OPEN ENROLLMENT
Open enrollment for the City of Charleston’s Medical, Dental/Vision, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), and Supplemental Life Insurance ends May 15, 2024, for coverage start date of July 1, 2024. During open enrollment, you can change your health, dental/vision plan, and supplemental life insurance. You can add, drop, or change coverage for yourself and your dependents without a qualifying event. You may also enroll in a flexible spending account or dependent care flexible spending account.
There are two (2) methods for enrolling or making changes to medical benefits. For the electronic enrollment process, visit the PEIA website(PEIA.wv.gov) and select “Manage My Benefits.” The PEIA website can be accessed on any smart phone, computer, or you can visit Human Resources for assistance.
The other method is a paper enrollment form. Employees that would like to make changes by paper, and/or make contributions to their FSA/DCFSA/HSA will need to complete the applicable form. These forms can be accessed online by visiting the City’s Open Enrollment website at https://www.charlestonwv.gov/government/city-departments/human-resources/open-enrollment .
If you are enrolling for the first time or are adding new dependents it is important to note that all enrollments, either paper or electronic, will require submission of copies of marriage certificates, birth certificates, adoption decrees and/or court orders, where applicable. PEIA does not accept photos of legal documents, these will need to be scanned documents. Your enrollment will not be processed until those documents are received.
ALL paper enrollment forms mentioned above, and any additional required documents must be faxed to (304) 348-8055 or emailed to joshua.thaxton@cityofcharleston.org no later than May 10, 2024.
PEIA COVERAGE
PEIA has again increased premiums for non-state agencies, the City has absorbed the cost of previous rate increases, however for the 2025 benefit year, there will be a premium rate increase for employees effective the first pay period after 7/1/2024. The premium split between the City/Employee will be 80/20 for the 2025 plan year. There will be no spousal surcharge for City employees. The new premium rates as well as PEIA Shopper’s Guide for the Plan Year 2025 are available electronically on the open enrollment page.
IRS guidelines have raised the minimum deductible for High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP). For those enrolled or enrolling in PEIA’s PPB Plan C, the deductible will increase to $1,600 for single coverage and $3,200 for employee plus child(ren) and family coverage. The City will continue to make monthly contributions to the Health Savings Account (HSA) based on the coverage level you enrolled in.
PEIA will implement a new comprehensive wellness Program benefit called Virgin Pulse, see page 28 in the Shoppers Guide. PEIA has also updated the Notice of Privacy Practices on pages 59-60 of the Shoppers Guide. PEIA encourages anyone enrolled in coverage to update your Coordination of Benefits (COB) and beneficiary information. To update COB, you can visit UMR’s website (not the PEIA site) at UMR.com or contact UMR by phone at 1-888-440-7342.
DENTAL/VISION
There are no changes to dental or vision coverage or premiums.
HEALTHCARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA)
The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows employees to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses with pre-tax dollars. FSA participation requires re-enrollment each year. The maximum annual contribution for 2024 is $3200. The FSA plan will continue to utilize Benny Cards. Current FSA participants who intend to re-enroll should not discard their Benny Card, as your FSA contribution will be automatically loaded to your card. If you are unable to use your full election amount for claims incurred through June 30, 2025, participants will be permitted to carry over $640 from 2024 to 2025. Any amount in your account above $640 must be used for qualifying expenditures on or before June 30, 2024, or it will be forfeited. The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is not available for those who choose to enroll in PPB Plan C.
DEPENDENT CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (DCFSA)
A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for dependent care services while you are at work. Under this type of account, a dependent is defined as a child under 13 years of age and adult dependents who are unable to take care of themselves. Please keep in mind that dependents must live with you and be claimed as dependents on your tax return. Participation requires re-enrollment each year. The maximum annual contribution for 2024 is $5,000 if you are single or if you are married and filing a joint income tax return; if you are married and filing a separate income tax return, the maximum annual contribution is $2,500 per year/per parent.
If you are currently enrolled in the FSA or DCFSA plans and desire to continue participation, you must re-enroll by completing an enrollment form and returning it to Human Resources.
HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT (HSA)
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. The funds in the account can be used to pay for eligible medical expenses as well as deductibles, co-insurance, prescriptions, vision expenses, and dental care. An HSA must be used in combination with a High-Deductible Health Plan. Therefore, to be eligible to participate in the HSA, you must enroll or be enrolled in PPB Plan C.
In addition to being enrolled in PPB Plan C, the employee cannot be covered by any other non-HDHP, such as that of a spouse, cannot be enrolled in Medicare, and cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.
The maximum annual contribution limit for 2024 is $4150 for single coverage and $8300 for family coverage. HSA funds roll over year-to-year, and if you do not spend them, there is no "use it or lose it" penalty. An HSA may also earn interest or other earnings.
HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENTS (HRA)
Managing known health risk factors is one of the best methods to control current and future claim costs and out-of-pocket expenses. While all employees and covered spouses are strongly encouraged to get an HRA, an annual health risk assessment is no longer a requirement. If you choose to complete an HRA, you may schedule an appointment with the City’s Health and Wellness Clinic by visiting www.mypremisehealth.com or by calling 304-932-0107.
While the information in this letter provides a summary of the changes effective July 1, 2024, the City of Charleston Open Enrollment webpage should be utilized to access a host of helpful resources. You may also obtain information by visiting the PEIA website at https://peia.wv.gov/active-members/Pages/default.aspx .
The Human Resources Department is committed to providing you with the resources and information you need to understand your benefits. If you have additional questions regarding open enrollment or the City’s benefit package, please contact Joshua Thaxton, Benefits Coordinator, at joshua.thaxton@cityofcharletson.org or April Thompson, Assistant Director of Human Resources, at april.thompson@cityofcharleston.org. You may also contact PEIA customer service with questions related to coverage and electronic enrollment at (304) 558-7850. A benefits fair will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 3-6 PM at the Charleston Holiday Inn Express located at 100 Civic Center Dr, Charleston, WV 25301. Virtual open enrollment update sessions are also available. Please contact HR for further information.