Benefits News

November Regional In-Person Benefit Expos, Vaccination Clinics & Biometric Screenings 

In-Person Regional Open Enrollment Benefit Expos continue with Phoenix College today! Schedule vaccination appointments and connect with benefit plan representatives and our expert benefit team members to get specific questions answered.

Important: Biometrics Screening appointments at all locations are full. Appointments can be made at the nearest LabCorp Facility to you. See Scheduling an Appointment at a LabCorp Facility. If you have additional questions, please contact the Wellness Maricopa team at wellness.maricopa@domail.maricopa.edu. 

Vaccination Clinics with Wellness & Open Enrollment Stations

• 11/12/24 - Estrella Mountain Community College - 3000 N. Dysart Rd, Avondale

  • 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 11/13/24 - South Mountain Community College - 7050 S. 24th Street, Phoenix

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 11/14/24 - Chandler-Gilbert Community College - 2626 E. Pecos Road, Chandler

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

Regional In-Person Benefits Expo, Vaccination Clinics & Biometric Screenings

• 11/18//24 - Glendale Community College - 6000 W. Olive Ave., Glendale

  • Vaccination & Biometric Appt Times

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm 

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 11/19//24 - Scottsdale Community College - 9000 E. Chaparral Road, Scottsdale

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Biometric Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

To view Parking Directional Campus Maps, or sign up for a vaccination clinic or biometric screening, visit the Open Enrollment Benefit Events webpage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends any age-appropriate vaccine product for people six months and older. If you have specific questions about the appropriateness of a vaccine, please consult your Primary Care Physician (PCP) before your vaccination appointment. When scheduling your appointment, please only select from the vaccines listed below.

• Flu Vaccine - High Dose for ages 65+ ( $95 w/o insurance)

• Seasonal Flu Vaccine - ages 12 months+  ($45 w/o insurance)

• Flublok - ages 18+  ($95 w/o insurance)

• RSV - ages 75+  ($333 w/o insurance)

• Pfizer COVID vaccine  ($155 w/o insurance)

• Shingrix - ages 50+  ($220 w/o insurance)

Find the vaccination sign-up link that pertains to your campus in the tables located on the Open Enrollment Benefit Events webpage to schedule your vaccination appointment. Vaccination clinics are available to all employees and their families.  Your picture ID and insurance card will be required at the time of service; premade copies will help alleviate delays in the process.  Credit card payments will be accepted for part-time adjuncts, part-time staff, and student employees without insurance. Walk-ins will also be welcome, provided there are still time slots available. 

Kroger Health will offer a $5 off coupon for the flu vaccine only, a $20 off coupon for Flu + another vaccine. Coupons can be used at any Fry’s store here in Phoenix; one coupon per transaction.

Health Care FSA (HCFSA)

This Health Care Flexible Spending Account lets you pay for many out-of-pocket medical expenses with tax-free dollars. You can elect to contribute up to your plan’s limit, $3,300 for the 2025 tax year, deducted from your paycheck throughout the year. Your full contribution is available at the start of the plan year to pay for eligible expenses, including insurance copayments and deductibles, qualified prescription drugs, dental and vision expenses, insulin, medical devices, and some over-the-counter items.

Health Care FSA (HCFSA)

This Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account lets you contribute up to your plan’s limit to pay for eligible child and adult care expenses. With a DCFSA, you use pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified out-of-pocket dependent care expenses. The money you contribute to a DCFSA is not subject to payroll taxes so you end up paying less in taxes and taking home more of your paycheck.  Eligible expenses include daycare, before and after-school programs, preschool, and summer day camp for children 12 or younger. 

Also included in DCFSA is care for a spouse or other dependent who lives with you and is mentally or physically incapable of self-care. It is important to note that a DCFSA is not an account for your dependent’s health care expenses. However, if you are enrolled in a Health Care FSA, you may use those funds to cover eligible expenses incurred by your spouse and tax dependents. For Dependent Care FSAs, you must be working or looking for work to use your dependent care funds.  If you're married, your spouse must either be working, looking for work, or a full-time student.

