AMHERST COLLEGE HOME Page B 2017-18 Open Enrollment Health, Life Insurance & Flexible Spending Accounts
Don t Forget! Open Enrollment is May 8 th - June 2 nd. Dear Colleague: T he annual Open Enrollment Period for insurance benefit changes begins Monday, May 8, 2017 and continues through Friday, June 2, 2017. During this time you will have the opportunity to make changes to your benefits as described below. Changes will become effective July 1, 2017. It is important to note that certain changes can only be made during the open enrollment period. In many cases, the next opportunity to modify your benefit coverage will be July 1, 2018. Please review the information carefully and submit any change requests by June 2, 2017. This announcement and other items relating to the open enrollment are available at the Office of Human Resources website https://www.amherst.edu/mm/547308. We strongly recommend that you visit the website to view all of the information. During the open enrollment period you may: Enroll in, cancel or modify your medical coverage Transfer between the medical plan options Modify your medical coverage to add or delete dependents, spouses or same-sex domestic partners Apply for sliding scale consideration Establish your flexible spending accounts (The Amherst Plan) for the new fiscal year Increase your supplemental life insurance election by one times your salary in coverage Enrollment or drop/add forms are available online and from the Office of Human Resources. Any coverage changes you elect will be effective July 1, 2017. If you are currently participating in medical or dependent care flexible spending accounts, your election ends June 30 th. If you wish to make contributions in 2017-2018, you must complete a new form. Those employees enrolled in health and dental insurance who do not want to make a change and are satisfied with their current elections, do not need to complete a new form (see page 6 for additional details).
Table of Contents Page D As part of your total compensation package, Amherst College offers you and your family a comprehensive benefits package that includes various options to meet your healthcare and financial needs. Medical Coverage (page 2) Dental Coverage (page 3) Vision Coverage (page 3) New! BenefitHub & Care.com (page 4) Enhancement! Prudential Life Insurance (page 5) Flexible Spending Accounts (page 6) Wellness Initiatives (page 7) Employee Assistance Program (page 7) Questions (page 8) Open Enrollment Meetings & Benefits Fair (page 9) TIP: click on the HOME button to return to this page to navigate through the benefits listed above. Simply on the coverage and you will be redirected to the appropriate page.
Page 1 Information and Actions Health, Dental and Vision Insurance Rates Each year the rate for our health and dental programs is determined, based on a number of factors, the most important being prior claims, future medical trends (expected future cost increases for services), benefit design and health care regulations. Based on these factors and taxes relating to the Affordable Care Act, the renewal rates for medical insurance will increase an average of 2.8%, while dental rates will not increase this year! Please review the rates shown below for the applicable premium rates for each medical, dental and vision plans. MEDICAL PLAN MONTHLY RATES New Monthly Premium HMO Blue Deductible HMO Blue Blue Choice POS PPO Individual $64.27 $117.30 $255.25 $343.81 Family $361.56 $500.60 $859.97 $1,079.15 Weekly Rate Increases for 2017-18 Individual $0.18 $0.63 $1.79 $2.54 Family $2.23 $3.40 $6.44 $8.29 DENTAL PLAN MONTHLY RATES Monthly Premium Delta Dental Including Orthodontia Delta Dental Individual $14.61 $8.14 Family $57.91 $37.86 VISION PLAN MONTHLY RATES EyeMed Vision Care Individual $6.04 Family $15.41 We will continue to provide the sliding scale program of reduced premiums for certain income levels. Income levels have been adjusted upward based on the CPI for 2016 (2.1%). The income levels and associated subsidy levels are outlined on the enclosed Sliding Scale Program application. We encourage you to review your 2016 tax return and if you qualify apply for the reduced premium rates by stopping by the Office of Human Resources. This application must be returned by June 30, 2017 or you will not be able to take advantage of the sliding scale benefit until the next open enrollment period.
