The Trust's medical, prescription drug and dental insurances are administered by WPS Health Insurance, Medco and Delta Dental. Their goal is to ensure quality and value in your employee benefit plans. WPS Health Insurance also partners with Beech Street to give you access to providers across the United States.

The medical coverage through WPS allows your financial institution to tailor a program to satisfy your own unique needs. A variety of coverage options are available including PPO plans. Deductible options can range from $250 to $7,500 so the group can match its benefits needs against its pricing objectives. The Trust also offers high deductible health plans for use with Health Savings Accounts (HSA) offered at the bank.

Rates are developed for each plan based on the benefits selected, your census and the relative health of your financial institution's employees. Once you are a Trust member, your institution's individual claims are not consider when deciding rate increases.

The EBC staff can counsel you about benefits levels, PPO network alternatives, retiree coverage and Medicare issues as your institution considers the costs and benefits of each option that is available. Once the program is installed EBC will gladly review any changes the group may wish to entertain at its renewal.

Although prescription drugs can be covered as any other illness, the most popular method is to have a three-tiered co-pay option. One option includes paying for generic drugs with a $5 co-pay, brand drugs with a $25 co-pay and non-formulary drugs with a $40 co-pay.

A second, less expensive option, covers generic drugs with a $20 co-pay, brand drugs with a $40 co-pay and non-formulary with a $60 co-pay. Under the second option, if a generic is available, it is required to be used.

We also have available a mail order drug program for use with the co-pay drug plan. This program allows your employees to order their "maintenance" drugs through the mail and receive a 90-day supply. This helps the employee by limiting the number of co-pays they have to pay and also reduces the cost to the plan by directing the order to the mail order pharmacy, which can purchase the drug in large quantities.

Unique features of the dental coverage include a $2,000 annual maximum, 100% preventative care coverage and adult orthodontic care. Your financial institutions can choose from a variety of deductibles, allowing you to select the plan and the price that best suits your circumstances. In addition, a lower benefit ($1,000 annual maximum) plan without adult orthodontic care is available at a lower cost.

Like the medical program, your institution's claims experience does not generate your renewal increase. Claims are pooled for the entire Trust and renewals are developed from the overall experience.

An overlay network approach, through Delta Dental contracted providers, allows the employee to avoid "usual and customary" issues while still maintaining freedom to chose any dental provider.