For more information on how to use the DCFSA, view this FAQ. 

There are various ways you can use your Inspira Financial account:

• Pay yourself back - Pay for eligible expenses with cash, a check, or your personal credit card.  Then withdraw funds from your FSA Account and have your payment deposited directly into your checking account.

• Pay your provider - You can pay your provider directly from your InspiraFinancial account.

• Pay with your Inspira Financial Card - When you use it, your expense is automatically paid from your account. (You may need to provide substantiation.) 

Handy FSA Reminders and Tips:

• Save all of your itemized statements and detailed receipts.

• View the IRS contribution limits and a list of common eligible expense items on Inspirafinancial.com. 

• You can change your contribution if you have a life-changing event, such as your marital or employment status, your number of tax dependents, etc.

• FSA’s have a use-it-or-lose-it rule, which means if you don’t use your funds by the end of the plan year, you’ll lose them.  

  • MCCCD offers a Grace Period that allows you to use your previous year’s election until March 15th of the following year.  

  • MCCCD also offers a Run Out Period, which allows you to submit claims from the previous year for an additional 134 days after the plan year.  This date can either be May 14th, for the 2024 plan year.

Additional FAQ Resources:

• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account FAQs

• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account FAQs

Helpful Term Definitions

• Explanation of Benefits (EOB). An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is a statement that your insurance company sends that summarizes the costs of health care services you received. An EOB shows how much your healthcare provider is charging your insurance company and how much you may be responsible for paying. This is not a bill. 

• Evidence of Insurability (EOI). Evidence of Insurability (EOI) can also be referred to as Medical Evidence of Insurability (MEOI) and is the information that is collected for insurance underwriters to review and determine the coverage level they will approve based on risk. 

• Statement of Health (SOH). A Statement of Health (SOH) is a document containing a series of questions about your overall health — such as if you're a smoker or if you've ever been treated for a medical condition like cancer or high blood pressure. 

• Substantiation. Sufficient evidence to verify the eligibility of expenses.

Upcoming Open Enrollment College Events Reminder!

October Vaccination Clinics 

Vaccination Clinics will continue on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at Gateway Community College. While getting your shots, stop by a: 

Wellness Station, which will include information about wellness opportunities, programs, and initiatives which are at your campus and around the district as well. You will have an opportunity to engage in light activities so that you can gather more information about your health and well-being. Wellness stations will also include healthy snacks and giveaways.

Open Enrollment Station, where you will be able to speak with an expert benefit team member who will be available to answer any Open Enrollment questions.

Important: Biometrics Screening appointments at Mesa Community College are full. Appointments can be made at the nearest LabCorp Facility to you. See Scheduling an Appointment at a LabCorp Facility. If you have additional questions, please contact the Wellness Maricopa team at wellness.maricopa@domail.maricopa.edu.

• 10/29/24 - Gateway Community College - Washington Campus, 108 N. 40th St., Phoenix

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 10/31/24 - Mesa Community College - Dobson Campus, 1833 Southern Avenue, Mesa

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Biometric Screenings

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

The Vaccination Clinics will be brought to you from the Little Clinic by Kroger Health in partnership with Wellness Maricopa. The CDC recommends any age-appropriate vaccine product for people six months and older.  If you have specific questions about the appropriateness of a vaccine, please consult your Primary Care Physician (PCP) before your vaccination appointment. Vaccines that will be available include:

• Flu Vaccine - High Dose for ages 65+ ( $95 w/o insurance)

• Seasonal Flu Vaccine - ages 12 months+  ($45 w/o insurance)

• Flublok - ages 18+  ($95 w/o insurance)

• RSV - ages 75+  ($333 w/o insurance)

• Pfizer COVID vaccine  ($155 w/o insurance)

• Shingrix - ages 50+  ($220 w/o insurance)

Find the vaccination sign-up link that pertains to your campus in the tables located on the Open Enrollment Benefit Events webpage to schedule your vaccination appointment. Vaccination clinics are available to all employees and their families.  Your picture ID and insurance card will be required at the time of service; premade copies will help alleviate delays in the process.  Credit card payments will be accepted for part-time adjuncts, part-time staff, and student employees without insurance. Walk-ins will also be welcome, provided there are still time slots available. 

