Employees: MCC Living Well programs

June Webinars

The MCC Living Well program offers many different options for MCC employees to participate in through the Blue Cross/Blue Shield health plan.

To participate in the June webinars, click here and register for one of the following:

• • Nutri-Wize
• • Tobacco-free and Healthy
• • Cultivating a Stress Resilient Lifestyle
• • Weigh to Go

All of the BC/BS classes are presented live and are also available as a recording. The recordings are available within 24 hours of the live presentation's. Recordings are available for up to one week after the live presentation.

 

Don't have time in your schedule for a series class? Head to the Webinars on Demand page to view more topics with our 30 minute presentations available at your convenience.

All classes are free of charge for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City members. Non-members are allowed to participate in the classes, there are non-member fees associated with the series classes. One time presentations are free of charge for everyone. Each class description indicates whether or not there is an additional participant fee for non-members that participate.

 

Face–to-Face Lifestyle Coaching

Face-to-Face Lifestyle Coaching is also available as part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BC/BS) health care plan in 2011. Employees who are members of the BC/BS health care plan will have the opportunity to meet monthly, at no cost, with a certified health coach, who is trained in psychology and health management.

 

MCC is currently offering sessions at  MCC-Longview and MCC-Penn Valley campuses. Beginning in July, sessions will also be offered at MCC-Blue River and MCC-Maple Woods. Watch for the July registration email from Jenny Edwards to come later this month.

Employees: Join the MCC Fitness Centers - no cost!

Did you know employees can use the MCC Fitness Centers at no cost? Visit any of the campus fitness centers, complete and sign a waiver, and you become a member. It’s that simple! You are not restricted to the campus in which you work. Utilize all of them or one thata's convenient for you. Click here to find a location best for you.


After you work out, don't forget to log your success on the Points-to-Blue incentive program. For other wellness information visit the InfoEx here.

Here’s the details:

Full-time and flexible part-time employees are eligible to join the MCC fitness centers at no cost. These benefit eligible employees will need to go through the normal screening process by answering a series of questions concerning such things as chest pain, blood pressure, asthma, fainting spells, etc. This screening is conducted on-site at the appropriate fitness center. If there is no problem with the screening, employees will be allowed to use the center. If there is a problem, employees will need to get a release from their doctor before being allowed to use the center.

Spouses may be added for a cost of $10 per month, families may be added for $15 per month; and dependent membership is contingent upon the same wellness screening process administered to employees. Every two years, employees and their dependents would need to be screened again. Dependent children will be eligible until age 24, regardless of student status.

Part-time faculty and temporary part-time (1000 hour) staff who wish to join the fitness centers must go through the screening process as detailed above for benefit eligible employees. Once they are cleared to use the center, they too will be eligible for free membership. Since this is a benefit for part-time faculty and temporary part-time (1000 hour) staff employees only, there is no discount for dependents, however, there would be some financial benefit because the employee would already be a member (i.e. – a spouse could join at a single member rate instead of the couple rate).

National Walk at Lunch Day a success

MCC-Longview

Over 100 employees from across the district participated in the Blue Cross Blue Shield National Walk at Lunch Day. The walk was organized by the MCC Living Well Program.

MCC-Maple Woods

Jim Sierks, MCC print shop manager, power-walks in the BTC Exhibit Hall.  Not captured in the photograph are little flames shooting from his feet.

MCC-Blue River

Employees - National Walk at Lunch Day

MCC’s Living Well Program has joined with A Healthier You™ at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City to encourage our employees to take a walk during their lunch break on April 27.

Walking is one of many ways the Living Well Program suggests to achieve a healthier lifestyle. And to add more incentive, employees who complete the group walk on each campus will be eligible for 5,000 points on their Points-to-Blue account.

Look for more information in upcoming emails from each campus coordinator:

BTC- Peggy Gann
BR – David Owens
LV– Vicki Clark
MW-Sheila Juenger
PV and AC – Michelle Schmiedeler

Mark your calendars today!

Points to Blue – post your activities by the end of December

Points to Blue, the reward system offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (BCBS), will close the first year with MCC at the end of December. The program allows employees to track healthy behavior, perform activities that are appropriate at your stage in your good health journey and choose the reward (in a gift card) that is right for you.