Page 2 Coverage Features Medical The medical plans offered include HMO Blue Deductible, HMO Blue, Blue Choice, and Blue Care Elect PPO (only available to those residing outside of Massachusetts). Generally, the basic design of these plans have not changed. Last year, BCBS introduced a new option for accessing medical care for you and your family. Using your smartphone, computer, or tablet, you can access Telehealth online video services to speak with a doctor or therapist anytime you need care, including after business hours and on weekends. Visit www.bluecrossma.com/telehealth to learn more about Teleheath. This year, BCBS has added coverage for 3D Mammograms. This was previously an excluded service but will now be included under the medical program with cost-share, if applicable. On the Human Resources website, the following items and other information will assist you in evaluating your options. A Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) is intended to give participants clear and consistent information about their health plan and a glossary of common health care terms, helping them to better understand and evaluate their choices. A copy of each plan s SBC is located on the Office of Human Resources website, or a paper copy can be requested by contacting the Office of Human Resources. A calculation tool is on the Human Resources website to help you estimate your costs, and to determine your potential savings. A summary of the coverage differences between the HMO Blue, Blue Choice, and HMO Blue Deductible plans is available on the Human Resources website. Massachusetts and federal law requires each employee to have health plan coverage to avoid facing certain tax penalties.
Page 3 Coverage Features (cont.) Dental Two dental plan options are available. The higher option plan provides a higher calendar year claim maximum of $2,000 per covered member, and orthodontia coverage for adults and dependents. The orthodontia benefit covers 50% of the allowed charge, to a maximum lifetime limit of $1,500 per member. Vision A stand-alone vision plan through EyeMed, provides coverage for a vision exam ($0 copay) as well as frames, lenses and contacts. It is 100% employee-paid through pre-tax payroll contributions and all benefits eligible employees may elect the benefit. You do not have to be enrolled in one of our medical plans. EyeMed s network is comprised of both private practitioners and large national retail chains (e.g. Lenscrafters, Target Optical, JCPenney Optical). To view providers near you please visit and make sure to select the Insight network www.eyemedvisioncare.com. The plan also includes an out-of-network benefit that reimburses members for services at providers outside of EyeMed s Insight network. There is also a mail order site affiliated with EyeMed, https://www.glasses.com, where eyeglasses and lenses may be purchased. A benefit summary is enclosed. The summary and some additional information, including rates, can be found on the Human Resources website.
Page 4 New! BenefitHub is a reward portal that allows for discounted pricing on merchandise. Computers, cars and movie tickets are a few of many services that can be purchased through this platform. Visit the Human Resources website beginning on July 1, 2017, to learn more about some of the benefits available to you. New! Care.com provides local services for child-care, senior care, special needs care, tutoring, pet care, and housekeeping. Members can log into the website and select approved Care. com workers. This new benefit allows for additional flexibility with work/life balance and in the event of unexpected circumstances. Visit the Human Resources website beginning on July 1, 2017, for more information. New medical plan option coming in 2018! Coming in 2018! High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account New for July 1, 2018, Amherst employees and their dependents will have the option of selecting a High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA). Enrollment in this medical plan will allow you to open an HSA, assuming all other eligibility requirements are met. This new benefit offering requires lower fixed costs (monthly premium payments) but could result in higher out-of-pocket expenses (coinsurance). Be sure to watch out for communications regarding this plan throughout the year.
