benefitsFOCUS: Open Enrollment Essentials – Flexible Spending Accounts & Why You Might Want One in 2024

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Open Enrollment (November 1-15) starts next week! One of the benefits you can elect during Open Enrollment is a Flexible Spending Account, commonly referred to as an FSA. You must enroll annually if you want to have an FSA for the next plan year, and the only time you can do that is during Open Enrollment!

FSAs aren’t just a few random letters of the alphabet; they’re a way you can save pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible health and dependent care expenses! FSAs: Continue reading

benefitsFOCUS: Open Enrollment Essentials – Dental Benefit Options

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Open Enrollment (November 1-15) starts next week! When was the last time you compared our dental plan options to see whether your current plan still meets your needs? Open Enrollment is the only time during the year when you can change plans and dependents on your plan, unless you have an eligible mid-year qualifying event that allows you to make changes to your pre-tax benefits (like the dental plan). We encourage you to take a few minutes to assess whether you might want to make a change to your dental coverage during Open Enrollment. Continue reading

benefitsFOCUS: Open Enrollment Essentials – What Is a High Deductible Medical Plan & Is It for Me?

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Open Enrollment (November 1-15) starts next week! Have you considered comparing our medical plans to see which plan is best for you? In yesterday’s Compass post, we highlighted the differences between our medical plan options. Today, we’re going to focus on the plan that may be least familiar to you: our Albemarle Choice plan, a high deductible medical plan that also comes with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Deciding between our traditional plan (Albemarle Select) and the Albemarle Choice plan basically comes down to: Continue reading

benefitsFOCUS: Open Enrollment Essentials – Get to Know Your Medical Benefit Options

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Open Enrollment opens in ADP next Wednesday, November 1, and runs through Wednesday, November 15, which makes NOW the perfect time to review your benefits options and assess whether you might want to make a change for next year. Over the next few days, our “Open Enrollment Essentials” series will focus on the major benefits that you’ll see in the ADP Open Enrollment module. Today, we’re focusing on your medical benefit options. Continue reading

Your ACPS HR: Get to Know Your Benefits Team

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This article is the fifth in a series about getting to know your Human Resources team. In this post, we’re introducing you to the benefits team.

ACPS provides a robust benefits package to employees that is designed to be competitive among area employers and Virginia school divisions, and supportive of employees and their families—from hire through retirement. Our benefits team administers our various employee benefits programs, manages relationships with associated vendors, and helps employees resolve any issues or concerns that may arise as they access their benefits. Continue reading

Albemarle County Considering the Benefits of Adding an Employee Health and Wellness Center: Take Our Survey

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In partnership with ACPS, Albemarle County is beginning the Request for Proposals (RFP) process to explore adding an employee health and wellness center as one of the benefits it offers to employees of ACPS, Local Government, and partner entities. Similar to a few localities in Virginia, this center could offer a range of services to employees, including, but not limited to, primary care, physical therapy, occupational health, pharmacy, and behavioral health. We have three goals in exploring this option: Continue reading

benefitsFOCUS: Open Enrollment Info Site Now Available!

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In preparation for the upcoming benefits Open Enrollment window (November 1-15), our Open Enrollment info site is now live! This site is your go-to source of information for all things Open Enrollment! Be prepared for this year’s Open Enrollment by taking time to review your benefits options before Open Enrollment starts on November 1. On this site, you will find: Continue reading

benefitsFOCUS: Next Week Is National Retirement Security Week. Are You Saving Toward Retirement?

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Did you know that retirement benefits under VRS Plan 1 or 2 will, at most, replace 50-60% of a member’s pre-retirement income? If you’re a VRS Hybrid Plan member, that number decreases to 30% under the defined benefit portion of the Hybrid Plan. Whether you’re a VRS member or not, saving toward your retirement now can help give you options later in life, when you may not want or be able to work. Plus, many of the retirement savings options available to you as an ACPS employee allow you to save on a pre-tax basis, which helps you lower your taxable income now—while you’re working! Continue reading

benefitsFOCUS: Open Enrollment Is Coming Soon!

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The benefits Open Enrollment window will be open November 1-15! Open Enrollment is an important part of the benefits year, as it’s the one time during the year when current employees can make any changes they’d like to their medical or dental plans (or the dependents covered on those plans), and it’s the one time during the year when employees can elect to make FSA (Flexible Spending Account) contributions for the new year. Changes you make during Open Enrollment go into effect as of January 1, 2024. Continue reading