Those employees participating in the program must have all their entries posted on the Points to Blue site by Dec. 31. You will not be able to post any activity for 2010 beginning January 2011.
All points earned during 2010 must be redeemed by March. Watch your email inbox for notification from BCBS about your account.

Note: The Points to Blue website will be temporarily unavailable due to scheduled maintenance from 10 p.m., Dec. 17 until 7 a.m. Dec. 18.

Get plugged in to what’s new – workers compensation update on InfoEx

Updated information has been added to the MCC employee InfoExchange, regarding injuries on the job. Employees may access this information by signing into InfoEx, selecting the Human Resources tab, then scrolling down to Benefits – Workers Compensation. Here, you will find information on what to do if you are injured while at work, and several prevention topics.

“I've been working with public safety and facilities to help to make MCC as safe as possible for our employees and students,” said Robin McClain, risk and compliance manager. “Some responsibility lies with employees by working safely and reporting any hazards they may find.”
McClain has added updated information to the InfoEx on how to prevent injuries and accidents.

Questions regarding workers compensation can be directed to McClain at 816.604.1124.

Read other InfoEx updates here.

Benefit eligible employees - open enrollment ends today!

Insurance Open Enrollment ends today, Oct. 29. Make sure that if you are making changes to any of your insurance plans, contributing your own money to the flexible spending account (FSA) or the health savings account (HSA) that you do so by the end of the day TODAY!

All changes will be effective January 1, 2011.

All changes must be made via the online benefits enrollment option located through myMCCKC page. To find the enrollment site, click on Employee Center>Benefits Summary. At the bottom of the summary page you will find a link titled “enroll in benefits.”

Direct debit payment for MCC retirees coming soon

MCC is announcing the implementation of a convenient new way for retirees to pay for their benefits. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, monthly benefit payments will be automatically deducted from retirees checking or savings accounts. This eliminates retirees having to write and mail checks each month.

Benefit eligible retirees who participate in the MCC sponsored retiree benefits plan, will be making monthly premium contributions by direct debit Automated Clearing House (ACH) through a secure ACH network.

This new program, in addition to adding online benefit enrollment, reflects positive changes MCC has made to provide more efficient and timely service to our retirees.

The change will not affect any plan benefits. All benefits are remaining the same. However, retirees are bound by their choice of MCC insurance elections made during the annual open enrollment period. Retirees may cancel any coverage at any time during the year by notifying human resources in writing.

MCC Board Holds Special Meeting

On Thursday, October 14, the MCC Board of Trustees held a special telephonic meeting to recommend approval of bids and employee insurance benefits. The meeting, called by Board President David Disney, was convened from the Administrative Center board room. Four bids, including three annual bids for building maintenance expenses and one bid for program-related equipment expenses, were approved. The board also approved the chancellor's recommendation that MCC retain the current plans for employee medical, dental and vision insurance.

The next board of trustees meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 in the AC board room.

Annual employee benefits fair

On Tuesday, Oct. 19, (yes, that is Inservice Day), join your colleagues in room TC200 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the annual employee benefits fair. Meet with benefit representatives to learn about many of the benefits available to you. Pick up some freebies while you are there!

Representatives will be on-site at BTC to talk about:
BCBS Medical
Delta Dental
Vision Service Plan
USAble Life
Assurant LTD
Employee Assistance Program
Flex Spending Accounts
UMB Health Savings Accounts
Community America Credit Union
CSD Credit Union
PEERS & PSRS Retirement
Social Security
AFLAC – Short Term Disability

New information on medical insurance rates!

As many of you know through reading information distributed by the governance groups and a past article that ran in MCC Weekly News, medical insurance premiums have increased 18 percent this year.

Information distributed earlier this year forecasted a greater increase to the employee medical insurance premium for those employees with dependant coverage; and a decrease to FSA contributions for those employees electing single coverage. That information has changed.
See the monthly cost increase per plan, listed below. Additionally, more funds have been added to employee only flex spending accounts.

