There are less than two weeks left to make changes to your benefits, enroll in a medical and/or dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) for 2018, and attest to your and your spouse’s— if you are married—2017 tobacco-use status during this year’s Employee Benefits Open Enrollment.
Still need to submit your changes? Find what you need in a hurry by visiting the Employee and Retiree Service Center’s (ERSC) Open Enrollment web page. This page provides you with links to all of the information you need to make the decisions that are right for you and your family. Then, visit the Employee Self-Service (ESS) web page to access the Benefits Enrollment System by clicking on Open Enrollment (if you are making changes to your benefits or enrolling in an FSA) or the online Tobacco Attestation form (if you only need to attest and are NOT making benefit changes or enrolling in an FSA).
If you are happy with your current benefit choices and do not wish to enroll in a 2018 FSA, you do not need to log in to the Benefits Enrollment System. If, however, you are currently covered by a Cigna medical plan or any closed medical plan, which MCPS no longer will offer in 2018, you may wish to make another selection. If you do not make a selection, you automatically will transition to the same plan type (open POS or HMO) with CareFirst.
Remember: If you will be covered in 2018 by an MCPS-provided medical insurance plan with CareFirst or Kaiser Permanente, you MUST attest to your—and your spouse’s if you are married—2017 tobacco-use status during Open Enrollment. You must attest even if you are not making any changes to your employee benefits. Remember: The tobacco surcharge is increasing to 25 percent, effective January 1, 2018. You will pay a 25 percent surcharge on the total cost of your health insurance under the following two circumstances:
- If you do NOT attest for you and your spouse’s tobacco-use status; or
- You attest to one or both of you NOT being tobacco free throughout 2017.
Don’t forget! Enroll in your 2018 medical and/or dependent care FSA by November 3. You will receive confirmation of your new elections within minutes. Even if you are enrolled in an FSA for 2017, you must reenroll for 2018 if you wish to continue your participation.
Some tips on submitting benefits changes during the final weeks of Open Enrollment
- The Benefits Enrollment System is expected to experience very heavy volume in the final days of Open Enrollment. If you wait until then, you may experience a slower connection. Please plan accordingly—and log in to the new system this week.
- Please do not submit paper enrollment form(s). They will NOT be accepted.
What happens after I submit my changes?
You will receive a benefits confirmation statement of your changes while still logged in to the system. You also will receive confirmation in your MCPS Outlook email account.
All changes submitted during Open Enrollment will take effect on January 1, 2018.
