Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

October 14, 2024

In This Issue

• Introduction
• System Benefits & Features
• Future State Processes & Guidance
• Employer Transaction Application (ETA)
• COBRA Enrollment Information
• Talking Points for Staff/Members
• Support

Introduction

^{All Employers  |  All Insurance Benefits}

Welcome to My Benefits Employer News, a monthly newsletter to keep you informed about ETF’s new Insurance Administration System. Save time by only reading the articles relevant to you—the first line of each article identifies which employers and benefits the article applies to. View previous issues.

System Benefits & Features

Premiums and Fees Displayed in My Insurance Benefits

^{All Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

In the new system, members will complete the benefits enrollment process and, for the first time, be able to view a breakdown of their health insurance premium into the various costs – medical, pharmacy, wellness, an administrative fee, and Uniform Dental (if enrolled). This new view will provide increased transparency to members regarding the specific costs that make up their health insurance premium.

Administrative fees have always been in place and included in the medical premium. These fees are used to cover operational costs, compliance audits, and more. Members will now see these administrative fees specifically detailed as part of their insurance costs.

By enrolling in health insurance, members agree to pay the entire premium. Like today, they cannot opt out of premiums and fees, such as wellness.

This level of transparency may raise questions about costs. To help reduce questions, we’ve added a popup to My Insurance Benefits that explains the components of the health insurance premium and links to the ETF website for more information.

Itemized premiums and fees are displayed for all benefit elections. Costs listed are for demonstration purposes only.

Future State Processes & Guidance

Paper Applications and My Insurance Benefits

^{All Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

One question that comes up frequently related to the new My Insurance Benefits system is if ETF will continue to accept paper applications after the system is live.

While we strongly encourage all members to use My Insurance Benefits, there are some situations where paper application forms may be used:

• A member is unable to use the online system.
• Some life events, like adding an adult disabled dependent, require a paper application because the HR admin needs to complete additional steps before the change can be made to the member's contract.
• A member’s power of attorney is submitting changes on their behalf. For security, only members can make changes in the system.
• A member is retiring and wants to change coverage. Depending on when the member submits their retirement application and when you process the termination, it might take a few weeks for their retiree coverage to be set up. If the member wants to change or cancel their retiree coverage before it's visible to them in the system, they could send a paper application to ETF.

If the member is actively employed and they need to submit a paper application, they will submit it to you for processing

Employer Transaction Application (ETA)

^{All Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

Last month we introduced the new Employer Transaction Application (ETA) that you will use when My Insurance Benefits goes live to enter and update employee data to support My Insurance Benefits transactions. To learn more about the ETA, visit the September 2024 issue of My Benefits Employer News.

COBRA Enrollment Information

COBRA Administration is Moving to Better Support You and Your Employees

^{All Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

As required by law, when an employee or their dependent loses eligibility for coverage, COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) and Wisconsin state continuation are offered to these individuals to ensure they have the option to continue coverage. Benefits eligible for COBRA/continuation include health, pharmacy, dental, vision, wellness, and flexible spending accounts (FSAs).

COBRA administration is currently handled by employers, several different vendors, and ETF, so members receive COBRA-related information from multiple sources and must submit documents and payment to multiple places to continue their chosen coverage.

When My Insurance Benefits goes live on July 1, 2025, COBRA administration will no longer involve employers and multiple vendors, it will move to a single third-party vendor, Voya. The basic rules that govern COBRA and continuation coverage will remain the same. This consolidation of COBRA administration will be a win for you, employees, and ETF by ensuring consistency, quality service, timely updates, and less paperwork.

Employers will no longer need to provide COBRA paperwork to employees and dependents. In addition, employers will be able to direct employee questions to Voya’s customer support. ETF will manage the third-party administrator contract with Voya, providing oversight and compliance assurance.

Timely updates within My Insurance Benefits will continue to be very important.

More information on processes and training related to COBRA will be shared in future issues of My Benefits Employer News.

Policy Changes

Dependent Verification for Enrollments

^{All Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

All new and existing members that add a dependent will be required to provide documentation to demonstrate a dependent is eligible for coverage. HR Admins will be responsible for verifying dependents and the supporting documentation within My Insurance Benefits. To Learn more about this change, see the September 2024 issue of My Benefits Employer News.

Talking Points for Staff/Members

^{All Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

Here are some talking points you may want to share with your staff:

• On July 1, 2025, ETF will launch a new online system for insurance called My Insurance Benefits, which allows 24/7 and secure access to benefits information and the ability to request changes online.
• Insurance benefits administration, including health, dental, vision, accident, life, and income continuation insurances, will be available in My Insurance Benefits. Long-term care insurance will not be included in the system.
• When My Insurance Benefits is live, members will be able to see more including a breakdown of their premiums and associated fees .
• Paper applications will still be available for use after My Insurance Benefits is live.
• When My Insurance Benefits goes live, administration of COBRA will move to a single third-party vendor, Voya. You will no longer need to provide COBRA paperwork to employees and dependents.
• Timely updates within My Insurance Benefits will continue to be very important when a member experiences a qualifying event.

Support

^{Local Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

If you need support related to the implementation of My Insurance Benefits, please contact ETF’s employer liaisons at ETFSMBIASEmployerSetupQuestions@etf.wi.gov.

^{State Employers | All Insurance Benefits}

If you need support related to the implementation of My Insurance Benefits, please contact the IAS Project Manager with whom you currently work.

The information in this publication represents the state of the Insurance Administration System Program at the time of this writing. This is an active program; therefore information is subject to change according to ongoing discovery and testing.