PEBA extends open enrollment period due to flooding

Posted on: 10/19/2015; Updated on: 10/19/2015
By Megan Joyner

In response to the catastrophic flooding in many areas of our state, PEBA is extending the insurance benefits open enrollment period. Eligible employees will have until Friday, November 6, 2015, to submit open enrollment changes. While this extension is available to all eligible employees, PEBA is asking that those eligible employees who are able to please complete open enrollment selections transactions by the original deadline of October 31. This will help ensure that all open enrollment changes are processed and updated to the carriers in a timely manner.

Please read the Benefits Advantage [pdf] newsletter which details your insurance options for 2016, highlights benefits enhancements for the upcoming year and outlines the changes you can make during this open enrollment period. 

What changes can I make?

During the open enrollment period, you may make the following changes:

  • Change from one health plan to another plan.
  • Enroll or drop dependents from your coverage.
  • Enroll in or drop the vision coverage.
  • Enroll in or drop the dental coverage.
  • Enroll in Supplemental Long Term Disability (SLTD) without medical evidence of insurability. If you already have SLTD coverage, you may increase or decrease your benefit waiting period to 90-days or 180-days.
  • Enroll in or increase Optional Life up to $50,000 without medical evidence of insurability.
  • Enroll in or drop the insurance MoneyPlus pre-tax premium feature.
  • Enroll or re-enroll in the MoneyPlus Medical Spending or Dependent Care accounts. Please note a waiting period for new employees is no longer necessary to enroll in a Medical Spending Account. If you were not able to enroll in a spending account at your initial hire, you can enroll in one now, even if you have not been employed for at least one year.

PEBA has expanded insurance eligibility for the 2016 plan year. Employees who are currently only eligible for health, dental and vision insurance are now eligible for life, disability and flexible spending account coverage. If you are already enrolled in health coverage, or you wish to do so during open enrollment, you will automatically be enrolled in the Basic Life Insurance. Please be sure to designate a beneficiary for Basic Life or the beneficiary will default to your estate.

How do I make changes?

Coverage changes may be made online using MyBenefits from October 1, 2015 until November 6, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Deductions to your coverage will be effective January 1, 2016 and will be reflected in your December 15, 2015 paycheck. MoneyPlus changes will be reflected in your January 15, 2016 paycheck.

If you do not wish to make open enrollment changes, but need to make a beneficiary or address change, please submit the Notice of Election form that is appropriate with your position type. The forms may be found in the HR Toolbox under “Benefits”, “Health, Dental and Vision Insurance Plans”, and finally “Forms”.

If you have any questions or need help making your changes, please contact the Benefits Office at 803-777-6650. 

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