Medical – Change in monthly premium from 2010 to 2011
Employee + Spouse - Monthly increase
BCBS HMO - $34.43
BCBC PPO1 - $40.73
BCBS PPO2 - $13.50
High deductible - $-8.53

Employee + Child - Monthly increase
BCBS HMO - $26.55
BCBC PPO1- $32.27
BCBS PPO2 -$7.59
High deductible - $-12.41

Family - Monthly increase
BCBS HMO - $69.99
BCBC PPO1 - $78.95
BCBS PPO2 - $40.28
High deductible - $8.97

FSA/HSA contributions for employees electing single coverage:
BCBS HMO - $81.60 (2010) $103.68 (2011)
BCBC PPO1 - $64.58 (2010) $83.60 (2011)
BCBS PPO2 - $138.11 (2010) $170.37 (2011)
High deductible - $208.12 (2010) $252.98 (2011)

There will be no rate increase in 2011 for either dental, vision or life insurance.

The rate sheets have been posted on the InfoExchange: Select the 'Human Resources' tab, scroll down to the '2011 Insurance Open Enrollment' heading, click on the appropriate link. This information is also available by contacting your governance association leaders.

Any employee interested in making changes to his/her medical plan can do so during open enrollment, which will begin Tuesday, Oct. 19 and run through Friday, Oct. 29, 2010. More information on open enrollment will be in upcoming postings on The MCC Insider.

Note: There is no change to employee only coverage.

Employee Wellness Program Off to a Good Start-Points to Blue earns dollars for you

In April of this year, MCC implemented a new wellness program for employees funded by MCC’s health insurance carrier, BlueCross/BlueShield (BCBS).

Jenny Edwards, health enhancement coordinator, has been meeting with employees on the MCC Wellness Committee to discuss developing and implementing wellness program activities and assist employees with their health and fitness objectives districtwide.

One tool Edwards is using is a BCBS program, called A Healthier You (AHY).One feature of AHY is the Points to Blue Incentive program.

Points to Blue rewards employees who participate in health and wellness activities. Employees earn points for participating in health risk assessments, screenings, classes and contacting a health coach. Points can be redeemed each year for a payout of up to $250.

One way points can be earned is participating in wellness webinars. Each month, Edwards emails information about all the webinars available for that month (watch your email inbox for A Healthier You announcements).

“I signed up for the Cultivating a Stress Resilient Life webinar,” said one employee. “With everything that was going on with me that week, I was glad I signed up. It really helped get me through the week. I also earned 25,000 points towards my $250.”

To sign up for Points to Blue, register at http://www.bluekc.com/ . For more information, email jenny.edwards@mcckc.edu

MCC Introduces Employee Wellness Program!

Beginning April 1, MCC implemented a robust wellness program for employees enrolled in the medical plan to utilize. The program, funded completely by BlueCross/BlueShield (BCBS), is a turn-key operation provided by MCC’s health insurance carrier.

The program provides MCC with a health enhancement coordinator from St. Luke’s Health System, Jenny Edwards, whose position is also included in the funding. Edwards has over 12 years experience in training and athletics and holds a masters in higher education and physical education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Edwards’ part-time time position allows her to be at MCC full days on Wednesdays and
Thursdays and a half day on Fridays. As the health enhancement coordinator, she is responsible for developing and implementing wellness program activities and assist employees with their health and fitness objectives.

“One goal is to create a stand-alone program that utilizes the wellness products provided
through BlueCross,” said Edwards.

The BCBS program, called A Healthier You (AHY), has been successfully used by other BCBS
clients, and includes many features such as:
• health risk assessments
• onsite classes
• biometric screenings
• health coaching
• weight management program

“One great benefit for employees is the Points to Blue Incentive Program,” said Brandi Fockler,
benefits manager at MCC. “Points to Blue rewards employees who participate in health and wellness activities.”

In the Points to Blue Incentive Program, employees are able to earn points for participating
in health risk assessments, screenings, classes and contacting your health coach. Points can be redeemed each year for a cash payout of up to $250. If giving is what you have in mind, choose from a list of 350 charities to donate your payout to, including the MCC Foundation.
This benefit adds no additional cost to employee insurance premiums. The incentive program
could actually reduce premium costs in the long run, if employees utilize the program and become healthier.