This is the final week to make changes to your benefits and enroll in a medical and/or dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) for 2015 during Employee Benefits Open Enrollment.
Haven’t submitted your changes yet? 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 the necessary enrollment forms.
If you are happy with your current benefit choices or do not wish to enroll in a 2015 FSA, you do not need to take any action. You are encouraged to review the benefits information for 2015, however, to learn more about changes coming in 2015. These include a name change and enhancement to the CareFirst BlueChoice Open POS plan. It will become the CareFirst BlueChoice Advantage POS/PPO plan and will provide current and new enrollees with access to national network providers. Current CareFirst BlueChoice POS members will be enrolled in the enhanced plan automatically. 2015 also will bring increased reimbursement amounts on vision care claims and a new Wellness Initiatives program that can help reduce your 2016 medical insurance costs.
Don’t forget! Enroll online in your 2015 medical and/or dependent care FSA by Nov. 7. You will receive confirmation of your new elections within minutes. Even if you are enrolled in an FSA for 2014, you must re-enroll for 2015. When you contribute to a medical FSA, you will receive a Visa debit card that will provide immediate access to the funds in your FSA. The card is good for three consecutive years as long as you re-enroll each calendar year. Remember: MCPS will deposit an additional $100 to your Medical FSA when you contribute at least $100.
Some tips on submitting changes during the final week
ERSC fax machines experience very heavy volume in the final days of Open Enrollment, and you may have difficulty getting through. Plan accordingly—fax enrollment forms as early in the week as possible, make arrangements to email your forms to ERSC@mcpsmd.org, or bring your forms to ERSC at 45 W. Gude Dr., Suite 1200, Rockville.
Please do not submit your form(s) using more than one method as this slows the processing of your requested changes.
What happens after I submit my changes?
You will receive a confirmation of changes to your benefits in your MCPS Outlook email account within about a week of submitting your enrollment forms. Your confirmation will list only the changes you have made; benefits that you have not changed will not appear.
All changes submitted during open enrollment will take effect on January 1, 2015.
