benefitsFOCUS: The Last Three Issues (July 27, August 1 & 3)

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benefitsFOCUS: In This IssueAugust 3, 2018

Special Flexible Spending Account edition: Read on if you currently have an FSA, or are thinking of/planning to have one next year!

What’s the BIG news?

Your benefits Open Enrollment period is under way! Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)* are a great way to use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible medical and child dependent care expenses. New to FSAs? Visit our info page! If you’ve had a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) before, you probably know that Open Enrollment is the time when you renew FSA contracts for the next year. If you want to have a medical or dependent care FSA for next year, you must enroll during the Open Enrollment window (closes August 17th).

*FSA contracts do not roll from one year to the next; you must re-enroll if you wish to participate in an FSA next year, even if you have a rollover balance at the end of the current medical FSA plan year.

What you NEED to know about next year:

We will be transitioning our medical, dental, and FSA plan years to be calendar-based (Jan-Dec) effective January 1, 2019. Moving to a calendar year aligns your medical and dental premiums, FSA/HSA contributions and healthcare-related spending with the IRS tax year, making it easier for you to set/monitor your contributions for compliance with applicable IRS limits. Changing to a calendar year means that we will move the annual Open Enrollment period from August to November. BUT– we’ve got to get there first!

Here’s a quick “what you need to know about the transition process” summary:*

  • We’ll offer TWO Open Enrollment periods (in August 2018 and in November 2018)
  • We’ll offer a Short FSA Plan Year (Sept – Dec 2018) and then the new calendar-based plan year (Effective Jan – Dec 2019); there will be special contribution maximums for the Short FSA Plan Year
  • You’ll make your elections for the Short FSA Plan Year in NOW (see below for contribution maximums)
  • You’ll make your elections for the new calendar-based FSA plan year in NOVEMBER (see below for contribution maximums)

FSA Plan Year Transition Process*Get more details about this transition process, your FSA election limits for the Short FSA Plan Year, and more.

Ready to do this thing? Access the online Open Enrollment system. (Be sure to read the instructions carefully and remember to hit the CONFIRM button to save your changes! If you aren’t prompted to email or print a confirmation, you haven’t successfully saved your session!) The online Open Enrollment system will ONLY be available August 1st through August 17th!

How can I learn more about my options or get assistance during Open Enrollment?

  • Attend an Open Enrollment info session (great for asking questions and getting answers!):
    • Monday, August 6th: COB McIntire, Lane Auditorium, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
    • Tuesday, August 14th: COB McIntire, Lane Auditorium, 11:30-12:30pm
  • Learn when/where you can get help on a walk-in basis, or schedule personal Open Enrollment assistance appointments, view detailed information about the plans, see plan comparisons…..all of this, and so much more, can be found on your Open Enrollment info site.

benefitsFOCUS: In This IssueAugust 1, 2018

Your annual benefits Open Enrollment period starts TODAY! Updated info session info and more …

What’s the BIG news?

Your annual benefits Open Enrollment period (August 1st through August 17th) begins TODAY! Learn about your options by visiting the Open Enrollment info site. Ready to do this thing? Access the online Open Enrollment system. (Be sure to read the instructions carefully and remember to hit the CONFIRM button to save your changes! If you aren’t prompted to email or print a confirmation, you haven’t successfully saved your session!)

WHY is Open Enrollment such BIG news?

Open Enrollment is your ONE time of year to make ANY change you wish to your current medical or dental elections: You can add/drop/change a plan or add/drop dependents. It’s also the one time of year when you can enroll in a medical or dependent care flexible spending account (FSA).* Even if you are happy with your current benefits elections and don’t want an FSA next year, it’s always a good idea to login to your personal Open Enrollment site to verify your plan elections and confirm other information about you and your covered dependents. The online Open Enrollment system will ONLY be available August 1st through August 17th!

*FSA contracts do not roll from one year to the next; you must re-enroll if you wish to participate in an FSA next year, even if you have a rollover balance at the end of the current medical FSA plan year.

What do I need to know about my options for next year?

Albemarle Choice and Albemarle Select medical plan members now have the same $0 cost for certain preventative drugs. Learn more »

Effective 10/1, part-time benefits-eligible employees working at 70% will pay full-time employee premiums for their selected medical/dental coverage. There will be no changes to current medical/dental plan options or monthly premium rates.

