Cole assignemnt of benefits

Assignment of Benefits for Cole Managed Vision

02/12/2001

Cole Managed Vision benefits will soon be able to accept "assignment of benefits" for ABX employees. Assignment of benefits occurs when a non-network eye care provider bills Cole Managed Vision directly and the insurance company pays the provider directly. The employee is still responsible for any charges in excess of the allowable benefit. Previously, the employee paid the non-network eye care provider up front and received reimbursement from the insurance company.

Employee have asked for the ability to have non-network eye care providers bill the insurance company directly to avoid out-of-pocket expenses. We are pleased to be able to offer this billing option with Cole. It will take two-to-three weeks to roll out this change. New claims forms with the assignment of benefits section are being prepared and will be distributed to all Communication Centers benefit form bins and outbase work locations. In addition, Cole will be contacting non-network providers who see large numbers of ABX employees to explain this new option. Non-network providers are not required to accept assignment of benefits; however, it is anticipated that many will.

This change does not affect Cole Managed Vision network providers. Network providers bill Cole directly and no claim form is needed. Employees just need to take their Cole I.D. card to a network provider. Network providers offer a better value for your eye wear purchase with a choice of hundreds of frames and lenses at significant discounts allowing your $100 eye wear purchase to go further. For the locations for the locations of network providers visit the Cole Managed Vision section of this web site.

Cole Managed Vision is a leading customer of the Airborne Express Optical Village in Columbus, Ohio and we are pleased to be able to partner with this important Airborne customer to offer eye care benefits for our employees. E-mail questions about the vision benefits to abx.benefits@airborne.com or visit or call the ABX Benefits Department.