We Need Your Help

We want your input about our retirement products and services. To accomplish that in a formal way we have contracted with an Adventist research organization to gather your responses regarding our pre-retirement education services and retirement plans. In the coming weeks a scientifically selected group of about 1200 retirees from among our entire retiree list will receive a post card by way of the U.S. Postal Service. It will be from the Center for Creative Ministry, a trusted organization that has done numerous research studies for the Seventh- day Adventist Church through the years. On the post card you will be given several options for completing a questionnaire either by mail, online, or phone. If you receive a post card, please respond rapidly. There is only a short window of opportunity for you to respond. They are not trying to sell you anything. We want your honest assessment of the denomination’s retirement products and services. What you share will be confidential and blended with 1,200 other responses so no one will be able to single you out in the research report that is written. Participating in this study will not adversely affect your retirement services and may very well improve the experience you have and that of others for years to come. I want to thank you in advance for your willingness to participate should you be selected. And whether you are selected or not, may I hasten to add that your service to this church through the years is very much valued and appreciated. If you do not receive a post card, be not dismayed. You were not selected by the random sampler, but some day in the future we may ask for your input.

Benefits Staff

The Retirement Benefits department includes twelve employees who are specialists in processing retirement applications and changes in the pension plans for both the Church and the Hospitals. These individuals are trained in the policies of these plans, and the procedures for carefully and safely getting each new applicant’s file ready to be imported into Payroll. Five of our staff also serve as Mentors, assisting other staff in quality assurance and technical assistance. On the next page is a picture of the Benefits staff. CJ Isaac often expresses his joy at having worked for the church for the past 30 years. He

Reflections • May 2011 | 1 has worked in Benefits since June 2010. Prior to that he worked for Adventist Risk Management and the Adventist Health System. CJ’s wife works at Washington Adventist Hospital. CJ has two daughters who are currently attending University. He loves dogs and has a black Labrador. Lily Snider is from Belize, and has worked in Benefits for about four months. Prior to that she worked as a legal assistant/office manager in a law office. She is married to a husband who loves to cook for her. They have a two year old daughter, Gabriela. Lily Back row from the left: CJ Isaac, Joyce Keeler, Lisa Sharpe, Linda Tatum, Tara Mead, Diane Gatling, Jared Kannanaikkel, Sharon Kuykendall. Front row from the is fluent in English and Spanish left: Lily Snider, Joyce Macatiag, Karin Dortch, Jean Sloane and enjoys translating. Joyce Keeler has worked in Retirement since December 1995 and in Benefits since 2002. Prior to that she worked for the GC, ADRA, and the Adventist Health System. Joyce loves to cook, bake, entertain family & friends, knit, and make greeting cards. Joyce also loves cats….she has five. Joyce is a Mentor and our Trainer when we hire a new benefits employee. Karin Dortch has worked in Benefits since March 2001. Prior to that she worked for ADRA and Adventist Risk Management. Karin and her husband moved to Maryland from Tennessee, but make frequent visits “back home.” They have one married daughter and two grandchildren who live close to her, so she sees them often. The whole family loves to vacation on Hilton Head Island and the Outer Banks. Karin is a Mentor. Tara Mead has worked in Benefits since March 2008. Prior to that she worked in the Adventist Health System and in Adventist Risk Management. She is married and has two children, ages six and four. She also has two Sheltie dogs. Tara is originally from Northern California. Tara is a Mentor, and also manages the Benefits Calculator application software. Sharon Kuykendall has worked in Retirement since March 2002, and in Benefits since January 2006. Prior to that she worked for Washington Adventist University. Sharon was born in California and loves cats and traveling. Sharon has been to Canada, Mexico, Honduras, England, Italy, Iceland & China…….and Australia is her next goal. Jared Kannanaikkel has worked in Benefits since November 2009. Prior to that he worked for Griggs University. Jared was born in India and moved to the US when he was two. He spends his free time working out, mountain biking and hiking. Jared is very involved with a ministry he started in his church, The Real Word. Jean Sloane has worked in Retirement since February 2009 and in Benefits since July 2010. Prior to that she worked in several areas of the General Conference. She was born in Ohio, but has lived in Maryland since she was eleven months old. Linda Tatum has worked in Benefits since January 2006. Prior to that she worked for Washington Adventist University and the North American Division. Linda was born in Takoma Park, grew up in Ohio, and then returned to Maryland. She loves her cats, dogs, and two little granddaughters. Linda enjoys being creative and spends her free