IMPORTANT: We will be transitioning our medical, dental, and FSA plan years to be calendar-based (Jan-Dec) effective January 1, 2019. Moving to a calendar year aligns your medical and dental premiums, FSA/HSA contributions and healthcare-related spending with the IRS tax year, making it easier for you to set/monitor your contributions for compliance with applicable IRS limits. Changing to a calendar year means that we will move the annual Open Enrollment period from August to November. BUT– we’ve got to get there first!

Here’s a quick “what you need to know about the transition process” summary:*

  • We’ll offer TWO Open Enrollment periods (in August 2018 and in November 2018)
  • We’ll offer a Short FSA Plan Year (Sept–Dec 2018) and then the new calendar-based plan year (Effective Jan–Dec 2019); there will be special contribution maximums for the Short FSA Plan Year*
  • You’ll make your elections for the Short FSA Plan Year in August and you’ll make your elections for the new calendar-based FSA plan year in November
  • We’re setting our medical and dental plan year out of pocket costs (deductibles, out of pocket maximums, etc.) as if we’re having a 15-month plan year (Oct 2018 – Dec 2019). This means that IF you stay on the same medical plan option (Albemarle Select or Albemarle Choice) or dental plan option during that 15-month period, you will not see a reset of your out of pocket costs for that plan until January of 2020!

*Get more details about this transition process, your FSA election limits for the Short FSA Plan Year, and more.

How can I learn more about my options or get assistance during Open Enrollment?

  • Attend an Open Enrollment info session (great for asking questions and getting answers!):
    • Thursday, August 2nd: COB 5th, Room A, 11:30-12:30pm
    • Monday, August 6th: COB McIntire, Lane Auditorium, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
    • Tuesday, August 14th: COB McIntire, Lane Auditorium, 11:30-12:30pm
  • Learn when/where you can get help on a walk-in basis, or schedule personal Open Enrollment assistance appointments, view detailed information about the plans, see plan comparisons…..all of this, and so much more, can be found on your Open Enrollment info site.

benefitsFOCUS: In This IssueJuly 27, 2018

Get ready for your annual County benefits Open Enrollment period (8/1 – 8/17)! Some things you need to know …

What’s the BIG news?

Your annual benefits Open Enrollment period (August 1st through August 17th) begins SOON. Get ready for it by visiting the Open Enrollment info site. Even if you’re not planning on making any changes to your current lineup of benefits, or enrolling in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) next year, be prepared for the new plan year by visiting the info site. Who knows? This could be the year where you explore new options, or learn something you didn’t know about our plans and how to best use them!

WHY is Open Enrollment such BIG news?

Open Enrollment is your ONE time of year to make any change you wish to your current medical or dental elections: You can add/drop/change a plan or add/drop dependents. It’s also the one time of year when you can enroll in a medical or dependent care flexible spending account (FSA).* And, it’s always a good idea to login to your personal Open Enrollment site to verify your plan elections and confirm other information about you and your covered dependents. The online Open Enrollment system will be available August 1st through August 17th!

*FSA contracts do not roll from one year to the next; you must re-enroll if you wish to participate in an FSA next year, even if you have a rollover balance at the end of the current medical FSA plan year.

How can I learn more about my options or get assistance during Open Enrollment?

So many ways! You can:

  • Attend an Open Enrollment info session (great for asking questions and getting answers!):
    • Thursday, August 2nd: COB 5th, Room A, 11:30-12:30
    • Monday, August 6th: COB McIntire, Lane Auditorium, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
    • Monday, August 14: COB 5th, Room A, 12:30-1:30
  • Learn when/where you can get help on a walk-in basis, or schedule personal Open Enrollment assistance appointments, view detailed information about the plans, see plan comparisons…..all of this, and so much more, can be found on your Open Enrollment info site.

We’ll be sending out lots of useful information throughout the Open Enrollment period, so be sure to stay informed by reading your benefitsFOCUS announcements as you receive them!

For more information about your employee benefits, our web pages are always available when you are. If you have questions, please contact Human Resources at 296-5827 or benefits@albemarle.org.