[WardFive] FW: Open Enrollment 2016 Begins Today!

FYI

 

Commissioner Ursula Higgins
Chairperson, ANC 5B
Single Member District 5B02
Telephone: 202-321-5289
Email:  5b02@anc.dc.gov

 

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It's Decision Time! Open Enrollment 2016 Begins Today and Runs through December 14, 2015   Open Enrollment 2016 for DC Government employees begins Monday, November 9, 2015 and ends Monday, December 14, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. EST. This is your opportunity to review your current benefit elections and make any necessary changes. Excused Absence to Attend Open Enrollment Fairs Effective Dates How to Enroll What's New for 2016 Open Enrollment Fairs       Excused Absence to Attend Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs   Employees will be granted two hours of administrative leave to attend one of nine scheduled 2016 Open Enrollment Benefits Fairs. Download the issuance here or visit DCHR's website for more information.   In addition, DCHR has issued a District Personnel Manual Bulletin (DPM) with general information pertaining to Open Enrollment 2016. Download DPM Bulletin No. 12-311, 21A-13 & 21B-23 here or visit DCHR's website for more information.   Learn More       Effective Dates   Changes/elections made during Open Enrollment will be effective on the following dates: Employees paid biweekly: January 10, 2016 Employees paid semi-monthly (some DCPS and UDC): January 1, 2016 Learn More       How to Enroll   All enrollment changes are to be made through Employee Self Service (ESS). You can access ESS on any computer with an internet connection at https://ess.dc.gov. Computers are available for employee use at the DCHR Customer Care Center located at 441 4th Street, NW in the lobby of One Judiciary Square.   The following programs are not available for enrollment through ESS: Aflac Indemnity Plans, including: Cancer Insurance, Hospital Confinement, Personal Sickness, Personal Accident, Specify Health Event Calvert 529 College Savings Plan  The following program is not available for Open Enrollment 2016:  Group Life Insurance For more enrollment information, we encourage you to check out our 2016 Open Enrollment Resources or our new Open Enrollment Overview Webinar, walks you through what's new for Open Enrollment 2016, available benefits, plan highlights, and more.               What's New for 2016   2016 DC Employee Healthcare Benefits Providers (DCEHBP) Employee Premium Costs As health care costs across the nation continue to rise, so do the costs in the District of Columbia Government. Therefore, your costs for coverage will increase again in 2016. The District will take on the majority of this increase, but some of this cost will be shared with employees. We can work together to help keep cost increases at a minimum by using network doctors, wellness resources and generic instead of brand-name prescription drugs.   Federal Employees Health Benefits Self Plus One Enrollment Type The Office of Personnel Management will implement a new enrollment type, Self Plus One, under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The effective date for this new enrollment type will be January 1, 2016. Therefore, Open Enrollment 2016 will include Self Plus One in the available enrollment choices.   New Provider for Flexible Spending Account & Commuter Benefits The District will offer a new provider, Benefit Resource, Inc., for Flexible Spending and Commuter Benefits Accounts. This provider will allow participants to use a single debit card to directly access funds saved through pre-tax spending account deductions. This debit card can be used to pay for eligible health care, transit and parking costs and is accepted at WMATA kiosks for direct purchases and reloading SmartTrip cards.   Affordable Care Act: Coverage for Temporary & Intermittent Employees Eligibility for health care benefits has been extended to include some temporary and intermittent employees. Temporary and intermittent employees who work for at least 90 days within a 12-month evaluation period and are paid at least 30 hours per week (or 120 hours per month) are eligible to participate only in an HMO health care plan. Download DPM Instruction No. 21B-18 here or visit DCHR's website for more information.   DPR Fitness Center Deduction DCHR and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) have partnered to offer District Government employees free and reduced rates on DPR fitness center memberships through payroll deduction.   Aetna CDHP: Out of Pocket Change Aetna's CDHP HSA plan requires a change to the in-network out-of-pocket maximum (OOPM) beginning January 1, 2016, according to US Department of Health and Human Services guidelines. The change does not apply to the out-of-network maximum.   Learn More       Open Enrollment Fairs DCHR will hold nine Open Enrollment benefits fairs at various locations throughout the city during Open Enrollment. Employees will have the opportunity to meet with Human Resources specialists and benefits providers to learn about benefits options, plan highlights and upcoming changes. In addition to one-on-one assistance, benefits and wellness partners will be onsite with health and wellness promotions, health screenings, giveaways, and more.   Date Time Location Monday, November 9 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. One Judiciary Square 441 4th Street, NW Saturday, November 14 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. DC Public Schools Central Office 1200 First Street, NE Tuesday, November 17 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. DC Housing Authority 1133 N. Capitol Street, NE Wednesday, November 18 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Office of the Chief Financial Officer 1101 4th Street, SW Thursday, November 19 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saint Elizabeths Hospital 1100 Alabama Avenue, SE Tuesday, December 1 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Frank D. Reeves Center 2000 14th Street, NW Wednesday, December 2 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Thursday, December 3 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Child & Family Services Agency 200 I Street, SE Wednesday, December 9 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. DC Public Schools Central Office 1200 First Street, NE Learn More