Syosett, NY, November 28, 2011
In a memo issued recently by Priest Constantine L. Sitaras, Chairperson of the Joint Orthodox Health Plans Committee, it was announced that clergy and other qualified lay Church workers may join the Orthodox Health Plan Groups during the current open enrollment period that runs through December 30, 2011, with an effective date of coverage of January 1, 2012.
The Orthodox Health Plan [OHP] is the official health plan for the clergy of the Orthodox Church in America, as well as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Diocese of the Armenian Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, OCA Secretary, represents the OCA on OHP’s board.
“The Orthodox Health Plan is a PPO Plan which offers our clergy and lay employees the broadest and most flexible coverage and includes prescription, vision, and dental benefits,” Father Constantine notes in his memo. “Our health insurance carrier is Aetna, one of the single largest healthcare providers in the nation. Some of the advantages of your enrollment are broad medical coverage, prescription drugs benefits, parish transfer without interruption of coverage, just to name a few. You can find a full description of the plan, participating physicians and hospitals, at the web site. A PDF of enrollment forms and plan details may be downloaded here.
“It is important to stress that you should not discontinue any coverage you currently have until you have received confirmation that your participation has been approved,” Father Constantine continues. “In order to be accepted, your completed enrollment form with your first month’s premium must reach the Plan Administrator no later than the 30th of December. If you parish will be paying your monthly premiums, we will also need a dated, signed letter on church letterhead stating to bill them.
All completed enrollment material must be returned to the Orthodox Health Plan, 929 Kings Highway East, 1st Floor, Fairfield, CT 06825, in advance of the deadline.
OCA clergy who may have questions and concerns are invited to direct them to Father Eric at egtosi@oca.org; 516-922-0550. For additional general information on the plan, enrollment forms, or related matters, please call the Plan Administrator at the GDC Financial Group at 1-203-367-4070, or visit OHP’s web site.
