DC Government Employee Benefits Guide
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DC Government Employee Benefits Guide 2019 Table of Contents Welcome 2 Benefits Overview 21 About this Guide 3 Medical Benefits 22 Plan Comparisons at a Glance 23 Enrollment 4 Short-Term Disability Insurance 27 Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB) 5 Long-Term Disability Insurance 28 District of Columbia Employee Health Benefits Program (DCEHBP) 6 Group Life Insurance 29 What’s New for 2019 7 Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance 30 How to Enroll 8 Indemnity Coverage 31 ALEX, THE Virtual Benefits Counselor 9 Employee Assistance Program 32 Benefits at a Glance 10 Flexible Spending Accounts 33 Eligibility 11 Commuter Benefits 34 Dependents 11 Civil Service Retirement for Employees Hired Before October 1, 1987 35 Medical Benefits 12 401(a) Defined Contribution Pension Plan 36 2019 Plan Rates: Medical 13 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan 36 2019 Plan Rates: Dental 14 Retirement Plans at a Glance 37 2019 Plan Rates: Vision 15 Annual & Sick Leave 38 Benefits You Can Enroll In 16 Family & Medical Leave 39 Benefits You Can Enroll In: New Hire, Qualifying Life Event, Open Enrollment 17 Contacts 40 Benefits You Can Enroll In Anytime 18 DCHR Benefits & Retirement Administration 41 Wellness Resources 19 Office of Pay & Retirement Services 41 Plan Providers: Insurance 41 Plan Providers: Work & Life Benefits 42 Are you enrolling in your employee benefits for the first time or making changes to your current benefits? The following sections contain information on a range of employee Welcome benefit and related topics, including: Enrollment Benefits at a Glance Premium Rates Wellness Resources Benefits Overview DCHR & Provider Contacts 2 About this Guide The DC Department of Human Resources (DCHR) manages benefits Disclaimer programs that enable the District to attract, support and retain a well- qualified and diverse workforce. DCHR is committed to providing the This Guide is not a contract. Its purpose is to provide summary information highest level of customer care in administering employee benefits. about employee benefits. It does not fully describe each benefit. Please refer to the Summary Plan Descriptions and benefits provider materials This guide provides comprehensive information about your benefits as a for details of each benefit. Every effort has been made to ensure that DC Government employee. Use this guide as your go-to resource for: the information contained in this Guide is accurate. The provisions of the actual contract will govern in the event of a discrepancy. Enrolling in benefits for the first time Making changes or updating your benefits during Open Enrollment or a qualifying life event Learning more about your benefits throughout the year 3 Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB) District of Columbia Employee Health Benefits Program (DCEHBP) Enrollment Open Enrollment 2019 What’s New for 2019 How to Enroll ALEX, the Virtual Benefits Counselor 4 Enrollment FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS Enroll in, change, or cancel an existing enrollment in a dental PROGRAM (FEHB) plan under the Federal Employees Dental Vision Program (FEDVIP) Program. Benefits for Employees first Hired Before October 1, 1987 Enroll in, change, or cancel an existing enrollment in a vision plan under the FEDVIP Program. Enroll in a flexible spending account, a health care and/or dependent Enroll in, change, or cancel an existing enrollment in a health plan care account under the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program under the FEHB Program. (FSAFEDS). Unlike with other programs, employees MUST reenroll in FSAFEDS each year to participate. Enrollments DO NOT carry 2019 Premium Rates for Federal Employees over from year to year. 2019 FEHB and FEDVIP premium rates and enrollment forms can be Please Note: The maximum annual election for a Health Care Flexible found on the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website at Spending Account and the Limited Expense Health Care Flexible www.opm.gov/insure. Spending Account is $2,650 for the 2019 Benefit Period. The maximum annual election for a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account is $5,000 for the 2019 Benefit Period. The minimum annual election for the flexible spending accounts is $100 for the 2019 Benefit Period. 