Open/Switch Enrollment 2011

Switch/Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to:

• Make changes to your benefits elections
• Enroll in a benefit plan you are not already enrolled in
• Add eligible dependents to your insurance plans
• Change your beneficiaries on your life insurance coverage.

This year only, you also have the option to sign up for Additional Life Insurance with no health screening! Read more about Additional Life Insurance Open Enrollment here, and refer to the Frequently Asked Questions to obtain additional information.

Open Enrollment allows employees to enroll into a benefit plan they may not have already enrolled in. It is Open Enrollment for:

• Additional Life Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account)
• Pre-Tax Insurance Premium Plan (PIPP)

Late enrollment is allowed into all medical plans but 18-month pre-existing condition exclusions will apply. (Pre-existing conditions limitation does not apply to pregnancy, newborns, newly adopted children, and children under age 19  in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).  This 18-month pre-existing condition exclusion period could be reduced if you had prior health coverage and have not been without coverage for 95 days or more.

You may add/drop eligible dependents to coverage you currently have (includes legally married spouse, domestic partner, and dependent children (married, unmarried under age 26 – applies to medical coverage only), and/or start or stop pre-tax premium deductions (PIPP) Special rules apply.

The Two-year Lock-in Dental and Vision Rule

Late enrollment is not allowed for APS dental coverage unless you involuntarily lose other dental or vision coverage or you enroll during the annual Switch/Open Enrollment period held in October each year.  As a safeguard to protect adverse utilization of the dental and vision plans, once enrolled for dental and vision, you may not drop or switch dental plan options until you, and each of your covered dependents, have been enrolled for two years.  Unless you experience a change of status due to a qualifying event, your next opportunity to enroll for dental and vision coverage will take place at the next Open/Switch Enrollment in October 2012 for coverage effective January 1, 2013. You have 60 days from the date of the occurrence of the following special events:

• You suffer an involuntary loss of coverage because coverage of your spouse/domestic partner or dependent child under another plan is terminated as a result of divorce, death, termination of employment, reduction in hours, legal separation, or termination of employer contributions.
• You get married
• A child is born to you or your spouse/domestic partner
• You adopt a child or a child is placed for adoption in your family

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General

What is Switch/Open Enrollment?
Switch/Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to make changes or enroll into a benefit plan you may not have already enrolled in. During Switch/Open Enrollment, you can also add eligible dependents to your insurance plans and/or change your beneficiaries on your life insurance coverage.

What benefits can I elect during Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment allows employees to enroll into a benefit plan they may not have already enrolled in. It is Open Enrollment for:

• Additional Life Insurance (learn more)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account)
  Please note that if you're currently enrolled, you must re-enroll annually!
• Pre-Tax Insurance Premium Plan (PIPP)

What benefits can I change during Switch Enrollment?
Switch Enrollment provides employees the opportunity to:

1. Switch their current medical plan coverage - Switch from Lovelace to Presbyterian or Switch from Presbyterian to Lovelace
2. Switch plan options: High Option Plan to Low Option Plan or Low Option Plan to High Option Plan
3. If currently enrolled for Dental coverage for two years – Switch from Comprehensive Dental Plan to Basic Dental Plan
4. If currently enrolled for Dental Coverage for two years – Switch from Basic Dental Plan to Comprehensive Dental Plan

Please note, in order to take advantage of the Switch Enrollment option, you must be currently participating in one of the APS medical or dental plans offered.

How do I enroll?

1. Review the Switch/Open Enrollment Information, which was delivered to all work-site locations starting October 10, 2011, and is posted on this page.
2. Review the Employee Benefit Selection Statement (delivered to your work-site location on September 12, 2011). Please remember to bring your Benefits Selection Statement to assist you with any possible plan changes/additions effective January 1, 2012 to Switch/Open Enrollment on October 18-25, 2011.

What do I need to bring with me?

• Your Social Security Number (SSN) is required to meet the requirements of the Mandatory Insurer Reporting Law (Section 111 of Public Law 110-173) for purposes of coordination of benefits for all insured members (employee, spouse/domestic partner and dependent children) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
• Marriage Certificate required to add spouse

• Birth Certificate or legal document provided by a court is required to add/enroll a child
• If spouse or child is already enrolled in an APS plan no Marriage/Birth Certificate needed
• Notarized affidavit needed to add domestic partner or child of domestic partner
• Evidence of financial responsibility needed  to add domestic partner

Who’s Eligible?
An eligible employee includes all full-time employees who regularly work 30 hours or more per week and/or part-time employees currently enrolled for benefits who work at least a .45 FTE or greater.

What are the plan design changes effective January 1, 2012?

