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 2016, and attest to your tobacco-use status in 2015 during this year’s Employee Benefits Open Enrollment.
If you haven’t submitted any 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 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 find links to the Benefits Enrollment System (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 2015 FSA, you do not need to log in to the Benefits Enrollment System. If, however, you will be covered in 2016 by an MCPS-provided medical insurance plan with CareFirst, Cigna or Kaiser Permanente, you MUST attest to your tobacco-use status in 2015 during Open Enrollment. You must attest even if you are not making any changes to your employee benefits. If you do not attest, or attest to NOT being tobacco-free throughout the 12 months prior to January 1, 2016, you will pay a 3 percent surcharge on the total cost of your health insurance.
Whether or not you plan to make any benefit changes, you are encouraged to review the benefits information for 2016, to learn more about changes coming in 2016. These include changes in vendors for the vision, dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and flexible spending account (FSA) plans; a new diabetes program; and a new rate structure as a result of the Wellness Initiatives program.
Don’t forget! Enroll in your 2016 medical and/or dependent care FSA by Friday, Nov. 6. Enrolling is easier than ever from the new online Benefits Enrollment System. You will receive confirmation of your new elections within minutes. Even if you are enrolled in an FSA for 2015, you must re-enroll for 2016 if you wish to continue your participation. Remember: MCPS will deposit $100 to your medical FSA when you contribute at least $100.
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, and 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 e-mail account.
All changes submitted during Open Enrollment will take effect on January 1, 2016.
