In Spite of Present Circumstances, Annual Benefits Enrollment Will Go on in April

In spite of everything that is going on with COVID-19, our required annual benefits enrollment will still be occurring, so please be sure to check out The Connection for updates and information weekly. As it nears (April 1 - 30), it's time to start reflecting on the different deductible plans offered through Heartland's AEA’s health insurance coverage. 

Our online enrollment module in Employee Online has also been updated, and we’ll share more information about this in The Connection as well as through ZOOM sessions for staff. If you know the plan that you want to enroll in, Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, will walk you through the entire enrollment process.

Health Insurance Plan Changes

A reminder of changes to our health insurance plans is below. 

• Medical & HRA Plan Change Details

A more comprehensive Q & A document will be shared next week. But you can start to consider the following as you think about enrollment:  

• When considering which deductible plan you want to participate in, you should consider the deductible amount, premium costs and if you have any expected medical expenses (e.g., having a baby or major surgery). No matter which deductible you choose, there is absolutely NO difference in the actual coverage(s) provided by the Blue Choice plans offered to you. 

• If you pay $617.58 per month for the $1,000 deductible family plan vs. $551.10 per month for the $2,000 family deductible plan, you would want to consider the cost savings towards your premium. But you would also want to consider that on the $1,000 deductible family plan, it is $1,000 per person or $2,000 per family towards the deductible, and on the $2,000 deductible plan, it is $2,000 per person or $4,000 towards the deductible. If you don't have any major medical procedures planned, and everyone covered under your plan is in reasonably good health, then you might consider the $2,000 plan because you would save premium dollars and that you would receive an annual Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with the $2,000 deductible plan only.

• If anyone covered under your plan needs to have any major medical procedures or regularly meets your deductible under the $1,000 deductible plan, then you might consider the savings provided by the lower deductible yet at a higher cost to you. 

• If you are considering the single health plans (which are provided by the Agency at no cost to you), which both provide the same coverage, you would want to consider the deductible of $1,000 ($2,000 out-of-pocket maximum) vs. $2,000 deductible ($4,000 out-of-pocket maximum) and that you would receive an annual Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with the $2,000 deductible plan only. 

• The HRA is a 100% contribution by Heartland AEA into a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) for you if you choose a $2,000 deductible health plan. Contributions are made in quarterly deposits, you can use this money to be reimbursed for your and/or your spouse and/or dependents’ out-of-pocket vision, medical, dental and/or prescription expenses, regardless of whether you have single or family coverage. Since it is a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, you are unable to take the funds with you when you terminate your employment with Heartland AEA, unless you take a bona fide retirement from the Agency (which basically means receiving IPERs). Quarterly deposits will be made into an account with 121 Benefits, the Agency’s HRA administrator. When you submit your claims, if there is money available in your account, you are reimbursed. If you submit more than is in your account, then every quarter when a deposit is made, you are reimbursed until the claim has been paid in full. The balance rolls over annually with no cap on the maximum rollover amount.    

As always, contact Juliette Houseman, Benefits Specialist, if you have any questions.