Additional November Vaccination Clinics with Wellness & Open Enrollment Stations

• 11/12/24 - Estrella Mountain Community College - 3000 N. Dysart Rd, Avondale

  • 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 11/13/24 - South Mountain Community College - 7050 S. 24th Street, Phoenix

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 11/14/24 - Chandler-Gilbert Community College - 2626 E. Pecos Road, Chandler

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

To view Parking Directional Campus Maps, or sign up for a vaccination clinic or biometric screening, visit the Open Enrollment Benefit Events webpage.

Kroger Health will offer a $5 off coupon for the flu vaccine only, a $20 off coupon for Flu + another vaccine. Coupons can be used at any Fry’s store here in Phoenix; one coupon per transaction.

Benefits Town Halls Coming Soon

2025 Wellness Incentive Credit Update Town Hall

Wellness Maricopa will present the interim wellness incentive program in detail, including changes to the health risk credit for employees enrolled in the medical plan. Allotted Q&A time will be reserved at the end of the presentation.

• Mon, October 28, 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm

View Session Links & Add to Calendar

Continued Open Enrollment Town Hall Series

Don’t miss out on Vision Plan Updates Town Hall scheduled today at 3:00 pm. EyeMed will give a detailed presentation of our two New Vision Plans and all the benefits that come with being an EyeMed member.

The MCCCD Benefits team will review the Dental, Life, & Disability Plans in next week's Town Hall webinar.

Vaccination Clinics & Regional In-Person Expos!

October Vaccination Clinics 

Please stop by our annual Vaccination Clinics that will begin October 22, 2024, at MCC’s Red Mountain Campus. Besides getting your shots, you will be able to speak with expert benefit team members who will be available to answer any Open Enrollment questions at the Wellness and Open Enrollment Stations. In addition, Mesa Community College’s Dobson Campus will host biometric screenings as part of the Wellness Incentive Health Risk Credits Redesign for employees living and working in the East Valley.  The following clinics will be available in October.

• 10/22/24 - Red Mountain Campus - 7110 E. McKellips Rd, Mesa

  • 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 10/29/24 - Gateway Community College - Washington Campus, 108 N. 40th St., Phoenix

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 10/31/24 - Mesa Community College - Dobson Campus, 1833 Southern Avenue, Mesa

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Biometric Screenings

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

The Vaccination Clinics will be brought to you from the Little Clinic by Kroger Health in partnership with Wellness Maricopa. The CDC recommends any age-appropriate vaccine product for people six months and older.  If you have specific questions about the appropriateness of a vaccine, please consult your Primary Care Physician (PCP) before your vaccination appointment. Vaccines that will be available include:

• Flu Vaccine - High Dose for ages 65+ ( $95 w/o insurance)

• Seasonal Flu Vaccine - ages 12 months+  ($45 w/o insurance)

• Flublok - ages 18+  ($95 w/o insurance)

• RSV - ages 75+  ($350 w/o insurance)

• Pfizer COVID vaccine  ($171 w/o insurance)

• Shingrix - ages 50+  ($230 w/o insurance)

Find the vaccination sign-up link that pertains to your campus in the tables located on the Open Enrollment Benefit Events webpage to schedule your vaccination appointment. Vaccination clinics are available to all employees and their families.  Your picture ID and insurance card will be required at the time of service; premade copies will help alleviate delays in the process.  Credit card payments will be accepted for part-time adjuncts, part-time staff, and student employees without insurance. Walk-ins will also be welcome, provided there are still time slots available. 

