Frequently Asked Questions: Plan Year 2012-2013

General Questions:

When is open enrollment this year?
Open Enrollment runs August 15 to September 15 at 5pm.
When will changes to benefit plans be effective?

Any changes you make during Open Enrollment will be effective October 1, 2012.

Is there a period of forgiveness following the deadline?
No. In order to make PCC’s payroll processing deadlines, September 15 at 5pm is an absolute deadline for PCC employees, retirees, and dependents to enroll, opt out, or make changes.
If I opted out last year, do I still need to go online?

Yes. If you opted out of medical, vision and dental last year, you will have to go online to verify that your other group coverage is still in place and update information regarding that coverage if changes have occurred.

How do I enroll or make changes to my benefits?

Use MyOEBB, the online system for enrollment and changes to your plan selections. There are two ways to access MyOEBB. First, go to MyPCC and click on the Employee Tab, then on “My Health Insurance” The MyOEBB log-in screen will open. Or you can go there directly by clicking on https://myoebb.org/oebb/!pb.main. The OEBB website includes an updated guide to help you navigate through the MyOEBB system. In addition, HR/Benefits has scheduled online enrollment assistance sessions at locations across the district. The schedule is included in the PCC benefits Open Enrollment mailing (YELLOW ENVELOPE).

What if I don’t remember my username and password?

Use the “Forgot your username/password?” button on the MyOEBB site rather than guessing. If you guess three times and don’t get in, you will need to contact OEBB to unlock your record.

What will happen if I don’t make any selections during Open Enrollment?

If you don’t make selections during open enrollment, you will continue to have the same plans as last year. There will be no opportunity for change after the September 15th 5:00 p.m. deadline, unless you have a Qualified Status Change (birth, adoption, marriage/partnership, divorce, etc.) which allows tier changes within the selected plan. Your next opportunity to make enrollment changes will be at next year’s Open Enrollment.

If nothing is changing with my plan selections from last year, do I have to do anything?
Yes. You need to go into MyOEBB and verify that all contact and dependent information is current. Also, your family situation, family health and household finances may have changed, making it worthwhile to revisit enrollment options.

Medical:

What medical plans are available to PCC benefits-eligible employees?

There are four medical plan options available to benefits eligible employees at PCC: Kaiser Permanente and three ODS plans with different levels of deductibles, copayments, etc. The premiums for each of the ODS plans (Plans 3, 6 and 8) vary, with plan 3 having the highest premium and the lowest out-of-pocket cost. Plan 8 has the lowest premium and the highest out-of-pocket cost.

Can I use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for health reimbursement to save money?

Yes, FSA accounts provide a means of paying for health expenses (medical, dental and vision) with pretax dollars. Actual savings vary based on your tax bracket. If you’re in the 25% tax bracket, for every $100 you set aside in an FSA account to pay for health expenses, you save $25. Open Enrollment for the FSA program occurs in November for the following calendar year. Health insurance premiums do not qualify as a reimbursable expense. The premiums are a pre-tax payroll deduction. Part-time Faculty are not eligible for the health reimbursement FSA.

If I select a medical plan and it doesn’t work for me, can I change my mind later?

Not until next Open Enrollment. Once the enrollment deadline of September 15 at 5pm occurs, the plan selections you made in MyOEBB will be your plans for the full plan year. You’ll have to wait to make a plan change at the next Open Enrollment. For that reason, we encourage you to think through your family’s medical histories, the new plan premiums and provisions, and past utilization to determine the best choice for your circumstances. Included in Open Enrollment materials is information on “Choosing a Plan,” which should help. If you still have concerns, Benefits Specialists are available to help you think through your selection. NOTE: HR/Benefits will not recommend plans to employees; what’s best varies based on individual circumstances.

Are there opportunities outside of Open Enrollment to make insurance changes?

If you have a Qualified Status Change (QSC) during the plan year, you have 31 days from the time of the event to make a change to your PCC insurance. Timing is important, because after the 31-day window, no change can be made until the next Open Enrollment. Allowable changes include adding or dropping dependents, dropping all PCC coverage if you become eligible for other group coverage, or changing plans if you incur a 10% or greater premium cost increase. Contact HR/Benefits as soon as possible to ensure there’s no lapse in coverage.

I’m trying to figure out which plan would be best for me and my family from a financial standpoint, but all of the terms associated with insurance confuse me. I don’t know how to figure out coinsurance, copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Who can help me?

Included in the Open Enrollment packet are a number of documents we’ve designed to be helpful. The PCC OPEN ENROLLMENT 2012 packet has a section called, “Choosing a Plan” that may be helpful. We also have included a link to a glossary for benefits terminology that is used throughout the plan documents. It includes the terms noted in this question and much more. Plan-to-plan comparison charts are also included. If you still have questions, feel free to attend a benefits presentation or contact HR/Benefits for assistance.

