Long Term Care Insurance

HealthChoiceNOTE:  This is a voluntary, employee-pay-all premium benefit plan.  Your State of Wisconsin employer does not pay any portion of the premium.

Important Insurance Protection for State, University of Wisconsin, UW Hospitals & Clinics Employees & Annuitants and their Family Members is now available.

Simply click here to request an information packet.

Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Company is now offering a new plan; MutualCare Custom Solution policy to eligible Employees, Annuitants, and their family members. These voluntary purchase long-term care insurance policies are offered at a group-discounted premium. (Spouse, domestic partner, parents and in-laws are all eligible to apply, even if you don’t purchase)

Each year, many Americans lose significant income, savings and assets because of long-term care expenses. Long-term care insurance is designed to help protect against the high costs of long-term care if you or a family member can no longer perform activities of daily living without the need of assistance. Health insurance or Medicare will not pay for this type of care. For many, long-term care insurance is an important part of planning for their long-term financial security.

HealthChoice also provides CareOptions services to all State, University of Wisconsin and UW Hospitals & Clinics Employees, Annuitants and their family members at no charge and no insurance purchase required. To use this service, request an information packet and it will contain the CareOptions member access information.

The MutualCare Custom Solution policy offers additional built-in benefits that include:

  • If, prior to age 65, you sustain an injury requiring home health care, assisted living facility or nursing home care, your policy will pay up to two times the maximum benefit.
  • Cash benefits that  can be used any way you choose – you simply receive the full monthly cash benefit you select to pay for anything at all… family travel expenses, lost income, housekeeping services or other out-of-pocket expenses – there’s no need to collect or submit bills.
  • Cash beginning with the first day of need – no elimination period to satisfy.
  • Many other additional benefits and features listed in the information packet.

The CareOptions Program can assist you or family members with issues related to wellness, illness, disability, or aging. As an additional convenience, the CareOptions service can help you and your family members create Living Wills (advance directives for health care) as well as allow you to conduct care provider searches and medical information research seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

We urge you to investigate this plan for you and your family. To receive a complete information packet regarding your long-term care insurance options and access to the new CareOptions resources, simply click here to request an information packet. You may also call HealthChoice toll-free at 1-800-833-5823 or in the Madison area at 833-5823 or email info@healthchoice.com. For a direct information link, click or paste in your web browser’s address line: http://www.healthchoice.com/reply1

Since 1995, State of Wisconsin employees, annuitants, their spouses and parents have had the option of purchasing a long-term care insurance policy through HealthChoice. (Spouse, domestic partner, parents and in-laws are all eligible to apply, even if you don’t).

COOL™ and CareOptions® are registered trademarks of NavGate Technologies®, a division of CareQuest® Inc. The COOL and CareOptions system is owned and operated by NavGate Technologies and provided by HealthChoice Insurance Solutions as a service to its group members. CareOptions is a consumer driven wellness and care planning system – CareOptions is not insurance nor is it owned or operated by any insurance company, HMO or care provider.

This insurance plan has been authorized by the Group Insurance Board for the purpose of offering long term care insurance to eligible State of Wisconsin employees and retirees under authority granted by Wis. Stats. § 40.55 and as set forth in Wis. Admin Code Chapter ETF 41. The criteria the Board uses include, but are not limited to: documentation of financial stability, demonstration of a reasonable ratio of claims paid to the premium level, authority to conduct business in the State of Wisconsin, agreeing to conditions for the rate-making process and other administrative conditions. ETF staff and the Board’s actuary review proposals for participation prior to Board approval. However, the Board does not require competitive bids nor a benefit comparison with similar products from other vendors. Authorization for payroll deduction should not be construed as an endorsement of this plan by either the Group Insurance Board or the Department of Employee Trust Funds. This insurance has exceptions, limitations and reductions. This letter is used as a source of leads in the solicitation of insurance and you may be contacted by an insurance agent if you request an information packet.

Insurance products are offered through HealthChoice. HealthChoice is not affiliated with any insurance company or HMO. Long-Term Care Insurance is underwritten by United of Omaha Life Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska 68175.

