Bill Cotterell: Open enrollment for state workers begins today
By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-09-15 11:39:19 | Word Count: 973
State employees and Florida government retirees have been receiving big, bulky envelopes containing information about their state insurance options. Open enrollment begins today and runs through Oct. 9.
Precisely, the clock runs out at 5:30 p.m. EST, on the second Friday of next month. The People First Service Center likes to run these things with precision.
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As President Obama might say — on a completely unrelated health care matter, which you may have heard something about lately — if you like the insurance you've got, you don't have to change. In fact, contented state employees don't have to do anything during open enrollment in order to keep the insurance coverage they've got now.
The same goes for those flexible spending accounts, the pre-tax plans for dependent care or uninsured medical expenses. If nothing has changed in your family status or coverage needs, you can just let it ride.
But if you've birthed or adopted an additional kid, or become responsible for elderly relatives (whom the impending national health-rationing death panels will refer to as "shovel-ready projects"), you might not want to toss that big white envelope on the junk mail pile for the next 24 days or so.
And be wary of those "reimbursement accounts." They can save you 20 percent to 40 percent, depending on your tax bracket, but it's a "use it or lose it" proposition — actually a pay reduction — so you don't get back any unspent money at the end of the year.
Even if you haven't had any family-status changes, it's a good idea to review your options and make sure addresses and other identifying information are current.
So what's new?
All Florida counties except Monroe now have at least one HMO for state workers. For Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla and Jefferson counties, the HMO choices are Capital Health Plan, United Healthcare and VISTA. Taylor and Jackson counties have only United Healthcare, while Calhoun, Franklin and Liberty counties have only United and VISTA, according to the benefit guide that accompanies the enrollment information being sent to employees.
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The pre-tax contribution limits on low-premium, high-deductible health savings accounts have been raised to $3,050 for individual coverage and $6,150 for family insurance. State contributions have not changed; $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families.
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Employees will also find some improved enrollment forms and screen messages for easier changes when they go online.
If you're like me, you don't like reading directions, gleaning technical data from charts, tables and graphs or punching 1 for this option and 2 for that one. Luckily, the state is having "benefits fairs" for us Luddites.
There's one today at the Betty Easley conference center at SouthWood and another at the Civic Center on Thursday. More will follow in Macclenny (Northeast Florida State Hospital) and major cities around the state throughout the month.
The benefits fairs are essentially sales events, with competing HMOs and insurance companies that peddle supplemental plans — extra vision, dental, cancer coverage — showcasing their benefits for employees. And, with a supervisor's approval, time spent learning about insurance options is considered "time worked."
The Division of State Group Insurance has provided everything you need to know at MyFlorida.com/MyBenefits, where you can compare plans, find providers and get information on insurance companies. Employees can also call the People First Service Center at (866) 663-4735.
The department is asking people to sign up early and avoid the October rush. And, of course, you'll have to have your People First password to make any online changes during open enrollment.
The pre-tax contribution limits on low-premium, high-deductible health savings accounts have been raised to $3,050 for individual coverage and $6,150 for family insurance. State contributions have not changed; $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families.
Employees will also find some improved enrollment forms and screen messages for easier changes when they go online.
If you're like me, you don't like reading directions, gleaning technical data from charts, tables and graphs or punching 1 for this option and 2 for that one. Luckily, the state is having "benefits fairs" for us Luddites.
There's one today at the Betty Easley conference center at SouthWood and another at the Civic Center on Thursday. More will follow in Macclenny (Northeast Florida State Hospital) and major cities around the state throughout the month.
The benefits fairs are essentially sales events, with competing HMOs and insurance companies that peddle supplemental plans — extra vision, dental, cancer coverage — showcasing their benefits for employees. And, with a supervisor's approval, time spent learning about insurance options is considered "time worked."
The Division of State Group Insurance has provided everything you need to know at MyFlorida.com/MyBenefits, where you can compare plans, find providers and get information on insurance companies. Employees can also call the People First Service Center at (866) 663-4735.
The department is asking people to sign up early and avoid the October rush. And, of course, you'll have to have your People First password to make any online changes during open enrollment.
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