Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
2021 Open Enrollment Benefits Bonanza Office of Human Resources, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
2021 Open Enrollment Benefits Bonanza Office of Human Resources, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
2021 Open Enrollment Benefits Bonanza Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government What Is Open Enrollment? Open Enrollment is the only time of year when employees can make changes to the following plans for next years benefit
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
What Is Open Enrollment?
- Open Enrollment is the only time of year when employees can make changes to
the following plans for next year’s benefit elections without needing a qualifying life event:
- Medical
- Prescription
- Dental
- Vision
- Optional Life
- Healthcare & Childcare FSAs
- AFLAC Short Term Disability or Critical Illness*
*Available to unrepresented and IAFF employees only
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
What Changes Can be Made?
Changes employees can make during Open Enrollment are:
- Enroll in the benefit plan(s) for the first time
- Add/delete dependent(s)
- Change from one plan to another
- Drop coverage
- Enroll in or increase Optional Life insurance
- (Re)enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
- Enroll in AFLAC short-term disability or critical illness*
*Available to unrepresented and IAFF employees only. To enroll, contact AFLAC directly.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Open Enrollment Dates
2021 Open Enrollment (OE) runs from September 21 – October 9, 2020.
- All OE changes must be submitted during the OE window:
- Begins – Monday, September 21 at 8 am
- Deadline – Friday, October 9 at 5 pm
- OE changes are effective January 1, 2021.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
MCG Continues to Make Generous Employer Contributions
- This graph provides a visual example of
the extremely generous employer contributions that MCG makes toward employee insurance premiums.
- These contributions reduce the amount
employees pay. This is an important part
- f their total compensation package as an
MCG employee.
Note: The chart above reflects Self only contributions. To view charts reflecting Self+1 and Self+Family contributions, visit the Open Enrollment website after September 21, 2020.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
New for 2021
- 2021 Open Enrollment will be held virtually this year. All of MCG’s carriers will be
hosting virtual presentations and Q&A sessions. See the virtual event tab on the Open Enrollment website for a schedule of virtual events.
- The Health Care FSA annual contribution limit increasing to $2,750. The amount
you can contribute for 2021 will increase by $50.
- Health Care FSA now allows Over-the-counter expenses without a prescription
(i.e. allergy, heartburn or pain relief medications, etc.)
- Benefits Bites delivered to your County email weekly via the MCG Employee Connect
- newsletter. Be sure to check the Benefits Bites section for helpful Open Enrollment tips
and resources.
- Enhanced Open Enrollment website with new Frequently Asked Questions and a
dedicated MCG discount & resource section.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Special 2021 Plan Rates Announcement
COVID-19 has impacted us in many ways, including financially. In light of the fact that employees will not be receiving a General Wage Adjustment (GWA) in FY21:
- There will be 0% rate increase for these medical plans:
- CareFirst
- United Healthcare
- CVS Caremark
- The Kaiser medical plan costs are decreasing.
- The County will pay a large portion of the dental PPO and vision increases, but
these increases will also be shared with employees.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Employee Rate Changes for Calendar Year 2021
Plan Per Pay Period Increase Self Self + 1 Family CareFirst High Option POS $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 CareFirst Standard Option POS $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Kaiser
- $1.47
- $2.76
- $4.35
United HealthCare HMO $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 CVS Standard Prescription Plan $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 CVS High $4/$8 Prescription Plan $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 CVS High $5/$10 Prescription Plan $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 CIGNA PPO Dental $0.41 $0.94 $1.34 CIGNA DHMO Dental $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 EyeMed Vision $0.09 $0.14 $0.20
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Planning Ahead; Minimizing Future Rate Increases
Here are ways employees can work together with MCG to keep future plan rate increases at a minimum:
- Seek out preventive care such as annual exams and age-based screenings.
- Visit in-network doctors via virtual visits.
- Use urgent care facilities for non-emergent services rather than going to the
emergency room.
- Choose generic prescription drugs.
- Maximize wellness resources through health insurance carriers and MCG’s LiveWell
program.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
New for 2021
- All Open Enrollment events held virtually this year.
- MCG’s carriers will be hosting virtual presentations and Q&A sessions
- OHR Virtual Office Hours
- Health Care FSA changes:
- Annual contribution limit increasing to $2,750
- Over-the-counter expenses are permitted without a written prescription
- Feminine products are now an eligible expense
- New Open Enrollment Communication Methods:
- Benefits Bites delivered in the MCG Employee Connect newsletter.
