OPEN ENROLLMENT
2009
Susan Strong, Director (239) 337-8317

Open Enrollment is the one of time of year in which you can make changes to your benefit package by either adding / dropping a benefit OR adding / dropping dependents from your coverage(s). 

Open Enrollment officially begins January 12, 2009 and runs through February 6, 2009.  For any changes that you wish to make, you must complete the necessary forms that are in your packet and return them to Insurance & Benefits Management by February 6, 2009.    Click here -  Open Enrollment Directions to make sure that you are completing all of the appropriate paperwork to make your  requested change(s).  The directions are also in your Open Enrollment packet.

Unfortunately, due to time restraints and resources, Insurance & Benefits was unable to produce to an Open Enrollment Video this year for Open Enrollment.  However,  we will conduct Open Enrollment Question & Answer Sessions in the various zones during the week of January 12, 2009.  At least two (2) schools were selected in each zone plus the three (3) Transportation compounds and Maintenance to hold these sessions.  A big THANK YOU to the these locations who have graciously agreed to be hosts.

These sessions are open to ALL to employees. The times are not set in stone - we will not turn anyone way.   

 Health Insurance

Plan 927 Eliminated...must enroll in another health plan.   NEW BCBS HMO 10 Plan.....

During Open Enrollment this year, you will have three (3) Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Plans ( 903, 706 & 118) and one (1) new Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO 10 Plan to choose from.

Last April, health premiums for the BCBS 927 PPO Plan exceeded the Benefit Bank contribution for the first time and employees enrolled in the 927 Plan were required to contribute to their employee-only health premiums.  Premium increases for the April, 2009 plan year will be even higher than the April, 2008 increase and the projected employee contribution for employee-only coverage in teh 927 plan was set to increase by more than $200/month.

After studying the proposed premium increase and actuarial projections for migration of nearly all remaining employees in the 927 Plan to other District health plans, the Insurance Task Force recommended elimination of the BCBS 927 PPO Plan, effective April 1, 2009.  The TALC, SPALC, and District negotiating teams concurred with the ITF recommendation, and elimination of the plan was ratified by both bargaining units and the School Board. 

Because the plan in which you are currently enrolled will no longer be available beginning April 1, 2009, you must enroll in one of the following four (4) plans that the District will offer for the April 1, 2009, plan year:

• BCBS 903 PPO Plan
• BCBS 706 PPO Plan
• BCBS 118 PPO Plan
• New BCBS HMO 10 Plan

You must make your new plan election during this Open Enrollment (January 12, 2009, through February 6, 2009) by completing the necessary forms in your Open Enrollment packet. 

If you do not enroll in one of the above plans, your health insurance will automatically default to the BCBS 903 PPO Plan – the plan that most closely aligns with the benefits of the 927 Plan.    

Under the heading, "Health Insurance  New Plan Comparison" on our Benefit link, located on the left, includes a comparison sheet of the four (4) plans that you can print and review.  For more information, see your Open Enrollment packet

Please Note ....Update.....Please Note....Update....Please  Note....Update

         Benefit Bank $$$

The Board provides each employee, who is eligible for health insurance, benefit bank dollars to apply toward their health insurance.  During collective Bargaining, the Benefit Bank Dollar was fixed in the annual amount of $6,372 for three (3) years.  Last year, the Benefit Bank was equal to the employee only premium of the 903 PPO Plan.  With the premiums increasing, this will no longer be the case. For those employees who remain on the 903 Plan with employee only coverage, effective April 1st, you will now pay $64 per paycheck (24-pay periods) / $76.80 per paycheck (20-pay periods) for that plan.

The Benefit Bank will now equal to the employee only premium for the 706 Plan.  This means that employees with employee only coverage under the 706 Plan will not have to pay for their coverage, however, there will be no additional Benefit Bank Dollars to apply towards their voluntary benefits (dental, vision, or cancer).  The employee will now pay the full premium of any voluntary benefit.

Remember...benefit Bank Dollars cannot be applied to life insurance or disability insurance premiums.

Benefit Bank $$$$ for Employees Who Waive Health Insurance

Employees who waive health insurance will now be able to receive a flat annual amount of $600 to apply towards those benefits.  This is equal to:

·         $25.00 per paycheck (24-pay employees)
                            or

·         $30.00 per paycheck (20-pay employees)

If you are currently waiving your health insurance, you will automatically receive those Benefit Bank dollars and will not have to complete any new forms.  You may purchase dental, vision, or cancer insurance with those Benefit Bank dollars.  If you are currently enrolled in any of these plans, you will not have to pay the first $25.00 / $30.00 which will be covered by the Benefit Bank dollars.  If you are not currently enrolled for dental, vision, or cancer insurance, you must complete the appropriate enrollment form(s) and a Payroll Authorization form.   

If you are currently enrolled in a District health plan, but would like to waive health insurance coverage, you must complete a Waiver of Health Insurance (available by calling 337-8321) and a BCBS Universal Individual Application to document dropping your coverage. 

The change will be reflected beginning with your March 15^th paycheck for coverage effective April 1, 2009. 

Children’s Health Insurance Coverage for Married Employees

 Married employees (when both work for the School District) with two children will be permitted to split their children’s health insurance coverage by each employee covering one child.  This will permit married employees to save premium dollars because two “child” premiums cost less than one “children” premium.

 Although splitting your two children’s coverage between two employee parents will save premium dollars, it may result in higher out-of-pocket costs when you incur claims because each employee and child will now constitute a “family” unit with respect to calendar year deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket expenses.   

NOTE: If each parent covers one child and a third child is born/adopted, one parent will have to purchase “children” coverage (to cover the new child plus the existing child he/she was covering) while the other parent would continue to purchase “child” coverage for the child he/she was covering.  All three children could not be grouped under a single parent until the next Open Enrollment.  Until that time, they would have to pay the cost of “children” plus “child” coverage, rather than “children” coverage only.