5 Enrollment DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EMPLOYEE Outside of the regular enrollment period, you can only change your HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM (DCEHBP) benefits if you experience a qualified life event. Qualified life events include: Benefits for Employees hired on or after October 1, 1987 Marriage, divorce or legal separation Review the changes for 2019, so you understand how they impact Birth or adoption your 2019 benefits. A dependent that becomes ineligible for coverage Review your current benefit choices. Ask yourself, “does this coverage Death of your dependent meet my expected needs?” If not, “what should I change?” Loss/gain of coverage elsewhere for employee or Log in to Employee Self Service at https://ess.dc.gov to enroll in new spouse/domestic partner plans or make changes to your current coverage. Change in work status for you or your spouse/domestic partner 6 Enrollment WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019 Increased 2019 Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit Limits The maximum monthly pre-tax limit for mass transit and parking will 2019 DC Employee Healthcare Benefits Providers (DCEHBP) increase from $255 in 2018 to $260 in 2019. BRiWeb enrollment will Employee Premium Costs automatically be updated to reflect the updated limits in 2019. Learn As health care costs continue to rise, so do the costs for the District of more on page 34. Columbia Government. Therefore, your costs for coverage will increase again in 2019. The District will take on the majority of the increase, but Increased 2019 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits some of the cost will be shared with employees. We can work together The 2019 elective deferral limit for 457(b) plans increased to $19,000. to help keep cost increases at a minimum by using network doctors, This is a $500 increase from 2018. The 2019 Age 50 Catch-Up Limit is wellness resources and generic prescription drugs. $25,000 and the Pre-Retirement Catch-Up Limit is $38,000. Learn more on page 36. Increased 2019 Pre-Tax Contribution Limit for Health Care FSAs The 2019 pre-tax contribution limit for Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts is $2,650. This is a $50 increase over the 2018 limit. The limit is effective January 1, 2019. Learn more on page 33. 7 Enrollment HOW TO ENROLL Coverage Effective Dates Enrollment changes can be made through Employee Self Service (ESS) Outside of Open Enrollment. Elections made within 31 days of You can access ESS on any computer with an internet connection at new hire or a qualifying life event will be effective following the https://ess.dc.gov. first pay period in which a payroll deduction is made to pay for the benefit. The following program is not available for enrollment through ESS: Flexible Spending Account (FSA) coverage begins following the first DC College Savings Plan pay period in which a payroll deduction was made to pay for the benefit. Resources & Assistance Contact the DCHR Benefits & Retirement Administration Employees who need assistance or computer access can visit the DCHR Customer Service Center at 1015 Half Street, SE, 9th Floor. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, visit https://dchr.dc.gov/page/how-enroll-your-dc- 202.442.7627 government-benefits for enrollment resources, including checklists, [email protected] instructions and more. 1015 Half Street, SE, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20003 Navy Yard/Ballpark Metro Station, Green Line 8 Enrollment ALEX, THE VIRTUAL BENEFITS COUNSELOR How can I make the most of my ALEX experience? Find the great-fit benefit plans you and ALEX is best experienced on a desktop computer with sound (either your family will love with ALEX®, the headphones or speakers), but you can also use it on an Android or iOs virtual benefits counselor. ALEX is an (Apple) mobile devices. easy-to-use online tool that will help you get the right amount of coverage for your How does ALEX calculate recommendations? needs. ALEX will ask questions about your ALEX estimates the total yearly out-of-pocket costs (your premium health care needs (your answers remain contributions and the costs for the services you plan to use) for each anonymous) and educate you about the plan and suggests plans with the lowest plans that are the best fit. Even if you’re happy with your current plan, overall cost to you based on your personal it’s worth it to use ALEX to make sure you’re not paying too much. preferences. ALEX’s cost data is based on health insurance plan design features and How long does it take go through ALEX? average procedure cost data. Most users spend about 7 minutes with ALEX, but the actual duration Visit ALEX at www.myalex.com/dchr/2019. will depend on your needs. Also, you can always save your place in ALEX and return later simply by providing your email address. 9 Eligibility Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits Benefits at a Plan Rates Glance 10 Benefits at a Glance ELIGIBILITY Eligible employees may enroll in plans during the designated annual Open Enrollment period or within 31 days of their initial employment. DC Government employees eligible to receive benefits include: Changes to plans can be made within 30 days of a qualifying life event. All full-time permanent employees Health, vision, dental and life insurance coverage begins the first full Part-time permanent employees who generally work at least 30 pay period after the election; for Flexible Spending Accounts, coverage hours per week begins following the first pay period in which a payroll deduction was made to pay for the benefit; other benefits programs may have Employees with temporary full-time appointments of at least 13 additional requirements.