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Alert

This is a reminder that there is regularly scheduled meeting of the school board Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 6pm. The meeting will be held in the boardroom located at 940 E. Yonezawa Blvd. Visit www.mlsd161.org/sbmeetings for more information about the meeting and public comment.

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Benefits

BENEFITS

Act now to modify your benefits! Don't wait!

Open enrollment is your annual opportunity to review your current benefits selections and make changes, such as choosing a new medical plan or adding a dependent or spouse.
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Open Enrollment Information

Annual Open Enrollment is October 28, 2024 - November 25, 2024!

All changes will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Submit your Open Enrollment Question

  • Unfortunately, we cannot answer this question directly, as selecting a health insurance plan is a personal decision that varies for each individual and family. However, we encourage you to consider the following tips when determining the best option for you and your loved ones. Even if you plan to remain on the same plan, it’s wise to review a few key factors before re-signing.

    Consider Your Family’s Needs

    • Who Needs Coverage? Determine if you need coverage for just yourself, or for your spouse and children as well.
    • Healthcare Needs: Reflect on what your family requires from a healthcare plan.
      • How often do you visit the doctor?
      • Do you have any recurring medical needs?

    Review Your Coverage Options

    • Satisfaction with Current Plan: Are you happy with your existing coverage?
    • Changes for the New Year: What changes are happening with your plan in the upcoming year?
    • Cost Analysis:
      • Premiums: What is the monthly premium you’ll pay?
      • Copayments: Understand the fixed fees for office visits, prescriptions, or other care.
      • Deductibles: Know the amount you’ll pay before your insurance starts covering costs.
      • Coinsurance: Be aware of the percentage you’ll owe after your insurance covers part of the service.
      • Out-of-Pocket Maximum: Understand the cap on your expenses, after which your insurance will cover all costs.

    Assess Potential Healthcare Needs

    Take time to consider what services you might require over the next year, and evaluate the associated costs.

    Check Provider Networks

    • List of Providers: Compile a list of all the healthcare providers you and your family might use, including physicians, specialists, clinics, and pharmacies.
    • In-Network Verification: Ensure that the plans you are considering include these providers in their network.

    Consider HSAs and FSAs

    If you anticipate medical expenses in the coming year, you may want to explore a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). These accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare expenses, such as copays and certain prescriptions. Note that HSAs require enrollment in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP).

    Confirm Medication Coverage

    • Medication List: Create a list of your current medications, noting whether they are name-brand or generic.
    • Coverage Inquiry: Contact the insurance provider to confirm whether the plan covers the medications you need and inquire about copays for filling and refilling prescriptions.

    Taking these steps can help you make an informed decision about your health insurance options.

  • The short answer is NO: if you do not make any changes, you will remain enrolled in the same medical, dental, and vision plans for the upcoming year.

    However, there are several important factors to consider:

    1. Health Plan Service Area Changes

    • Verify that your current plan is still available in your county.

    2. Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs)

    • If you have a Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) or FSA, you must re-enroll for 2025.
    • The annual maximum contribution for the FSA and Limited Purpose FSA will increase to $3,200. (Note: The FSA was previously referred to as the Medical FSA.)

    3. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

    • The IRS has raised the annual maximum contribution for HSAs to $4,300 for individual subscribers and $8,550 for families.

    4. Long-Term Disability Insurance

    • Rates for employee-paid long-term disability (LTD) insurance will decrease effective January 1, 2025.

    5. Monthly Premium Surcharges

    • Ensure you’re not paying unnecessary surcharges:
      • Tobacco Use Surcharge: $25 if you or any enrolled dependents use tobacco products.
      • Spouse/Domestic Partner Surcharge: $50 if you enroll your spouse or state-registered domestic partner who opts out of a comparable employer-based group medical plan.

    Important Dates:

    • Open Enrollment confirmation letters will be mailed to employees who made changes during the open enrollment period on December 6, 2024. All enrollments, changes, and premium adjustments will take effect on January 1, 2025.

  • Review this Open Enrollment Employee Checklist to ensure you are taking all necessary action. 

    What do I need to do?

     

  • Employees who work in counties served by Premera do not have to change plans for 2025

    Select employees living in Clallam, Jefferson, and Mason counties may disregard the letter sent on September 25 telling them to choose a new medical plan during the SEBB Program’s annual open enrollment. If the employee works in a county served by their Premera High PPO or Premera Standard PPO plan in 2025, they are still eligible to remain enrolled in their plan and are not required to change plans. View the 2025 school employee medical plans available by county to see the plans available by county and which counties your school district, charter school, or educational service district (ESD) are in.

    Who is affected by the service area changes for the Premera plans?

    Employees who received the letter and do not work in their plan’s service area will need to select a new plan during the SEBB Program’s annual open enrollment, October 28 through November 25, 2024.

  • Premera is currently in contract renewal negotiations with Samaritan Healthcare (Moses Lake area) for the hospital system only. These are regular negotiations (not a dispute) to renew the current contract which ends on 12/31/24.

     

    Premera has no current negotiations or disputes with Confluence.

  • FSA/DCAP INFORMATION

    Open Enrollment Options

    1. Online Enrollment Instructions – Participants can log in to the participant portal, using their SAW account, at Navia Portal, or
    2. Complete a paper enrollment form and return it to Navia via email or fax:

     

    All enrollments must be received by Navia or the employer no later than November 25, 2024.

Help

Contact plans directly for help with:

  • Benefit questions
  • ID cards
  • Claims
  • Check if a healthcare provider is in the plan’s network
  • Choosing a healthcare provider
  • Make sure your prescriptions are covered

Contact Information

benefits@mlsd161.org

 

Contact the MLSD benefits office for help with:

  • Benefit eligibility and enrollment questions or changes
  • Accessing paper forms
  • Premium surcharges questions
  • Updating your contact information (name, address, phone, etc.)
  • Adding or removing dependents
  • Payroll deduction information (including pre- or post-tax contributions)