• Benefits Open Enrollment Dates
• 2023 Fall Pre-Retirement Seminars with KPERS
• 2023 Universal Availability Annual Notice: 403(b) and 457(b) plans
• Pay it Forward: Share Your Testimonial
• Hootie''s New Look
  
• Employee Benefits: Who We Are & How We Can Help You
  

Mark your calendars now for Annual Benefits Open Enrollment for Friday, October 20, 2023 - Friday, November 3, 2023.

More details will begin to come out in late September, and Open Enrollment Benefits Guides should begin arriving in your homes by early October. Here are some early details we can share now:

• No plan changes: Medical, dental, and vision plans will remain the same.

• No rate changes!! No increases were made in any of the plan premiums.

• Simplified wellness points! Remember, please do not upload documentation. You will be asked a question at the time of enrollment to tell us if you met the wellness criterion. We made it simple for you AND us this year. Even if items are not showing up on the bswift wellness screen for you, you can still answer the question as "yes" if you know you have met the criterion. Only if you are audited post-enrollment and we are not able to verify your services through reporting will we contact you to request documentation.

More to come, so keep an eye on your inboxes and mailboxes. We listened to your feedback on our Open Enrollment Survey last year and have taken much of that into account with our planning for this year.

Thinking about retirement within the next five years but want more information?

KPERS will be hosting retirement seminars at locations throughout the state, including Wichita, beginning on September 20, 2023. These are at no cost to you. Sessions will take place in the evening from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM.

You will need to log into your KPERS online account at www.kpers.org to register and then visit the Retire Ready Section In Person Seminars.

Topics covered will include:

• Taxes
• Life insurance
• Choosing a retirement date
• How to calculate your retirement benefit
• Working after retirement
• Steps in the retirement process
• Payment options to choose from

Source: www.kpers.org, Toll-free (888)275-5737

The link below contains information provided by the District's Director of Budgeting, Addi Lowell. A paper copy will be distributed this month by interschool mail, but Employee Benefits is doing our part to help Budgeting promote financial well-being, a key component of your overall health! Check this link out to understand your options through the 403(b) plan and the 457(b) plan.

2023 Universal Availability Annual Notice

If you are willing to share a testimonial or experience you have had with any of our benefits or a positive experience you feel could help others, we would be happy to hear from you and feature your story, even anonymously if you wish. These are the ways we spread the word about the vast offerings our benefits really provide. Your insight could provide value to someone else. We would also love to meet you and hear about your your benefits experience.

Examples could include interactions with our EAP program including financial wellness or research, saving money through the flexible spending account, your experience with Teladoc or Doctor on Demand, or maybe a benefit you found out about you did not even know you had!

Please reach out to us at either employeebenefits@usd259.net

or ddettmer1@usd259.net

If you don't know who Hootie is, it is time you gave a hoot! Our friendly owl mascot was created to be a fun feature to provide you helpful benefit tips and wise advice on how to save money and maximize the benefits the district provides. We felt it was time Hootie had a fresh look just in time for the new school year.

Team members Sandra Cruz and Nathan Werner helped make that happen with Gina Wiedemann leading that project. With their creativity, including a customized Benefits t-shirt, our benefits broker IMA helped us bring Hootie to life. We hope you enjoy Hootie 2.0. You may just see a life-sized Hootie at an event near you. Hootie will be around to bring you all the Open Enrollment news around the corner. Hoot Hoot!