Page 5 Coverage Features (cont.) Enhancement! New Partnership with Prudential Periodically, the College seeks competitive bids on benefits offered to employees. Earlier this year, several insurance carriers were asked to provide rate and coverage proposals for our Group Life Insurance and Group Short and Long Term Disability benefits. Based on a review of the proposals, a change of insurance carriers will take place effective July 1, 2017. The Prudential Insurance Company of America will provide coverage for all of these plans. Prudential has been providing group insurance coverage for more than 100 years and is one of the most financially strong insurance carriers in the United States, with more than $1.1 trillion of assets under management. No action is required of you to maintain your present level of coverage or your beneficiary designations. Amherst College will also be contracting with Prudential to provide claim review and case management services for the College s Short Term Disability program. Prudential will help assist claimants in obtaining both the initial and ongoing medical documentation needed to support a Short Term Disability claim, as well as utilizing Clinical resources/expertise to manage Short Term Disability submissions on Amherst College s behalf. The partnership with Prudential will help to streamline the employee claim experience. Highlights of Your Life Insurance Coverage Each eligible employee under age 65 receives Basic Life Insurance coverage equal to 1.5 times annual salary to a limit of $600,000, at no cost to the employee. Basic coverage reduces to one times salary at age 65 and to 67% of salary at age 70. Supplemental coverage can be purchased according to age-based rates. Coverage is also available for a spouse/partner and dependent children. During the annual enrollment period, you may increase your present level of supplemental coverage by one level, without providing any evidence of health. Supplemental insurance up to 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times your salary may be purchased. The maximum amount of coverage for Supplemental and Basic coverage is $750,000. Spouse/partner and dependent insurance is available at a flat $10,000 of coverage. The rates for supplemental, spouse and dependent coverage are unchanged. The applicable rates for supplemental and dependent coverage, as well as an enrollment/change form, are posted on the Human Resources website.
Page 6 Your Flexible Spending Accounts will now be Administered by WageWorks We have exciting news to share! Beginning with the start of the new plan year, your flexible spending reimbursement benefit will be administered by WageWorks, a leading provider of Consumer-Directed Benefits. Effective July 1, 2017, Crosby will no longer offer reimbursement services. The information below provides an overview of the upcoming transition to WageWorks proprietary enhanced reimbursement systems. How do I access my account? You can access your new online account with WageWorks beginning on July 1, 2017, by visiting: www.wageworks.com. Click on the Log In/Register button and select Employee Registration to create unique WageWorks credentials. Will I receive a debit card? If you have enrolled in a healthcare account for the new plan year, you will receive a WageWorks Healthcare Card at the start of the new plan year. The card will be mailed to your home address. If you need additional cards for eligible healthcare dependents, you can order cards through your online account. There is no fee for additional cards. How do I file a claim with WageWorks? When the new plan year starts, you will be able access your WageWorks account online to request reimbursement for eligible expenses. You can also use the WageWorks EZ Receipts mobile app to submit and manage claims from your mobile device. If you would like to fax or mail your reimbursement request, please visit www.wageworks.com and select Employees from the top toolbar then Important Forms from the Support Center list. Will my direct deposit details be transferred to WageWorks? If you opted for direct deposit for reimbursements from your Crosby Benefit Systems account, you will need to sign up for direct deposit for your WageWorks account. Please log in to your account and update your reimbursement method in your profile for the start of the new plan year. Highlights of your Flexible Spending Accounts The Amherst Plan allows eligible participants to contribute pre-tax dollars, through payroll deductions, to pay for many dependent care expenses and eligible medical expenses not covered by the health or dental plans. You may enroll in either or both of the Health and Dependent Care Spending Accounts. Elections to the medical spending account cannot exceed $2,600 and elections to the dependent care spending account cannot exceed $5,000. Additional information is available on the Human Resources website. Plan rules require you to re-enroll in the Health and/or Dependent Care Spending Accounts each year in order to participate in the Plan through payroll deductions. The enclosed enrollment form must be completed and returned to the Office of Human Resources by June 2, 2017 in order to participate in the upcoming year. Important Transition Information! All employees who re-enroll will receive a new debit card from WageWorks by July 1, 2017. Crosby will need to implement a Freeze Period for the first two weeks of the new plan year (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018) for purchases made prior to July 1, 2017 that have not been submitted for reimbursement. You will be able to submit claims directly to Wage- Works once the two week freeze period ends, around July 15, 2017. Employees that still have a balance from the prior plan year (July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017) will be able to pay for eligible expenses within the first 2 1 / 2 months of the new plan year (up to September 15, 2017). A freeze period is not required for any new claims on or after July 1, 2017.
