2021 Open Enrollment Benefits Bonanza - Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
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2021 Open Enrollment
Benefits Bonanza
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
What Is Open Enrollment?
• Open Enrollment is the only time of year when employees can make changes to
the following plans for next year’s benefit elections without needing a qualifying
life event:
Medical
Prescription
Dental
Vision
Optional Life
Healthcare & Childcare FSAs
AFLAC Short Term Disability or Critical Illness*
*Available to unrepresented and IAFF employees only
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
What Changes Can be Made?
Changes employees can make during Open Enrollment are:
• Enroll in the benefit plan(s) for the first time
• Add/delete dependent(s)
• Change from one plan to another
• Drop coverage
• Enroll in or increase Optional Life insurance
• (Re)enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
• Enroll in AFLAC short-term disability or critical illness*
*Available to unrepresented and IAFF employees only. To enroll, contact AFLAC directly.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
Open Enrollment Dates
2021 Open Enrollment (OE) runs from September 21 – October 9, 2020.
• All OE changes must be submitted during the OE window:
Begins – Monday, September 21 at 8 am
Deadline – Friday, October 9 at 5 pm
• OE changes are effective January 1, 2021.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
MCG Continues to Make Generous Employer Contributions
• This graph provides a visual example of
the extremely generous employer
contributions that MCG makes toward
employee insurance premiums.
• These contributions reduce the amount
employees pay. This is an important part
of their total compensation package as an
MCG employee.
Note: The chart above reflects Self only contributions. To view charts reflecting Self+1 and Self+Family contributions, visit
the Open Enrollment website after September 21, 2020.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government
New for 2021
• 2021 Open Enrollment will be held virtually this year. All of MCG’s carriers will be
hosting virtual presentations and Q&A sessions. See the virtual event tab on the Open
Enrollment website for a schedule of virtual events.
• The Health Care FSA annual contribution limit increasing to $2,750. The amount
you can contribute for 2021 will increase by $50.
• Health Care FSA now allows Over-the-counter expenses without a prescription
(i.e. allergy, heartburn or pain relief medications, etc.)
• Benefits Bites delivered to your County email weekly via the MCG Employee Connect
newsletter. Be sure to check the Benefits Bites section for helpful Open Enrollment tips
and resources.
• Enhanced Open Enrollment website with new Frequently Asked Questions and a
dedicated MCG discount & resource section.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentSpecial 2021 Plan Rates Announcement
COVID-19 has impacted us in many ways, including financially.
In light of the fact that employees will not be receiving a General Wage Adjustment
(GWA) in FY21:
• There will be 0% rate increase for these medical plans:
CareFirst
United Healthcare
CVS Caremark
• The Kaiser medical plan costs are decreasing.
• The County will pay a large portion of the dental PPO and vision increases, but
these increases will also be shared with employees.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentEmployee Rate Changes for Calendar Year 2021
Plan Per Pay Period Increase
Self Self + 1 Family
CareFirst High Option POS $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
CareFirst Standard Option POS $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Kaiser -$1.47 -$2.76 -$4.35
United HealthCare HMO $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
CVS Standard Prescription Plan $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
CVS High $4/$8 Prescription Plan $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
CVS High $5/$10 Prescription Plan $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
CIGNA PPO Dental $0.41 $0.94 $1.34
CIGNA DHMO Dental $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
EyeMed Vision $0.09 $0.14 $0.20
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentPlanning Ahead; Minimizing Future Rate Increases
Here are ways employees can work together with MCG to keep future plan rate
increases at a minimum:
• Seek out preventive care such as annual exams and age-based screenings.
• Visit in-network doctors via virtual visits.
• Use urgent care facilities for non-emergent services rather than going to the
emergency room.
• Choose generic prescription drugs.
• Maximize wellness resources through health insurance carriers and MCG’s LiveWell
program.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentNew for 2021
• All Open Enrollment events held virtually this year.