- Enhanced Open Enrollment website:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- MCG employee discount & resource section
- Employee self-service (ESS) instructions and demonstrations
- MCG vendor video presentations
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Open Enrollment Communications
- 2021 Open Enrollment Guides were mailed to homes on September 11.
Employees should receive the guides between September 14 – 16.
- Employees are encouraged to check their County email during and after Open
Enrollment:
- Open Enrollment email series featuring news and reminders.
- MCG Employee Connect newsletter sharing Open Enrollment news in the Benefits Bites
section.
- After Open Enrollment ends, MetLife will email employees who elected or increased
Optional Life to complete a Statement of Health online.
- The Open Enrollment Website is a dedicated resource for all Open Enrollment
needs.
- Available Monday, September 21 at 8 am
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
It’s a New Frontier
COVID-19 has changed the way we utilize our plans. MCG’s health insurance plans
- ffer many value-added services and discounts to provide employees with support.
This year more than ever, it is important to know our resources!
- Virtual doctor visits
- Built-in emotional & wellness support
- Disease management
- Lifestyle coaching
- Stress relief apps
- Discounts and more!
Please see the 2021 Open Enrollment guide for additional information.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
2021 Open Enrollment Checklist
Take Action Early! Follow these steps for a successful Open Enrollment:
- 1. Review available resources:
- 2021 Open Enrollment Guide (mailed to homes on September 11th)
- Open Enrollment Website
- County Email for Important Updates and Follow-Ups
- Benefits Bites Section of the MCG Employee Connect Newsletter
- 2. Attend a virtual Open Enrollment event
- 3. Attend OHR virtual office hours
- 4. Make changes online & print Confirmation Statement
- 5. (Re)Enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and check FSA contribution
amounts.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Open Enrollment Website Resources
Visit the Open Enrollment website for a variety of planning tools & resources:
- Open Enrollment schedule of virtual events
- Open Enrollment frequently asked questions
- 2021 Employee Self-Service (ESS) instruction video & written instructions
- Side-by-side plan comparisons
- Life insurance needs estimator
- FSA tax savings calculator
- MCG employee discounts & resources
- and more!
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Attend a Virtual Open Enrollment Event
- Insurance Carrier Virtual Presentations and Q&A Sessions
- Visit the Open Enrollment website for full schedule of events
- Attend OHR Virtual Office Hours
- Virtual Office Hours Schedule
- Please note: Virtual Office Hours are held in a public virtual meeting. If questions will
reveal any personal PHI (protected health information) such as a chronic medical condition or names of specific prescription drugs, employees should direct those questions to OHR’s customer service center at 240-773-6471 to place a service request.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Make Changes Online
MCG HR Employee Self Service Benefits
- All Open Enrollment changes should be made online via
Employee Self-Service (ESS).
- Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe for step-by-step ESS
instruction videos.
- Print your 2021 confirmation statement before exiting ESS.
This is your receipt for your 2021 elections. If there is any discrepancy with your enrollment, you will be required to provide your confirmation statement as proof of your open enrollment activity. Without proof, no changes will be permitted after Open Enrollment ends. Contact the IT Help Desk at 240-777-2828, option 2 for login assistance.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Paper Enrollment Form Permitted for Only Two Reasons
There are only two exceptions permitting the use of paper Open Enrollment forms:
- Technical barriers preventing access to ESS (only in the event of no internet / no smartphone or
computer): the employee should contact MC311 and place a service request to be mailed a paper enrollment form.
- Call 240-773-OHR1 (240-773-6471), available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
- Experiencing a Life Event: If an employee has a qualified status change (life event) during Open
Enrollment, they cannot make changes using the Open Enrollment form or online system. Instead, they should contact the OHR Health Insurance Team via MC311 to make changes.
- Qualifying life events: marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or the death of spouse, or a
dependent aging out
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Dependent Eligibility
Eligible dependents for medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage are:
- Spouse
- Legally married? Eligible
- Divorced? Not Eligible
- Children (biological, legally adopted, stepchildren, or under your legal custody):
- Under age 26? Eligible
- Age 26 and over? Not Eligible, unless incapable of self support
Proof of eligible dependents is required.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Proof of Dependent Eligibility
Employees enrolling new dependents during Open Enrollment must upload the necessary dependent documentation in ESS prior to October 9 at 5 pm.
