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Human Resources

The Benefits Information web site is currently under construction.  Thank you for your patience while we update our information.

All Health Insurance Eligible Employees,

In an effort to present an additional opportunity for staff to receive information regarding the Health Insurance offerings for the 2009-2010 plan year, a second group health insurance informational meeting will be conducted on Wednesday, June 24 at 3:00 in the District Office Building / Board of Education Meeting Room. 

Representatives from Coventry HealthCare, CBIZ, Metcalf Bank and the USD 231 Business Office will be in attendance to explain all aspects of the new plans as well as the existing plans and to address any questions employees may have.

Please understand, if you are interested in enrolling in the new Qualified High Deductible Health Plan with the Health Savings Account, attendance at a health insurance informational meeting is mandatory.  Conversely, if you are currently covered in one of the two HMO Plans or the Point of Service Plan and intend to continue your coverage under the new single HMO Base Plan or existing Point of Service Plan, then you will be automatically enrolled in either of those plans and your attendance is not required.

As stated before, the primary purpose of this meeting is to introduce the new Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (QHDHP) accompanied by a Health Savings Account (H.S.A.).  However, any other questions employees may have about any of our health insurance plans may also be addressed during this time as well.

Please review the attached documents carefully for detailed information about our health insurance benefits.  As shared previously, the premium rates and plan structure for most of our health insurance plans have undergone changes.  Effective September 1, 2009, the district will now offer the following three health insurance plan options:

* HMO/Base Plan (the HMO II/"Buy-up" plan will no longer be available after 9-1-09)
* POS (Point of Service Plan; NO PLAN DESIGN CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THIS PLAN)
* QHDHP/H.S.A. (Qualified High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account)

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Note #1: If you are currently enrolled in either one of the district’s HMO plans (base or buy-up), you will automatically be enrolled in the new HMO plan unless you complete and submit an enrollment form stating otherwise.

Note #2: There are no changes to the current POS (Point of Service) plan.  Therefore, if you are currently enrolled in this plan and you wish to continue coverage under this plan, no additional action is required on your part at this time.

Finally, the following documents are accessible to provide additional information:

* Memo summarizing new rates & plan changes as well as implementation of QHDHP/HSA
* Medical Benefit Comparison illustrating coverage limits, deductibles, copays etc.
* HSA Overview document
* Eligible Expenses document
* Cover letter from Metcalf Bank
* PowerPoint Presentation illustrating QHDHP / HSA Plan  (NOTE:  Requires PowerPoint Software)

We are pleased to be able to provide these benefits to all of our eligible employees and will continue to look for ways to get the most out of each benefit dollar. 

If you have any questions regarding the health insurance plans, or any other matter related to our employee benefit plans, please feel free to contact Candy Hughes in the Business Office at 913-856-2041 or Kristin Grace or Maggie Releford from our broker consultant, CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Services at 913-234-1000.

Gardner Edgerton USD 231 provides its employees with a wide variety of employee benefits programs. As an employee of the Gardner Edgerton School District, staff members may choose to participate in benefits programs designed to help meet employee’s personal and professional goals. Extensive insurance, retirement, and holiday packages are standard, and a unique Flexible Benefits System also allows employee’s to refine their own personal coverage.

Employees scheduled to work 17.5 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in most of the school district's benefits and insurance plans. Additionally, Gardner-Edgerton pays for the single base health insurance plan and single base dental insurance plan for all teachers, administrators and full-time support staff. Effective, 8/1/2005, all teachers, administrators and full-time support staff personnel must participate in the district’s health and dental insurance plans. Upon an employee’s date of hire, benefits and insurance coverage typically becomes effective the first day of the following month. To see benefit details, click here.

Below is a brief overview the Benefits Program Unified School District 231 offers:

HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS
The Gardner Edgerton School District offers three health care options available through Coventry Health Care of Kansas for health insurance eligible employees and their dependents.

  • The Bronze 3 Plan and Direct 15 Plan health care options are Health Maintenance Organizations. However, unlike traditional H.M.O.’s, employees and dependents do not have to select a primary care physician and will receive appropriate benefits for visiting any doctor within the extensive Coventry network of doctors and hospitals.
  • The third option, Open Access 5 is a two-tiered plan in which employees and dependents can choose physicians who are Coventry participating providers or providers who do not participate with Coventry.
  • The district pays for a single Bronze 3 premium for all eligible employees.
  • For more detailed information on these three health plans, please contact our benefits office at 913 856-2041 or visit the Coventry Health Care of Kansas web page at http://www.chckansascity.com/

DENTAL PLANS
Gardner-Edgerton offers two dental plan options offered through Delta Dental of Kansas.

  • The Base Plan provides diagnostic and preventative cleanings every six months after annual deductibles have been met. There are no orthodontia benefits under this plan.
  • The Buy-Up Plan provides diagnostic and preventative cleanings every six months, also after the annual deductible has been met. In addition, limited orthodontia benefits are available under this plan.
  • The district pays for a single Base Plan premium for all eligible employees.
  • For further information, please contact Candy Hughes at 913-856-2041 and request an informational packet, or visit the Delta Dental web page at www.deltadentalks.com  (NOTE:  To find a dentist, click on Subscribers, then Locate a Dentist.  USD 231 employees have the Delta Premier Plan).

NOTE:  UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OF THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS COMING SOON.

VOLUNTARY LIFE INSURANCE PLANS

SALARY PROTECTION / SHORT-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE PLANS

FLEXIBLE REIMBURSEMENT PLANS
Flexible Reimbursement Plans are tax shelter accounts. Employees are able to put pre-tax money into savings accounts for guaranteed expenses during the plan year.

403(b) & 457, T.S.A.’s, MUTUAL FUNDS & RETIREMENT PLANS

The Gardner-Edgerton School District expects to continue the benefit plans described in this summary, but also reserves the right to modify, amend, suspend, or terminate any non-contractual plan or benefits in whole or in part at any time for any reason.