The Group Health Benefits Committee is pleased to announce that the East Texas Medical Center Hospitals have agreed to support The Texas Annual Conference by not collecting deductibles and coinsurance from actively-at-work clergy (and their dependents) enrolled in the Group Health Benefits Program1. This arrangement applies to both inpatient and outpatient claims with admission dates of February 1, 2010 or later.

To find the hospital closest to you in East Texas, go to your PPO Web site (the PPO listed on your identification card) and search for the ETMC hospital participating in your PPO. Please note that the ETMC hospital in Tyler is not in either PPO.

Below are the PPO Web sites―check your identification card to determine which PPO you participate in:

HealthSmart – www.healthsmart.net 800-687-0500

Multi-Plan (Previously PHCS) – www.multiplan.com 888-719-7427

Please note that hospital bills and doctor bills are separate. While the Hospital has agreed not to collect deductibles and coinsurance, doctors will still collect deductibles and co-insurance.  This arrangement is similar to the arrangement that the Texas Annual Conference has enjoyed with The Methodist Hospital for years. The big difference is ETMC facilities are located throughout East Texas.

If you choose to use an ETMC hospital, there is nothing you need to do except identify yourself as a Texas Annual Conference Group Health Plan participant. When the hospital receives payment from Boon Chapman, the hospital will simply not collect the deductible and out of pocket amounts from you. (The benefits office has already provided the ETMC participating hospitals with a copy of the Boon Chapman EOB).

The Group Health Benefits Committee hopes you find this arrangement helps you minimize your cost on the PPO program.

1 Retirees are not eligible due to Medicare rules and regulations.