2016 Medical and Dental Benefits
The School Board recognizes the importance of maintaining the physical and mental well-being of its employees. All employees regularly scheduled for 15 or more hours per week in a benefits-eligible position are eligible for enrollment in the group medical and dental plans.
Employees may select medical insurance coverage for themselves and their eligible family members from either Cigna or Kaiser Permanente. Dental coverage is available from Delta Dental of Virginia. The medical and dental plans operate on a calendar year basis and both plans renew every January 1st.
The School Board pays a portion of the premium cost for the health and dental insurance. The employee’s portion of the premium is deducted before Federal and State income taxes and Social Security taxes are computed. An open enrollment period is held annually, at which time employees can elect or make changes to their health or dental insurance. View the 2016 Medical and Dental Employee Contribution Schedule for active employees.
Newly hired benefits-eligible employees, and current employees newly eligible for benefits, should complete the APS Benefits Enrollment and Change Form. The form is located on our Benefits Home Page.After each pay date, review your current deductions on your pay stub and notify the Benefits Department immediately of a discrepancy. You can view your pay stub and view your current benefit elections via your MySTARS APS Employee Self-Service access. To access MySTARS, go to the Tools section on the Staff Central page.
What's New in 2016?
Cigna: modest plan changes will go into effect January 1st
- In-Network Outpatient Mental Health Office Visits: on Low Option plan, copay will decrease from $80 per visit to $40 per visit
- In-Network All Other Outpatient Mental Health Services: on Low Option and High Option plans, the plan will pay 100% after the deductible
- Prescriptions, Retail (up to a 34-day supply): on Low Option and High Option plans, the copay for generic prescriptions will increase from a $0 copay to a $4 copay
- Prescriptions, Mail Order Maintenance (up to a 102-day supply): on Low Option plan, co-pay for generic prescriptions will decrease from an $8 copay to a $0 copay
2016 Benefit Information for:
- Full-time or part-time benefit-eligible employees
- Non Medicare-eligible retirees
- Employees on an approved leave status
- COBRA participants
Cigna Online Provider Directory
Delta Dental
2015 Benefit Information
2015 Active Employees Rates for Medical and Dental
NEW FOR 2015
The prescription drug benefit is moving to a Step Therapy approach, which encourages participants to try the most cost-effective and appropriate medications available to treat their conditions. This may include trying a generic or lower cost alternative, or contacting Cigna for authorization to cover the medication. All Specialty drugs must now be obtained through the Cigna mail order program.
Annual visit limits for Speech and Occupational Therapy services have been removed for Cigna participants.
Mandatory Mail Order Information: Switch and Stay Covered
Attention Cigna Participants: Both the Cigna Point-of-Service and the Cigna Open Access Plus prescription plans require that you and your family members fill your maintenance medications – those prescriptions you take on a regular basis – through Cigna Home Delivery Pharmacy in order to be covered.
Your plan will allow you to fill your maintenance medications at a local pharmacy three times. After that, your maintenance medication prescriptions will only be covered when you fill them through Cigna Home Delivery Pharmacy.
MAKE THE SWITCH TODAY:
By phone - Call 1.800.285.4812. Have your medication, doctor’s information and credit card information ready.
By mail, Click here to open an order form.Is your drug on the list? See a complete list of medications affected by clicking here.
CIGNA HOME DELIVERY PHARMACY OFFERS:
• Licensed pharmacists and customer service available to help 24/7
• Medications delivered right to your door at no extra cost
• Up to a 90-day supply of medication in one fill
• Helpful refill reminders to ensure you never miss a dose
• CoachRx services to help you better understand and manage your health
To learn more visit myCigna.com and look for the Home Delivery Pharmacy page.
Many provisions of the Affordable Care Act that become effective beginning in 2014 are designed to expand access to affordable health coverage. The attached notice provides information on coverage options available through a Federal Health Insurance Marketplace. We are required to provide you with this notice, but APS does not maintain information on these options. If you have questions regarding the Marketplace, please visit HealthCare.gov or programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP. How do I figure out how much I am going to pay out of my paycheck for medical insurance? Click Here!!
2015 Rates: The new rates (see rate sheet link above) will be effective January 1, 2015. Because we pay our health and dental insurance in the month preceding coverage, the new rates will be deducted beginning on the December 15, 2014 pay date. Deductions for the Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending accounts will begin on the January 15, 2015 pay date.