November Regional In-Person Benefit Expos, Vaccination Clinics & Biometric Screenings 

November 4, 2024, will kick off the In-Person Regional Open Enrollment Benefit Expos starting at Rio Salado Community College. Not only will you be able to schedule vaccination appointments and Biometric Screenings during the In-Person Regional Benefit Expos, but you will be able to connect with benefit plan representatives and our expert benefit team members to get specific questions answered. 

Additional November Vaccination Clinics with Wellness & Open Enrollment Stations

• 11/12/24 - Estrella Mountain Community College - 3000 N. Dysart Rd, Avondale

  • 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 11/13/24 - South Mountain Community College - 7050 S. 24th Street, Phoenix

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

• 11/14/24 - Chandler-Gilbert Community College - 2626 E. Pecos Road, Chandler

  • 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Vaccination Appt Times

  • View Campus Map & Sign Up Information

To view Parking Directional Campus Maps, or sign up for a vaccination clinic or biometric screening, visit the Open Enrollment Benefit Events webpage.

Kroger Health will offer a $5 off coupon for the flu vaccine only, a $20 off coupon for Flu + another vaccine. Coupons can be used at any Fry’s store here in Phoenix; one coupon per transaction.

Benefits Town Halls Coming Soon

You and your family are invited to attend our Open Enrollment Town Hall webinars to learn more about changes in your Benefit plans and get your questions answered. Each session in the series listed below will include the same presentation but may address different questions depending on the audience. You and your dependents are welcome to attend one or all sessions.

If you missed the first town hall in our series, the recording and slide deck are now available for viewing What’s Changing Town Hall Recording & Slide Deck.

See the whole Town Hall Series Titles and Dates and Add Links to Your Calendar. 

Helpful Term Definitions

• Beneficiary. The person or financial institution that receives the insurance proceeds when the policyholder dies.

• Insured. The person or people covered by the policy.

• Evidence of Insurability (EOI). An Evidence of Insurability (EOI) can also be referred to as Medical Evidence of Insurability (MEOI) and is the information that is collected for insurance underwriters to review and determine the coverage level they will approve based on risk. 

• Statement of Health (SOH). A document that asks questions about a person's overall health. It's also known as "evidence of good health" or "Medical Evidence of Insurability".

• Premiums. The amount of money paid to the insurance company on a monthly or annual basis to maintain coverage.

• Accidental death benefit. An additional benefit paid out if the policyholder dies in an accident.

• Term Life Insurance. Life insurance that provides coverage at a fixed rate of payments for a limited period of time, the relevant term.

Annual Acknowledgements & Disclosures

Did you know that each year MCCCD updates the Annual Benefits Legal Notices in our Benefits Guide? These Annual Notices have been at the end of the guide each year. In order to make the annual notices easier for our employees to find, we are taking them out of the guide and publishing them on our existing Benefits Forms, Documents, and Links webpage. 

The Annual Acknowledgements & Disclosures typically include the following information:

• Important Plan Information including the “No Surprises Rule,” Plan Documents including, the Plan Summaries, Health Plan Notices, COBRA Continuation Coverage, Availability of Privacy Practices Notices, and ACA Disclaimer

• Medicare Part D Notice

• Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act

• Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act

• HIPAA Notice of Special Enrollment Rights

• Premium Assistance under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Wellness Incentive Credit Redesign Update!

Wellness Maricopa offers Wellness Incentive Credits (WIC) for employees enrolled in coverage in a Maricopa Medical Plan. WICs help offset medical premiums, as well as reinforce how important employee health and well-being are to Maricopa.

Representatives from the faculty, staff, administration, and affiliate groups have been working behind the scenes to redesign the Wellness Incentive Credit (WIC) program in an effort to advocate for and promote employee engagement in well-being events, initiatives, communications, and programs throughout the district. The WIC Redesign Project Team is nearing the end of the RFP process for procuring a district-wide wellness platform.

