Employee Benefits Open Enrollment to Be Held Online October 10–November 4, 2022

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will hold its annual Open Enrollment for employee benefits online from October 10–November 4, 2022. Employees will have 24/7 access to the online Benefit Enrollment System (BES) to enroll in or make changes to their benefits. Access to the BES will be available from the Employee Self-Service (ESS) web page. You must submit any benefit changes no later than November 4, 2022. Changes made to your benefits will be effective January 1, 2023.

Benefits Plan Highlights for 2023

Effective January 1, 2023, Cigna* will replace CareFirst as a benefit plan provider. Cigna will offer eligible employees its—

• Open Access Plus (OAP) plan (replacing the CareFirst BlueChoice Advantage POS plan), and
• Open Access Plus In-Network (OAPIN) plan (replacing the CareFirst BlueChoice HMO plan)

If you are currently enrolled with CareFirst, your enrollment for 2023 will automatically change to the corresponding plan option with Cigna, unless you select another plan during Open Enrollment.

There will be no changes to the MCPS dental, vision, or prescription providers for 2023.

During Open Enrollment, eligible employees can—

1. Enroll in benefits
2. Change health insurance carriers
3. Make changes to coverage levels
4. Add or drop dependents**
5. Enroll in flexible spending account(s) (FSAs) for 2023
6. Designate life insurance beneficiary(ries)***

You may enroll in the full employee benefit plan or choose only the individual components (medical, dental, vision, or prescription drug) that meet your needs. For example, you may select medical and prescription drug coverage but decline vision and dental coverage. All family members must have the same coverage.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Open Enrollment also is your time to enroll in an FSA for 2023. If you are participating currently in an FSA and wish to do so again in 2023, you must reenroll. The annual limit on medical FSA accounts for 2023 will increase to $2,850; the limit for dependent care FSA accounts will remain at $5,000. Keep reading for more information about the benefits of enrolling in an FSA for medical and/or dependent care expenses and how to sign up for 2023.

Benefit Rates for 2023

Your 2023 benefit rates will be based on the benefit plan(s) you elect and, as a result of the Wellness Initiatives program, on whether or not—

• you completed a biometric health screening or the Wellness Initiatives: Biometrics Credit Alternative 2021 Benefit Year training between October 11, 2021, and October 7, 2022; and
• you completed your medical plan’s online health risk assessment between October 11, 2021, and October 7, 2022.

Base rates for the 2023 plan year, which do not include Wellness Initiatives credit(s), are available in the 2023 Employee Benefit Summary. Rate charts for 2023 that do factor in Wellness Initiatives credits or charges are available on the Open Enrollment web page. Find rates for the current plan year on the Employee Benefits web page.

Learn More

Studies show that an educated health-care consumer is best able to navigate the confusing world of health insurance and make better decisions. For details about your benefit options, refer to the 2023 Employee Benefit Summary. It is important to pay close attention to the Open Enrollment materials to ensure that you make the best choices for you and your family.

*See Questions and Answers Regarding Cigna Medical Plans

**Documentation may be required.

***Current designated life insurance beneficiary(ries) will not be displayed on the BES screen. Any changes made to

  beneficiary(ies) from the BES will replace all previously designated beneficiaries.