Reminder: Be selective when handing out copies of the initial enrollment guide
We have mailed out 138,000 copies of the School Employee Initial Enrollment Guide so far, and will continue to mail copies through the end of the month.
We also sent each SEBB organization a supply of enrollment guides and paper enrollment forms — enough for roughly 20 to 25 percent of employees. These are intended for anyone who didn’t get an enrollment guide in the mail and any new employees hired after the guides mailed. We won’t print any more initial enrollment guides, so please be selective in giving out your paper copies. An online version of the guide is available for download now.
Correction notice coming soon
We have made updates to the online version of the School Employee Initial Enrollment Guide, and will mail a correction notice to employees early next week to notify them of the updates. The corrections will also be posted to the SEBB benefits administrators page early next week.
Open enrollment starts October 1
The SEBB Program’s first annual open enrollment starts on October 1 and runs through November 15. School employees can select medical, dental, and vision plans, and enroll in supplemental life, AD&D, and LTD coverage.
We encourage employees to enroll or waive coverage using SEBB My Account. Employees without internet access can ask their payroll or benefits office for an enrollment forms packet.
What happens if employees don’t enroll
All eligible employees must take action to waive or enroll in SEBB medical coverage during open enrollment. Those who do nothing will be automatically enrolled in coverage as a subscriber in the UMP Achieve 1 medical plan ($33 monthly premium), and Uniform Dental Plan, MetLife vision, basic (employer-paid) life, basic AD&D, and basic LTD insurance. Their dependents will not be enrolled, and they will be charged the monthly $25 tobacco use premium surcharge. Please help us communicate this important message to your employees or members.
Remind employees to spend down their Medical FSAs
Any employees currently enrolled in a Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) will not be able to carry over those funds into the 2020 insurance plan year. Encourage employees to spend down their FSA funds by incurring eligible expenses before December 31, 2019.
Employees can enroll in a SEBB Medical FSA during the first annual open enrollment through Navia’s online portal.
In-person benefits fairs start September 30
During open enrollment, employees can learn more about health plans and other insurance options by attending one of the SEBB Program’s benefits fairs. Employees can pick up information and speak with representatives from the health plans, the SEBB Program, and other SEBB benefit administrators.
Employees can also visit the virtual benefits fair and learn more about their benefit options through an online experience available anytime, day or night. The virtual benefits fair will be available October 1.
Attesting to premium surcharges
The Legislature requires two premium surcharges that, if they apply, may be added to employees’ monthly medical premiums.
- The tobacco use premium surcharge is a monthly $25 surcharge per account if an employee or a dependent (age 13 and older) enrolled on their SEBB medical uses a tobacco product.
- The spouse or state-registered domestic partner coverage premium surcharge is a monthly $50 surcharge if an employee has a spouse enrolled on their SEBB medical, and the spouse has elected not to enroll in their own employer-based group medical insurance — if that employer-based group medical insurance is comparable to PEBB’s Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) Classic.
Employees must make their attestations in SEBB My Account or on their paper enrollment form during open enrollment as applicable.
Note: Premium surcharges do not apply to employees who waive medical coverage.
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