HUMAN RESOURCES
DONALD I. BREWER
Director
AMY A. JENNINGS
Employee Relations Manager
KARLA J. GIGLIO
Human Resource Specialist
COLLEEN C. SELBERG
Benefits Administrator
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2014 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Dear City of South Portland employees and families,
It is time for annual enrollment for employee benefits. For 2014 many employees will see
changes to their medical insurance options with the addition of the PPO 500 plan, with Cityprovided incentives. (More details further on in this notice.) 2014 medical insurance premiums
are increasing by 3.22%, much lower than last year’s increase of over 10%. For non-union
employees the City is instituting a 2% premium contribution for single level coverage in the
POS-A plan and a 1% premium contribution for single level coverage in the POS-C plan. Single
level coverage premium rate for the new PPO 500 plan option is 0%. Northeast Delta Dental
rates are increasing by @ 6%. There are no rate increases for Vision Care and Legal
Shield/Identity Theft Protection plans. The City is changing to Group Dynamic, Inc., located in
Falmouth, as its third party administrator of the Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts.
Medical insurance plan options and premium rates for union employees in Fire, Police, Dispatch,
Bus, and Parks & Public Works are determined by the provisions of their respective collective
bargaining agreements. 2014 employee, employee & dependent child, and family premium rates
for medical insurance, other benefits, and payments in lieu of medical insurance are available in
the Human Resources Office for non-union employees and each bargaining unit.
Important Information on Benefits, Premiums and Changes Effective Jan. 1, 2014
Please plan to attend an Annual Enrollment and Benefits Review meeting
scheduled on Wed., November 20, 2013 in City Council Chambers.
Times: 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Representatives from the Maine Municipal Employees Health Trust (Medical & Vision Care), Northeast Delta
Dental, Legal Shield/Identity Theft Protection, and Group Dynamic, Inc. will accompany City staff in providing
information on plan design, 2014 changes, and answer questions. Spouses are welcome to attend.
ALL BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT FORMS are due in HR by Fri., December 6, 2013.
Visit the Maine Municipal Employees Health Trust (MMEHT) website at www.mmeht.org under “What’s New” or
contact the HR Office for more information about the specific changes that may affect you and your family in 2014.
Reminder: Your employee benefits may be directly tied to your family situation. Changes in marital status and/or
dependents must be promptly reported to the Human Resources Department. Employees who fail to report marital or
dependent changes are responsible to reimburse the City for benefits you may have received for which you were not
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eligible. Conversely, the City is not responsible for retroactive payment of any benefit(s) you may have been
eligible for. If you have medical insurance through the City, it is your responsibility to notify HR of any change of
address, birth of a child, dependents, marriage or divorce. Please notify HR of any changes in beneficiaries.
Voluntary Benefit Plans; No City Contribution; 100% Employee Premiums:
o
MMEHT and VSP Vision Care Plan – an affordable eye care plan for benefit-eligible employees with tax
free weekly premiums; Personalized care from a vast network of doctors with flexible hours, a variety of
office locations and eyewear choices; Savings on eye exams, prescription glasses and sunglasses, frames,
lenses, contacts and laser vision correction; From employee only to full family plans with a December
open enrollment for January 1 to December 31, 2014 coverage; No rate increase for 2014
o
Legal Shield & Identity Theft Protection - affordable access to Life Events Legal Plan (pre-paid legal
services/consultations) for personal and family matters and Identity Theft Shield benefits. The benefits are
month-to-month with no long term contract; Low weekly premiums; no rate increase for 2014. Go to
www.lsbenefitintro.com for an informational video. Brochures available in HR.
o
Section 125 Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – **NEW FOR 2014** Effective January 1, 2014,
Group Dynamic, Inc. will be the City’s new third party administrator for our Sec 125 flexible spending
plan. Medical FSA’s are still capped at $2,500 per year, per employee, as set forth by the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act. Dependent care limit is $5,000. Employees are required to complete
forms each year designating their annual enrollment amounts. New debit cards will be issued for the new
Plan Year. There will be a 60 day run-off period to use the remaining balance of your 2013 election
amounts for medical reimbursement. Group Dynamic, Inc. will be taking over and processing
reimbursements during this run-off period.
**Health Insurance Open Enrollment** is now open to all full time and eligible permanent part-time employees
(min. of 20 hrs/week) who wish to join the City’s health insurance plan. No qualifying change requirement is needed
to enroll in any of the three plans offered. City of South Portland’s rate increase is 3.22% for 2014.
**NEW PPO 500 MEDICAL PLAN OPTION FOR NON UNION EMPLOYEES in 2014, with City-funded
incentives and lower premiums!!** POS-A and POS-C plans are still available for those who qualify. Summary of
Benefits for POS-A, POS-C and PPO 500 Plans will be available in HR or on-line at the Maine Municipal
Employees Health Trust (MMEHT) website (www.mmeht.org) by Nov. 18th.