MCG’s carriers will be hosting virtual presentations and Q&A sessions
OHR Virtual Office Hours
• Health Care FSA changes:
Annual contribution limit increasing to $2,750
Over-the-counter expenses are permitted without a written prescription
Feminine products are now an eligible expense
• New Open Enrollment Communication Methods:
Benefits Bites delivered in the MCG Employee Connect newsletter.
Enhanced Open Enrollment website:
• Frequently Asked Questions
• MCG employee discount & resource section
• Employee self-service (ESS) instructions and demonstrations
• MCG vendor video presentations
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOpen Enrollment Communications
• 2021 Open Enrollment Guides were mailed to homes on September 11.
Employees should receive the guides between September 14 – 16.
• Employees are encouraged to check their County email during and after Open
Enrollment:
Open Enrollment email series featuring news and reminders.
MCG Employee Connect newsletter sharing Open Enrollment news in the Benefits Bites
section.
After Open Enrollment ends, MetLife will email employees who elected or increased
Optional Life to complete a Statement of Health online.
• The Open Enrollment Website is a dedicated resource for all Open Enrollment
needs.
Available Monday, September 21 at 8 am
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentIt’s a New Frontier
COVID-19 has changed the way we utilize our plans. MCG’s health insurance plans
offer many value-added services and discounts to provide employees with support.
This year more than ever, it is important to know our resources!
• Virtual doctor visits
• Built-in emotional & wellness support
• Disease management
• Lifestyle coaching
• Stress relief apps
• Discounts and more!
Please see the 2021 Open Enrollment guide for additional information.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County Government2021 Open Enrollment Checklist
Take Action Early! Follow these steps for a successful Open Enrollment:
1. Review available resources:
• 2021 Open Enrollment Guide (mailed to homes on September 11th)
• Open Enrollment Website
• County Email for Important Updates and Follow-Ups
• Benefits Bites Section of the MCG Employee Connect Newsletter
2. Attend a virtual Open Enrollment event
3. Attend OHR virtual office hours
4. Make changes online & print Confirmation Statement
5. (Re)Enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and check FSA contribution
amounts.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOpen Enrollment Website Resources
Visit the Open Enrollment website for a variety of planning tools & resources:
Open Enrollment schedule of virtual events
Open Enrollment frequently asked questions
2021 Employee Self-Service (ESS) instruction video & written instructions
Side-by-side plan comparisons
Life insurance needs estimator
FSA tax savings calculator
MCG employee discounts & resources
and more!
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentAttend a Virtual Open Enrollment Event
• Insurance Carrier Virtual Presentations and Q&A Sessions
Visit the Open Enrollment website for full schedule of events
• Attend OHR Virtual Office Hours
Virtual Office Hours Schedule
Please note: Virtual Office Hours are held in a public virtual meeting. If questions will
reveal any personal PHI (protected health information) such as a chronic medical
condition or names of specific prescription drugs, employees should direct those
questions to OHR’s customer service center at 240-773-6471 to place a service
request.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMake Changes Online
MCG HR Employee Self Service Benefits
• All Open Enrollment changes should be made online via
Employee Self-Service (ESS).
• Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe for step-by-step ESS
instruction videos.
• Print your 2021 confirmation statement before exiting ESS.
This is your receipt for your 2021 elections. If there is any
discrepancy with your enrollment, you will be required to
provide your confirmation statement as proof of your open
enrollment activity. Without proof, no changes will be
permitted after Open Enrollment ends.
Contact the IT Help Desk at 240-777-2828, option 2 for login
assistance.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentPaper Enrollment Form Permitted for Only Two Reasons
There are only two exceptions permitting the use of paper Open Enrollment forms:
• Technical barriers preventing access to ESS (only in the event of no internet / no smartphone or
computer): the employee should contact MC311 and place a service request to be mailed a paper
enrollment form.
Call 240-773-OHR1 (240-773-6471), available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.
• Experiencing a Life Event: If an employee has a qualified status change (life event) during Open
Enrollment, they cannot make changes using the Open Enrollment form or online system.
Instead, they should contact the OHR Health Insurance Team via MC311 to make changes.
