CWA 1109

Benefits

Verizon Plan Descriptions
 

Prescription claims for infant formulas
The Company had been denying prescription claims for certain exempt infant formulas claiming that they were an over-the-counter drug. The Union made the case that these infant formulas were prescribed by physicians and were medically necessary for infants who were diagnosed with medical or dietary problems. The company has finally agreed with CWA and signed a Letter of Agreement on this issue. Any member who has a claim that was denied regarding this should resubmit it. Click here to read the Letter of Agreement.

FDA: Exempt Infant Formulas Marketed in the United States By Manufacturer and Category

1109: IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MEDICAL PLAN

Any Time Enrollment is no longer available – Changes can ONLY be made during Open Enrollment with the exemption of a Qualified Status Change. Examples of a Qualified Status Change are adding a spouse if you get married, added a child when there is a birth of new baby.

EPO is no longer open to new enrollments. If someone who now has the EPO choses another plan then they will no longer be able to re-enroll in the EPO in the future.

For retirements January 1, 2013 and later, if you are enrolled in an HMO/EPO at retirement, you may continue in it as long as it is offered and/or until Medicare –eligible.

If you are not enrolled in an HMO/EPO at retirement, you cannot enroll in an HMO/EPO as a retiree.

NEW BENEFIT CENTER

Starting with Annual Enrollment, Verizon will transition to Zerox HR Solutions. Hewitt will no longer handle Verizon Benefits after December 31, 2012. The NEW Verizon Benefit Center can be reached at 1-855-4VzBens (1-855-489-2367).

Access 2013 Annual Enrollment information online at Benefits Connections: www.verizon.com/benefitsconnection

You should continue to call the current Benefits Center (1-877-4VZBens) 1-877-489-2367 until December 31, 2012 for 2012 benefits.

IMPORTANT REMINDER TO THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS OR PREFER TO CALL THE BENEFIT CENTER

If you need any printed materials mailed to your home, call the Verizon Benefits Center at 1-855-4VzBens (1-855-489-2367) as soon as possible.

REMINDER

You MUST complete the Health Assessment questionnaire and you must go online and certify that neither you nor your covered dependents use tobacco in order to qualify for the premium reductions.

ABSENCE

Click here for the updated Absence Control Plan

East Employees - As an associate in the East region, you are responsible for calling your supervisor/absence administrator on the first day of absence. You are also responsible for calling Sedgwick at 631-768-1100 or claimlookup.com should the absence period continue beyond seven calendar days. This is required in order to apply for Short Term Disability benefits. The call should be made to Sedgwick on or before the eighth calendar day from your first day of absence. In addition, if you return to work from a disability absence and are then absent again for any reason within 14 calendar days, on the first day of this subsequent absence you must call your supervisor/absence administrator and immediately call Sedgwick at 631-768-1100.

Call into your Absence Administrator 1st day. If you know your absence will extend beyond 8 days, contact Sedgwick at 631-768-1100.

ADOPTION REIMBURSEMENT
1-800-323-5594. Your union contract entitles you to reimbursable expenses.

CHILDREN
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 1-800-843-5678

Commuter Spending Accounts
Offers a tax-effective way to pay for certain transportation and parking expenses. The program allows eligible employees to request that before and after tax payroll deductions be deposited into transportation and/or parking accounts for eligible commuting expenses.

Credit Reporting Information
1-800-567-8688

Credit information went public starting July 1, 2003. The four major credit bureaus in the US (Equifax, etc.) are now allowed to release credit information, mailing addresses, phone numbers, etc. to ANYONE who requests it. By calling this number, you can either permanently or for five (5) years remove your name from mailings for firm offers of credit or insurance.

Civil Rights
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
–assists w complaints of job, housing and other discrimination
717-787-9780

EEOC Federal Agency
215-440-2600

Discounts thru Verizon
Access the company EWeb.Verizon.com Click at left side of page "I want to…" and click onto "get discounts here".

Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-SAFE or www.ndvh.org

VZ Life EAP
800-845-0632

National Center for Victims of Crime –Stalking Resource Center
800-FYI-CALL or www.ncvc.org

Educational Services
Verizon VZ TAP - Tuition Assistance Program
Access to the following: tamsonline.org/tapverizon

Verizon Workplace Concerns
1-800-856-1885

Employee Assistance Plan – VZ Life
1-800-845-0632
You and your dependents are entitled for up to five (5) free Counseling sessions per issue.