Page 7 Coverage Features (cont.) Wellness Initiatives A range of wellness programs and workshops are available through our HRWellness@Amherst initiative. In conjunction with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, our health insurance provider, we offer a separate website, https://bluecrossma.ahealthyme.com. On this site, you are able to access information about online wellness classes, read articles about health related issues, take part in wellness challenges that can earn you rewards, and much more. More details about this wellness program, including descriptions of the program and resources, are available through ahealthyme Overview at https://www.amherst.edu/mm/441047. We encourage you to learn more about this initiative which can lead to better health and lower health costs. Employee Assistance Program E4Health is a comprehensive resource available to the Amherst College community to help support you and your family members with life services for everyday living. Members of the Amherst College community can access these services at any time, either through the E4Health website https://www.helloe4.com (username: amherst college, password: guest) or by calling the toll-free phone number 1-800-828-6025. Accessing and using these services is confidential. Other Information Eligible dependents for medical, dental and vision insurance include all dependents up to the end of the month in which they turn age 26, regardless of the dependent s Internal Revenue Service tax qualification status, marital status, student status, or employment status. Other eligible individuals include spouses and same-sex domestic partners. Imputed income charges may apply to individuals who are eligible under the plan rules, but who are not recognized as a legal tax dependent under the IRS tax code. Please contact the Office of Human Resources if you have questions regarding dependent eligibility. Creditable Coverage Notices For participants who are eligible for Medicare coverage and enrolled in an employer sponsored plan that contains prescription drug coverage, an annual notice is required that discloses whether or not the plan provides what is referred to as Creditable Prescription Drug Coverage. That is, coverage at least as good as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage. The prescription drug coverage provided through the HMO Blue Deductible, HMO Blue, Blue Choice, and Blue Care Elect PPO plans have been determined to provide creditable prescription drug coverage. A copy of the Creditable Coverage Notice is available on the Human Resources website.
Page 8 Questions? Contact the Office of Human Resources For Information Each year, you have the opportunity to meet with our benefit providers at the Benefits Fair. In addition, we have open campus drop-in hours at different locations for you to turn in health insurance forms, submit applications for sliding scale cost sharing and the Amherst Plan, as well as discuss any other benefit issues or changes you may be contemplating. Please review the information on the back page for details on the times and locations of these events. Questions concerning open enrollment may be directed to Philip Chapman-Bell at 542-5403, pcchapmanbell@amherst.edu or to Christopher Casey at 542-2670, ccasey@amherst.edu. The Office of Human Resources is located at 79 So. Pleasant Street, Suite 200. Application forms for processing any changes to your plan, and detailed brochures, are also available in our office which is open each work-day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Applications for the sliding scale health insurance premiums can be witnessed during office hours. Please remember that changes must be completed and received in the Office of Human Resources no later than June 2, 2017. Sincerely, María-Judith Rodriguez Chief Human Resources Officer Christoper Casey Director of Benefits and HRIS
Page 9 Enrollment Meetings & Benefits Fair Please join us at one of the upcoming benefit enrollment meetings where you will have the opportunity to: Turn in health insurance forms Submit applications for sliding scale cost sharing by bringing in your calendar year 2016 Federal tax forms Submit Amherst Plan forms Discuss any other benefits issues or changes you may be contemplating ENROLLMENT MEETINGS BENEFITS FAIR DATE/TIME Tuesday, May 23; 1:30 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25; 10:00 11:00 a.m. DATE/TIME Thursday, May 18; 10 a.m. 2 p.m. LOCATION Terrance Room A, Valentine Hall Keefe Campus Center, McCaffrey Room (Lounge) LOCATION Fayerweather Hall (Tent at front entrance)