Qualifying life events: marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or the death of spouse, or a
dependent aging out
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentDependent Eligibility
Eligible dependents for medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage are:
• Spouse
Legally married? Eligible
Divorced? Not Eligible
• Children (biological, legally adopted, stepchildren, or under your legal custody):
Under age 26? Eligible
Age 26 and over? Not Eligible, unless incapable of self support
Proof of eligible dependents is required.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentProof of Dependent Eligibility
Employees enrolling new dependents during Open Enrollment must upload the
necessary dependent documentation in ESS prior to October 9 at 5 pm.
Required Documentation:
• Spouse: Official State Marriage Certificate (certified by appropriate State or County Official)
• Biological Child: State Birth Certificate (For newborns, OHR will accept hospital discharge papers for first 60 days; birth
certificate must then be submitted)
• Adopted Child: Copy of Adoption or Placement for Adoption Papers
• Step-Child: State Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and Divorce Decree or Custody Papers
• Disabled Child: Medical plan verification of disability prior to age 26
• Legal Custody: Copy of Court Order granting legal custody
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMarriage Certificate Example
Required Documentation (Contd.)
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentBenefits Refresher
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMedical & Rx
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMedical Plan Options
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO):
• Kaiser Permanente Signature (HMO)
• United Healthcare Select (HMO)
Point of Service Plans (POS):
• CareFirst BCBS (POS) High Option
• CareFirst BCBS (POS) Standard Option
Three tiers of coverage: Self, Self + 1, or Family
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMedical Benefits at-a-Glance To view full carrier medical summaries, visit
OHR’s Health Insurance Website
Kaiser Permanente United HealthCare CareFirst Blue Choice CareFirst Blue Choice
HMO + Rx Select HMO Advantage Standard (POS) Advantage High (POS)
www.kp.org www.myuhc.com www.carefirst.com www.carefirst.com
Plan Type HMO HMO Point-of-Service Point-of-Service
PCP Required Yes Yes No No
Provider Network Regional (MD/DC/VA) National National National
Out-of-Network
No No Yes Yes
Benefits
Referrals Required Yes No No No
In-Network: None In-Network: None
Annual Deductible None None Out-of-Network: $300 individual; $600 Out-of-Network: $300 individual; $600
family family
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMedical Benefits at-a-Glance (contd.) Visit OHR’s Health Insurance webpage to
view Medical summaries.
Kaiser Permanente United HealthCare CareFirst Blue Choice CareFirst Blue Choice
HMO + Rx Select HMO Advantage Standard (POS) Advantage High (POS)
www.kp.org www.myuhc.com www.carefirst.com www.carefirst.com
In-Network: $15 copay / $30 copay In-Network: $10 copay
Dr. Office Visits
$5 copay $5 copay / $10 copay Out-of-Network: 80% covered after Out-of-Network: 80% covered after
PCP/Specialist
deductible. deductible.
In-Network: $15 copay / $30 copay In-Network: $10 copay
Virtual Visits Covered in full. $5 copay / $10 copay Out-of-Network: 80% covered after Out-of-Network: 80% covered after
deductible. deductible.
Urgent Care $5 copay $15 copay Covered in full. Covered in full.
In-Network: $35 copay, waived if In-Network: $25 copay, waived if
$50 copay, waived if $25 copay, waived if admitted admitted
Emergency Room
admitted admitted Out-of-Network: 80% covered after Out-of-Network: 80% covered after
deductible deductible
In-Network: $150 copay per admission In-Network: Covered in full
Inpatient
Covered in full. Covered in full. Out-of-Network: 80% covered after Out-of-Network: 80% covered after
Hospitalization
deductible deductible
$5 copay at Kaiser pharmacy
$15 copay at other New Employee Orientation Program
participating pharmacies None, except for diabetic In-Network/Out-of-Network: None, In-Network/Out-of-Network: None,
Prescriptions Office
(Mail Order Maintenance supplies exceptofforHuman
diabeticResources,
supplies Montgomery County
except Government
for diabetic supplies
Program - 1 x copay for 90
day supply)Prescription Plans: Caremark
• Two Rx Plan Options
Standard
High
• If you elect UHC or CareFirst and want Rx coverage, you will need to elect the stand-alone
Caremark Rx plan (Kaiser already includes Rx coverage)
• Maintenance Choice Program available for maintenance drugs: significant cost savings – 1
copay for each 90-day prescription In order to get the Maintenance pricing, you must fil Rx at:
CVS retail pharmacy
Mail order
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentVisit OHR’s Health Insurance
Prescription Drug Plan Comparison Website to view Rx summaries.