Required Documentation:
- Spouse: Official State Marriage Certificate (certified by appropriate State or County Official)
- Biological Child: State Birth Certificate (For newborns, OHR will accept hospital discharge papers for first 60 days; birth
certificate must then be submitted)
- Adopted Child: Copy of Adoption or Placement for Adoption Papers
- Step-Child: State Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and Divorce Decree or Custody Papers
- Disabled Child: Medical plan verification of disability prior to age 26
- Legal Custody: Copy of Court Order granting legal custody
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Marriage Certificate Example
Required Documentation (Contd.)
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Benefits Refresher
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Medical & Rx
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Medical Plan Options
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO):
- Kaiser Permanente Signature (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select (HMO)
Point of Service Plans (POS):
- CareFirst BCBS (POS) High Option
- CareFirst BCBS (POS) Standard Option
Three tiers of coverage: Self, Self + 1, or Family
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Medical Benefits at-a-Glance
To view full carrier medical summaries, visit OHR’s Health Insurance Website
Kaiser Permanente HMO + Rx www.kp.org United HealthCare Select HMO www.myuhc.com CareFirst Blue Choice Advantage Standard (POS) www.carefirst.com CareFirst Blue Choice Advantage High (POS) www.carefirst.com
Plan Type HMO HMO Point-of-Service Point-of-Service PCP Required Yes Yes No No Provider Network Regional (MD/DC/VA) National National National Out-of-Network Benefits No No Yes Yes Referrals Required Yes No No No Annual Deductible None None In-Network: None Out-of-Network: $300 individual; $600 family In-Network: None Out-of-Network: $300 individual; $600 family
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Medical Benefits at-a-Glance (contd.)
New Employee Orientation Program
Kaiser Permanente HMO + Rx www.kp.org United HealthCare Select HMO www.myuhc.com CareFirst Blue Choice Advantage Standard (POS) www.carefirst.com CareFirst Blue Choice Advantage High (POS) www.carefirst.com
- Dr. Office Visits
PCP/Specialist $5 copay $5 copay / $10 copay In-Network: $15 copay / $30 copay Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible. In-Network: $10 copay Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible. Virtual Visits Covered in full. $5 copay / $10 copay In-Network: $15 copay / $30 copay Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible. In-Network: $10 copay Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible. Urgent Care $5 copay $15 copay Covered in full. Covered in full. Emergency Room $50 copay, waived if admitted $25 copay, waived if admitted In-Network: $35 copay, waived if admitted Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible In-Network: $25 copay, waived if admitted Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible Inpatient Hospitalization Covered in full. Covered in full. In-Network: $150 copay per admission Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible In-Network: Covered in full Out-of-Network: 80% covered after deductible Prescriptions $5 copay at Kaiser pharmacy $15 copay at other participating pharmacies (Mail Order Maintenance Program - 1 x copay for 90 day supply) None, except for diabetic supplies In-Network/Out-of-Network: None, except for diabetic supplies In-Network/Out-of-Network: None, except for diabetic supplies
Visit OHR’s Health Insurance webpage to view Medical summaries.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Prescription Plans: Caremark
- Two Rx Plan Options
- Standard
- High
- If you elect UHC or CareFirst and want Rx coverage, you will need to elect the stand-alone
Caremark Rx plan (Kaiser already includes Rx coverage)
- Maintenance Choice Program available for maintenance drugs: significant cost savings – 1
copay for each 90-day prescription In order to get the Maintenance pricing, you must fil Rx at:
- CVS retail pharmacy
- Mail order
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Prescription Drug Plan Comparison
High Option $4/8
Only MCGEO/IAFF employees can enroll in this High plan
High Option $5/10
Only FOP/NON-REP employees can enroll in this High plan
Standard Option
All employees can enroll in this Standard plan
Copay
$4 Generics $8 Brand Name $5 Generics $10 Brand Name $10 Generics $20 P/Brand Name $35 NP/Brand Name
Deductible
n/a n/a $50/year
Mail Order
Yes Yes Yes
Maintenance Choice
Yes Yes Yes
Covered Drugs
Same Same Same
Visit OHR’s Health Insurance Website to view Rx summaries.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Prescription Drug Cost Comparison
Cost High Option $4/8
Only MCGEO/IAFF employees can enroll in this High plan
High Option $5/10
