan must do the following:
• Mandatory annual biometric screenings for you and your covered spouse or domestic partner
• Mandatory participation in disease management programs by you and your family (if applicable) if identified by BCBSMA

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If you do not electronically certify your spouse/domestic partner's coverage availability, you will default to the $40 biweekly additional contributions. Coverage will default in ADP to the spousal surcharge rate, so you must attest to this when making your elections.

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The spousal surcharge was implemented in 2010 because of the high expense spouses represent on our plans. In 2008, the average cost of a spouse within the medical plan was 33% higher than the average cost of an employee, which is what led to the decision to add a spousal surcharge in 2010. When we received the final 2009 expense data, the average cost of a spouse had increased to 41% higher than the cost of an employee. While we understand that this is an inconvenience for some, it does accurately align with our belief that participants who utilize the plan the most should proportionally pay for those services.

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No, by federal law all information submitted to BCBSMA will remain confidential and will not be shared with OneBeacon. OneBeacon will only receive aggregate reporting.

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Wellness is a critical part of OneBeacon's benefits strategy because healthier employees have been shown to be more productive and have lower expenses related to healthcare. Managing total corporate healthcare expense is the best way that we can help control your individual expenses. The aggregate results that we get help drive our plan design and onsite and online wellness programs.

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No, you can still continue to fill your 30 day supply medications at any pharmacy within the Caremark network, which likely includes your local pharmacy.

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State laws may allow pharmacies to substitute a less expensive generic equivalent for a brand-name drug unless the patient or doctor direct otherwise. Massachusetts is an example of one of these states.

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As the national cost of healthcare continues to spiral upwards, it is more important than ever that employees be actively engaged in their medical care- including their prescriptions. Did you know that brand name drugs are typically 3-5 times more expensive than generics? OneBeacon doesn't charge more for these drugs as a penalty to you, but rather as a means of consistent cost sharing. Generic drugs cost less than brand names and are proven to be just as safe and effective. The plan is designed to encourage cost-effective products while still allowing access to appropriate medications.