Policy form ICC13-LTC13
ICC13-M28385-WIAG

HealthChoice
583 D’Onofrio Drive 101 • Madison, Wisconsin 53719
(800) 833-5823 • Fax (608) 833-7540
E-mail: info@healthchoice.comwww.healthchoice.com

Unlimited Kress Events Center Access

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The Kress Events Center has unlimited access over the summer!  In addition to the free unlimited access for employees during the summer hours noted below, there are also various free group fitness classes offered.

Hours until August 28, 2014

  • Mon – Thurs    6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Fri.                   6:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Sat.                  8 a.m. – noon
  • Sun.                 closed

ETF – Live Webinars

Live Webinars Scheduled

ETF is offering a series of live, interactive webinars – online presentations – designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) benefits. Unless otherwise noted, all webinars are 30 minutes with time for webinar-topic related questions at the end of the sessions.

NEW Topics:

  • Variable Fund
  • Buying Service
  • Annuity Options

Check the ETF Live Webinar Website for dates and times.

Lunch and Learn: Computer Workstation Ergonomics

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The UW-Green Bay Wellness Committee Presents:
What: Wellness Lunch and Learn
Computer Workstation Ergonomics
When: Thursday, June 12
12:10  – 1:00 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Room C
Your work can affect your health.  Since we spend a fair amount of time in our workplace, it’s essential that we do what we can to create a healthy work environment.  Ergonomics is the study of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the worker rather than forcing the worker to adapt to the job.  Join Jill Fermanich, University Safety Manager, for this lunch and learn that will focus on computer workstation ergonomics.  The goals will be to help you learn what you can do to set up your office work space and practices so that they fit you and help you to be more comfortable and healthy at work.  The session will discuss workstation setup, how you sit, and how long you stay in one position.

Lunch and Learn: Beginner’s Yoga

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What: Wellness Lunch and Learn
Beginner’s Yoga
When: Wednesday, May 28th
12:10  – 12:50 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Room A
Whether this is your first experience with Yoga, or you have experienced this practice before, this is a session for you!  Join Kress Events Center Yoga Instructor and Personal Training, Liz Brandt, on a journey to break down some of the fundamental form and theories involved to help create a successful practice geared towards YOUR level of fitness!

Visit the Wellness Committee website for information on other wellness topics, newsletters, and upcoming events!

Welcome Andrew Wenig

Andrew started on April 21, 2014, as the Reservations and Events Coordinator.  Prior to starting in this position, Andrew worked in the UW-Green Bay University Union as a student employee and as a LTE.   Andrew volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, earned his Bachelor of Science degree at UW-Green Bay and is from Chilton, Wisconsin.

Shorewood Golf & Lunch

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Wellness Opportunity at Shorewood Golf Course: Golf & Lunch for $10.00

Play three holes – or more if time permits – between 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and have lunch too!

Come and play holes 1, 2, & 3 ending up back at the clubhouse where you can dine in or take out lunch from the extensive clubhouse menu! This wellness opportunity includes the use of rental clubs at no charge, allowing you to get out, exercise and enjoy the beautiful views that Shorewood golf course has to offer.

Shorewood is a seasonal operation that will remain open through October (possibly into early November), closing for the winter and re-opening each spring.

For more information on the Shorewood Golf Course visit their website at http://www.uwgb.edu/shorewood/.

Wellness Lunch and Learn – Beginner’s Yoga

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What: Wellness Lunch and Learn
Beginner’s Yoga
When: Wednesday, May 28
12:10 – 12:50 p.m.
Where: Campus Quad (weather permitting)
Phoenix Room A (rain site)
Whether this is your first experience with Yoga, or you have experienced this practice before, this is a session for you!  Join Kress Events Center Yoga Instructor and Personal Training, Liz Brandt, on a journey to break down some of the fundamental form and theories involved to help create a successful practice geared towards YOUR level of fitness!

Unsolicited Telephone Calls Regarding Annuities and Retirement Benefits

Some members of the Wisconsin Retirement System have received unsolicited telephone calls from persons offering to come to the member’s home to discuss their retirement account. The caller claims to be associated with the Department of Employee Trust Funds. ETF is not associated with these solicitations and does not share or sell member information to third parties. In addition, ETF does not schedule meetings in the private homes of members. Individuals who have concerns about receiving one of these solicitations should contact ETF toll-free at 1-877-533-5020.