Our Mission To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. Our Goals • Increase learning growth for students • Decrease the gap in achievement • Increase annual graduation rates • Increase gateways to post-secondary success
On the behalf of the Board and administration at Heartland AEA, I want to wish all of you a peaceful and joyous holiday season. Please enjoy this special time with family and friends. Thank you for the impact you’ve made throughout 2018 for the children, families and educators of Central Iowa. Rest up, and we will see you in 2019! - Jon
Staff members frequently inquire when timesheets, addendum pay, direct deposit forms and other changes need to be submitted to the Payroll Department in order to be processed for a particular pay date. To assist you in your planning, a list of 2019 pay dates and corresponding due dates is available. This document is archived on the Intranet > Business Office > Payroll Forms & Information > 2019 Payroll Dates. Payroll needs to receive all information by the end of the day on the due date to ensure payments and/or changes are made on the corresponding pay date. Any information received in Payroll after the due date may be processed during the next payroll cycle. For those staff members being paid from a timesheet or receiving addendum pay, please keep in mind these items are to be completed, approved/signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Any items received after the due date may be processed on the next payroll. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg announced last week that fewer Iowa high school graduates are taking remedial coursework during their first year at Iowa’s community colleges and state universities, a signal that more students are on track to earn a degree or other postsecondary credential. “This is great news for our state and specifically for the Future Ready Iowa initiative, which focuses on helping more Iowans pursue rewarding careers and employers hire the skilled workers they need,” Gov. Reynolds said. “It is encouraging that high schools and higher education institutions are making big strides to better support students academically, but we must do more to ensure that all of our high school graduates are genuinely ready for college or career training and that they enroll.” About 71 percent of Iowa high school graduates enroll in college or training programs within a year of graduation, a percentage that has remained fairly steady in recent years. Of those:
The percentage of students who took a remedial math class at an Iowa community college or state university within one year of high school graduation declined to 13 percent (Class of 2016) from 19 percent (Class of 2011).
The percentage of students who took a remedial English class at an Iowa community college or state university within one year of high school graduation declined to 6 percent (Class of 2016) from 10 percent (Class of 2011).
The percentage of students who took remedial math or English classes declined among students from racial and ethnic minority groups, students from low-income backgrounds, students who do not speak English as their native language, and students who received special education services from 2011 through 2016, although significant disparities still exist.
The new data are from the state’s Postsecondary Readiness Reports website, updated on Wednesday. “The significant decline in students needing remedial courses when they enroll in college indicates Iowa is poised to make impressive progress toward the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of our workforce having education or training beyond high school in the next seven years,” Lt. Gov. Gregg said. Future Ready Iowa calls for 70 percent of Iowans in the workforce to have education or training beyond high school by 2025. One of the recommendations released by the Future Ready Iowa Alliance last year called for reducing the need for remediation for college students. Students identified through placement tests for non-credit developmental or remedial courses typically must complete them before moving on to college-credit courses, which can be a financial burden. “Remediation puts students at risk of dropping out of college,” Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise said. “Iowa’s community colleges, in particular, have been working hard to support students who aren’t prepared for college-level coursework through promising approaches that are helping them succeed.” Among these approaches, community colleges increasingly are placing underprepared students in college-level courses that are paired with supplemental education and homework support, known as a co-requisite remediation model.
For example, North Iowa Area Community College’s co-requisite program has boosted success rates in math and writing courses. The college initially piloted the program for math in 2007 and added writing in 2013. Now, more than 90 percent of students who receive homework support through the program pass college-level math, and more than 80 percent pass college-level writing (compared to success rates of 60 percent and about 30 percent, respectively, in traditional remedial or developmental courses). About Iowa’s Postsecondary Readiness Reports: This state website, launched in 2017, serves as an indicator of how well-prepared students are for success in postsecondary education and training upon graduation from public high schools in Iowa. The site provides data on student postsecondary enrollment patterns, remedial course-taking rates, and postsecondary retention and completion rates that can be connected to every public high school in Iowa. The site is a collaboration between the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Workforce Development, and the Board of Regents.