Has the PCC “cap” (the college’s contribution towards the cost of insurance premiums) gone up this year?

Yes. Please reference the chart below. The Cap is based on your tier of coverage for your medical plan. Part-time faculty get a flat Cap of $396.50, regardless of the tier of medical coverage, and must be enrolled in a PCC medical plan to be eligible for dental. The Cap is prorated for all other part-time employees based on their FTE.

Tier Employee only Employee + spouse/partner Employee + child/children Empl + Spouse/Partner + Child/Children
2012 Cap $610 $1,125 $1,045 $1,323

Pharmacy:

Do I need to select a pharmacy plan?
No. Pharmacy plans are included in the medical plans. PCC has selected ODS Pharmacy plan B and Kaiser Pharmacy plan 1.
I’m on an ODS medical plan.  Can I go to any pharmacy?

You may go to any pharmacy. However, if you use a pharmacy that is affiliated with ODS, you likely will save money. The pharmacies identified on the ODS website have negotiated discounts with ODS for prescriptions.

Do both Kaiser and ODS have mail-order pharmacies?

Yes. Both provide the convenience of receiving a 90-day supply of medications through the mail. Many pharmacies will only dispense 30 days of medication. With ODS mail order, you may receive 90 days of a value or generic prescriptions for two copays. With the Kaiser mail order, you may receive 90 days of generic and preferred brand name prescriptions for two copays.

Dental

Which dental plans offer orthodontia?

All plans cover orthodontia except ODS Dental Plan 6 (new to PCC this year). Please reference plan comparison chart in your Open Enrollment packet for additional information.

Can I get my teeth cleaned more than twice a year?

Under the ODS dental plans, pregnant women in the third trimester and diabetics are eligible for additional cleanings. To take advantage of these additional cleanings, you must sign up for the Oral Health Total Health program with ODS after you enroll in ODS Dental. Willamette Dental assesses a member’s oral health when determining how many cleanings will be provided in a plan year. In some cases that could mean a single cleaning, in other cases more.

How do I let ODS know that I want to be part of the dental program that allows up to four cleanings per year?

Contact ODS Dental Customer service for more information on Oral Health Total Health. An application form is required. OEBB ODS Dental contact numbers are Toll-free: 866-923-0410 and Local: 503-265-2910.

Are part-time faculty eligible for dental insurance?

Yes. Part-time faculty members must enroll in a PCC medical plan in order to acquire dental coverage. No portion of the Cap will be applied to dental premiums.

Life Insurance:

May I increase my optional life insurance during Open Enrollment?

Yes. If you previously signed up for the optional life insurance, you may increase the amount of the policy by either $10,000 or $20,000 without providing proof of insurability until you reach the maximum guarantee issue of $100,000. Increases above the $100,000 level require you to provide proof of insurability by submitting a health statement.

Will I need to complete new beneficiary forms if I increase my voluntary life insurance amount?

If you designated your beneficiary in MyOEBB last year, you don’t need to fill out a form again this year. However, if there have been changes in your personal life; i.e., marriage, divorce, etc., you should review and update your beneficiary form. Note: It’s a good practice to revisit beneficiary forms periodically as life circumstances change.

AD&D: (Accidental Death & Dismemberment)

Is it possible to increase the amount of my optional AD&D plan?
Yes. As long as you make the increase during the Open Enrollment period, no underwriting process is required.

Long-Term Care:

Is Long Term Care (LTC) insurance still available?

Yes, OEBB offers LTC through Unum Life Insurance Company. You will be required to provide proof of insurability if applying for LTC during Open Enrollment. In your packet, you will see a link to a website with more information about this benefit.

If I have LTC coverage through PCC's previous provider, CNA, do I need to make a change?
No, your coverage with CNA is grandfathered and the same payroll deductions will continue.

(EAP) Employee Assistance Program

What is the name of our current Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
OEBB has chosen Reliant Behavioral Health (RBH) as the OEBB EAP provider.
How can I contact RBH?
Reliant Behavioral Services can be reached at 1-866-750-1327.
What is the employee cost of EAP services through RBH?

There is no employee cost for EAP coverage. PCC pays 100% of the premium. If you use services identified through the EAP for which there’s an additional cost, you are responsible for paying those costs. You should check with your medical plan provider to find out whether additional services such as counseling are covered.

Additional Assistance

If you want to submit a question to a Benefits Specialist, here are their names and email addresses.

Alphabet covered HR/Benefits Specialist Email address
A - J Jonna Alexander jalexand@pcc.edu
K – R Kim Searcy kim.searcy@pcc.edu
S – Z Paula Johnson pjohnson@pcc.edu