Only FOP/NON-REP employees can enroll in this High plan
Standard Option
All employees can enroll in this Standard plan
Self Only Bi-Weekly: $113.39 Monthly: $245.68 Yearly: $2,948.14 Bi-Weekly: $111.00 Monthly: $240.50 Yearly: $2,886.00 Bi-Weekly: $24.13 Monthly: $52.58 Yearly: $627.38 Self + 1 Bi-Weekly: $209.79 Monthly: $454.55 Yearly: $5,454.54 Bi-Weekly: $205.36 Monthly: $444.95 Yearly: $5,339.36 Bi-Weekly: $44.63 Monthly: $96.70 Yearly: $1,160.38 Self + Family Bi-Weekly: $325.11 Monthly: $704.41 Yearly: $8,452.86 Bi-Weekly: $318.24 Monthly: $689.52 Yearly: $8,274.24 Bi-Weekly: $69.16 Monthly: $149.85 Yearly: $1,798.16
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Dental
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Dental Comparison: Cigna
For a list of HMO covered services and assigned costs (copays), view the HMO benefit summary. PPO Schedule of Benefits: –Diagnostic & Preventive -100% –Basic Restorative - 80% –Major Restorative - 60% –Orthodontia - 60%
DHMO PPO
CIGNA NETWORK Care-Access Plus DHMO Total CIGNA PPO PPO Required to Use An Assigned Provider Yes, In-network only Primary Dental Office will be assigned based on home address No Out of Network Benefits Available No Yes Balance Billing for Covered Services No Yes, if you go out-of-network Referral Required Yes No Orthodontia Benefits Available Yes (ANY AGE) Yes (ANY AGE) Orthodontia Maximum (Lifetime) Unlimited Amount; treatment limited to 24 months $1,000.00 Annual Maximum (per person) Unlimited $2,000.00 Deductible (single/family) None $50 /$ 150 waived for preventive care
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Vision
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Vision Insurance
- The County’s Vision carrier is EyeMed.
- Benefits payable for exams, lenses and contacts (elective or necessary) every
calendar year, frames every two calendar years
- In-network or out-of-network benefits available
- Enhanced Hearing Benefit through EyeMed’s partner, Amplifon:
- 40% off hearing exam
- Discounted pricing on thousands of hearing aids, including latest technology
- One-year free follow-up care with unlimited appointments
- Free batteries for two years with initial purchase
- Three-year warranty and loss and damage coverage
Visit OHR’s Health Insurance webpage to view vision summary.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Optional Life & Dependent Life
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Optional Life Insurance / AD&D
- You may elect Optional Life / AD&D coverage for yourself in increments of 1 to 8 times
your basic annual earnings ($1 million maximum).
- NOTE: Coverage is not guaranteed issue for any level. You must complete an online
Statement of Health no matter what level of coverage you elect. Later this fall after Open Enrollment ends, you will receive an email from MetLife with a link to complete the Statement of Health online.
- An eligible dependent is defined as: 1) your opposite or same sex spouse; or 2) your
unmarried children under age 26 (natural, adopted; or stepchildren/foster children who depend on your support).
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Optional Life Insurance Rates
How to estimate your Optional Life Insurance bi-weekly rate:
Example: 40-year-old applying for 2 x salary. Salary is $49,300. Steps Example Calculate for Yourself
- A. Find your age-based rate on the rate sheet (left)
$ 0.037 $_________________
- B. Choose how much coverage you are applying for:
$99,000 (2 x salary rounded to the nearest $1,000 ) $_________________
- C. Divide that coverage amount by 1,000
99 ($99,000 / 1,000) $_________________
- D. Multiply A x C for estimated bi-weekly cost
$3.66 ($.037 x 99) $_________________
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Dependent Life Insurance
You may also purchase Dependent Optional Life insurance for:
- Your opposite or same sex spouse
- Your unmarried children under age 26
– Natural / adopted – Stepchildren/foster children Note: you do not need to supply marriage certificates/birth certificates for dependent optional life
You may elect:
- $2,000 Spouse/$1,000 Child
- $4,000 Spouse /$2,000 Child
- $10,000 Spouse /$5,000 Child
* The bi-weekly rate is not based on salary.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Flexible Spending Accounts
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Visit the Open Enrollment website to watch a recorded FSA presentation from MCG’s FSA vendor, Benefit Strategies.
- What is an FSA? It is an IRS-approved tax-free account that saves on:
- Qualified out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses
- Federal and State Income tax
- Social Security Tax
- 3 Account Options: Health Care FSA, Child Care FSA, and Commuter Choice Transit
- FSA accounts are administered through Benefit Strategies
- FSAs are “use-it or lose-it” accounts; claims must be incurred during the 2021 plan year (January 1,
2021 – March 15, 2022) and submitted by April 30, 2022.