New PPO 500 Plan
Effective January 1, 2014, as an alternative to Plans POS-A or POS-C, the City will provide to non-union employees
and their eligible dependents the Maine Municipal Employees Health Trust (MMEHT) PPO 500 plan. This plan
has a higher deductible and coinsurance than the POS-A and POS-C plans but at a lower cost to employees. To
offset the increased out-of-pocket exposure for employees, the City is providing employees with two City-funded
medical expense reimbursement plans (MERPs) administered by Group Dynamic, Inc., Falmouth. The City will
reimburse employees for properly documented deductible and coinsurance up to $1,125 for single coverage and
$2,250 for single & child and family coverage, on an annual basis. The reimbursement (MERP #1) represents 75%
of the deductible and coinsurance as determined by the Provider’s Explanation of Benefits (EOB.) Employees and
their eligible dependents are eligible for an additional $400 annual benefit (MERP #2) to cover properly documented
co-pays, dental, vision and other IRS Code 213 (d) expenses, just like an FSA. Employees may request the
remaining 25% balance be paid from the MERP #2 to the extent of available funds. Employees may contribute
additional funds to their MERP #2 above the City-funded $400 amount. The MMEHT has incentives of their own
in the form of waived or reduced deductible when employees use approved Hospitals of Distinction or Preferred
Facility for Procedure. Employees enrolled in POS-A or POS-C plans are not eligible for the two MERPs. These
are offered as City incentives for PPO 500 plan only.
If you elect to change to the new PPO 500 plan, with City-funded incentives, HR staff will be trained, ready and
willing to assist you in understanding and processing the forms and paperwork associated with the plan.
PPO 500 plan employee premium contribution for single coverage is 0%; employee & dependent child is 10%; and
family coverage is 15%.
Medical Plan Election Change/ Additional City Incentive!!
The City is again offering a one-time payment to any eligible employee switching from their existing plan to a lower
cost plan. If you are currently enrolled in POS-A and elect to change to POS-C, the City will provide a one-time
payment of $500. If you are enrolled in POS-C and elect to change to the PPO-500, the City will also provide a onetime payment of $500. If you are enrolled in POS-A and elect to change to the PPO-500, the City will provide a
one-time payment of $1,000. Employees switching plans and receiving the one-time incentive payment must remain
in that plan for a minimum of two (2) years or they shall be required to refund the City 50% of the incentive
payment. As an option to a lump sum cash payment, the employee may choose a pre-tax contribution to an ICMA
457 plan, or Section 125 Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Northeast Delta Dental Open Enrollment for any employee who would like to start or discontinue dental
coverage. You must notify HR if you wish to stop your dental coverage, otherwise you will be locked in for the
2014 year. Learn about the benefits to the Delta Dental Plan from a plan representative on Nov. 20th or contact HR.
2014 rate increase is @ 6%.
Heath Insurance Buy-Out Plan – If you are eligible for reduced health insurance coverage, the City shares the cost
savings with employees. All employees currently receiving a buy-out are required to prove continued eligibility in
the program. NOTE: Buy-out amounts are still capped at existing 2012 levels for non-union employees in
2014; no increase.
Retirement Plans – There is no longer open enrollment for membership in the MePERS retirement plan.
Participants in the MePERS retirement plan may enroll in a 457 plan at ICMA-RC at any time.
Are you under-utilizing your 457 retirement plan? Changes to your 457 plan or 457/401(a) combo plan may be
submitted at this time.
Do you know the benefit of a ROTH IRA? The City offers a ROTH IRA administered through ICMA-RC. Your
contributions are subject to federal and state tax withholdings. However, all withdrawals from your ROTH IRA
(including any interest earned) are not subject to tax at time of retirement distribution.
Life Insurance – The City offers Basic, Supplemental and Dependent Life Insurance coverage for all eligible
employees through both MMEHT and MEPERS. If you would like to enroll, review or change your level of
coverage, please contact our office.
Is your beneficiary information up to date? Check with HR.
QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR BENEFITS? CONTACT COLLEEN SELBERG AT EXT. 7608,
KARLA GIGLIO AT EXT. 7682, AMY JENNINGS AT EXT. 4109, or DON BREWER AT EXT. 7667.
kgiglio@southportland.org
cselberg@southportland.org
ajennings@southportland.org
dbrewer@southportland.org
WWW.SOUTHPORTLAND.ORG > Departments > Human Resources
Please take the opportunity to learn about your benefits options and 2014 changes by attending an open
enrollment & benefits review meeting on Nov. 20 th in City Council Chambers. Times: 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.
Remember: Completed enrollment forms are due in HR by December 6 th. Thank you.