QUOLKE’S CORNER
November 2017
OPEN ENROLLMENT 2017 & CHARITIES OF CHOICE
Just a reminder to everyone that November is Open Enrollment month. Our Open Enrollment period this year will be from Wednesday, November 1 – Thursday, November 30. Employees will receive an email with instructions on how to enroll for Healthcare through Workday no later than November 1st. With enrollment through Workday, there will be no Personal Identification Number (PIN) sent out this year. If you are currently enrolled in the medical, drug, vision, or life insurance plans and are satisfied with your benefit coverage, you do not need to take any action. However, I strongly recommend that you go online to verify what is listed in Workday for you is accurate and to review premiums.
In addition to the new way to enroll for benefits this year, there are a couple of other changes to highlight. A third healthcare option has been added to your current Aetna and Medical Mutual options. Details about this new UH Choice plan option and a reminder about Medical Mutual’s addition of all University Hospital locations to its network can be found on pages 2 & 3 of the Benefits Guide.
You must go online if any of the following apply to you:
- You want to make changes to current medical, dental, or life insurance plan or coverage.
- This is also a good time to review your life insurance beneficiaries and update them if necessary
- You have previously opted-out of benefits. You must opt-out every year.
- You have previously opened a Flexible Spending Account. You must reenroll each year.
- You would like to begin a Flexible Spending Account.
A Flexible Spending Account is an IRS pre-tax dollar benefit covering healthcare as well as child and dependent care. Per the CBA, there are two types of Flexible Spending Accounts. One is for eligible medical, drug, dental, or vision expenses that occur over the calendar year. In general, if you anticipate out-of-pocket expenses not covered by health care (braces, Lasik surgery, deductibles, copays) you can enroll and have pre-tax payroll deductions to cover expenses. You must select an amount annually. Additionally, you can rollover up to $500 of unused FSA dollars into the following year. Please see page 14 of the Open Enrollment Benefits Guide or www.healthscopebenefits.com for more information. The second is for dependent care, which helps pay for child care or costs for the care of dependent adults unable to take care of themselves. Please see page 15 of the Open Enrollment Benefits Guide or www.healthscopebenefits.com for more information.
All changes must be made by midnight on November 30. Please do not wait until it is too late. Throughout the Open Enrollment Period, employees may continually make changes if needed and those changes will be automatically updated. If you have specific questions that you need answered by the Employees Benefits Department, email questions to: benefits@clevelandmetroschools.org.
CHARITIES OF CHOICE
The Charities of Choice Campaign is officially underway. This is a great opportunity to give to the community organizations that support many of our schools, our communities and our children that we educate. CMSD will be using online pledging this year. By now, you should have received an email through the CMSD email server with your user ID and your password with a link to log in.
Once you have logged in to the website, all it takes is four steps to pledge:
1. Click on the “Pledge Here” link
2. Choose a payment type (payroll deduction or credit card)
3. Designate where you would like to invest your money
4. Review your pledge and click on Submit
If you have any questions about the Charities of Choice Campaign you can contact Meg Ryan Shockey at (216) 861-7676 ext. 231 or contact the Charities of Choice Champion in your building.
In Union,
David