Reform Alert # 43 – Reform Member Election Choice File Ready on 1/11/13

January 10, 2013

 

Reform Alert # 43 – Reform Member Election Choice File Ready on 1/11/13

 

The Member Election Choice File, a spread sheet that shows the new benefit and healthcare plans selected by your employees, will be ready to use on the Employer Reporting Website on Friday, January 11, 2013. If you see the file prior to January 11, it may not be usable.

 

If for any reason ORS must change an employee’s benefit or healthcare plans on January 11, or after, we will send notification to both the employee and to you, the employer. Your Member Election Choice File will also be updated.

 

To view the file, log in to the Employer Reporting Website. From the Employer Home Page, click on MPSERS Status Details Page link, then on MPSERS Status Details Page again, and on Download Member Election Choice File.

 

Review the file to confirm your employees’ new benefit and healthcare plans. Reporting contribution changes for all member benefit plan elections are effective with your retirement reporting pay period with a start date on or after February 1, 2013. You are required to report wages when they are paid, not when they are earned, so you will begin withholding the new contributions for the first pay period that will be reported with a begin date of February 1, 2013, or after. Some reporting units may need to withhold the new contribution rates prior to February 1, 2013.

 

The file layout below will help you to read the Member Election Choice File.

 

Member Election File Layout

Column Name	Format	Explanation
First Name	Text	Member’s first name.
Last Name	Text	Member’s last name.
SSN	Number	Member’s Social Security Number without / or -.
New Benefit Plan	Text	Members’ new benefit plan based on their election or default. MIP Graded, MIP Fixed, MIP 7%, MIP DC Converted, Basic 4%, Basic, Basic DC Converted, Pension Plus, MIP Plus, Pension Plus PHF.
Healthcare Election	Text	This is the option that the member elected or defaulted to, i.e. Graded Premium, or PHF
Employment Status	Text	Active – means a member is considered to have an active employee/employer relationship and was eligible for an election in miAccount during the election window. Inactive - means the member does not have an active employee/employer relationship; or was ineligible for an election in miAccount.
Current Benefit Structure	Text	Member’s current benefit structure, i.e. MIP Graded, MIP Fixed, MIP Plus, Basic, Pension Plus, Pension Plus PHF.
Organization Code	Number	Your 5-digit reporting unit number.
Election Choice	Text	The option that the member elected during the open window period in miAccount. Pension Plus shows as Ineligible.
Comments	Text	Any comments received by ORS regarding the member.
Reason for Update	Text	The reason why the member is Active or Inactive.
Last Logged in Date	Date	This is the date of the last time the member logged into miAccount.

 

Additional tools to help you:

• Legislative Summary – ORS’s full summary of PA 300 which provides details of the election options.

• Benefit Plan Rates