Benefits Update: New Electronic Enrollment & Plan Changes

Plan to attend one of the benefit meetings scheduled in your area to learn about the changes to Heartland benefits and the new process we will use for benefit enrollment. Click here for a list of the meetings. No registration is necessary, and employees may attend whatever meeting works best with their schedule.

This year, thanks to the very hard work of our Technology Department, staff members will enroll for all benefits via the IFAS Dashboard. The enrollment process will feature a different section for each benefit option where you will be able to view your current coverage and make your selections for the coming year.

The Agency will again be offering health insurance through Wellmark Blue Choice. However, the zero deductible plan will no longer be available. Staff will select from the $500 deductible or $1,500 deductible plans. There will be a slight increase in drug co-pays and a few plan enhancements. This is an ANNUAL enrollment year, and not an OPEN enrollment year. This means that if you currently have single coverage, you will not be permitted to bring any family members on the plan. If you currently have family coverage, you will not be permitted to add additional family members this year. The next opportunity to bring your family on your health plan or add additional family members without a change in family status event will be 2011. You will be able to review the family members who are currently covered by your plan and remove them from coverage if necessary. The system will also display Primary Care Physician (PCP) information for you and your covered dependents. You will not be able to make changes to your PCP via the online enrollment, but you can do so by calling Wellmark’s customer service line. The change will then be effective the first of the following month.

For dental insurance, the Agency will continue to use Delta Dental. Those wishing to bring family members on their dental plan will be permitted to do so.

For vision insurance, the Agency will again be offering coverage through Ameritas. For this benefit, employees will be able to choose among several plan options or waive the coverage.

Employees will also have an opportunity to enroll in the medical flex benefit plan, which has a maximum annual election of $5,000.

Employees are encouraged to attend one of the benefit meetings. Since our new system will be available via the IFAS Dashboard, no paper materials will be distributed. Questions about the benefit meetings may be directed to Benefits Specialists Kathy Martin at ext. 14385 or Steve Zimmerman at ext. 14534.