IMPORTANT: You must re-enroll in an FSA every Open Enrollment if you want to participate in the upcoming plan year.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Why You Should Enroll
Give yourself a raise by reducing your taxes!
- Elect the annual amount you want to place in your FSA(s) for the upcoming plan year during Open Enrollment
- That amount is divided by 26 and taken from your biweekly paychecks on a pre-tax basis (21 paychecks for
10-month employees)
- Then, use your pre-tax FSA dollars to pay for eligible "out-of-pocket" health care, child-care or transit
expenses
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Health Care FSA
- Contributions are “use it or lose it.”
- Expenses must be incurred between January 1 – March 15
- Claims must be submitted by April 30 of the following year
- You may elect to contribute up to $2,750. Your total annual election amount is available to spend on the first
day of the new plan year
- FSA debit card allows you to pay for expenses at the time of service
- Examples of IRS qualified eligible expenses:
- Copays (medical, prescription, dental, vision), deductibles and coinsurance; amounts over reasonable
and customary charge
- Hearing aids
- Acupuncture
- Orthopedic shoes
- Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs (no longer require doctor’s prescription)
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Child Care FSA
- Contributions are “use it or lose it.”
- Expenses must be incurred between January 1 – March 15
- $5,000 annual maximum per household ($2,500 for married filing separately)
- Funds are available to spend as they are accumulated through payroll deductions
- Reimbursable expenses:
- day care centers
- elder care
- before/after school care
- babysitter fees that allow you and your spouse to work or go to school (no child support payments)
- Qualifying dependents:
- Children under the age of 13 and are a tax dependent of the employee
- Spouse or tax dependent that is physically or mentally incapable of self-care
- Must coordinate between filing a tax credit with IRS and your Dependent Care FSA plan
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Commuter Choice Transit FSA
- $230 per month maximum for MCGEO staff; $260 per month maximum for Unrepresented staff.
- Applies to employee commuting expenses only (not spouses or dependents).
- Can enroll throughout the year (not limited to Open Enrollment election).
- Eligible expenses include: Metro, Marc, Vanpool, Lyft Line, Uber Pool
- Debit card – may be used for some expenses (not Metro).
- Metro riders will have to submit claim forms for reimbursement.
- Funds must be used within 180 days of election.
- If retiring or leaving the County, will need to coordinate use all available funds
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Using Your FSA Funds
Health Care FSA: Your full annual election amount is available on the first day of the plan year. Child Care FSA: Your funds are available as they accumulate through payroll deductions. Commuter/Transit FSA: Your funds are available as they accumulate through payroll deductions.
The FSA Debit Card
- Your FSA debit card is the same card for your Health Care, Child Care, and Transit/Commuter FSA accounts
- The card is pre-loaded with your full annual Health Care FSA election amount. You can use the card to pay for IRS qualified expenses at
the time of service or when paying a bill. Receipt notifications will be mailed to you monthly by Benefit Strategies. Your response to receipt notifications is necessary under the provisions of the plan. No response my result in the ineligibility of the purchase and as a result your card may be temporarily deactivated.
- If you are enrolled in the Child Care FSA, the card can also be used in child-care settings. Just remember that the card will only work for
an amount that does not exceed the available balance in your Child Care FSA account on that day.
- The card can also be used to pay for your commuter/transit expenses; however it does not work for WMATA metro. Metro riders will have
to submit manual claims for reimbursement from your Commuter/Transit FSA.
- Cards are re-loaded each year after you make your new annual election. Please keep your cards! You will only receive a new card if
your old card is about to expire.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
AFLAC Voluntary Plans
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Other Voluntary Benefits: Aflac
(only available to unrepresented and IAFF employees)
Short-Term Disability
- Provides short-term cash benefits in the event of disability
- Monthly benefit amounts available from $500 - $6,000 (subject to income requirements)
- Benefit options of 3, 6, 12, 18 or 24 months with a variety of elimination periods
Critical Illness Insurance
- Provides a lump sum cash benefit in the event of critical illness
- Benefit amounts available in $5,000 increments from $10,000 - $30,000
*Participants pay 100% through payroll deduction for Short-Term Disability and Critical Illness Insurance
To ENROLL: Text: SETAPPT” to: 41411
- r
Call: 920-420-8861
- r
Email: susan_mcdaniel@us.Aflac.com
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Carrier Resources & Cost-Saving Tips
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Lower Your Out-of-Pocket Costs
Choose the plan that’s right for you.
- See the medical benefits chart for options.
- Stay in network. Use the provider search engines on your carrier website or mobile app to find in-network providers.
