Begins Here!Your Journey to Wellness

January 1 - December 31, 2020Police Guild and Fire 106/106SBENEFITS GUIDE2020

FINANCIAL

WELLNESS

HEALTH

Welcome

Eligibility You are eligible for benefits the first of the month following the start of your employment. You may also enroll your eligible family members under certain plans you choose for yourself. Eligible family members include:

• Your legally married spouse

• Your WA State Registered Domestic Partner (RDP) and/or their children

• Your biological children, stepchildren, adopted children, or children for whom you have legal custody (age restrictions may apply). Disabled children age 26 or older who meet certain criteria may continue on your health coverage.

• You gain access to state coverage under Medicaid or CHIP

during his/her employer’s Open Enrollment Period• Change in coverage election made by your spouse/RDP

• You lose coverage under your spouse’s/RDP plan

• Change in child custody

or child• Death of a spouse, Registered Domestic Partner (RDP),

• Child reaching the maximum age limit

• Birth or adoption of a child

• Marriage or Divorce

the most common Qualifying Events:Qualifying Event during the year. Following are examples ofthe next annual Open Enrollment period, unless you have a Due to IRS regulations, you cannot change your elections until

Choose Carefully!

effective January 1-December 31, 2020.Open Enrollment: Changes made during Open Enrollment are

the next open enrollment period.until January 1 of the following year, provided you enroll during If you fail to enroll on time, you will NOT have benefits coverage effective on the first of the month following date of hire.31 days of your date of hire. If you enroll on time, coverage is New Hires: You must complete the enrollment process within

When Coverage Begins

benefitinfo@awcnet.orgContact AWC Trust 1-800-562-8981 or Medical Plan Questions:

(360) 778-8254 | rtbutela@cob.orgRyann Butela - COB Benefits SpecialistBenefit Enrollment Forms:

Questions?

options for 2020.posted on the Employee Benefits page on Staff Central and COB.org when evaluating your medical plan the 2020 Premiums & Employee Cost Share and Summary Benefit Comparisons (SBC) available in HR and life. This guide answers some of the basic questions you may have about your benefits. Please refer to offer a comprehensive array of valuable benefits to protect your health, your family and your way of Your benefits are an important part of your overall compensation. The City of Bellingham is pleased to

election changes.enrollment period to make your you must wait until the next Open changes are not submitted ontime, certificate, or a divorce decree.If such as a marriage license, birth of the Qualifying Event is required newborns). Supporting documentation Qualifying Event (60 days forResources within 31 days of the elections, you MUST contact Human To make changes to your benefit

MAKING CHANGES

November 22, 2019be turned in to HR by 4:00 pm Open Enrollment Forms MUST

DEADLINE

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) City of Bellingham provides you with an opportunity to participate in three different Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) administered through Discovery Benefits, Inc. FSA’s allow you to set aside a portion of your income, before taxes, to pay for qualified healthcare and/or dependent care expenses. Because that portion of your income is not taxed, you pay less in Federal Income, Social Security and Medicare taxes.

Healthcare FSA

Coinsurance Prescriptions Eye Exams/Eyeglasses

Copayments Dental Treatment Lasik Eye Surgery

Deductibles Orthodontia

Dependent Care FSA

visit www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p503.pdfFor a complete list of eligible healthcare expenses,

qualifies as your federal tax dependent. mentally incapable of caring for him/herself and

• Care of a household member who is physically or

centers. babysitters, nursery schools, pre-school or daycare

• Care of a dependent child under the age of 13 by

expenses include:your spouse file separate tax returns). Some eligible cover eligible dependent care expenses ($2,500 if you and For 2020, you may contribute up to $5,000 (per family) to

31, 2020 and must file claims by March 31, 2021.following year. You can incur expenses through December funds will NOT be returned to you or carried over to the administrated according to specific IRS rules. Unused can give you a significant tax advantage, they must be You must enroll each year to participate. Because FSAs

