MRA Customer Service Bulletins…

Dental Open Enrollment…
Open enrollment for Delta Dental is underway from now until the end of January. During open enrollment, MRA dental insurance participants can add employees and dependents, to become effective on January 1, 2007.

Open enrollment is also the time for members who do not currently participate in MRA’s dental program to join. The next open enrollment period for the Delta Dental plan is in June.

To make changes to your dental plan or to enroll your group for dental insurance, please contact Customer Service at 800.366.3699.

Medicare D Open Enrollment…
A new Open Enrollment period for Medicare Part D is underway until Dec. 31. If you participate in MRA’s group health coverage and have one or more employees age 65 or older, you are required to present the employee with a letter of creditable coverage by Nov. 15.

The letter certifies that the person’s current coverage is equal to or better than Medicare D’s coverage. A model letter is available on the MRA website (retailers.com: “Download Forms” under “Member Services”), along with a Guide to Creditable Coverage.

If you do not have group health through MRA but have an employee who is eligible for Medicare D, MRA can help that employee obtain Medicare D coverage.

Contact MRA’s Linda Pollock (lpollock@retailers.com or 800.366.3699) with any questions or for more information.

Natural gas savings…
Announced only two months ago, the natural gas savings program has sparked high interest from MRA members. As of November 10, 265 members have called for savings quotes and 110 have already completed the sign-up process.

The new program allows members to save an estimated 8–12 percent off their natural gas utility bills by buying it through MRA’s partner company, VESI, Inc. A business’s existing natural gas utility—MichCon or Consumers Energy—still handles billing, service and meter reading.

For a no-obligation savings quote or for more information on this exciting opportunity, contact MRA’s Kathy Wilson at 800.366.3699 or kawilson@retailers.com.

Shipping Savings climb…
More than 330 members are now saving on their inbound and outbound shipping through MRA’s shipping savings program. From July to September, members saved more than $23,000, up 53 percent from the previous quarter.

Most members use the program on inbound shipments, saving as much as 25 percent off published prices for FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery, and up to 55 percent off prices for numerous less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers.

The program costs retailers nothing, so every nickel of savings—an average of 20 percent on qualifying shipments—goes directly to your bottom line. Contact MRA’s Kathy Wilson for more information or to sign up.