Are you one of the many Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) employees covered by an MCPS-provided medical plan who reduced their 2017 health insurance costs by completing a biometric health screening and/or health risk assessment? If so, congratulations! You will see a reduction in the cost of your health insurance next year when compared with the cost you would pay if you had not participated in the Wellness Initiatives program.
Did you miss the opportunity to take part in Wellness Initiatives for 2017? If so, you can reap the program benefits in 2018. Simply complete a biometric health screening between October 10, 2016, and October 6, 2017, and MCPS will pay an additional 1 percent of the total cost of your health insurance—reducing your contribution by 1 percent—effective January 1, 2018. Likewise, complete your medical insurance plan’s health risk assessment during the same time period and MCPS will pay an additional 1 percent of the total cost of your health insurance, also effective January 1, 2018.
Remember, you must complete a biometric health screening and health risk assessment each year within the announced timeframe to continue receiving the rate reductions.
Will you and your spouse be tobacco free throughout 2016?
- If so, you will avoid a 3 percent surcharge to your total health insurance costs in 2017 by attesting NOW (during Open Enrollment) to your and, if married, your spouse’s tobacco-use status via the online Benefit Enrollment System.
- If not, consider quitting, and ask your spouse to quit, to avoid the surcharge in 2018.
Once both you and your spouse have been tobacco free for 12 months, you will be able to re-attest after January 1 by answering the tobacco-use question from Employee Self-Service. ERSC will remove the surcharge within two pay periods.
Be sure to review the 2017 Employee Benefit Summary and the Wellness Initiatives web page so you will be ready to receive the rate reductions and avoid the surcharge in 2018.
