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Benefits
School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program
Links:
Washingtons Paid Family and Medical Leave
Paid Family and Medical Leave is a mandatory statewide insurance program that will provide almost every Washington employee with paid time off to give or receive care.
If you qualify, this program will allow you to take up to 12 weeks, as needed, if you:
• Welcome a child into your family (through birth, adoption or foster placement)
• Experience a serious illness or injury • Need to care for a seriously ill or injured relative
• Need time to prepare for a family member’s pre- and post-deployment activities, as well as time for childcare issues related to a family member’s military deployment.
Please click the following link for more information.
Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave
Washington Paid Family & Medical Benefits Summary
Employee Retirement Benefits
Department of Retirement Systems
For questions regarding your retirement plan, please call 1-800-547-6657 or click the link to their website at http://www.drs.wa.gov.
Deferred Compensation
1-888-327-5596
https://washington.gwrs.com/login.do
Retiree Health Information
For information about health benefits for retiring employees, please view the following information.
CHIP Information
Premium Assistance Under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
If you or your children are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP and you’re eligible for health coverage from your employer, your state may have a premium assistance program that can help pay for coverage, using funds from their Medicaid or CHIP programs. If you or your children aren’t eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you won’t be eligible for these premium assistance programs but you may be able to buy individual insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov.
If you or your dependents are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP and you live in a State listed below, contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office to find out if premium assistance is available. If you or your dependents are NOT currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and you think you or any of your dependents might be eligible for either of these programs, contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office or dial 1‐877‐KIDS NOW or www.insurekidsnow.gov to find out how to apply. If you qualify, ask your state if it has a program that might help you pay the premiums for an employer‐sponsored plan. If you or your dependents are eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP, as well as eligible under your employer plan, your employer must allow you to enroll in your employer plan if you aren’t already enrolled. This is called a “special enrollment” opportunity, and you must request coverage within 60 days of being determined eligible for premium assistance. If you have questions about enrolling in your employer plan, contact the Department of Labor at www.askebsa.dol.gov or call 1‐866‐444‐EBSA (3272). If you live in one of the following states, you may be eligible for assistance paying your employer health plan premiums. The following list of states is current as of July 31, 2018. Contact your State for more information on eligibility- See link below.
WASHINGTON- Medicaid
Website: http://www.hca.wa.gov/free‐or‐low‐cost‐health‐care/program‐administration/premium‐payment‐program Phone: 1‐800‐562‐3022 ext. 15473
Medicare Information
Important Notice About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare
Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage offered by Hoquiam School District, and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage available. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice. There are two important things you need to know about your current coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage: 1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium. 2. Premera Blue Cross has determined that the prescription drug coverage is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is considered Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug plan.
When Can You Join a Medicare Drug Plan?
You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from October 15 to December 7.
However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan.
What Happens to Your Current Coverage if You Decide to Join a Medicare Drug Plan?
If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, and are covered by a Premera Blue Cross medical plan, your current coverage will not be affected. (See enclosed Prescription plan summary). Premera Blue Cross continues as the primary coverage and the Medicare Part D plan becomes secondary.
If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current Premera Blue Cross coverage, be aware that if you are an active employee, you and your dependents will not be able to re-enroll until the next open enrollment period. If you are a retiree, you will not be able to get your coverage back.
When Will You Pay a Higher Premium (Penalty) to Join a Medicare Drug Plan?
If you drop or lose current coverage with your employer and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later.
If you go 63 days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following November to join. 22 - 2018-2019 Benefit Guide
For More Information About This Notice or Your Current Prescription Drug Coverage…
Contact the person listed below for further information. NOTE: You’ll get this notice each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, and if this coverage through Hoquiam School District Group Health Plan changes. You also may request a copy of this notice at any time.
For More Information About Your Options Under Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage…
More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the “Medicare & You” handbook. You will get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare drug plans.
For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage:
• Visit www.medicare.gov
• Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the inside back cover of the “Medicare & You” handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For Information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at www.socialsecurity.gov, or you call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Remember: Keep this Creditable Coverage notice. If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and, therefore, whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium (a penalty).
Date: October 1, 2018
Name of Entity/Sender: Hoquiam School District
Contact Position/Office: April Wright/Payroll Benefits
Address: 325 W. Chenault, Hoquiam, WA 98550
Phone Number: 360-538-8208
Benefits
School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program
Links:
EAP Program
Washingtons Paid Family and Medical Leave
Paid Family and Medical Leave is a mandatory statewide insurance program that will provide almost every Washington employee with paid time off to give or receive care.
