Growing your family in 2024
Already pregnant? Now What?
Women's and Family Health Pregnancy and Parenting Support
Whether you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, MISD's Luminare Health plan with BCBS of IL offers the right tools and resources to guide you on your journey into parenthood.
Ovia+ is an individual and family health benefit designed to guide and support you through some of life’s biggest transitions: planning and starting a family, navigating pregnancy, balancing life as a working parent and managing menopause.
Within Ovia Health’s three apps, you have access to clinically backed content, personalized health insights and unlimited support (in-app messaging, telephonic or video options) from Ovia’s team of health coaches, including registered nurses and certified nurse midwives.
Download the Ovia app that's right for you. After registering, select “I have Ovia Health as a benefit” and enter Mesquite ISD to access your premium features.
A little more about each Ovia Health app:
- Ovia
- Ovia Pregnancy
- Ovia Parenting
How are newborns covered?
Employees must enroll newborns within 31 days from the date of birth. MISD's health plan automatically provides coverage for a newborn child of a covered employee for the first 31 days after the date of birth. However, the employee must add coverage for the newborn by completing paperwork in the Benefits Office within 31 days from the date of birth. The effective date of coverage for the newborn child is the date of birth.
Note: Newborn grandchildren are not automatically covered for the first 31 days; however, a covered employee may enroll eligible newborn grandchildren within 31 days after the newborn’s date of birth. It is not necessary to wait for the newborn’s Social Security number to enroll.
Changing plans must be made within 31 days after the newborn’s date of birth (the plan change becomes effective the first of the month following the date of birth unless date of birth is first of the month). If the intent is to cover a newborn under another commercial plan, this plan information should be provided to the hospital upon admission instead of the MISD's health plan's policy information. If the child is being added to another health plan other than MISD Luminare Health BCBS of IL, contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL Customer Service at 1-855-760-3135 to coordinate benefits.
Add baby to insurance - 31 days
After the baby is born, you have 31 days from the date of birth to add the baby to your insurance (health, life, etc…). A phone call, telephone message or email is NOT a form of enrollment; however, you can email Benefits@mesquiteisd.org to inform the Benefits Department that you had a baby and request paperwork to be sent to you (you have to return completed paperwork to the Benefits Office within your 31-day deadline). To enroll, you must complete paperwork in the Benefits Office and submit the following:
- Verification of Birth Facts - You usually receive this from the hospital upon discharge.
- Social security number - If not available at the time of enrollment, just call the Benefits Office as soon as you receive it. (Do not delay enrollment waiting on the SS#).
Leave Request—To Do
All employees need to complete a leave request on Eduphoria within five days of needing tenure and follow the Eduphoria instructions (Leave of Absence Forms). If you have any questions, please email Rhonda Ferrin in Personnel at rferrin@mesquiteisd.org.
Disability
If you have short term disability (STD), report a claim as soon as possible after the baby is born or after you are unable to work for any other reason. To file a claim by telephone, contact The Standard's Claim Intake Service Center at 800-352-0963. Note: the Mesquite ISD Group Policy number is 759085.
GAP/ Hospital Indemnity
If you carry gap or hospital indemnity insurance, submit a claim online or complete a paper application. Information available on the MISD website: www.mesquiteisd.org, Departments, Benefits, Click Link to access the Employee Benefits Center, Benefit Plans & Premiums or www.mesquiteisd.org, Staff, Forms, Benefits Forms & Instructions, Claim Forms & Instructions.
Need a substitute?
Please contact the substitute manager, Dalia Lough in Personnel at NLough@mesquiteisd.org for any questions regarding requesting a substitute during your absence.
Note: Maternity/Paternity leave is NOT a paid leave unless you have accrued days.