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Friday, March 6, 2020
Retirement system in good shape to weather Coronavirus turmoil North Carolina announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19 Coronavirus this week, involving a Wake County man who had recently visited a nursing home in Washington state where a wellpublicized outbreak has occurred. A second case was announced Friday involving a Chatham County man who traveled to Italy recently. The uncertainty surrounding the virus has already had a negative impact on the stock market. EMPAC Statewide Chairman and District 39 retiree Mark Dearmon was featured on a Spectrum News story this week discussing the downturn and the possible impact on state retirees. Market turmoil like this is why SEANC opposes gambling pension money on risky investments. State Treasurer Dale Folwell has taken criticism from his opponents for his cautious approach to investing, but his actions have made the retirement system more secure and able to weather downturns. The State Health Plan is encouraging all state employees and retirees to take the proper precautions to avoid the virus, including effective handwashing techniques. Please refer to the Centers for Disease Control’s COVID-19 information site for updates and more information on the illness.
State Health Plan taps BCBSNC as third-party administrator again State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced Friday that the State Health Plan awarded Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) as its third-party administrator through 2024. Folwell estimates that the new contract will result in $170 million in savings for the plan because of decreased administrative and network costs. BCBSNC was one of three companies bidding for the contract. Aetna and United Medical Resources, which is a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare, also submitted proposals.
Health plan conducting pre-retirement meetings across the state The State Health Plan is getting ready to kick-off its Pre-65/Pre-Retirement meetings for 2020. The first meeting will be held on March 24 in Cary, and they will continue all over the state through June 18. These sessions are targeting SHP retirees who will be turning 65 during the next 24 months as well as members who are 66 or older and actively working (and perhaps thinking about retirement). Members interested in attending should go to the plan’s website or call the plan’s office at 919-814-4400 to register. The plan will also conduct webinars for those who are unable to attend a session in their area. The dates and times of the webinars may be found on the plan’s website as well.
SEANC headed west for food truck event in Morganton Did you know that Morganton has one of the largest concentrations of state employees and retirees in the state? Districts 5, 6 and 7 will host an Employee Appreciation event at the State Employees' Credit Union on Enola Road in Morganton on March 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature a food truck, and state employees and retirees are invited to come out, enjoy a meal and hear all about the State Health Plan, retirement, pay raises and other legislation, as well as our many insurance products and discounts in the area! If you would like for SEANC to host a similar event in your area, please contact us by clicking here.
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, March 13, 2020
Coronavirus triggers emergency policy for state employees North Carolina now has 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and governments, businesses and even sports leagues are making changes to control its spread. Gov. Roy Cooper asked Thursday that any event likely to draw 100 people or more be canceled, postponed or modified, starting Friday. He also asked all employers to encourage people who can to work from home to do so. Because of Cooper's State of Emergency declaration on Tuesday, the state's State Communicable Disease Emergency Policy is now active for state employees. The State Health Plan announced Friday that emergency measures have been put in place to help members get the care they need if they are affected by the virus. This includes expanded telemedicine options, waived prior authorization requirements for some procedures, and the elimination of cost-sharing for members for testing. The N.C. Office of State Human Resources has created this page specifically to inform state employees on developments. Please refer to it often, as it is frequently updated. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services' page is also a great resource.
Watkins hired as SEANC's first female Executive Director SEANC announced on Wednesday the hiring of Ardis Watkins as the organization’s first female Executive Director in its 73-year history. Watkins, an attorney, has worked as a lobbyist and Director of Government Relations for SEANC since January 2001, and worked at the N.C. Department of Labor as the Director of Employment Mediation for eight years prior to joining the SEANC staff. “No one knows SEANC and our issues better than Ardis Watkins,” said President Jimmy Davis. “She is a tireless advocate for our members. We look forward to her leadership of the organization and have high expectations for her.”
State Health Plan taps Humana for Medicare Advantage plans The State Health Plan and State Treasurer Dale Folwell announced this week that the plan will contract with Humana to provide Medicare Advantage plans beginning Jan. 1, 2021. The three-year contract will save the plan an estimated $590 million. It comes at no additional cost to taxpayers or the plan, and will save 155,000 plan members money. All base plans in this new contract will have NO PREMIUM COST for members. That includes employee only, employee plus spouse, employee plus children and employee plus family coverage. Each of the Enhanced plans will see a premium decrease as well.
