Open enrollment is underway — now through Oct. 31.
As a valued member of the Publix family, your health and well-being is important to us. That’s why we want you to take steps to get — and stay — healthy. This includes taking advantage of the benefits offered to you by Publix.
And we have great news about those benefits — for the second year in a row, premiums aren’t increasing for the BCBS PPO Plan! Publix offers eligible associates comprehensive, gold-level health benefits at an affordable premium. Plus, the BCBS PPO Plan offers free preventive care benefits to help you stay healthy.
If you’re eligible for Publix’s health insurance, you most likely aren’t eligible for the federal tax credit or subsidy if you choose to enroll in a government-run, exchange plan, also referred to as a Marketplace health plan.
Premiums for the dental HMO and vision plans also aren’t increasing. And rates for the supplemental life insurance plan aren’t increasing.
For 2017, premiums are increasing for the Kaiser Permanente HMO and dental PPO and UCR plans. And the rate for the long-term disability plan is increasing. So, if you’re eligible for Publix’s benefits, take advantage of open enrollment this month and select the insurance coverage you need for health, dental, vision and long-term disability. Open enrollment is the one time each year when you can make changes to your coverage, unless you have an IRS permitted election change.
Eligible associates should have received open enrollment materials at their work location near the end of September. Whether you’re new to Publix’s benefits or you’ve had coverage for many years, it’s always good to review your enrollment materials. They provide essential information and dates.
Most importantly, coverage elections must be made by Oct. 31, 2016, for health, dental and vision benefits effective Jan. 1, 2017. Long-term disability benefits are effective the first of the month after the associate’s Personal Health Application is approved by the insurance company, but no earlier than Jan. 1, 2017.
Visit PASSport to enroll
For health and long-term disability, visit PASSport to enroll in, make changes to or cancel your coverage by no later than Oct. 31.
Additionally, BCBS PPO Plan enrollees must confirm or update their tobacco use status as part of the online open enrollment process on PASSport, or they will continue to be enrolled and pay the higher tobacco user premium for health coverage in 2017.
You may need to visit the Personal Plans website
If you want to enroll in or make changes to your dental, vision and supplemental life insurance coverage, you should visit the Publix Personal Plans website from PASSport > Benefits > Benefit Plan Providers no later than Oct. 31. To cancel your dental or vision coverage, you must call Publix Personal Plans and speak with a customer service representative during regular business hours.
Don’t delay: review your open enrollment materials and take action today! If you miss the Oct. 31 deadline, you’ll miss out completely for 2017.
The group benefits stories in Publix News are published to assist associates in understanding Publix’s benefits plans. The information is in summary form only and does not replace the provisions in the benefit plan documents. If there is any conflict between the content of Publix News and the plans themselves, the terms of the plans will be the final authority.