If you would like to make this change, however, both you and your spouse must complete a BCBS Universal Individual Application (each indicating which child he/she will be covering) and a Payroll Authorization form during Open Enrollment. 

The change will become effective April 1, 2009, but will be reflected on your paycheck beginning with the March 15, 2009 paycheck.

Below are the premium rates for the four (4) health plans effective with the March 15, 2009 payroll:

24-Pay Deductions

                               903 Plan             706 Plan            118 Plan *           HMO 10*

* If choosing the 118 Plan for employee only, the excess Benefit Bank Dollars to apply towards dental, vision and/or cancer is $67.50 per paycheck.  If choosing the HMO 10 Plan for employee only, the excess Benefit Bank Dollars to apply towards dental, vision and/or cancer is $8.50  Otherwise, the these excess Benefit Bank Dollars have been used to reduce the dependent premium.  The premiums listed above include the Benefit Bank Dollar credit.

 20-Pay Deductions

                             903 Plan              706 Plan             118 Plan *             HMO 10 Plan*

* If choosing the 118 Plan for employee only, the excess Benefit Bank Dollars to apply towards dental, vision and/or cancer is $81.00 per paycheck.  If choosing the HMO 10 Plan for employee only, the excess Benefit Bank Dollars to apply towards dental, vision and/or cancer is $10.20.  Otherwise, the these excess Benefit Bank Dollars have been used to reduce the dependent premium.  The premiums listed above include the Benefit Bank Dollar credit.                                

Life Insurance

Employee Life Insurance

Minnesota Life Insurance Company offers additional supplemental life insurance coverage in the amounts of $130,000 and $180,000 giving employees total amounts of $150,000 & $200,000, respectively.  The Board will still provide $20,000 of the basic life insurance.  You may apply for the additional coverage during Open Enrollment.  It is subject to medical underwriting.  The necessary forms to apply for additional supplemental life insurance are in your Open Enrollment packet. 

Spouse Life Insurance

The amount of  coverage available is either $20,000 or $40,000.  These amounts are subject to medical underwriting as well.  The necessary forms to apply for spouse life insurance are in your Open Enrollment packet.

 Child(ren) Life Insurance

The amount of coverage available is either $5,000 or $10,000.  However, these amounts will not be subject to medical underwriting. Therefore, you only need the District’s Group Life Insurance Change form to apply for the child(ren) life insurance which is found in your Open Enrollment packet.

 For more information, please refer to your Open Enrollment packet.

Voluntary Benefits

      Dental

No change in benefit or premium.  The necessary forms to make any changes (adding or dropping dependents) are located in your Open Enrollment packet.

                    Vision

GREAT NEWS!  Effective April 1, 2009, the District will be offering vision insurance through a new vision insurance carrier – Avesis, Inc. 

The new Avesis Plan will offer richer benefits with lower overall premiums.  Some of the benefits are: 

¨      ID cards (This will eliminate the need to request a benefit voucher prior to receiving services.)

¨      No co-pay (FREE) for eye exam (including eye exam for contact users) – once every 12 months

¨      No co-pay (FREE) for materials (spectacle lenses) – once every 12 months

¨      Frames – up to $55 wholesale allowance – once every 24 months

¨      Contact Lenses - $130 allowance for materials (lenses) / services (fitting fee) in lieu of spectacle lenses and frames  - once every 12 months

¨      Retail Chain Providers (i.e. Walmart, Costco, Eye Centers of Florida) 

If you wish to continue with the same level of coverage (i.e. employee only, employee/spouse, etc.), you will not need to complete any forms for the vision coverage during Open Enrollment as this information will be automatically transferred to Avesis.  However, if you wish to change your level of coverage (adding/dropping a dependent or drop vision insurance completely), please refer to your Open Enrollment directions to assist you in completing the necessary forms in your Open Enrollment packet.

   Cancer

No change in benefit or premium.  If you currently have a Hartford Cancer insurance policy and wish to apply for AIG Cancer insurance, you may do so during Open Enrollment.  Your application will be subject to medical underwriting.  Please keep in mind, however, your current Hartford cancer policy will not be cancelled if you are not approved by AIG.

         Disability

Applying for disability insurance during Open Enrollment does not guarantee coverage.  Your application must be approved by completing a medical questionnaire prior to the coverage becoming effective.

If you do not currently have the disability insurance and want to enroll or if you change your disability benefit option (i.e. currently have Option 2 and want to change to Option 4), please complete the medical questionnaire attached to your pre-printed enrollment form.

For more information regarding voluntary benefits, please refer to your Open Enrollment packet.

 Flexible Spending Accounts

 This is the one benefit that you MUST re-enroll during every Open Enrollment because Internal Revnue Services (IRS) requires a new election form each year.

          Medical Spending Accounts  - pre-tax dollars to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as prescription co-pays, medical co-pays & deductibles, dental, eyeglasses, contact lenses, over-the-counter drugs.

Again this plan year,you may sign up to receive a MSA debit card to use for your out-of-pocket medical expenses under Medical Spending Account.  Please see click here for additional information.

          Dependent Care Accounts  - pre –tax dollars to cover child care expenses for daycare, before/after school programs, etc. for children under the age of 13 OR a parent or spouse, who can be claimed by an employee as a dependent for federal tax purposes, that requires full-time care because of physical or mental incapacity (nursing homes are not reimburseable).

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact

Insurance & Benefits at 337-8321. 

REMEMBER………… 

ALL OPEN ENROLLMENT PAPERWORK MUST BE RECEIVED

IN INSURANCE  & BENEFITS BY:

FEBRUARY 6, 2009