WPS Benefit News
Special Edition: KNOW YOUR BENEFITS January/February 2022
In This Issue:
- Breaking Down Your Benefits
- MaxorPlus Benefit for Over-the-Counter COVID Home Test Kits
- COVID Resources to Know and Use
- WPS Benefits: How Do We Measure Up with Surrounding Districts?
- Wellness Points Reminder
- How to Enroll in the Catastrophic Benefit Pool
- Employee Benefits Contacts: Who We Are & How We Can Help
- Happy Valentine's Day!
Breaking Down Your Benefits
We have just gotten our new benefit year 2022 underway. Check out the pointers below including information on whether you should have received new cards, contact numbers, etc.
The best way to be a good consumer of your own benefits is to know where to find information.
MaxorPlus (pharmacy provider)
- Should I have new cards? Only if you are new to the insurance or changed covered members
- Contact # (800)687-0707
UMR (one of two benefit carrier options)
- Should I have new cards? Yes
- Contact # (866)683-6438
Bind (one of two benefit carrier options)
- Should I have new cards? Yes
- Contact # (833)576-6494
EyeMed (vision carrier)
- Should I have new cards? Only if you are new to the plan, changed plan type (buy-up and base offered), or changed covered family members
- When to use: Use for annual eye exam at no cost with an in-network provider
- Base plan: Covers annual eye exam only
- Buy-up plan: Will cover annual eye exam as well as some coverage on frames, lenses, and contacts
- Contact # (866)939-3633
Delta Dental (dental carrier)
- Should I have new cards? Only if you are new to the plan, changed plan type (buy-up and base offered), or changed covered family members
- When to use: Use for two cleanings/exams per year at no cost with an in-network PPO provider
- Base plan: Covers two exams/cleanings per year along with annual x-rays
- Buy-up plan: Will also provide some coverage toward services such as fillings or crowns
- Contact # (800)234-3375
ASI Flex (flexible spending account)
- Should I have new cards? You must request a debit card if you want one but otherwise would submit claim after services
- Contact # (800)659-3035
MaxorPlus Benefit for Over-the-Counter COVID Home Test Kits
- Must be at an in-network pharmacy
- No prescription needed but must check out at pharmacy window
- 8 kits per covered plan member per month
If a member wishes to purchase an over-the-counter COVID at home testing kit, and then later submit a Direct Member Reimbursement claim to MaxorPlus, the member will only be reimbursed up to $12 for a single test kit. This process incentivizes members to utilize the retail network at the point of sale and cover these costs up front. It also ensures individuals do not need an order from their health care provider to access these tests for free.
Employee Benefits recognizes the growing popularity of home test kits and the advantage to having these to protect yourself and others during the continued uncertainty of these times. These are great to have on hand to know if you are positive to begin isolation, before visiting vulnerable family members, on a return from a trip, etc. We do encourage following up with a confirmed test with a medical provider if at all possible since some situations such as a medical leave of more than five days would require medical documentation.
COVID Resources To Know and Use
COVID Protocols: COVIDProtocolOverview.pdf (usd259.org) This link will take you to the most updated and simplified COVID protocols for the district.
COVID Hotline: You are required to report any COVID situation that impacts you by completing an intake form at COVID Intake Form. This includes experiencing symptoms, tested positive, close contact, etc. Even if you are fully vaccinated without symptoms or not facing a quarantine, if one of these situations impacts you, please report it. Alternatively, you can call the hotline at (316)833-0074. We encourage the intake form as it will auto-generate a protocol response advisement e-mail to you immediately. The COVID Hotline is open 8:00 AM-4:45 PM Monday-Friday.
Testing: Call (316)973-4790 to arrange testing at AMAC. This is drive-up testing. Please avoid leaving duplicate messages and rest assured that your voicemail will be returned by the Health Services team. Testing is available during work hours and must be arranged in advance by setting up an appointment.
Vaccines: Continue to watch your email for new vaccine clinic opportunities that may apply to you or your family members. You can keep an eye out here as well for updates: WPS Advance - Safety and Operations Plan 21-22 / WPS Advance - Safety and Operations Plan 21-22 (usd259.org)
COVID Leave Reimbursement as part of MOU (Memo of Understanding): Earlier in the school year, an MOU was created with the unions that permitted proof of full vaccination status shared by 11/1/21 to allow for up to 10 days of leave returned if you needed to be out for a COVID reason. If you qualify, instructions are sent to you as part of the COVID intake process. This deadline was firm and proof of vaccination status for leave reimbursement is no longer being honored at this time. If you do not qualify for the MOU and run out of leave, you may qualify for catastrophic benefits if you are enrolled. COVID related time off is also excused from the attendance matrix.