Fitness Centers
-On-Site Fitness Centers – take advantage of On-Site Fitness Centers offered at 20 Verizon locations. Degreed fitness professionals and certified personal trainers are available to help you start an exercise program or enhance your current regimen. And, you can pay for your membership using convenient payroll deductions.

GlobalFit Health Club Network
1-800-295-1500
Staying physically active is critical to good health and regular exercise supports Verizon's effort to lower healthcare costs. The GlobalFit HealthClub Network offers you and your family access to a network of more than 2,000 pre-evaluated fitness clubs with low affiliation fees, month-to-month memberships and discounted rates.

Fitness/Health
Weight Watchers – to learn more for discounts, to register, or to find out if your location offers " at work" meetings.
1-866-896-9555

Foundation
1-800-360-7955 or www.verizon.com/foundation
Matching Gift & Volunteers Program, Grant Information, Scholarship, Literacy, Domestic Violence Program

HR Help Line
1-877-Ask VZ HR (1-877-275-8947)
Or @ www.resources.hewitt.com/Verizon – type in SS# & Passcode

Life & Personal Events
– Absence Administration, Update Marital Status, Update Dependent Information, Notification of Death, Birth & Deduction, Update Personal Information, Employment Verification

Compensation & Benefits
- Absence Administration, Savings-Retirement &Pension, Verizon Payroll Services Voice Portal, Health Care, Other HR Programs, Life & Other Insurance, Disability Coverage & Elections

Your Career
- Job Opportunities, Training & Continuing Education, Service Bridging, Leaving the Company, Performance Management, Relocation Services

Work Events
- Absence Administration, Performance Management, Service Bridging, Leaving the Company, All Other

ID Theft
Report all suspicious contacts to the Federal Trade Commission through the Internet at www.consumer.gov/IDtheft or by calling the ID Theft Hotline @ 1-877-IdTheft  (877-438-4338)

VZ Life
1-800-845-0632
(You may be entitled to a free 60 Minute Consultation with a trained and experienced Fraud Resolution Specialist.)

Equifax 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com

Experian 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com

TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com

Insurance
Verizon ADVANTAGE – Auto & Home Insurance
1-800-240-4660

Next Step Program Marrow Donor Program
1-800-526-7809 or www.marrow.org

Legal Services
Click here
to go to the vendor's page.

Aetna – Claims & Member Services

1-800-247-5482

Lasik Discount Information
1-877-999-7006

Express Scripts Drug Plan
1-877-877-1878 or www.merck-medco.com

Mental Health/Substance Abuse
1-800-845-0632 (VZ Life)

Sedgwick Disability Response Center
631-768-1100
myclaimdocs@sedgwick.com
claimlookup.com
(Questions on STD Claims)

Vision – Davis Vision
1-877-999-7006

PAYROLL Services/VERIZON
1-866-4VZ-PAYS (1-866-489-7297)

Pioneers-Member Services Resource Center
1-800-976-1914

Real Estate Customer Service Center
For immediate attention to work environment
888-696-3973

Retiree Information
CWA Retiree Health Care Benefit Coordinator
Sue Anderson: 1-888-324-4969

Savings Plan
Verizon Savings Plan
1-888-457-9333 or http://netbenefits.fidelity.com
(Check your balance)

Social Security Administration
1-800-772-1213

Tuition Assistance
Verizon VZ TAP - Tuition Assistance Program

Union Plus
1-800-472-2005
(Visit www.unionplus.org for complete list of services available to you as a CWA Member)

Verification
The Work Number – employment and income information verified
1-800-367-2884 or www.theworknumber.com

Verizon Benefits Center
1-877-Ask-Vzhr (1-877-489-2367)

WAVE
Weight Watchers @866-896-9555
Verizon HealthZone has four different Weight Watchers program offerings for Verizon employees and their families – Weight Watchers @Work; Weight Watchers Vouchers; Weight Watchers On Line and Weight Watchers at Home.