Enrollment
Enrollment Details
Benefits Open Enrollment begins Monday, August 17, 2020 and will run through Friday, September 4, 2020,
11:59 p.m. During this time, eligible employees will have the opportunity to change or update their benefit elections for 2020-2021 plan year.
This year employees are not required to enroll if the desire is to keep the same benefits.
Exception:
To participate in a Flexible Spending Account or a Health Savings Account employees must enroll.
- Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
- Open Enrollment Guide
- Open Enrollment Presentation
- Colonial Life Benefits
- Legal Shield & ID Shield
In an effort to limit over-taxing our UTMB labs and to help those who may be apprehensive about going to hospitals/clinics for medical care, this year’s Health Risk Assessment (HRA) can be done by completing a Health Assessment online. This online option will allow employees (and dependent spouses, if applicable) to login to their Blue Cross Blue Shield account and complete an online Health Assessment questionnaire (takes approximately 15-30 minutes). Below are instructions to access, create and complete this online assessment.
Any employee who still prefers going into a medical facility to complete a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)(blood draw), will still have that option. CMP/blood draws must have been completed between August 31, 2019 – August 31, 2020. For those that have been vigilant and proactive with completing their CMP/blood draws (August 31, 2019 through July 17, 2020) HR will request a report from BCBS to verify completion. Employees may feel free to provide documentation of completion of their CMP to ensure credit for his/her CMP.
All others that opt to complete a Health Assessment through the BCBS website or complete a CMP/blood draw through August 31, 2020, must send a confirmation of completion by Emailing LC Benefits. Online Health Assessment completion is due no later than September 11, 2020. Please make sure your name (or your spouse’s name), is clearly stated on the confirmation before sending it over. If you need clarification of these due dates, feel free to reach out to your HR representative.
BCBS Health Assessment Instructions (PDF)
Voluntary Program Offered by City
If you are a full-time employee who regularly works a minimum of 30 hours per week, you are eligible to participate in the City’s benefit plans. You may also enroll your eligible dependents under select plans you choose for yourself. Eligible dependents include:
- Your spouse or civil union partner
- Children up to age 26
Important Notes
Documentation will be required to enroll a dependent in medical, dental or vision coverage. Please see the chart below for acceptable documents. Documents should be submitted to Human Resources at the time of enrollment. If documents are not submitted timely, dependent coverage may be dropped.
Spouse
Two documents are required, one from “Document A” and one from “Document B” below:
Document A
Government-issued marriage certificate: Proof of marriage must be a government-issued marriage license or marriage certificate, including the date of your marriage.
Document B
Federal tax return within last 2 years listing your spouse: Send only the first page of your prior year federal tax return (Form 1040) that shows your dependents, and black out all financial information and Social Security numbers.
Proof of joint ownership issued within the last six months: Proof of joint ownership issued within the last six months include mortgage statements, bank statements, credit card statements, rental/lease agreements or property tax statements with both parties’ names as co-owners.
Child
Biological child: Government-issued birth certificate; must include all parent names.
Adopted child: Government-issued birth certificate, adoption certificate, placement agreement or petition.
Step-child: Government-issued birth certificate AND documents to verify spouse as outlined above. Birth certificates must be government-issued and must include parents’ names.
Legal guardianship: Legal documentation from the state or federal government documenting the legal guardianship status.
New Hires: You must complete the enrollment process within 30 days of your date of hire. If you enroll on time, coverage is effective on the first of the month following your date of hire. If you fail to enroll on time, you will NOT have benefits coverage (except for City-paid benefits).
To enroll for benefits, login to Benefit Connector. There you will find detailed information about the plans available to you and instructions for enrolling.
Required Information
When you enroll, you will be required to enter a Social Security number (SSN) for all covered dependents. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as health care reform, requires the company to report this information to the IRS each year to show that you and your dependents have coverage and are not subject to a federal tax penalty. This information will be securely submitted to the IRS and will remain confidential.
Choose Carefully!
Due to IRS regulations, you cannot change your elections until the next annual Open Enrollment period, unless you have a qualified life event during the year. Following are examples of the most common qualified life event:
- Marriage or divorce
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Child reaching the maximum age limit
- Death of a spouse, RDP, or child
- Change in child custody
- Change in coverage election made by your spouse/RDP during his/her employer’s Open Enrollment period
- You lose coverage under your spouse’s/RDP’s plan
Making Changes
To make changes to your benefit elections, you must contact Human Resources within 31 days of the qualified life event (including newborns). Qualifying event changes must be done through Benefit Connector. Instructions on submitting a qualifying event change through Benefit Connector can be found here (PDF). Be prepared to show documentation of the event such as a marriage license, birth certificate or a divorce decree. If changes are not submitted on time, you must wait until the next Open Enrollment period to make your election changes.