State Health Plan pre-retirement meetings canceled, webinars increased Based on Gov. Cooper's announcement surrounding COVID-19, the State Health Plan has canceled the March and April events for the “Understanding Your Medical Plan Options When You Become Medicare-Eligible” meeting series. In lieu of these onsite meetings, the Plan will be hosting additional webinars for members' convenience, which are posted on the Plan’s website. Members who have already registered for the March and April events will receive notification from the State Health Plan related to the cancelations. The plan will also be seeking assistance from the venues to post a sign the day of a previously scheduled event for the members who may come without registration.
SEANC Morganton event postponed SEANC's Employee Appreciation Event sponsored by Districts 5, 6 and 7 that was scheduled for March 18 in Morganton has been postponed to a later date. We will alert members of the new date when it is available.
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, March 20, 2020
Coronavirus: What you need to know The COVID-19 coronavirus has gripped the entire world and upended life here in North Carolina. We now have at least 140 cases in 28 counties across the state. SEANC has gathered these links for state employees and retirees to stay informed during the crisis.
SEANC members ready to help! SEANC members are stepping up to help their communities in this time of crisis. If you have taken it upon yourself to help out, let us know! We’d love to sing your praises! Likewise, if your worksite could use a visit from SEANC during this time let us know as well. We are ready to drop off snacks or other items for those on the front lines.
If you have a question or comment about your job and/or leave status, please fill out this form. We will provide answers if we can, and find out from officials if we can't. All entries will remain anonymous.
View FAQs Submit a question
Stay tuned to SEANC Social Media for updates
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Friday, March 27, 2020
SEANC working to address members’ workplace concerns during crisis
SEANC continues to represent our members in working out issues all over state government in this difficult time. The SEANC Select Committee on Prison Reform met by conference call twice this week to give a voice to concerns from correctional personnel. The committee developed a list of recommendations to be implemented by the N.C. Department of Public Safety to keep officers and staff safe in our prisons. We appreciate the department’s prompt and diligent attention on these issues. DPS Secretary Erik Hooks and Commissioner of Prisons Todd Ishee worked directly with SEANC leaders throughout the week, and the department on Thursday released a list of steps it has taken to address COVID-19 concerns. We continue to work with leadership at the department to make sure employee voices are heard. A subcommittee has been formed and met Friday to tackle concerns for probation and parole workers. We have also worked closely with the Department of Health & Human Services officials on issues for employees at treatment centers and hospitals, and with university system officials as well. SEANC has also visited prisons, hospitals, offices and worksites around the state this week, delivering food, snacks and hand sanitizer to state workers on the front lines. If you have concerns you would like for us to address, please let us know by submitting a question below.
Submit a question View FAQs
Scholarship deadline extended to April 30 SEANC has extended the Scholarship Foundation application deadline to April 30. This will allow students to get the necessary information needed to complete their application. Applications must be postmarked by this date and sent to the District Chair. The District Scholarship Chair deadline has also been extended to May 9, 2020, for all districts to get the applications to the SEANC Office for state judging. The deadline to apply for the Leadership NC scholarship is also extended to April 30.
Coronavirus links for state employees In this time of uncertainty, SEANC is here to help. Here are some resources we have gathered to help state employees and retirees. NC DHHS Coronavirus page DPS Actions on COVID-19 State Health Plan Updates OSHR FAQs for State Employees COVID-19 Myth Busters by WHO
SEANC members, we want to hear from you! We want to tell the world how SEANC members are helping North Carolinians deal with this time of uncertainty. Use your smartphone to record a quick video telling us what your job entails, how it has changed in the last month, and anything else you want us to know. If you are forced to work from home now, how has your role changed? What's your daily life like? Do you enjoy it, or are you ready to go back to the office? Retirees, we want to hear from you too! How has your daily life been affected? What are your concerns? Send videos to communications@seanc.org or upload them using the form here. Each person who sends in a video will be entered into a drawing for one of five Visa gift cards!
Stay tuned to SEANC Social Media for updates
www.seanc.org | The State Employees Association of North Carolina | © 2020
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Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™ Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. View this email online. 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, NC | 27609 US This email was sent to . To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.