Make the most of your benefits this year

This bulletin was sent at 01/12/2021 01:08 PM CST

SEGIP Newsletter

Here's to a healthy new year

Make this year the best one yet by focusing on your health and well-being. Learn important updates about your employee benefits below, and how to use them to have a healthy new year.

To-do list

Check if your clinic's cost level changed. Many clinic cost levels changed with the new year. If you didn’t check during Open Enrollment, verify your primary care's cost level on your insurance card. Contact your administrator to make any changes.

Download the Virgin Pulse mobile app. Stay focused on reaching your health goals with the Virgin Pulse mobile app. Use the app to participate in or track your healthy activities. When you do, you can earn points toward our well-being program and even earn a reward for next year. Read on to learn more about our well-being program.

If you changed health plan administrators, take action to continue participating in special benefits.

- Advantage Value for Diabetes: Inform CVS Caremark of the change. This ensures you will receive reduced rates on prescription medications and supplies to help manage you or your family member’s diabetes.

- Point of Service benefit: Submit a new request form. This ensures you or covered dependents living outside of Minnesota receive the special deductible and coinsurance rates to help manage out-of-network costs.

New law allows pre-tax expense account balances to carryover to 2021

Graphic that says new covid relief allows pre-tax carryovers

Pre-tax expense accounts typically have use-or-lose provisions, but a law passed in December offers good news. If you had a balance remaining in your 2020 Medical/Dental Expense Account (MDEA) or Dependent Care Expense Account (DCEA), they will automatically carryover to this year’s expense account. Here are a few exceptions and things to note:

- No limit to MDEA carryover. The law increases the maximum allowable carryover amount from $550 to your full unused 2020 MDEA balance to this year. This only applies to employees who contributed their full election in 2020.

- DCEA funds can carryover and be used for older children. The law allows you to carryover your 2020 unused balance to 2021, which is normally not allowed. This change is only for 2020 balances. The law also allows you to use this account for dependents up to age 14; this applies to 2020 and 2021. The age limit is 13 for 2022.

- The deadline to submit 2020 reimbursement requests is Feb. 28, 2021. If you wish to get reimbursed for an expense that occurred in 2020, the deadline to submit your request is still Feb. 28, 2021. This applies to both the MDEA and DCEA.

- No action is needed on your part. 121 Benefits, our vendor who administers our pre-tax benefits, will automatically carryover eligible balances to your account. If you have any questions, please contact them at 612-877-4321 or 800-300-1672.

Learn more about changes to pre-tax programs.

Did you know… you can change your DCEA elections throughout the year.

This pre-tax account has additional qualifying life events, beyond situations like getting married or having a child. That means if your child care closes due to COVID-19, you can make a change using the 121 Benefits Form. You can also make changes if you find alternate care or if there is a significant change in cost. You must submit your form within 30 days of the change, and you cannot reduce elections to less than what you have already contributed. Learn more.

Vision plan tip: look out for confusion

If you enrolled in our new vision plan, make sure to bring two insurance id cards to your appointment. Our medical plan covers the cost of the eye exam, and the vision plan helps cover eyewear. This type of dual coverage is not as common, so informing your provider ahead of time can help prevent confusion.

To find a retailer that is in-network, use BlueCross BlueShield's find an eye-care provider search. If you purchase eyewear out-of-network, submit a claim form along with your provider’s signature or detailed receipt for a reimbursement. Reimbursements are lower when they are out-of-network.

Learn more about our Vision Plan.

Use the well-being program to reach your health goals

Make this year the healthiest one yet by focusing on your health. While many New Year’s resolutions fizzle out by February, our well-being program can help build healthy habits throughout the year - and rewards you when you do.

Here’s how to get started:

image of magnifying glass with heart in it

Pick a health goal you want to focus on. Review the list of healthy activities you can participate in to earn points. Find an activity that aligns with your goals, from tracking your steps to practicing mindfulness. Have a more specific goal? Check out online coaching or our well-being webinars.

Earn points in Virgin Pulse. The well-being program is hosted on Virgin Pulse. You can use the platform to participate in interactive activities, such as health coaching or tracking calories. Other activities you complete outside of the platform, such as exercising. Earn your points by reporting it in Virgin Pulse in the Home tab.

Earn $70 off your deductible next year. When you earn 300 points by Oct. 31, 2021, we’ll pay $70 of your individual deductible next year. October is a long way off, but don’t procrastinate! Start the year strong by tackling your health goals and earning your well-being reward.

Learn more about our well-being program and reward.

Stay focused with weekly well-being webinars

Graphic that says weekly well-being webinars

Our Employee Assistance Program offers weekly webinars to help enhance your personal and professional resilience. Learn more and register for upcoming sessions below. All webinars take place from noon to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 13: How to maximize productivity while working remotely
Wednesday, Jan. 20: How to motivate, engage, and retain your staff
Wednesday, Jan. 27: The keys to great employee-supervisor communication

Please notify us if you need an ASL interpreter or CART to access for the webinar.

Bonus: Earn well-being program points after you attend

After the webinar, report that you attended and you’ll earn 25 point for our well-being program. To report your attendance, log in to Virgin Pulse, and select "How to Earn" under the Home tab.

Access the full calendar of well-being webinars.

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