WPS Benefits: How Do We Measure Up With Surrounding Districts?
Wellness Points Reminder (Period 9/1/21 - 8/31/22)
A reminder of services that count toward wellness points can be seen in the below matrix.
Please note the information within the red box references extreme cases such a person who has had a transplant or who has been incapacitated through the majority of the wellness period
How to Enroll in the Catastrophic Benefit Pool
The Catastrophic Benefit Pool was created to help employees who have suffered a catastrophic medical/ FMLA eligible event (or been caring for an FMLA eligible family member who meets this same criterion) and have exhausted all their temporary leave days and gone into deduct status.
As a benefited district employee, you may donate one day of temporary leave at any time to the Catastrophic Benefit Pool. Donating one day of your leave means you are a participant in the pool, and are eligible to apply for assistance unless you move to a non-benefited position or terminate employment. In order to donate, you must have the hours there to donate a full day. If you do not, it will remain listed as “pending” until the leave is available to donate.
You do not need to re-enroll each year. In the unlikely event the pool would be depleted or get too low, we could allow an additional donation if needed.
If you wish to participate in the Catastrophic Benefit Pool you may go online to Employee Self Service at any time and elect to donate one day of your temporary leave and become a participant in the pool. This donation can take up to two pay periods to process and complete your enrollment. You will see your leave balance reduced by one day. New employees will not see their leave balance reduced until after the probationary period is complete.
Once your status shows that you are enrolled, you are able to apply for Catastrophic Benefits. Applications are processed on a monthly basis by Employee Benefits. Deduct days must show on PeopleSoft before you can request assistance. Assistance does not restore leave balances but provides compensation for hours missed. Enrolled employees can request up to 20 days per year between July and June.
Ready to donate?
- Log in to Employee Self Service from a district computer and log into PeopleSoft
- On the Employee Self Service Page, click on the “My Benefits” tile and select the option at the left “WPS Catastrophic Benefit Pool”. It should be the default page that comes up.
On the Catastrophic enrollment page, you will see one of the following:
- Not Eligible – This will appear if you are not benefitted and not eligible to be part of the plan.
- Not Enrolled – This will appear when you have not enrolled in the plan yet. To enroll, click the radio button “I wish to donate one day of my temporary leave to the Catastrophic Benefit Pool”, and click “Save”
- Pending – This will appear when you have made an election that has not yet been processed by Payroll. You can still decide to change your election option and click “Save” up until Payroll processes the day.
- Enrolled – You are already enrolled. The page is locked down so no changes can be made.
The Status of your Catastrophic enrollment is also available from the top of the WPS Attendance History page. To access this page in Peoplesoft:
From the Employee Self Service page, click the Tile “Request Time Off”.
Employee Benefits: Who We Are & How We Can Help
BONI BURKHART
- EAP (Employee Assistance Program) with ComPsych
- Catastrophic Benefit Applications
- Supervisor of medical leave and work comp programs
- Application of drug-free policies & testing
NICOLE HEIZELMAN
- FMLA
- Medical leave
- Maternity and parental leave
- COVID claims management
SANDRA CRUZ
- Work Comp injuries
ALEXIS SUMMERS
- KPERS Retirement Program
- Currently out of the office through March: Please contact Danielle Dettmer
TERRY FIELDS
- Life Insurance
- New employee health plan enrollment
- Budget tracking for HR/Employee Benefits
GINA WIEDEMANN
- Health plan
- Prescription plan
- Vision & Dental plans
- Flex Spending
DOUGLAS MUMMA
- Property & Casualty claims
- Employee & Student technology replacement
- Student injury reporting
- COVID data
JEANA MELTON
- COVID Hotline
- COVID Claims Support
DANIELLE DETTMER
- Oversees all functional areas of Employee Benefits
- Has the privilege of managing the ultimate Dream Team!
Danielle Dettmer
Manager of Employee Benefits
HR/Employee Benefits & Insurance Management
Email: employeebenefits@usd259.net
Website: http://www.usd259.org/HumanResources
Location: 903 South Edgemoor Street, Wichita, KS, USA
Phone: 316-973-4581