Did you know that 80% of workers polled nationally indicate they want their employer to provide financial wellness education? Consider where we are as a society today:
77% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck – Bankrate.com
30% of Americans have outstanding loans on their 401k’s – Business Record
#1 cause of stress is money problems and money fights – multiple studies
Heartland AEA is excited to announce our next financial wellness offering, Tackling Debt! Whether you are looking to pick up a few nuggets of information, or you need a financial overhaul, this 90-minute lunch and learn workshop is just for you. You will leave knowing how to get out of debt and what to do with your money after you become debt free. You will also learn about how the credit score is figured and what it means to you. Tackling Debt Lunch & Learn Jan. 9, 2019 11:30 – 1 p.m. Johnston REC or via Zoom RSVP by Jan. 7, 2019 Registration
Registration continues to be open for on-site biometric screenings from Hy-Vee. Reminder: Don’t wait for chronic diseases to sneak up on you. Take preventive measures by getting a health assessment from a Hy-Vee dietitian. Get quick and accurate results on cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, body fat and body mass index. The dietitian will then explain what the results mean to you. If you would rather, you can always go to a Hy-Vee store that has a dietician or to your primary care physician to have your biometric screening done. You will need to make an appointment with a Hy-Vee dietitian if you do a screening on your own. Screening Dates & Locations Johnston REC Dec. 18, 2018 Jan. 10 & Jan. 24, 2019 Feb. 5 & Feb. 20, 2019 March 5 & March 28, 2019 Carroll Regional Office Jan. 22, 2019 Indianola Regional Office Jan. 15, 2019 Adel Regional Office Feb. 13, 2019 Registration These instructions guide you through how to register for an on-site screening using the Hy-Vee website.
Did you know that drinking enough water can help boost your metabolism, reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines and keep you energized? When you participate in the Rethink Your Drink Water Challenge, you can see for yourself the amazing benefits of drinking more water. During the 28-day challenge, you will record if you’ve consumed your recommended number of glasses of water each day—it’s that easy! Registration Open: Dec. 24, 2018 - Jan. 14, 2019 – Watch your email for a message from Wellmark with registration information! Challenge Duration: Dec. 31, 2018 - Jan. 27, 2019
As an initial wave of Benefits Surveys is completed, questions and comments are being made in the survey as well. Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, continues to address some of the questions being submitted in the survey. Question/Comment: Less restrictive on number of chiropractor visits allowed. Answer: Typically, 20 chiropractor visits are allowed annually. However, if you need additional visits and if you are with a Blue Choice chiropractor, they will request additional visits through Wellmark. Question/Comment: Add benefits for non-Western/non-traditional services (i.e., acupuncture, massage therapy, functional medicine). Answer: These are services that are determined by Wellmark and aren’t available options for the Agency to consider within our health plan. Question/Comment: More education on the differing plans would have been nice as a new full-time employee. I was initially hired part-time, so when I became full-time I did not receive the “orientation” to the healthcare options that is part of new, full-time employee orientation. Answer: Employees going from part-time to full-time employment have the option to attend the new hire orientation in August. If you were not offered or missed the orientation but would like more education about the differing plans, please don’t hesitate to contact Juliette Houseman for assistance. Question/Comment: I'm fortunate to be a very healthy person and would prefer a higher deductible with lower premiums. Answer: The Insurance Analysis Committee continues to explore this and other health insurance-related options.
In an effort to provide even better service to our internal and external customers, I want to take a minute to reiterate how important it is to follow a few easy steps in regard to our van mail delivery service.
Current Route Schedule - Go to the Intranet > Communications > Annual Publications > Van Route Schedule to find the current Van Route Schedule. The most up-to-date route list will always be on the Intranet.
Addressing Van Mail - It's important to address your mail correctly. Correctly addressing your mail will lead to easier delivery and less second-guessing by our van drivers, school support staff and you!
Van Mail Address Format From: Your Name To: Building Name Recipient's Name Route #
Packaging Van Mail - Items placed in our van mail have to travel through a system, just like U.S. mail. Please be mindful of how you package your items. When in doubt, package them like you would if you were sending them through the U.S. mail or via UPS.
Thank you for your attention to these details as we work to make our van delivery service even better! We will share this information with the rest of our staff in the next Connection. If you have any questions, contact Dustin Gean, Operation Manager.
We want to help you dispose of small electronics you no longer use and help the environment at the same time! If you plan to spend some of your Winter Break cleaning out your closets and drawers, reach way in the back and find the small electronics you no longer use--cell phones, tablets, MP3 players, digital cameras, modems, A/V wires, etc.--and send them in to be recycled by an electronics recycling company instead of throwing them away. (No monitors or TVs, please.)