2 | May 2011 • Reflections time doing crafts and baking cakes for her family. Linda is Adventist a Mentor. Retirement Lisa Sharpe has worked in Benefits for two months. Checks/EFT Released Plans She has worked for the North American Division, Ohio This Month: May 27 Conference, Mount Vernon Academy, Atholton Adventist ayroll ulletin oard Del Johnson Next Month: June 27 Administrator Academy, Arkansas-Louisiana Conference, and Arizona P B B Conference. Lisa has been married for twenty-three years Lyn Wick and has two children. She still sees herself as a Louisiana Associate Administrator girl with a life-long search for a perfect vegetarian gumbo Judy Beers recipe. Associate Administrator

Diane Gatling has worked in Benefits since June 2003. Maurine Wahlen Prior to that she worked at Amazing Facts for many years. Payroll DistributionAssociate Administrator Dates: Diane was born in Chestertown, MD. She has two adult Adventist Risk DecemberManagement: 24 1-800-447-5002 children, and two grandchildren. She enjoys being out on JanuaryHealthcare 27 Claims Queries the Chesapeake Bay and spending time with friends. Diane is a Mentor. Sharp: 301-680-5036 [email protected] Joyce Macatiag has worked for this office since June Healthcare Eligibility Queries 2003 and in Benefits since March 2008. Prior to that she worked for the Adventist Health System and Potomac ABC. Submit all claims to: Adventist Risk Management—SHARP Joyce was born in the Philippines. She has five sisters, two PO Box 1928 brothers, and a daughter. She enjoys traveling, trying food Grapevine, TX 76099-1928 from different countries, and spending time with family & Medco Health: 1-800-841-5396 friends. Joyce also has earned a BS in Nursing. Verify pharmacy participation with Medco Health

Payroll: 1-888-838-8955 Bulletin Board of Payroll Information Retirees on Medicaid NAD Retirement Department Fax: 301-680-6190 For various reasons, some retirees find it necessary to 12501 Old Columbia Pike apply for Medicaid—a joint federal/state health insurance Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 program, administered by the state for the benefit of those Barbara Yowell: 301-680-6244 with limited income and resources. This usually comes about Lost checks, direct deposits, 1099R, when a retiree or spouse is required to go into long term care tax withholding, change of address, such as in a nursing home. The various states have some verification of benefits for loans, discretion in determining which groups of people Medicaid housing, Medicaid will cover and the financial criteria for Medicaid eligibility. Joy Alexander: 301-680-6249 Unlike Medicare, Medicaid has some provision for assisting General Retirement Office Information with custodial care, under certain specific eligibility criteria. Reporting a death, disability reviews States have various and often complex rules in determining eligibility for Medicaid. The family may need to require the services of a consultant in understanding and complying with these regulations. Our office is not trained to provide such assistance.

(Continued on page 4) Reflections • May 2011 | 3 General Conference of SDA Non-Profit ORg NAD Retirement Plans us postage paid 12501 Old Columbia Pike Nampa, Id Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 PERMIT No. 147

(Cont’d from page 3 ) However if a retiree or spouse has been enrolled in Medicaid, it is important that our office be provided this information to us as soon as possible. Certain benefits and reimbursements from the Plan may be impacted. For instance, when a retiree seeks Medicaid assistance due to residency in a long-term care facility, it is not uncommon for the “well” spouse to request that the retirement benefits be divided between the two spouses in order to protect income from Medicaid “spend-down” rules for the spouse not needing the assistance of Medicaid. Some states allow for the division of the monthly benefit to ensure some income goes to the “well” spouse—but only with the approval of the applicable state agency, social service or welfare office. In such a situation, please authorize your social services agent to contact the retirement plan office for specific information about your benefits.

4 | May 2011 • Reflections