All elections made during Open Enrollment will be effective October 1, 2020
If you wish to make changes in your coverages, please complete any applicable forms and applications and forward to the School Benefits Office via email to benefits@ppsd.org, fax to (401) 680-5457 or Interoffice mail by Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
You may contact the School Benefits Office via email to benefits@ppsd.org with any questions you may have. We will do our best to answer your questions as soon as we are able to. If you would like a return phone call, please be sure to include your phone number.
What’s New for this Year
- Digital Forms – we have digitized our benefit enrollment form to make it easier to complete via a computer. No more printing and hand writing multiple applications. Also, sending the application/forms to us electronically allows you proof of submission and a copy to keep for your records. Just reminder to save your forms before sending them in. You may need to “Print to PDF” to ensure your elections are captured.
- Wellness Incentive Program through Virgin Pulse – all PPSD employees are not eligible to participate!
- Requirements – your annual well visit, dental exam and earn an additional 7,500 points within the portal.
- We will have many virtual webinars where you will be able to participate and earn points from the comfort, safety and convenience of your own home.
- Visit our Wellness page for more information!
- Flexible Spending Account Provisions – the IRS has issued guidance in light of COVID-19 allowing our plan to be more flexible with deadlines and your ability to make changes.
- Extended Grace Period – unused HealthCare and Dependent Care monies from this past year (7/1/2019-6/30/2020) can be used through December 31, 2020. This gives you until the end of the calendar year to use the money you had set aside to use for the current year that would have otherwise expired on June 30, 2020.
- Changes to Elections – previously, your elections were set once you made them. We now have the ability to let you change your elections; however you must do so before December 31, 2020 and you may only make up to two changes/corrections – which may not exceed amounts you have already used. Changes should be made through a new election form and submitted by email or fax.
- Maximums –
- Please consider any amounts you may have remaining from the current year that you can use through December 31, 2020 – you may only want to budget for half of a year depending on how much you have left to use:
- Healthcare FSA – $2,750/year
- Dependent Care FSA – $5,000/year
- Parking/Transit FSA – $270/month – Parking/Transit FSAs have always been monthly enrollments, so you may make changes to these accounts as often as you like.
- Please consider any amounts you may have remaining from the current year that you can use through December 31, 2020 – you may only want to budget for half of a year depending on how much you have left to use:
If You Take NO Action During Open Enrollment
If you take no action during Open Enrollment, your benefits (medical, pharmacy, dental, vision) will remain exactly as they are today.
If you missed the FSA Enrollment period a couple months ago, you may still enroll/change your election until December 31, 2020. Just remember you can’t reduce your election below what you’ve already used!
If you had an FSA this past year and do not reelect to have a FSA this upcoming year, you will still be able to use the monies through December 31, 2020.
Actions to Consider Each Year During Open Enrollment
- Opt Out of Coverage – employees must complete an Opt Out Form each year AND provide a copy of your alternate insurance card for yourself and at least one other family member if opting out for Family coverage.
- Add/Remove Dependents from Coverage – review who you’re covering on benefits for the coming year
- Enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts – enrollment is required each year as elections do not carryover to the new year
- Healthcare – contribute up to $2,750 per year on a pre-tax basis
- Dependent Care – contribute up to $5,000 per year on a pre-tax basis
- Parking/Transit – contribute up to $270 per month on a pre-tax basis
- Review Optional Life Insurance Coverage (Non-Union only) – each year you may increase one factor of salary (if you already have Optional Life coverage) without the need to answer any medical questions.
- If you are newly electing or increasing by more than one factor of your salary, you will need to complete an Evidence of Insurability form. We will email you the form with directions for submission.
Applications and Forms
- Benefits Open Enrollment Form (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- PPSD Coordination of Benefits Form
- London Health BCBSRI – FSA Enrollment Form
- London Health/BCBSRI FSA Claim Reimbursement Form
- Flexible Spending Account Resources
Non Union/Administrators
Teachers
- Opt Out Form – Teachers
- Benefit Option Form – Teachers Hired Before 8/30/2004
- Benefit Option Form – Teachers Hired After 8/30/2004
Local Union 1033/B.E.S.T
Local Union 1339
Learn More
- Want to earn some extra cash? Visit our Wellness page for an overview of the Wellness Program and helpful tips and information for completing the activities!
Please forward all completed forms and applications by Wednesday, September 30, 2020 to the City Benefits Office:
Email to benefits@ppsd.org; Fax to (401) 680-5457; Interoffice mail to School Benefits Office
