Spectera is the carrier for the vision plan. Participants should always identify themselves as a Spectera member when making an appointment. This will assist your provider in obtaining a claim authorization prior to your visit. If an employee is enrolled in family coverage they can either add their dependents by calling Spectera directly or the dependents can be added at the time in which they are receiving service. As a member of the Flexible Benefits Program’s vision plan, you are eligible to receive an eye examination, lenses and or contacts every twelve (12) months, and every twenty-four (24) months for frames. The time is measured from the last date of service. For example, if a participant received an eye exam on January 15, 2008, the participant would not be eligible for another eye exam until January 16, 2009, due to the twelve months waiting period. To access your benefits simply call Spectera at 1-800-839-3242 or, you may log on to Spectera’s website at: www.spectera.com

For the General Purpose/Limited Purpose Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), there is a $2.00 administrative fee. The Flex system automatically adds this fee to the amount you enter for your employee selection and sends it to Peoplesoft. If you are not a Peoplesoft payroll agency or do not access Flex, you must remember to inform your employees and accounting/payroll staff that the amount will be increased by the $2.00 fee. The Dependent Care Spending Account $1.00 fee has been waived for the remainder of the 08 plan year deductions.

QUESTION: What are the 2008 allowances for parking and mass transit under the FlexTrans Program?

ANSWER: Under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 132, employers are allowed to offer their employees qualified transportation and parking benefits on a pre-tax basis. Transportation must be via mass transit facilities, a commuter highway vehicle, or parking expenses for any type of vehicle near the employee's place of employment or a location from which the employee commutes to work via mass transit or vanpool. For 2008, the limitations are as follows:

Vanpool and/or mass transit may not exceed $115 per month; and

Parking may not exceed $220 per month.

Minnesota Life 800-600-2519
Signature (Legal) 800-848-2012
Spectera (Vision) 800-638-3120
SHPS (Spending Accountts):
800-893-0763
United Concordia
(Dental) 866-215-2356
Cigna Dental 800-642-5810
The Standard 888641-7186
AIG (Specfied Illness):
866-849-2958
UNUM (Long-Term Care):
888-764-3539

Questions pertaining to the Health Plans and the Health Reimbursement Account should be directed to the:

Department of Community Health-SHBP at
404-651-6142 or 800-483-6983.