If you qualify, this program will allow you to take up to 12 weeks, as needed, if you:
• Welcome a child into your family (through birth, adoption or foster placement)
• Experience a serious illness or injury • Need to care for a seriously ill or injured relative
• Need time to prepare for a family member’s pre- and post-deployment activities, as well as time for childcare issues related to a family member’s military deployment.
Please click the following link for more information.
Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave
Washington Paid Family & Medical Benefits Summary
Employee Retirement Benefits
Department of Retirement Systems
For questions regarding your retirement plan, please call 1-800-547-6657 or click the link to their website at http://www.drs.wa.gov.
Deferred Compensation
1-888-327-5596
https://washington.gwrs.com/login.do
Retiree Health Information
For information about health benefits for retiring employees, please view the following information.
CHIP Information
Premium Assistance Under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
If you or your children are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP and you’re eligible for health coverage from your employer, your state may have a premium assistance program that can help pay for coverage, using funds from their Medicaid or CHIP programs. If you or your children aren’t eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you won’t be eligible for these premium assistance programs but you may be able to buy individual insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. For more information, visit www.healthcare.gov.
If you or your dependents are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP and you live in a State listed below, contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office to find out if premium assistance is available. If you or your dependents are NOT currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and you think you or any of your dependents might be eligible for either of these programs, contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office or dial 1‐877‐KIDS NOW or www.insurekidsnow.gov to find out how to apply. If you qualify, ask your state if it has a program that might help you pay the premiums for an employer‐sponsored plan. If you or your dependents are eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP, as well as eligible under your employer plan, your employer must allow you to enroll in your employer plan if you aren’t already enrolled. This is called a “special enrollment” opportunity, and you must request coverage within 60 days of being determined eligible for premium assistance. If you have questions about enrolling in your employer plan, contact the Department of Labor at www.askebsa.dol.gov or call 1‐866‐444‐EBSA (3272). If you live in one of the following states, you may be eligible for assistance paying your employer health plan premiums. The following list of states is current as of July 31, 2018. Contact your State for more information on eligibility- See link below.
WASHINGTON- Medicaid
Website: http://www.hca.wa.gov/free‐or‐low‐cost‐health‐care/program‐administration/premium‐payment‐program Phone: 1‐800‐562‐3022 ext. 15473
Medicare Information
Important Notice About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare
Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage offered by Hoquiam School District, and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage available. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice. There are two important things you need to know about your current coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage: 1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium. 2. Premera Blue Cross has determined that the prescription drug coverage is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is considered Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug plan.
When Can You Join a Medicare Drug Plan?
You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from October 15 to December 7.
However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan.
What Happens to Your Current Coverage if You Decide to Join a Medicare Drug Plan?
If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, and are covered by a Premera Blue Cross medical plan, your current coverage will not be affected. (See enclosed Prescription plan summary). Premera Blue Cross continues as the primary coverage and the Medicare Part D plan becomes secondary.
If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current Premera Blue Cross coverage, be aware that if you are an active employee, you and your dependents will not be able to re-enroll until the next open enrollment period. If you are a retiree, you will not be able to get your coverage back.
When Will You Pay a Higher Premium (Penalty) to Join a Medicare Drug Plan?
If you drop or lose current coverage with your employer and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later.
If you go 63 days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following November to join. 22 - 2018-2019 Benefit Guide
For More Information About This Notice or Your Current Prescription Drug Coverage…
Contact the person listed below for further information. NOTE: You’ll get this notice each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, and if this coverage through Hoquiam School District Group Health Plan changes. You also may request a copy of this notice at any time.
For More Information About Your Options Under Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage…
More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the “Medicare & You” handbook. You will get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare drug plans.
For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage:
• Visit www.medicare.gov
• Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the inside back cover of the “Medicare & You” handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For Information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at www.socialsecurity.gov, or you call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Remember: Keep this Creditable Coverage notice. If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and, therefore, whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium (a penalty).
Date: October 1, 2018
Name of Entity/Sender: Hoquiam School District
Contact Position/Office: April Wright/Payroll Benefits
Address: 325 W. Chenault, Hoquiam, WA 98550
Phone Number: 360-538-8208