Regional offices: Each office will have a supply of boxes and labels available beginning this week. If you want to get started early, take boxes and labels home now. Or when you return from break, bring your items to your office, place them in the boxes and label them with the official labels so the Operations Dept. knows they are slated to be recycled. Labeled boxes can be sent via van mail to the Johnston REC.
Johnston offices: Large boxes will be located in the Johnston REC and Administration Center for you to drop your items in.
Deadline: The deadline for electronics recycling will be Jan. 15, 2019. We hope you find this to be a helpful holiday perk!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Our Mission To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. Our Goals • Increase learning growth for students • Decrease the gap in achievement • Increase annual graduation rates • Increase gateways to post-secondary success
Due to the upcoming agency holiday schedule, staff members paid from a timesheet must have their Dec. 1-15 timesheets completed, approved by their supervisor and submitted to the Payroll Department by the end of the day on Wednesday, Dec. 19 in order to ensure they receive pay at the end of the month. The December end-of-month payday will be Dec. 28. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.
Staff members frequently inquire when timesheets, addendum pay, direct deposit forms and other changes need to be submitted to the Payroll Department in order to be processed for a particular pay date. To assist you in your planning, a list of 2019 pay dates and corresponding due dates is available. This document is archived on the Intranet > Business Office > Payroll Forms & Information > 2019 Payroll Dates. Payroll needs to receive all information by the end of the day on the due date to ensure payments and/or changes are made on the corresponding pay date. Any information received in Payroll after the due date may be processed during the next payroll cycle. For those staff members being paid from a timesheet or receiving addendum pay, please keep in mind these items are to be completed, approved/signed by a supervisor and submitted to Payroll within four working days after the end of the pay period. Any items received after the due date may be processed on the next payroll. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.
The Agency’s auditors have a new recommendation for us—and the Business Office needs your help to comply with it! The auditors have recommended that the Business Office require staff to turn in receipts for expenses that staff members are submitting for reimbursement. This change is happening to ensure that reimbursements are a proper use of public funds. This means that travel-related reimbursements and other purchases (supplies, incentives) occurring after Jan. 1, 2019, will require an itemized receipt in order to be paid. How to Submit Receipts
Receipts related to travel (hotel, food, transportation, baggage, etc.) can be uploaded through the Travel/Professional Development Request System. Transportation includes shuttles, taxis and ride-sharing such as Uber.
Receipts related to supplies and incentives should be emailed to Mary Heaberlin, Accounts Payable Specialist.
At this time, receipts are not required for cell phone reimbursement.
Mileage will continue to be reimbursed at $.41 a mile. The process for submitting mileage will not change.
Failure to submit itemized receipts will either delay the reimbursement or reduce the amount reimbursed. As a reminder, Heartland AEA’s per diem meal limits are:
$15 out-of-area travel (no overnight stay required)
$30 out-of-area travel in state (overnight stay required)
$45 out-of-state travel (overnight stay required)
Tax and tips are included in all per diem amounts. The per diems are daily limits and do not carry over to the next day if the full amount is not spent. If you have any questions about this new requirement, contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005.
It's a 2-for-1 combo! Keystone AEA is combining its KPEC (Keystone's Premier Education Conference) and TSS (Trauma Sensitive Schools) Conference into one for 2019. #ALLIN conference attendees will be able to choose from a variety of sessions to improve instruction, student learning and teacher thinking within the context of a trauma-sensitive school. Hands-on sessions will be offered, allowing educators to actually experience and practice. Recertification credit is available. The #ALL IN Summer Education Conference is packed with INSPIRATION and INFORMATION! #ALL IN Summer Education Conference June 25-26, 2019 Grand River Center, Dubuque
Did you know that drinking enough water can help boost your metabolism, reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines and keep you energized? When you participate in the Rethink Your Drink Water Challenge, you can see for yourself the amazing benefits of drinking more water. During the 28-day challenge, you will record if you’ve consumed your recommended number of glasses of water each day—it’s that easy! Join the Rethink Your Drink Challenge – registration coming soon! Registration Open: Dec. 24, 2018 - Jan. 14, 2019 Challenge Duration: Dec. 31, 2018 - Jan. 27, 2019
As an initial wave of Benefits Surveys is completed, questions and comments are being made in the survey as well. Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, continues to address some of the questions being submitted in the survey. Q/Comment: Clearer understanding why some things are covered and others go toward out of pocket expenses -- for instance, I saw a PT [physical therapist] this year, and I was charged $13 per time and insurance covered the rest. I also saw another PT at the same time, and I had to pay $650 out-of-pocket for 2 appointments. Both were in-network. A: Some physical therapists bill as Outpatient while others bill as Office Visit. It is important to ask the provider how he/she bills when considering physical therapy, because while both go towards your deductible, if the provider bills as Outpatient, you are responsible for 100%. But if he/she bills as Office Visit, then it is coinsurance (and if in-network then the coinsurance is 15%). Once you have met your deductible, then it should only be co-insurance towards your out-of-pocket maximum. Q/Comment: Contact lens coverage/discount A: If you use the EyeMed Vision Discount Program, you can potentially save up to 15% off your contact lens expense. More information is available on the Intranet > Benefits > Eye Med. Q/Comment: There are few chiropractors on Wellmark's plan. I would like to see more sports-related chiropractors added. A: Wellmark determines the number of chiropractors they allow to be considered Wellmark providers under Wellmark plans. If you have a particular chiropractor whom you would like to be covered, you could ask he/she directly if they would apply to become a Wellmark plan provider chiropractor.