An interim solution to begin the 2025 plan year has been developed to ensure continuity of service. The Wellness Incentive Credit (WIC) information below will begin effective January 1, 2025, and continue until the wellness platform is implemented with the new WIC plan design.

Non-Tobacco Use Credits 

Currently, you are eligible for a $30/month credit when you complete a Google form indicating that you don’t smoke, are in a smoking cessation program, or are enrolling in a program in the next six months. This will not change.

• If you already receive the non-tobacco credit, you do not have to take any action to continue to receive it.

• If you do not currently receive the non-tobacco use credit,  and would like to receive this WIC, complete the questionnaire at this link: http://www.maricopa.edu/2025-non-tobacco-use The deadline to complete the questionnaire for the 2025 plan year is November 22, 2024, at 5 pm.

Health Risk Credits

Currently, you are eligible for a $20/month credit when you enroll in the MCCCD medical plan. Starting in January 2025, you will be eligible for this credit only when you do one of the following:

• Complete a biometric screening at one of the 2025 Open Enrollment planned Events.1

• Complete a biometric screening at any participating testing facility with a voucher by November 22, 2024.1

• Complete an annual Primary Care Physician (PCP) preventive visit, also known as an annual wellness visit or annual physical, on or between November 1, 2023, and November 22, 2024.2

1Biometric screens help you identify and monitor (over time) any concerning health conditions and include assessments of Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, Height, Weight, BMI, and Waist Circumference. They promote engagement in preventive health so you can make educated decisions about your healthcare. 

2If you choose to see your PCP for an annual preventive visit, MCCCD will get confirmation from Banner|Aetna. Updates will not include any protected health information but will only show if a PCP preventive visit was completed. Benefits will send a communication to you to inform you whether MCCCD has received confirmation.

*Credits will only be paid on the first and second payroll checks of each month for every month of the year.

As we embark on a new plan year, MCCCD is dedicated to providing you with up-to-date information about any changes to our wellness and well-being programming. Please be on the lookout for more exciting changes from Wellness Maricopa.

Benefits Town Halls Coming Soon

You and your family are invited to attend our Open Enrollment Town Hall webinars to learn more about changes in your Benefit plans and get your questions answered. Each session in the series listed below will include the same presentation but may address different questions depending on the audience. You and your dependents are welcome to attend one or all sessions.

Coinsurance. Coinsurance for both plans is not changing for 2025. A coinsurance is your share of the costs of a healthcare service. It's usually figured as a percentage of the amount your plan allows to be charged for services. For our plans, it is based on the contracted rate your in-network providers agree to by being part of the Aetna Broad Network. You start paying coinsurance after you've met your plan's deductible. We have two plans to choose from. Your coinsurance for the Core plan is 20% In-Network after you have met your deductible, with Out-of-Network costs not covered on the Core plan. The coinsurance for the Buy Up plan is 15% In-Network and 50% Out-of-Network once you have met your deductible. 

Out-of-Pocket Max. The out-of-pocket max is the most you could pay in a calendar year for covered services. If you have other family members in your plan, they have to meet their own out-of-pocket limits until the overall family out-of-pocket max has been met.

The out-of-pocket maximum does not include your monthly premiums. It typically includes your deductible, coinsurance and copays, including prescription costs. Below is the out-of-pocket maximum for each plan we offer.

Below are the Out-of-Pocket Maximums for the two plans. Changes for 2025 are in Blue. 

Copay. A copay is a fixed amount you pay for a health care service, usually when you receive the service. The amount can vary by the type of service.

How it works: Your plan determines what your copay is for different types of services, and when you have one. You may have a copay before you’ve finished paying toward your deductible. You may also have a copay after you pay your deductible, and when you owe coinsurance. 

