The cost of our health insurance continues to rise, although not at quite as high a rate as in previous years. Expect your monthly premiums to go up about 9 percent whether you're a member of BlueCross BlueShield's Preferred Provider Organization or Point of Service plans.

There are several benefit changes for the coming year, too. In the PPO plan, expect your out-of-pocket pharmacy maximum to increase to $1,250. In the POS plan, out-of-network services for children's preventative health assessments are now covered at 70 percent of the maximum allowable charge after deductible; immunizations are now covered through age 5; and you can make a maximum of 12 visits a year.

Also new this year is a different preferred dental plan available in our region, Delta Dental. Rates have dropped just a bit, and the plan includes more participating dentists in our region, although no new practices in Cookeville. Our prepaid dental plan is still administered by Assurant, whose premiums have also been reduced slightly.

Here's a breakdown of monthly health insurance premiums for 2005:

Preferred Provider Organization

* Single: $86.09

* Family: $214.95

* Split: $128.86

Point of Service

* Single: $68.50

* Family: $171.07

* Split: $102.57

Our "window" to transfer health insurance plans from one group to another — or to sign up for additional coverage, such as dental or supplemental life insurance — closes Nov. 15. Health insurance transfer forms, as well as dental and optional special accident enrollment forms, are available in Human Resource Services and online (visit www.tntech.edu/hr, click on "payroll," and then the "Division of State Insurance Administration" link).

Insurance literature has been mailed to your home address. The packet includes a comparison of benefits between BlueCross' PPO and POS plans, as well as the member handbook and provider directory for the plan you're currently enrolled in. If you're interested in transferring to a different plan, you can view its handbook online at www.bcbst.com/members/tn_state/, or you can get a copy from Human Resource Services. If you want to stay in your current program, you don't have to do a thing — although, Human Resources advises everyone to check the handbook to be sure your physician is still participating in your plan.

Remember that Human Resource Services cannot process transfer and/or enrollment requests after Nov. 15; there will be no exceptions to this deadline. If you have questions about any of the state's health insurance vendors, call the customer service numbers listed in the material sent to you by the company. If you have other questions, call Human Resource Services at 3034.