Employee Benefits Update -
Open Enrollment information for tobacco users
This action is ONLY for tobacco users who want to reduce their monthly premium by
$60 per month in 2021. If an employee is NOT a tobacco user, they will simply need to
attest to that during the online Open Enrollment process, which is October 15th through
October 31st.
Please remember you have until November 30, 2020, to visit your Primary Care
Provider or a CVS MinuteClinic to complete a tobacco cessation counseling session in
order to earn your premium credit for 2021. In past years, since Craven County has no
CVS MinuteClinics within 25 miles, the State Health Plan allowed exceptions for
attending the cessation counseling session. THERE WILL BE NO MORE
EXCEPTIONS GRANTED SINCE THERE IS THE OPTION TO SEE YOUR PRIMARY
CARE PHYSICIAN.
It’s also important that you visit the Plan’s website and print off instructions for your
provider to ensure your tobacco attestation counseling session is FREE and is billed
correctly. (If you combine the tobacco cessation visit with another service, there may be
a copay.) This document is not required for the visit, it’s simply a suggestion to ensure
the visit is billed correctly.
2020 Annual Benefits Enrollment
The annual enrollment period for Craven County Schools Benefits Plan will be October 5, 2020 through November 13, 2020. A Pierce Group Benefits Counselor will be contacting you very soon to schedule a virtual group briefing for annual enrollment. All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend. This virtual briefing will last approximately fifteen minutes and we appreciate your help in allowing these briefings to be scheduled. An online sign-up sheet for onsite individual enrollment sessions will be provided to you and your staff by your Benefits Counselor following the group briefing.
In addition, an employee letter will be sent to all employees within the district on the first day of annual enrollment. It will provide detailed information and communicate expectations regarding the annual enrollment period. The Pierce Group Benefits Counselor will provide you site specific information to relay to your staff.
Please be sure that all eligible employees are informed of open enrollment. Elections made during the enrollment period may not be changed during the plan year. The only exception is for a family status change as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. A plan change due to a family status change must be initiated within 30 days of the qualifying event. If an employee is on a current leave during the open enrollment period, they will not be allowed to sign up for benefits at this time. An employee on leave will have 30 days upon their return to sign up.
Your cooperation with this process is most appreciated.
