Benefits Open Enrollment
From April 5, 2021 to May 3, 2021
Dear Benefit-Eligible FPS Staff:
Another year and another open enrollment period is upon us! Now is the time for you to make changes to your benefit plans. For your convenience, the current rate sheet, plan summaries and enrollment/change forms are linked below.
We urge all employees to complete the attached forms and submit them to us via email (scollomb@framingham.k12.ma.us). These completed forms and the supporting documentation that may be needed (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.) can be emailed directly to Stephanie Ristuccia at scollomb@framingham.k12.ma.us.
Open enrollment for the insurances listed below will be held from Wednesday, April 7, 2021, through Monday, May 3, 2021, with an effective date of July 1, 2021.
Health Insurance through GIC
Dental Insurance through Delta Dental
Vision Insurance through EyeMed
Basic and Voluntary Life through Boston Mutual
AllState Accident Insurance through LifePlus
AllState Permanent Life through LifePlus
AllState Cancer Insurance through LifePlus
AllState Cancer Insurance through LifePlus
AllState Short-term Disability Insurance through LifePlus
Pet Insurance through Nationwide
'TIS THE SEASON FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT!
by Stephanie Collomb, HR Generalist
With all of this sunshine and warmth we have been having, it can only mean one thing...the season for benefit open enrollment has arrived!
Based on the information released from the City Benefits Department, there are no drastic changes to any of the insurances (health, dental, etc.) that have been offered in the last few open enrollment years. All current offered health and dental insurance options will remain the same. No new plans are being added or removed.
DEDUCTIONS
For those ten-month employees who are paid 21, 38, or 44 frequencies, deductions for the July 1st effective date begins in May. Since these employees do not receive a paycheck during the summer yet have full-year coverage, the deductions must begin sooner to offset the total full-year employee-portion cost (outlined on the rate sheets).
As such, it is imperative that for any employee who is planning to make any changes to their current plans (i.e. switching from family to individual, individual to family, or changing providers) to have the enrollment forms submitted to the Office of Human Resources no later than April 16, 2021 to allow ample time for processing.
While we recognize that this does not leave you much time to research the different plans, please note that if you wait until May or June to submit these changes, a one or two time higher deduction amount will occur in order to make up for the amounts that would have begun in May.
Essentially, a difference amount would need to be collected in a check that would be received in May or June. With that said, you are not being forced to submit your changes by April 17th; we just want you to avoid having a higher deduction from your last few checks of the school year.
This is similar to the current practice we follow in the sense that all employees, despite the pay cycle they follow, pre-pay for their insurances (i.e. the amounts deducted in October cover the month of November).
If you are a 21, 38, or 44 pay employee, and this is your first time enrolling in health insurance, the deductions will also begin in May for the same reason (not receiving payment over the summer).
If you are unsure what pay cycle you follow, please reach out to the Office of Human Resources and we will be glad to assist.
Please note that if you are satisfied with your current plans and will not be changing anything, there is nothing that needs to be done on your end. No forms are needed to continue current coverage elections. The deductions will simply continue. However, you will begin to see the new deduction amount (since rates increase each year) beginning in May.
If you have any questions, please contact me at scollomb@framingham.k12.ma.us
Thank you!
Questions? Please contact us:
Email: myhr@framingham.k12.ma.us
Website: myhr.framingham.k12.ma.us
Location: 73 Mt Wayte Ave, Framingham, MA, USA
Phone: 508-626-9107