Seek preventive care.
- Check-ups, immunizations and screenings are an important part of staying healthy. They can detect or prevent serious diseases and keep you healthy.
Know where to go for care.
- You have many options of places to go when you need care. If your medical condition isn’t serious or life threatening, you can save money by connecting
with a doctor online through a virtual visit or going to an urgent care center or convenience care clinic instead of a hospital emergency room. Review your prescription drug plan options.
- Decide which Caremark prescription plan is best for you. Note that the Kaiser HMO includes prescription drug coverage. Both the Standard and High
Option Caremark plans cover the same prescription drugs but have different copay and deductibles. Use generic and long-term prescriptions.
- Opt for lower-cost, generic drugs whenever possible.
- Ask your doctor to write a 90-day prescription instead of a 30-day prescription to participate in the mail order prescription program.
Take advantage of tax savings by participating in Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Use pre-tax dollars for eligible out of pocket services and items.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Built-in Wellness Support
Take advantage of the free programs available to you through your medical carrier! Each of MCG’s medical carriers (Kaiser, UHC, & CareFirst)
- ffer valuable programs to help you manage your health.
Disease Management Programs
- Help manage your chronic condition through personalized coaching, support and encouragement and online education materials
Emotional Wellness & Stress Management Support
- Help manage stress through mobile apps and other self-care resources
Maternity Programs
- Support healthy moms and healthy babies
Weight-loss Programs
- Offers telephonic coaching support and web-based tools to help ensure long-term weight management
- See the next slide for an example of an MCG success story!
Smoking Cessation Programs
- Supportive coaching to make quitting more successful
Discounts
- Gym memberships, weight loss programs and more
For more information about the programs available to you, please see the Open Enrollment Guide and contact your medical carrier.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Carrier Mobile Apps
Access Your Benefits Anytime and Anywhere You Go
All of MCG’s health insurance carriers offer a simple-to-use tool that can help make your life easier while you’re
- n the go. Download your carrier’s Mobile App to help you personalize, organize, and access your important
plan information on your phone or tablet.
- Schedule Virtual Visits
- Manage and track claims
- View ID card information
- Find doctor and compare costs and quality ratings
- Review your coverage
- Track your account balances and deductibles
- Access a variety of health and wellness tools
Visit Google Play or the Apple App Store to download your carrier’s App
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Making Changes
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Make Changes Online
MCG HR Employee Self Service Benefits
- All Open Enrollment changes should be made online via
Employee Self-Service (ESS).
- Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe for step-by-step ESS
instruction videos.
- Print your 2021 confirmation statement before exiting ESS.
This is your receipt for your 2021 elections. If there is any discrepancy with your enrollment, you will be required to provide your confirmation statement as proof of your open enrollment activity. Without proof, no changes will be permitted after Open Enrollment ends. Contact the IT Help Desk at 240-777-2828, option 2 for login assistance.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Questions?
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Open Enrollment Assistance
Follow these steps (in this order):
- 1. Review the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the Open Enrollment website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe
(available beginning September 21). You can enter key words into the interactive search bar to quickly locate the answer to your question.
- 2. Visit the MC311 website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc311 and search key words for your question. The search
results contain various knowledge-based articles with information related to your search words. Simply click on the corresponding link and the detailed answer is revealed.
- 3. Attend one of OHR’s Virtual Office Hours via Microsoft Teams. Members of OHR's Health Insurance Team will be on hand to
address employee questions by video or via the chat box. View the schedule and access the sessions through the Open Enrollment website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe (available beginning September 21).
- 4. If you have tried all the methods above and still have Open Enrollment-related questions, please contact OHR's MC311
Customer Service Center at 240-773-6471 (Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm) to open a service request. A member of the health insurance team will respond to service requests in the order they are received. Tip: Please provide an email address at the time you place your Service Request. This will ensure the fastest response possible.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Online Resources
Visit the 2021 Open Enrollment Webpage. www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OE Visit OHR’s Webpage www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HR Health Insurance active employees
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Legal Information
The County reserves the right at any time and for any reason to amend the Program, subject to the County's collective bargaining
- agreements. The County expects to continue the Program, but it is the County's position that there is no implied contract between individual
employees and the County to do so. The County may amend the Program, prospectively or retroactively to comply with applicable law. In the event of a conflict between this presentation, the County Code and/or the Summary Description, the County Code then the Summary Description will govern.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Thank You
We hope you enjoyed learning about 2021 Open Enrollment.
~Your OHR Health Insurance Team