Below are the coinsurance and copay rates for each plan we offer.  Changes for 2025 are in Blue.

Tier 1: Generic, Tier 2: Preferred Brands, Tier 3: Non-preferred Brands

The Banner|Aetna Concierge can help you estimate costs before you make an appointment or schedule a procedure.

For more information about our medical plans visit our Benefits Medical Plan webpage. 

Benefit Town Hall Series Continues 10/7!

Don’t miss our next scheduled Open Enrollment Benefit Town Hall Series, “Medical, EAP, & Prescription Plan Updates.”

You and your family are invited to attend our Open Enrollment Benefits Town Halls series hosted by the MCCCD Human Resources Benefits Department. In place of Virtual Expos, we are planning more detailed Town Hall webinars. Each session in each series will include the same presentation. For those unable to attend one or more sessions, all series presentations will be recorded and made available along with a Q&A documentation. 

Medical, EAP, & Prescription Plan Updates

Benefits will present the medical, prescription, and EAP plan changes in detail with Alliant, Banner|Aetna, Virta, Aetna Resources for Living, and Capital Rx. Allotted Q&A time will be reserved at the end of the presentation.

• Mon., 10/7/24, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

• Thurs., 10/10/24, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

• Wed., 11/20/24, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

View Joining Information & Add to Calendar

See the whole Town Hall Series Titles and Dates and Add Links to Your Calendar.

If a DPPO plan is the type of plan more suited for your needs, you should also know the out-of-network distinctions between the Solstice High DPPO and the Solstice Low DPPO plans. Besides the differences in premiums and all of the elements outlined in the Dental Comparison Chart, one significant distinction is how out-of-network claim costs are calculated for each plan. This is a critical distinction because they are not calculated the same, and this calculation determines the amount to which your co-insurance coverage percentage is applied. 

Using Out-of-Network providers with the DPPO plans 

The Solstice High DPPO plan uses Usual, Customary, and Reasonable (UCR) pricing: The cost of the service is calculated using the 90th percentile of provider charges in your area; in other words what

9 out of 10 providers in your area charge for any given service.

The Solstice Low DPPO plan uses Maximum Allowable Charge (MAC) pricing: The out-of-network benefits are based on the fees for dental procedures negotiated between the in-network providers and the insurance company.

Let’s dive into an example that shows how your two DPPO plan options will work if you go out-of-network with a basic filling dental procedure.

Out-of-Network Provider Example - Service: Filling* 

*Example assumes out-of-network deductible has already been met.

Additional examples are provided in the Solstice UCR vs. MAC out-of-network flier. 

Another important point about receiving out-of-network services is that the providers will not always file the claim on your behalf as in-network providers do. In these instances, you will be responsible for the total cost at the point of service and will need to file an out-of-network claim using the Claim Form to recover the portion that the insurance covers. 

How do you determine if your provider is in or out of Solstice’s network or one of their network partners (United Concordia or GEHA solutions - formerly known as Connection Dental or PPOUSA)? 

We published a Solstice article in a 2023 HR Weekly Newsletter that explains just that. 

What do I do if my provider is not listed in my plan network? 

Solstice is continually recruiting new providers to the network. If your provider is not displaying in their provider search as a participating dentist, you can provide them with your nomination, and Solstice will gladly begin the recruitment process. 

1. To nominate a provider, please visit www.SmileMaricopa.com and select the “Provider Nomination Form” under the “Member Resources” drop-down menu.

2. Complete the form to the best of your ability and submit it.

3. You can expect the typical recruitment to take between 30-90 days, depending on the provider.

Need help choosing the right dental plan? 

We recommend employees prioritize dental care needs when selecting their plan to ensure you get the best coverage. You can visit SmileMaricopa.com for Plan Selection Tools. From there, you can select the “Choose the right dental plan” tool tab, which will help you evaluate the best plan for you and your family. 

