What were those "tentative" years 3 & 4 Wellness Targets?

Q Peter, Regarding a previous post, I might have missed an email, but can you let us know the "tentative" 3 and 4 year targets and ultimate goal
numbers please?

A This question is best answered by re-publishing the information which came out of the recent Library Board of Trustees meeting.
It wasn't formatting well here on the HR Blog, so I have re-sent it to all ACPL staff instead via e-mail. Peter

Why no credit for making progress toward Wellness targets?

Q Why is there no reward for gradual improvement? If one needs to
lose 50 pounds total, and loses 25 the first year, shouldn't the person
be rewarded with lower payments? Shouldn't progress be rewarded?

A From the beginning of the program, the Board, Wellness Committee, and senior management have all shared your view. That's why you can get credit again in 2008 even if you don't yet meet the targets - as long as you bring in documentation from your doctor stating that you are actively working on achieving the targets (by December 14).

Thanks for the question.

Peter

Why didn't we get 2008 Wellness targets earlier?

Q Why did the Wellness Committee wait so long to tell us what the target
numbers were going to be? It leaves precious little time for people who
are borderline to make the number.

A The Wellness Committee responded promptly when asked by HR for recommendations for the 2008 targets. I believe HR and the Wellness Committee members felt it had been made clear to everyone that gradual improvement would be expected when the program was kicked-off last year. We all had the whole year to work on improvement. However, we can understand your interest in having specific numbers to shoot for. That's why this year we proposed to the Board specific targets for years 3 and 4 of the program as well as asked for a confirmation of the "ultimate goal" numbers that I believe the Board had approved last year.So now we have targets for the next three years - although the Board was clear about Years 3 and 4 being tentative and not firm goals at this point.

Thanks for asking!

Peter

When are test (screening) results from my doctor due into HR?

Q For staff who choose to visit their own doctor for tests, is there a last day to get that info to HR in order to qualify for discounts on next year's insurance. I've already heard some people mention their appointments in November, and am wondering if there is a deadline by which you need test results. I imagine some others might like to know. Thanks.

Steve Myers

A Steve - Thanks for your question. Probably by now you and most other interested employees have seen the e-mail that Judy Dunahue sent out yesterday describing the screening process for this year. The due date for getting all test results and other documentation from physicians is December 14.

Peter

Can my spouse keep health insurance thru ACPL when I retire?

Q Obviously, a lot will change in the health insurance/Medicare
world over the next couple decades, but, currently, once a staff member
retires, are there any options for a staffer's spouse who is under 65
to continue to get health insurance through the library/PHP/PERF,
etc.? Thanks,Steve Miller

A Steve, there are some options to address the situation you describe. First,once an employee is eligible for and applies for Medicare, the spouse of the employee becomes eligible for 36 months of COBRA coverage through PHP (assuming the spouse is not eligible themselves for Medicare during this period). COBRA is coverage under our existing health insurance plan thru PHP - but is fully paid for by the emnployee/spouse. Another option is the spouse converting to individual coverage through PHP but this is a different plan with different coverage and is generally not as a good a value as the group plan is.

Thanks for the question.

Peter