• High Option Medical Plan – Increase advanced radiology copay from $50 to $60 (MRI’s, Cat Scan)
• Prescription Drug Plan – Specialty Drug Copay increase from $75 to $90
• New Health & Wellness Program
  The Know Your Numbers: Next Steps Biometric Screenings were conducted at schools and worksites as well as in doctors’ offices and labs as part of an effort by APS to keep health care costs down. This school year, employees insured through APS will be asked to complete a comprehensive, online Personal Health Profile  that will include information, tips and links for staying healthy. The on-line Personal Health Profile will take the place of the Biometric Screening Incentive Program for the 2011-2012 school year. APS Employees and/or Spouse/Domestic Partner covered under the Lovelace and Presbyterian Medical Plans will have the opportunity to learn more about their health status and prevent their medical plan contribution rates from increasing by $20 per month for individuals or $40 per month for employees with a spouse/domestic partner covered under the APS medical plans. The On-line Personal Health Profile Financial Incentive Program is not applicable to dependent children covered under the APS medical plans. For additional information on the Personal Health Profile Financial Incentive Program,  please visit the APS Employee Benefits Website at:  www.aps.edu/human-resources/benefits

Will the contribution rates for medical, dental and vision coverage increase on January 1, 2012?
This school year, employees insured through APS will be asked to complete a comprehensive, on-line Personal Health Profile that will include information, tips and links for staying healthy. The online Personal Health Profile will take the place of the Biometric Screening Incentive Program for the 2011-2012 School Year. APS Employees and/or Spouse/Domestic Partner covered under the Lovelace and Presbyterian Medical Plans will have the opportunity to learn more about their health status and prevent their medical plan contribution rates from increasing by $20 per month for individuals or $40 per month for employees with a spouse/domestic partner covered under the APS medical plans. To access the APS 2012 Medical Premium Rate Schedules, visit the Rate Schedules on the Employee Benefits website.

Life Insurance

How are the Basic Life, Additional Life, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance plans changing this year?

• The Basic Life Insurance benefit, which all eligible, full-time APS employees receive by default and for free, is increasing from $5,000 to $10,000 on January 1, 2012, with no action needed on the part of the employee.
• The Contributory Life Insurance benefit is going away, and being replaced by the Additional Life Insurance plan.
• The Additional Life Insurance benefit is changing in two ways:
• Employees can now enroll for increments from $10,000 up to $400,000 benefit.
• APS will pick up 50% of the bi-monthly premium, and employee will pick up the other 50%.
• This plan will replace the current Contributory Life and Supplemental Life plans.
• All Employees currently enrolled for Contributory Life or Supplemental Life Insurance must re-enroll for Additional Life Insurance coverage as our current plans will no longer be available.

To learn more, visit the 2012 Additional Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance FAQ >>

Long Term Disability

Can I enroll for Long Term Disability Insurance during Switch/Open Enrollment?
Eligible employees who did not enroll for Long Term Disability coverage when first hired or first eligible, may apply for coverage at any time by completing an Evidence of Insurability (health questionnaire) form. The form will be sent to Standard Insurance Company for medical underwriting.  Standard Insurance will approve or deny the request. To learn more, visit the 2012 Additional Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance FAQ >>

Flexible Spending Account

What is a flexible spending account?
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-free account that allows you to pay for essential health care expenses that are not covered, or are partially covered, by your medical, dental and vision insurance plans; or pay for child/dependent care expenses.  By contributing a portion of your payroll dollars into your FSA on a pre-tax basis, you can save from 25% to 40% on the cost of eligible expenses you are already experiencing.  Learn more >>

What is changing this year?
Nothing is changing -- our flexible spending account plan is the same this year as it was last year. However, if you currently have a flexible spending account and would like to continue to have it next year, you must re-enroll during Switch/Open Enrollment 2011.

When can I enroll for a flexible spending account?
Switch/Open Enrollment 2011 is your chance to enroll for a flexible spending account.

I already have a flexible spending account. Do I need to do anything?
Yes. All current FSA Participants need to fill out a new Flex Spending Account Enrollment form during Switch/Open Enrollment 2011.

Pre-tax Insurance Premium Plan (PIPP)

What is PIPP?
The PIPP plan deducts your medical, dental and vision premiums from your pay BEFORE TAXES are calculated and deducted.  Reducing your taxable income increases net take home pay. Learn more >>

What is changing this year?
Nothing is changing -- our PIPP plan is the same this year as it was last year.

I don't want to participate in PIPP. What should I do?
Switch/Open Enrollment 2011 is your chance to opt out of PIPP.

I already have a PIPP account. Do I need to do anything?
No, you are already enrolled and do not need to re-enroll.