State of California

  M E M O R A N D U M

  REFERENCE CODE:
  2000-068

  DATE:
  November 29, 2000

  TO:
  Personnel Officers
  Personnel Transactions Supervisors
  Personnel Transactions Staff

  FROM:
  Department of Personnel Administration
  Benefits Division

  SUBJECT:
  CoBen Brochure Pre-Paid Dental Plan Rate Information and 
  New Vision Benefits Program Contract for 2001

  CONTACT:
  Bryan Bruno, Benefits Program Analyst
  (916) 445-9841, CALNET 485-9841
  FAX: (916) 322-3769
  Email: Bryanbruno@dpa.ca.gov


  This memorandum contains important information regarding 
  the pre-paid dental plan rates listed in the new 2001 
  Consolidated Benefits (CoBen) Brochure and the new Vision 
  Benefits Program contract. 
  
  CoBen Brochure
  
  In order to provide open enrollment information to your 
  employees in CoBen in a timely manner, new 2001 CoBen 
  brochures were recently distributed to departments.  
  Regrettably, there was an error in the published premium 
  rates for the Denticare, PMI, and Safeguard dental plans.  
  The rates listed in the brochure are slightly higher than 
  the actual rates that take effect January 1, 2001.  There 
  has been no change in these plans' rates for the 2001 plan 
  year.  
  
  To correct this publication error, Attachment I is provided 
  to your office as a supplemental insert to be supplied with 
  any CoBen brochures you distribute.  This insert may be 
  reproduced by your office as needed.  
  
  
  Please note that the correct rates shown in the insert for 
  DentiCare, PMI, and Safeguard are slightly lower than the 
  rates stated in the CoBen brochure.  For further 
  information, you may reference PML 2000-056, Attachment IV, 
  Dental Plan Rate Chart for 2001, which shows the actual 
  rates that will be effective January 1, 2001.  
  
  Vision Benefits Program Contract
  
  Following a competitive bidding process, the new contract 
  for the Vision Benefits Program has been awarded to Vision 
  Service Plan.  This contract will be effective January 1, 
  2001, through December 31, 2003.  The new contract will 
  maintain the current vision benefit structure.  However, 
  the composite premium rate will drop to $8.10 per employee 
  per month.  This single composite premium rate will 
  continue to cover the employee and all eligible dependents.  
  State employees who have a spouse or domestic partner also 
  in State service will continue to have coverage for vision 
  benefits available both through their own benefits and 
  those of their State-employed spouse or partner.  
  
  If you have any questions regarding the information 
  contained in this memo, you may contact Bryan Bruno, 
  Benefit Program Analyst at (916) 445-9841 or CALNET 485-
  9841.
  
  
  
  Terri Westbrook, Chief
  Benefits Division
  
  cc: CAHP BENEFIT TRUST, Kim Bamford
      CCPOA BENEFIT TRUST, Lou Ohls
  
  
  Attachment will be mailed with hard copy of PML.