MEMORANDUM TO: All Full-Time Benefits Eligible Employees FROM: Martha Lide, Assistant County Manager

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1 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: RE: All Full-Time Benefits Eligible Employees Martha Lide, Assistant County Manager Health Insurance and Cafeteria Benefits Annual Enrollment Date: March 20, 2014 Annual Enrollment for Health Insurance and Cafeteria Benefits for the plan year, July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 will be held Monday, April 14 through Thursday, April 17, All full time, benefits eligible employees must attend a MANDATORY group meeting concerning these benefits. Group meetings will be held in the Commissioners Meeting Room at the Citizens Center on April 14 & April 15 and in the Training Conference Room at the Department of Social Services on April 16 & 17 (see attached schedule for meeting times). The group meetings will last approximately minutes. You will have the opportunity to hear about benefit changes and ask questions. Medical and Dental Insurance: Medical Blue Cross Blue Shield The Board of County Commissioners approved a Medical Plan that keeps employee premiums the same as last year and does not change coverage options. The increased cost of medical coverage will be paid for by increasing the County portion of medical coverage. Employees, who participate in the Employee Wellness Program, will pay $30 per month less in premiums than employees who choose not to participate in the Employee Wellness Program. Our Medical Plan will still be administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield, but because we are changing our Dental Plan, ALL employees will need to complete a new BCBS enrollment form and return it to Human Resources. Dental - Ameritas (New Insurance Carrier) The Dental plan will be administered by Ameritas beginning July 1st. 1

2 There will be two Ameritas plans to choose from: Standard and PPO. If you currently have Dental coverage, you will be automatically enrolled in the Ameritas Standard plan. You will need to complete an enrollment form stating which plan you would like to enroll in and return it to Human Resources. The Standard Plan has been set up to mirror the former BCBS plan. The annual maximum benefit is $1,000. In the PPO Dental Plan, employees will use in-network providers. Ameritas has negotiated lower rates with providers which will allow employees to save out-ofpocket costs and get more care out of the annual maximum allowance. The PPO plan also has an annual maximum benefit of $1,250. If you are adding dependents to your coverage you will need to bring in their social security number and birth date. Please return these forms to Human Resources by April 24, Once the Annual Enrollment ends you will not be able to make elections/changes unless you have a qualifying event (birth, death, marriage, divorce, loss of coverage, loss of job, etc.). Other Cafeteria Benefits: Mark III Benefits Counselors will handle enrollments for all other cafeteria benefits (i.e. Health & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Dental, Cancer, Accident, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Term Life and Critical Illness). Attached is a summary of the other cafeteria benefits offered. Mark III Counselors will be available in the IT Conference Room on Monday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 15 from 8:00am to 5:00pm and on Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17, from 8:00am to 6:00pm. The Mark III Counselors will also be at DSS on April 16 th and 17 th from 8:00am until 6:00pm. The IT Conference Room is located at 105-A East Court Square, 3rd floor, in the old Bank of America Building located directly across from the Courthouse, next to the North State Book Store. Changes to any Cafeteria Benefits must be made by April 17, Other Savings and Insurance Benefits Representatives from the State Employees Credit Union, Prudential 401 (K) program, Nationwide Retirement 457 Plan, and Liberty Mutual Auto and Home Insurance will also be available to explain their programs and answer any questions you may have. 2

3 Cafeteria Benefits For Insurance Coverage listed below see a Mark III Benefits Counselor. NOTE: Coverage for certain insurance plans may require you to be actively at work when you apply. Flexible Spending Accounts - Gilsbar Health Care & Dependent Care The HealthCare Flexible Spending Account participation maximum will remain at $2,500. Review your out of pocket expenses for yourself as well as your dependents to make your election for The Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending account balances do not carry over from one year to the next. Any unused balance will be forfeited under the IRS regulation, "Use it or Lose it". You MUST enroll during the annual enrollment if you wish to participate beginning July 1, If you participate in the BCBS HSA (Health Savings Account) you will not be able to participate in the Gilsbar FSA (Flexible Spending Account). If you already participate in one of the Flexible Spending Accounts, you will receive a new debit card prior to July 1 st. Once you receive your new debit card, please dispose of your current debit card. Only employees who have completed the six (6) months probationary period with Lincoln County will be eligible to enroll in the Gilsbar Flexible Spending Accounts. Accident Insurance - Continental American Accident The accident plan provides coverage for certain accidents, burns, dislocations, internal injuries just to name a few. You may apply for dependent coverage also. There is an annual $100 wellness benefit available. Humana Cancer (New Insurance Carrier) Insurance coverage for cancer will now be offered by Humana. Humana will offer the option of electing a Low Option or a High Option plan. Both plans include initial diagnosis and Intensive Care Unit coverage but at different levels. The Humana plan is guaranteed issue. Employees currently covered under the Assurity C240 Cancer plan will be able to retain their policy/coverage, but they are not accepting new enrollments. The Assurity Cancer plan will remain on payroll deduction. Critical Illness Insurance - Continental American Accident With the diagnosis of a covered illness such as heart attack, stroke or kidney failure, you can receive a check for the benefit amount that you selected when you applied for the plan. This plan also includes a $100 health screening benefit each calendar year if you have specified tests performed. 3

4 Short Term Disability - AUL The AUL coverage applies to on and off the job accidents and does not offset with any other insurance such as sick leave, vacation, paid time off, Worker s Compensation, State Retirement or Social Security benefits. See a Mark III Benefits Counselor for more information. Long Term Disability - AUL (new benefit) Long term disability insurance is a policy that protects you from loss of income in the event that you are unable to work due to illness, injury, or accident for a long period of time (5 years will be the maximum length of time you will get paid from this policy). This new benefit will be offered by AUL, the same company that provides the Short Term disability plan. You will have benefit income options in $500 increments, not to exceed 60% of your salary. Long Term Disability insurance through AUL will be guaranteed issue. Supplemental Term Life - Lincoln Financial The Term Life plan is available to you while you are employed with Lincoln County. It allows you to elect coverage on your dependents also. If you did not elect coverage for yourself and or dependents when first hired or given the opportunity, you must complete a health statement. This may be waived for certain coverage amounts. If you have any questions or need more information, contact Human Resources at or Kathy Yount, Mark III Brokerage at

5 ANNUAL BENEFITS ENROLLMENT GROUP MEETING SCHEDULE Group meetings will be held in the Board of Commissioners Room, 3rd floor of the Citizens Center: Monday, April 14 Tuesday, April 15 8:15 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:45 p.m. 3:45 p.m. Group meetings will be held in the Department of Social Services Training Room: Wednesday, April 16 Thursday, April 17 8:15 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:45 p.m. 3:45 p.m. NOTE: On Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17, Mark III Counselors will be available in the IT Conference room and at DSS until 6 pm. 5