ARTA Health
Gary Sawatzky | Chief Operating Officer, ARTA
Changes to the ARTA Retiree Benefits Plan
Effective November 1, 2019
Every year the ARTA Health Benefits Committee
reviews possible changes to the ARTA Retiree Benefits
Plan. These potential changes arise primarily via
covered members submitting change requests to the
Health Benefits Committee for consideration. Each
of these requests is reviewed to determine if a group
benefit plan such as ARTA is allowed to cover the
service or device (for more information refer to the
article titled “Why Doesn’t the ARTA Retiree Benefits
Plan Cover My Gym Membership?” in news&views
Summer 2019) to make certain a significant number
of members would benefit from the coverage change.
Additional changes are then considered to ensure that
the plan continues to provide the best retiree benefits
available to ARTA members.
Once a potential plan design change is approved
by the Health Benefits Committee, the committee
makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors
to implement the change. The potential changes are
reviewed and voted on by the board during their
spring meeting.
The following changes will become effective
November 1, 2019, for all members covered by the
Extended Health Care plan.
• Covered members who are insulin dependent are
going to be able to claim flash blood glucose monitor
expenses, including sensors and readers.
◊ Flash blood glucose monitors allow diabetics to
electronically scan a sensor embedded in their
arm instead of having to use a finger prick and
a blood glucose test strip to check their blood
glucose level.
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◊ A number of covered members have expressed
interest in these devices, which would permit
them to monitor their blood glucose levels more
closely on a continuous basis.
◊ An annual maximum of $1,750 for all diabetic
supplies, including flash blood glucose monitors,
will be implemented coincident with this change.
The accidental dental maximum is increasing from
$1,000 per year to $3,500 per year.
◊ This change is in response to this coverage not
being updated in some time; it is now in line
with other health plans available in the group
benefits marketplace.
The private duty nursing maximum is increasing
from $3,000 every three (3) years to $3,000 per year.
Hearing aid accessories are being added under the
current hearing aids benefit.
◊ Allowable accessories may connect directly to
an existing hearing aid (either with a wire or
wirelessly), including microphones, television
connectivity, and remote controls.
◊ Other allowable expenses include hearing aid
dehumidifiers and cleaning tools.
◊ The current hearing aid maximums
allowed do not change.
Low-dose Cialis (Tadalafil) coverage is
being added for treatment of prostate gland
enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
◊ Special authorization is required for
coverage of this medication when used for
this indication.
◊ Only low-dose (2.5mg or 5mg)
versions are covered for this
treatment regimen.