Solstice Contact Information 

• Phone: 1-844-224-4903, available Mon - Fri from 6 am to 6 pm AZ Time

• Email: mcccd@solsticebenefits.com 

• Website and Chat: www.smilemaricopa.edu 

Helpful Term Definitions

• In-Network. A list of providers that an insurance plan contracts with to provide care to its members.

• Out-of-Network. A provider that is not contracted with the insurance plan.

• Schedule of Benefits. The schedule of benefits is a document that lists all the procedures your plan covers and what you pay for each procedure.

• Deductible. A deductible is a specific dollar amount you must pay before the insurance carrier will pay your claims.

• Annual Maximum. Is the highest annual amount an insurance company will pay towards your dental care in a specific period of time (i.e. January through December).

Open Enrollment Updates!

Open Enrollment is your opportunity to review your benefit choices,  enroll or change medical, dental, and vision plans, add or drop dependents, and enroll or re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts. After Open Enrollment ends, you cannot change your benefit elections until the next Open Enrollment period unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event.

What’s New and What’s Changing

At MCCCD, we are committed to continuously reevaluating our benefits program to offer you and your family comprehensive and affordable options. This year, we would like you to be aware of some changes to your benefits:

• As part of the Multi-Year Strategic Medical Benefits and Fiscal Sustainability Project presented in Spring 2024, Medical Premiums will be increasing to 10.6% of the medical plan costs. 

  • See 2025 Employee Premium Rate Charts 

  • Medical and Prescription plan design changes will be announced in our first “What’s Changing town hall”.

  • The wellness incentive credit program will be modified to promote employee engagement - more information to come.

• EyeMed will replace VSP as the new vision plan provider starting on January 1, 2025. EyeMed provides improved benefits and a vast network of eye care professionals, and will offer a basic Core plan as well as a first-time-ever Buy-Up option plan.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Plan Design Change

  • Counseling sessions for employee (excluding first-responders) will transition from 10 to 6 per issue for unlimited issues. 

Other Upcoming Changes:

• In place of Virtual Expos, we are planning more detailed Town Halls. Check out the Benefit Town Hall Series announcement below.

• DOHR Benefits and the College HR departments will host five Regional In-Person Benefit Expos 

• Continued vaccine clinics will be offered at all colleges with Wellness and Benefit Q&A stations.

OPT-IN To Printed Guides & Language Preference

This year’s Open Enrollment is different!

• You must OPT-IN to receive an Open Enrollment Guide mailed to your home. 

• Some of our new benefit systems are able to support English or Spanish language options; please indicate your preference.

Please scan the QR Code, or click on the 2025 OE Preference Form to submit your response. Responses must be received by 5 pm 9/27/24. 

If you do not complete the response form, your default options for receiving guides will be electronic formatted versions.

Benefits Town Halls Coming Soon

You and your family are invited to attend our Open Enrollment Town Hall webinars to learn more about changes in your Benefit plans and get your questions answered. Each session in the series listed below will include the same presentation but may address different questions depending on the audience. You and your dependents are welcome to attend one or all sessions.

For those unable to attend one or more sessions, all series presentations will be recorded and made available along with Q&A documentation. 

Get Ready!

Open Enrollment runs from November 4th through November 22nd, 2024. Open Enrollment is your opportunity to enroll, cancel coverage, or make changes to your coverage in the health care plan, AD&D, STD, and supplemental life insurance, and/or enroll in flexible spending accounts for 2025.

Ensure you are ready for the upcoming enrollment by reviewing your information in the My Benefits Portal.

• View your current benefits; see View Your Benefits Video for help. 

• Validate your dependents’ names and social security numbers, and

• Update beneficiaries if needed; see Manage Beneficiaries Video or Manage Beneficiaries QRG for help.

• Confirm that your home address is correct in HCM to assure all vendors have your correct contact information; see View/Edit Personal Information QRG for help. 

Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective on January 1, 2025, for the plan year that ends December 31, 2025.