Flexible Benefit Plan information center now available CLEVELAND, July 24 - The BLET National Division has established a Flexible Benefit Plan information center on its website, www.ble-t.org, for members seeking more information on the program. The new page is: http://www.ble-t.org/fsa. Archived on the site are all previous News Flashes on the Flexible Benefit Plan, which allows members to use pre-tax dollars to pay for certain medical and child care expenses. Many members have asked for detailed information about the plan. To that end, the BLET is making available copies of the most recent documents that were mailed to plan subscribers. A copy of the mailing that was sent to members regarding the 2008 plan year is available for download, along with a sample copy of the 2008 claim form. These documents should give members a better understanding of how the plan works. The 2007 mailing regarding 2008 plan year: http://www.ble-t.org/fsa/2007for08FBPPaperwork.pdf The 2008 claim form: http://www.ble-t.org/fsa/2008FBPClaimForm.pdf When enrollment begins in October, members will be able to choose to participate in one of two programs: The first program, Health Flexible Spending Arrangement (Health FSA), allows members to use tax-free dollars to pay for health care benefits such as the following: doctor co-pays; drug co-pays; dental co-pays or other dental expenses not covered in our dental plan; vision co-pays or additional eye care not covered under the National plan; and over-the-counter medications (cold medicine, decongestant medicine, aspirin, Tylenol or their generic equivalent, etc.). The 2008 program offers savings of $120 to $3,600 per year, but the savings are subject to change in the upcoming benefit year. The second program, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), allows members to use pre-tax dollars for certain dependent care expenses, such as out-of-pocket dependent care expenses for childcare or care for physically or mentally handicapped dependants. The 2008 program offers savings of $120 to $5,000 per year, but the savings are subject to change in the upcoming benefit year. The BLET is urging all members to sign up for the plan in October. At least 5 percent of eligible BLET members must participate in the plan or it will be terminated as of December 31, 2009. Current participation levels are below the 5 percent threshold, and the BLET is encouraging all members to contact United HealthCare for details when open enrollment begins.