In an effort to provide even better service to our internal and external customers, I want to take a minute to reiterate how important it is to follow a few easy steps in regard to our van mail delivery service.
Current Route Schedule - Go to the Intranet > Communications > Annual Publications > Van Route Schedule to find the current Van Route Schedule. The most up-to-date route list will always be on the Intranet.
Addressing Van Mail - It's important to address your mail correctly. Correctly addressing your mail will lead to easier delivery and less second-guessing by our van drivers, school support staff and you!
Van Mail Address Format From: Your Name To: Building Name Recipient's Name Route #
Packaging Van Mail - Items placed in our van mail have to travel through a system, just like U.S. mail. Please be mindful of how you package your items. When in doubt, package them like you would if you were sending them through the U.S. mail or via UPS.
Thank you for your attention to these details as we work to make our van delivery service even better! We will share this information with the rest of our staff in the next Connection. If you have any questions, contact Dustin Gean, Operation Manager.
We want to help you dispose of small electronics you no longer use and help the environment at the same time! If you plan to spend some of your Winter Break cleaning out your closets and drawers, reach way in the back and find the small electronics you no longer use--cell phones, tablets, MP3 players, digital cameras, modems, A/V wires, etc.--and send them in to be recycled by an electronics recycling company instead of throwing them away. (No monitors or TVs, please.)
Regional offices: Each office will have a supply of boxes and labels available beginning this week. If you want to get started early, take boxes and labels home now. Or when you return from break, bring your items to your office, place them in the boxes and label them with the official labels so the Operations Dept. knows they are slated to be recycled. Labeled boxes can be sent via van mail to the Johnston REC.
Johnston offices: Large boxes will be located in the Johnston REC and Administration Center for you to drop your items in.
Deadline: The deadline for electronics recycling will be Jan. 15, 2019.
We hope you find this to be a helpful holiday perk!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dustin Gean, Operations Manager.
Last week, Iowa’s AEAs emailed a survey to local educators with the goal of better understanding stakeholder awareness of and satisfaction with AEA services. Please encourage educators to participate in this survey, as feedback is critical to ensuring Iowa’s AEAs continue to provide quality services to local schools. Iowa’s AEAs has partnered with Hanover Research to administer and analyze this survey. Hanover Research is an independent market research firm based in Washington, D.C., and is in no way affiliated with any other entity or organization. Responses are completely anonymous and will be kept strictly confidential. The survey will close on Dec. 14, and Hanover will provide an analysis following the closing date.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Our Mission To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. Our Goals • Increase learning growth for students • Decrease the gap in achievement • Increase annual graduation rates • Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The Agency’s auditors have a new recommendation for us—and the Business Office needs your help to comply with it! The auditors have recommended that the Business Office require staff to turn in receipts for expenses that staff members are submitting for reimbursement. This change is happening to ensure that reimbursements are a proper use of public funds. This means that travel-related reimbursements and other purchases (supplies, incentives) occurring after Jan. 1, 2019, will require an itemized receipt in order to be paid. How to Submit Receipts
Receipts related to travel (hotel, food, transportation, baggage, etc.) can be uploaded through the Travel/Professional Development Request System.
Receipts related to supplies and incentives should be emailed to Mary Heaberlin, Accounts Payable Specialist.
At this time, receipts are not required for cell phone reimbursement.
