NCFlex HBR Newsletter - February 2025

An Important Message for NC Health Benefit Representatives

February 2025

Open Enrollment Exceptions Deadline - March 15

March 15 is the final day NCFlex will accept exceptions related to Open Enrollment benefit elections. By that time, most employees have had at least two payroll periods to review benefit deductions for accuracy.

Remember any changes outside of Open Enrollment must be due to a Qualifying Life Event. We cannot make exceptions because an employee realizes they now need different benefits.

Exceptions are reviewed within one to three business days. Ensuring those submitting exceptions provide all pertinent information can help us review these in a timely manner.

When an exception is approved:

It is sent to the enrollment platform, which makes the change in the enrollment system.
NCFlex is notified when the change is made.
NCFlex sends an approval form to the Benefit Rep who submitted the exception.

If an exception is denied, the Benefit Rep who submitted the exception will receive a denial form.

Please be sure to review the enrollment system for accuracy and notify NCFlex if something was not updated as noted in the approved exception form.

HBR/UBA Training - Recordings and Slides Posted

We appreciate all that you do as a point of contact for employees when it comes to benefits. You play an important role in helping employees better understand how to utilize what they are paying for.

In January, we shared detailed presentations on NCFlex benefits and our Benefits Representative Administration Manual. If you missed these informative webinars, you can find the slides and recordings on our HBR webpage.

Some highlights include:

Eligible expenses for each type of Flexible Spending Account and the difference between rollover and grace period
Plans' hidden additional benefits such as the Sickness Hospital Confinement benefit on the Accident Plan
Qualifying Life Events and supporting documentation
Transferring employees vs. new hires
Who to contact for escalated issues and questions
How a leave of absence affects benefits
Benefits eligible for continuation upon separation and how to do so

Miles for Wellness Challenge 31

Register today to join other state employees in staying active and completing a virtual journey along a pollinator-inspired trail that encourages you and your coworkers to bee all you can bee. Challenge 31 will run from March 10-May 4, 2025.

A great way to manage stress and get moving, this Miles for Wellness challenge can help you incorporate movement into your daily life while fostering connections with your colleagues.

Miles for Wellness is a virtual, team-based walking initiative by and for the state employees of North Carolina. The purpose of Miles for Wellness is to encourage and support employees to increase their level of physical activity with the goal of 10,000 steps, the equivalent of five miles, achieved most days. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. For questions or more information, contact milesforwellness@nc.gov.

Health Care FSA Rollover Update

Employees with rollover funds from their 2024 Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) can access this money now. In the past, employees with a rollover had to wait until after the runout period (last day to file claims) to access these funds. Due to an update from the FSA card vendor, employees do not have to wait until April 1.

For employees who re-enrolled in a HCFSA for 2025, the rollover funds will be automatically accessed when their 2025 account is depleted. Meanwhile, the rollover funds are available now for those who did not re-enroll for 2025. More information can be found on the HCFSA page of ncflex.org.

Helpful tip: When an employee reviews their account on P&A's website, the rollover is featured on a separate line and can only have up to $610 available. If an employee sees that there is additional money left in their 2024 HCFSA account, this money must be claimed by filing an eligible out-of-pocket expense to P&A by March 31 or the employee will forfeit the funds.

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