Skip to main content

You are here

Home / Departments / Benefits / Open Enrollment

You are here

Home / Departments / Benefits / Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment: May 2024

Plan Year: July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025

WCPS is pleased to continue offering you a comprehensive and affordable health care package. Your Health Care Committee, comprised of A&S, WCESP, WCTA, and WCPS members, works diligently reviewing plans and programs, to recommend improvements while keeping premiums at a minimal cost.

Open Enrollment is a time when you may make any change your benefit elections.  Outside of this time, you can only make a change to benefit elections after experiencing a Qualifying Event.

Compliance with Section 125 of the IRS code requires WCPS to follow specific rules regarding timeframes for changes in enrollment.

Annual Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is being held from May 7, 2024-May 23, 2024.  During this time period, you may make changes to your benefit elections without a qualifying reason. Any change you make takes effect July 1, 2024, and remains in place for the entire plan year if you pay the premiums and are eligible. If you do nothing, your current elections remain the same, except for Flexible Spending.  You must re-enroll each year for Flexible Spending. 

WCPS’s health care plans operate as Self Insured Plans.  This means that while claims are processed through Cigna, WCPS pays for each claim.  WCPS wants you to get the treatment you need when you need it. Our hope is that you seek treatment when you need it in the most appropriate manner.

In order to continue to provide a high level of coverage to our employees in FY25, it was necessary to increase rates for the medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability plans.  Expenses naturally increase over time, and WCPS has been fortunate to sustain low or no rate increases for many years.  
 


To Enroll: between these dates, May 7, 2024-May 23, 2024, review or make changes to your insurance elections by logging into Employee Self Service. Click on the benefits tab and follow the instructions to make your elections.
When adding a dependent, you are required to provide documentation within 31 days of the effective date, which is July 1, 2024. Please provide the following via e-mail to  , pony, or fax at 301-766-8727.

  • Adding a spouse > your marriage certificate
  • Adding a dependent child > birth certificate
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) The FSA plan year is July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. What is flexible spending? With this benefit, you set aside pre-tax money from your paycheck to use on approved medical expenses, such as a deductible, eyeglasses, copays, etc. With the dependent care FSA, you can use pre-tax money to pay for approved daycare or summer camps for your child.
  • Medical FSA-used for medical expenses for you and your eligible dependents is $3,200
  • Dependent FSA-used for childcare is $5,000 per year
Enroll directly with Flexible Benefit Administrators at https://fba.wealthcareportal.com/ between May 7, 2024, and May 23, 2024. If you have questions, please contact us at 301-766-2810 OR .
 

Qualifying Events

Coverage elections made at Open Enrollment cannot be changed until the next annual Open Enrollment period. The only exception to this IRS Section 125 Rule is if you experience a “Qualifying Event.” A Qualifying Event allows you to make a change to your benefit elections within 31 days of the event. Examples of Qualifying Events include, but are not limited to:

  • Marriage
  • Divorce
  • Birth, adoption, or legal custody of a dependent child
  • Involuntary loss of other group insurance coverage
  • Death

To Report A Qualifying Event

Log into ESS/Benefits and ‘Report a Life Event’, link in the top right corner.  We will contact you when you’re able to change your elections.  Submit all required documents to the Benefits Office within 31 days of the event.