Failure to submit itemized receipts will either delay the reimbursement or reduce the amount reimbursed. As a reminder, Heartland AEA’s per diem meal limits are:
$15 out-of-area travel (no overnight stay required)
$30 out-of-area travel in state (overnight stay required)
$45 out-of-state travel (overnight stay required)
Tax and tips are included in all per diem amounts. The per diems are daily limits and do not carry over to the next day if the full amount is not spent. If you have any questions about this new requirement, contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005.
Semi-annually, Heartland AEA must comply with the Federal Grant rules identified in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87, pertaining to documentation needed for federal expenditures. For employees who are funded 100% with federal funding, there are Circular A-87 audit requirements we need to meet in order to document appropriate expenditures. If you are in the fully funded group, on Dec. 5, 2018 you will receive an email from heartlandworkflow with the subject A87 Certification Notice - Action Required with a link to the certification page. The process is very simple and the same as previous years. If you are new to this process or need a refresher, you can view this presentation, which explains the background for Circular A-87 and the steps Heartland AEA is taking to meet the A-87 requirements. Keep in mind the video was created in March 2011. Although some of the dates and timelines in the video are old, the process and the purpose of the A-87 certification are still the same. The video will explain that employees who are fully funded from one grant will need to certify every six months that they are performing duties allowed under the federal grant. If you have any questions, contact Brian Whalen, Business Manager, at ext. 14005. The Business Office appreciates your prompt completion of the certifications and your assistance in helping us comply with this reporting requirement.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed in 2015, replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. It maintains a focus on equity for all students, while giving states and local school districts much more ownership over systems of school accountability and support. In Iowa, ESSA has been a great opportunity to build on bold education improvements underway that align with ESSA requirements, including clear and rigorous standards for what students should know and be able to do, a school accountability system that targets support where and when schools need it most and a structure for professional learning that emphasizes teacher leadership and evidence-based practices.
The ESSA Support website provides a repository of tools and resources to support the work aligned to Iowa's ESSA Plan. ESSA Support Site If you have any questions, contact Karla Day, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, at ext. 14321 or Amy Wichman, Regional Director, at ext. 18143.
Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise announced last week he is seeking the public’s input on proposed physical education and health standards. The standards, selected by the Physical Education and Health Standards Review Team, would be recommended to schools, but not required. Feedback on the standards will come through a survey and public forums. The public forums will be Dec. 4 and Dec. 6 (details are below). The survey will be open until Dec. 20. Input from the survey and public forums will be incorporated into the team’s final recommendations for standards. “Our goal is to put in place standards that provide teachers with a framework to strengthen instruction from kindergarten through 12th grade and to help students build the knowledge and skills to be healthy and active for life,” said Brian Rhoads, co-chair of the statewide team and a teacher leader and physical education teacher in the West Des Moines Community School District. Rhoads said that physical education and health also address social-emotional learning in the schools. “We are seeing a lot of emotional issues in our schools,” he said. “There’s a lot of research that shows physical activity and good nutrition lessen the problems with mental health.” The Physical Education and Health Standards Review Team was created in response to public support for offering standards that go beyond the mandatory subject areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and 21st century skills. The team hopes to get the proposed physical education and health standards to the State Board of Education for consideration sometime next spring. Feedback from the public forums can be provided either in person or remotely through satellite centers (through video conferencing). Both forums run from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Details can be found on the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
As an initial wave of Benefits Surveys is completed, questions and comments are being made in the survey as well. Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, continues to address some of the questions being submitted in the survey. Q: Offer health insurance to retirees younger than age 65. Q: I guess I need to understand HRA vs. HSA. I had no idea HRA could be used towards health premiums in retirement. Q: Health insurance premiums paid during retirement prior to age 65/Medicare. Q: Paying health premiums from retirement to age 65/Medicare. Since Heartland AEA recently ended this benefit when I am close to retirement, I have not had the opportunity to build up an HRA account to cover premiums during retirement years or have another investment strategy to cover healthcare premiums in retirement. I would have invested differently over the past 20 years had I known the payment of health premiums during retirement would be ended and no longer available. A: 509A is a state law that states state employees who take a bona fide retirement (draw IPERS) are eligible to continue under their employer’s health insurance coverage only at 100% their cost until the month prior to the month in which they turn 65. (They go on Medicare at the beginning of the month in which they turn 65.) Although Heartland AEA employees are not state employees, our agency is state-funded so this benefit is passed along to you, too.
