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Open enrollment | October 1-31, 2017

During open enrollment, eligible employees, retirees, survivors and COBRA subscribers may change their coverage for the following year. Below is a full list of changes that can be made during this year’s open enrollment. You can download an open enrollment checklist by subscriber type to the right. The 2018 Insurance Benefits Guide (IBG) describes all PEBA-sponsored insurance benefits.

If you are satisfied with your current coverage, you do not need to do anything during open enrollment. Make a note, however, you must re-enroll in flexible spending accounts each year.

Any changes that you make during open enrollment take effect January 1, 2018.

What’s new for 2018?

Changes listed below are effective January 1, 2018.

To streamline operations between insurance and retirement, the time for members to make initial enrollment decisions or changes during a special eligibility situation will change from 31 days to 30 days.
MetLife is the new life insurance vendor. Premiums for Dependent Life-Spouse coverage will be based upon spouse’s age, not the employee’s age.
A former spouse who is covered by a State Health Plan subscriber must have his own policy under the Plan. Learn more in the Former spouse coverage section below.
The State Vision Plan’s eyeglass frame benefit will change from every 24 months to every 12 months.
Premiums for 2018 are available to the right.

- There is no increase in the State Health Plan employee premiums.
- These premiums will increase:

- - Dental Plus;
  - Vision; and
  - Optional Life.

What you can do during the 2017 open enrollment

Health

Change from one health plan to another:

- State Health Plan Savings Plan;
- State Health Plan Standard Plan; or
- GEA TRICARE Supplement Plan (available to eligible members of the military community).

Enroll yourself or any eligible dependents in health coverage.
If you are eligible for Medicare, you may enroll in or change from the Medicare Supplemental Plan.
Drop health coverage for yourself or any dependents.

If you enroll in the Savings Plan in October, you may also sign up for Health Savings Account (HSA). Learn more below in the MoneyPlus section.

Dental

Enroll yourself or any eligible dependents in State Dental Plan or Dental Plus.
Drop State Dental Plan or Dental Plus coverage for yourself or any dependents.

Your next opportunity to add or drop dental coverage will be October 2019.

Vision

Enroll in or drop State Vision Plan coverage for yourself and/or your eligible family members.

Life insurance

Enroll in or increase Optional Life coverage up to $50,000 without evidence of insurability.
Enroll in or increase Dependent Life-Spouse coverage with evidence of insurability.
Enroll in or drop Dependent Life-Child coverage.
Drop or decrease Optional Life and Dependent Life-Spouse coverage.

Long term disability

Apply for supplemental long term disability coverage with medical evidence of good health.
Change your benefit waiting period from 90 days to 180 days for existing coverage without medical evidence of good health.
Drop coverage.

MoneyPlus

Enroll in or drop the Pretax Group Insurance Premium feature.
Enroll in, re-enroll in or drop flexible spending accounts:

- Dependent Care Spending Account
- Medical Spending Account
- Limited-use Spending Account

Enroll in or drop a Health Savings Account.

- A Health Savings Account is available to Savings Plan members.

Resources

Former spouse notice

Active employees

Retirees, COBRA subscribers and survivors

Former spouse coverage
A proviso passed by the General Assembly requires subscribers who cover a former spouse on insurance by a court order to drop their former spouse during this open enrollment period. The former spouse can enroll under his own policy with PEBA during open enrollment. Subscribers who wish to add their current spouse may do so during this open enrollment period. With this proviso, the subscriber is now eligible to pay his premiums using pretax dollars by enrolling in the MoneyPlus Pretax Group Insurance Premium feature during open enrollment. PEBA will end coverage for known former spouses effective January 1, 2018, even if no open enrollment action takes place.
Learn more

Former spouses will have an individual policy (single coverage only) effective January 1, 2018. They can enroll in health, dental and/or vision coverage. To continue coverage, a former spouse must complete a former spouse Notice of Election (NOE) form during open enrollment. Coverage will be billed at the full premium amount and payment is required with the NOE. A copy of court order is also required.

If a former spouse is eligible for Medicare, Medicare coverage will be primary and State Health Plan coverage will be secondary. Also, if he is not currently enrolled in Medicare Part B, he will need to do so effective January 1, 2018. He also has the option of enrolling in PEBA's State Medicare Supplemental Plan.

Coverage for former spouses will be billed to the former spouse at the full amount of the premium. The former spouse will receive new identification cards, monthly bills, Explanation of Benefits and other coverage-related materials at the address he provides. The billing statement and other materials can only be sent to the address provided on the NOE. An electronic funds transfer can be set up through PEBA if desired.

A former spouse will be able to keep his individual policy as long as the subscriber is enrolled in State Health Plan coverage and as long as required by the court order. PEBA will terminate coverage for the former spouse when the subscriber ends coverage or coverage is no longer required by a court order. If the subscriber’s coverage is terminated because of a COBRA qualifying event, the former spouse will be extended the same continuation of coverage. If the subscriber transfers with no break in coverage, PEBA will re-enroll the former spouse.

MyBenefits

The easiest way to change your coverage during open enrollment is through MyBenefits at mybenefits.sc.gov. During October, each section in which you are eligible to make changes includes links to instructions.

If you’re the subscriber, you can use MyBenefits throughout the year to:

Update your contact information;
Print a list of the insurance plans under which you are covered;
Get your eight-digit Benefits Identification Number (BIN);
Add a newborn to your coverage;
Update your life insurance beneficiaries; and
Approve changes made as a result of a special eligibility situation.

To protect your insurance information, you must register the first time you use MyBenefits. Learn how to register here.

Follow up on your open enrollment changes

In January, log in to MyBenefits at mybenefits.sc.gov. Select Review Benefits from the drop-down list to see your 2018 benefits. If you notice any errors, contact your benefits administrator immediately. Retirees, COBRA subscribers or survivors of a state agency, higher education institution or public school district should contact PEBA. If you are a retiree, COBRA subscriber or survivor of a local subdivision, contact the benefits administrator at the local subdivision with which you have a coverage relationship.

What happens if you miss open enrollment?

Open enrollment ends October 31, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. Once the deadline has passed, you must wait until either the next October or until you enter a special eligibility situation. These occur after life events like getting married or having children. Insurance changes must be made within 30 days of the event.

Questions?

Talk to your benefits administrator or call PEBA’s Customer Contact Center at 803.737.6800 or 888.260.9430.