Don’t Get Left Out in the Cold…Open Enrollment Begins May 1

- News and Announcements

It’s open enrollment time – the period during which you may enroll in a health plan, change your health insurance elections or sign up for a tax-free Flexible Spending Account and more. Now is the time to consider health insurance options for 2018-19 so that you can make the best choices for you and your family.

Open enrollment will run from Tuesday, May 1, through Thursday, May 31, at 4:30 p.m. The benefits you elect during the open enrollment period will remain in effect for the period from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, unless you have a qualifying life event (marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child), at which time you may make changes to your benefit elections.

Choose Your Options

If you have no changes in your health insurance coverage, no action is required. This includes:

  • Medial Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance

If you do nothing, your current health insurance elections for the above options will stay the same.

Participation in Flexible Spending Accounts, which include Health Care and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, however, requires new enrollment each year. You must make your election for each account online through Employee Self-Service (ESS) or submit a paper enrollment form to human resources.

Please take time to review the Employee Benefits Newsletter (PDF), which provides details about open enrollment, what’s new in 2018-19 and instructions for making your elections through Employee Self Service (ESS).

Attend an Information Session

Please plan to attend an open enrollment information session this month, where you can meet with human resources staff and representatives from our various plans and get answers to your questions. Representatives from Kaiser, United Healthcare, CareFirst, EyeMed, and 403(b) and 457 plan vendors, including ICMA-RC, the defined contribution plan administrator for the Virginia Retirement System Hybrid plan will be present. You can also:

  • Relax and enjoy a free seated massage
  • Sample healthy food and drinks
  • Learn about the ACPS Finding Fit, our employee wellness program
  • Get details about “Real Appeal,” a UnitedHealthcare wellness program that promotes healthy diet and physical activity for lasting weight loss

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend one of the following sessions:

  • T.C. Williams Cafeteria: Tuesday, May 1, 3 to 6 p.m.
  • Transportation Bus Facility: Thursday, May 3, 9 a.m. to noon
  • George Washington Middle School Cafeteria: Wednesday, May 9, 3 to 6 p.m.
  • Central Office School Board Room: Thursday, May 17, 3 to 6 p.m.
  • Francis C. Hammond Middle School Cafeteria: Wednesday, May 23, 3 to 6 p.m.

Have questions about Open Enrollment?

Please email HRBenefits@acps.k12.va.us.