Last year Heartland AEA filled 45 vacancies in the Certified Union and Management staff employee groups. It has been to the Agency’s advantage to enter the recruitment cycle as early as possible. For 2018-19, the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has again approved an Early Notification Incentive for staff who have a signed contract and who notify Heartland AEA of their intent to not renew their contract for the 2019-20 school year by Dec. 7, 2018. Details are listed below. Early Notification Incentive Process & Requirements
Certified Union and Management staff who do not plan to return to Heartland AEA for the 2019-20 school year submit early notification letters of resignation that are effective at the end of the 2018-19 work year.
Early notification letters must be received in the Human Resources Department by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, 2018.
Heartland AEA’s Board of Directors acts on early notification letters no later than the regular meeting on Dec. 11, 2018.
Departing staff must fulfill their individual employment contract obligations for the 2018-19 work year.
Early Notification Incentive
A $1,500 early notification incentive will be paid on June 30, 2019, to employees fulfilling these requirements.
If you have any questions about the early notification incentive, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources, at ext. 14534.
Last week, Iowa’s AEAs emailed a survey to local educators with the goal of better understanding stakeholder awareness of and satisfaction with AEA services. Please encourage educators to participate in this survey, as feedback is critical to ensuring Iowa’s AEAs continue to provide quality services to local schools. Iowa’s AEAs has partnered with Hanover Research to administer and analyze this survey. Hanover Research is an independent market research firm based in Washington, D.C., and is in no way affiliated with any other entity or organization. Responses are completely anonymous and will be kept strictly confidential. The survey will close on Dec. 14, and Hanover will provide an analysis following the closing date.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Our Mission To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. Our Goals • Increase learning growth for students • Decrease the gap in achievement • Increase annual graduation rates • Increase gateways to post-secondary success
The IRS has announced that the 403(b) and 457 plan regular elective deferral contribution limits will increase for 2019:
The regular elective deferral limit will be $19,000 per calendar year, increased from the previous $18,500.
The catch-up contribution limit for employees age 50 and over remains the same at $6,000 per calendar year.
Both the 403(b) and 457 plans offer additional catch-up contribution provisions. A calculation is required to determine the actual amount, if any, available under these special catch-up provisions. If you have any questions, contact Steve Jordan, Senior Payroll Specialist, at ext. 14908.
Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, continues to address some of the questions being submitted from the Benefits Survey. Remeber that completion of the survey is also a required baseline item for completing this year’s Wellness Program. The survey will be open from Sept. 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019.The Agency’s Insurance Committee uses this information when considering employee benefits, so be sure to complete the survey and let your voice be heard!
Take the Survey Q: I had a CAT scan after an abnormal mammogram, and it cost well over $300 out-of-pocket. Why? A: CAT scans billed as outpatient or when the provider of the scan is tied into a hospital are typically higher and can cost a patient up to 100%. It is a good practice to check with the CAT scan provider prior to the procedure. HRA monies can be used to pay for these types of out-of-pocket costs. Q: Why can’t we increase the limit on our Medical Flex spending accounts? A: The amount of money you can put into your Medical Flex spending account is an IRS regulation, so unfortunately, Heartland AEA is unable to change the limit. Q: Can our dental plan offer a higher annual maximum coverage amount? A: Heartland AEA offers comparable coverage to other employers according to Delta Dental’s Book of Business. In fact, our agency has a higher benefit period maximum of $1,500. According to Delta, most employers have a benefit period maximum of $1,000. Also, higher maximums equal higher premiums.
The Financial Fitness Challenge has been extended through Dec. 31, 2018. Take advantage of it today! As part of this year’s Wellness Program, we’re pleased to provide a new employee benefit for this year – a free financial fitness program to help you improve your financial well-being. This program is designed to provide a custom-tailored program just for you. Making changes may seem complicated, but you’ll be surprised how taking a few simple steps will boost your confidence. You can take control of your financial future with this award-winning financial fitness program that includes: • The Financial Fitness CHECKUP helps you understand where you are now. • The Financial Fitness ACADEMY includes hundreds of tools and tutorials that will guide you on how to make the most of your money. Don’t let the worry of financial mumbo-jumbo stop you. The resources were developed to be interesting and understandable! You will feel more empowered and capable of making changes and future financial decisions. Check it out today on the Financial Fitness Academy website. If you have any questions, contact Tony Chiaramonte, Director of Human Resources.