Important FSA Rules

visit www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdfFor a complete list of eligible healthcare expenses,

expenses include:spouse, and your children up to age 26. Some qualified cover eligible healthcare expenses incurred by you, your For 2020, you may contribute up to $2,750 (IRS limit) to

(for HDHP PPO Participants)Limited-Purpose Healthcare FSA

expenses.while preserving your HSA funds for eligible medical for eligible dental, orthodontia and vision expenses FSA. This type of FSA allows you to be reimbursed only participate in a limited-purpose Healthcare If you enroll in the HDHP PPO medical plan, you may

Family (employee + 1 or more): $7,100Employee Only: $3,550

limits listed below.the City's contributions, may not exceed the annual IRS Important: Your contributions to your HSA, in addition to

prescription drug, dental and vision expenses.the IRS, including most out-of-pocket medical, pay for any qualified health care expenses as defined by account (HSA) that allows you to save pre-tax dollars to In addition, the HDHP comes with a health savings out-of-pocket costs if you choose an in-network provider. You will maximize your benefits and reduce your freedom to seek care from the provider of your choice. The High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) gives you the HDHP – High Deductible Health Plan

your PCP to see another doctor, such as a specialist.care provider (PCP), and you will need a referral from With an HMO plan you will be required to pick a primary will generally not be covered except in an emergency. work for or contract with the HMO. Out-of-network care These plans limit coverage to care from doctors who HMO – Health Maintenance Organization

covered.deductible must be met before certain services are choose an in-network provider. The calendar-year your benefits and reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you provider of your choice. However, you will maximize These plans give you the freedom to seek care from the PPO – Preferred Provider Organization

https://www.cob.org/employment/pages/benefits.aspxSummary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) available on the City's public website:

Catch-up (age 55+): $1,000

Kaiser Access PPOKaiser 200 HMORegence HDHP PPORegence HealthFirst 250 PPO

healthy lifestyle.offer many resources and tools to help you maintain a medical and prescription drug coverage. The plans also different medical plans that provide comprehensive The City is pleased to offer you a choice among four 2020 Benefit Plan Options

Mental Health Personal & Life Issues Substance Abuse

Relationships & marital conflicts Financial Debt Workplace Conflict

Family, Parenting & Elders Grief & Loss Legal Issues

State of WA Deferred Compensation Plan For a general representative, call 800- 423-1524 ext. 3, Agency #899 Web: www.drs.wa.gov/dcp

Mass Mutual Jenny Roberts (360) 756-1511 Email: Jennifer.roberts@lpl.com Web: retire.hartfordlife.com

ICMA David Goren 877-651-7263 Email: dgoren@icmarc.org Web: www.icmarc.org

For an enrollment packet or Change Form, please contact HR/Benefits: (360) 778-8220 - Opt 1(Services>Employee>Benefits>Deffered Compensation Program). For more information, visit the Deferred Compensation page on Staff Central

For 2020, the annual limit is $19,500

retirement funds are available for withdrawal when you separate from City employment.are deferred until retirement, giving you a significant tax advantage. Note: 457 Deferred Compensation pre-tax dollars through payroll reduction. The taxes on your payroll reduction and the investment earnings Deferred Compensation is a retirement savings plan that allows you to invest

457(b) Deferred Compensation Savings Plan

their families. The EAP is provided at NO COST to you through AWC and can help with the following:confidential program dedicated to supporting the emotional health and well-being of our employees and Life is full of challenges and sometimes balancing it is difficult. The City is pleased to provide a Employee Assistance Program (EAP) CompPsych 1-800-570-9315

IRS.NOTE: You may only opt-out/in during open enrollment or due to a Qualifying Event as defined by the

available on the Staff Central-Benefits page under Opt Out-Medical Benefits.Opt-out incentives are payable as a taxable cash benefit. Opt-out amounts and additional information are “opt out” of receiving City medical benefits. If you do “opt out”, you and the City share the savings.If you or an eligible family member are covered by group medical benefits elsewhere, you may choose to

Medical Opt-Out Incentive