The Health Care task force is constantly looking for ways to offer savings to the employees. These are just some suggestions that can help one a monthly basis that you may want to check out.

Walgreens offers a prescriptions savings club for $20 for one person or $35 for a family, per year.

• (Family includes spouse, dependents under 23 years of age and pets.)
• They offer more than 5000 brand name and generic medicines at a deep discount.
• Instead of a $10 co-pay for a 30 day supply of medicine, if your medicine is available through the club, you could pay as little as $12 for a ninety day supply. (Check if your prescription medication is covered under the plan at their website.)
• There are no age limits or health restrictions.
• The card can be used at any Walgreen’s nationwide.
• The plan also offers other benefits such as 10% off Walgreen’s brand products.

Costco also offers a discount on co-pays.

• Costco members could pay as little as $5.99 for a thirty day supply of medicine instead of the normal $10 co-pay for generic medications.
• Details of the plan can be found at the following Envision RX information page.

A medical coverage premium holiday will take place during April 2010 for employees and retirees. This premium holiday keeps medical coverage in full force while saving employees, retirees and the City premium costs for one month.

How is this premium holiday possible? The self-funded health insurance program implemented by the city in 2005 has resulted in medical and prescription drug costs that are somewhat lower than the cost trends that were originally projected.  While this is the second year in which a premium holiday has been deemed possible, it is not anticipated that a premium holiday will occur annually.  The decision to provide a premium holiday is preceded by careful analysis of the Health Care Benefits Trust’s performance, input from the Health Care Task Force, and recommendation by the Health Care Benefits Trust Board.

Active employees with City health coverage will not see the usual premium deduction from their April 9th and April 23rd paychecks. If you are wondering what your current premium deduction amount is, you can find it on your check stub in the Before-Tax Deductions section next to “BCBS PPO,”  “BCBS HMO,” or “CIGNA HMO”. Please note that premium deductions are usually taken on a pre-tax basis which means the increase to your net pay on April 9th and 23rd will be less than the deduction amount.  This is because the pre-tax deduction will, instead, be taxable income on your April 2010 paychecks.

This can be viewed online using e-CHRIS Self-Service.

• From the city intranet, in Self-Service go to Payroll and Compensation -> View Paycheck->Before Tax Deductions.
• From an outside computer, you may access e-CHRIS at http://phoenix.gov/phxechris.html

Employees affected by lay-off are included in the premium holiday if they have city health coverage. The city health coverage they have in place on their last day worked will be extended through April 2010 at no cost to the employee.

Please contact the Benefits Office with questions at 602-262-4777 or benefits.questions@phoenix.gov.