High Option $4/8 High Option $5/10 Standard Option
Only MCGEO/IAFF employees can Only FOP/NON-REP employees All employees can enroll in this
enroll in this High plan can enroll in this High plan Standard plan
$10 Generics
$4 Generics $5 Generics
Copay $20 P/Brand Name
$8 Brand Name $10 Brand Name
$35 NP/Brand Name
Deductible n/a n/a $50/year
Mail Order Yes Yes Yes
Maintenance Choice Yes Yes Yes
Covered Drugs Same Same Same
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentPrescription Drug Cost Comparison
High Option $4/8 High Option $5/10 Standard Option
Cost Only MCGEO/IAFF employees Only FOP/NON-REP employees All employees can enroll in this
can enroll in this High plan can enroll in this High plan Standard plan
Bi-Weekly: $113.39 Bi-Weekly: $111.00 Bi-Weekly: $24.13
Self Only Monthly: $245.68 Monthly: $240.50 Monthly: $52.58
Yearly: $2,948.14 Yearly: $2,886.00 Yearly: $627.38
Bi-Weekly: $209.79 Bi-Weekly: $205.36 Bi-Weekly: $44.63
Self + 1 Monthly: $454.55 Monthly: $444.95 Monthly: $96.70
Yearly: $5,454.54 Yearly: $5,339.36 Yearly: $1,160.38
Bi-Weekly: $325.11 Bi-Weekly: $318.24 Bi-Weekly: $69.16
Self + Family Monthly: $704.41 Monthly: $689.52 Monthly: $149.85
Yearly: $8,452.86 Yearly: $8,274.24 Yearly: $1,798.16
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentDental
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentDental Comparison: Cigna
DHMO PPO
CIGNA NETWORK Care-Access Plus Total CIGNA PPO
DHMO PPO
Required to Use An Assigned Provider Yes, In-network only No For a list of HMO covered services and
Primary Dental Office will be
assigned based on home address
assigned costs (copays), view the
Out of Network Benefits Available No Yes HMO benefit summary.
Balance Billing for Covered Services No Yes, if you go out-of-network
Referral Required Yes No
PPO Schedule of Benefits:
Orthodontia Benefits Available Yes Yes
–Diagnostic & Preventive -100%
(ANY AGE) (ANY AGE)
Orthodontia Maximum (Lifetime) Unlimited Amount; $1,000.00 –Basic Restorative - 80%
treatment limited to 24 months
–Major Restorative - 60%
Annual Maximum (per person) Unlimited $2,000.00
–Orthodontia - 60%
Deductible (single/family) None $50 /$ 150
waived for preventive care
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentVision
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentVisit OHR’s Health Insurance webpage to
view vision summary.
Vision Insurance
• The County’s Vision carrier is EyeMed.
• Benefits payable for exams, lenses and contacts (elective or necessary) every
calendar year, frames every two calendar years
• In-network or out-of-network benefits available
• Enhanced Hearing Benefit through EyeMed’s partner, Amplifon:
40% off hearing exam
Discounted pricing on thousands of hearing aids, including latest technology
One-year free follow-up care with unlimited appointments
Free batteries for two years with initial purchase
Three-year warranty and loss and damage coverage
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOptional Life & Dependent Life
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOptional Life Insurance / AD&D
• You may elect Optional Life / AD&D coverage for yourself in increments of 1 to 8 times
your basic annual earnings ($1 million maximum).
• NOTE: Coverage is not guaranteed issue for any level. You must complete an online
Statement of Health no matter what level of coverage you elect. Later this fall after Open
Enrollment ends, you will receive an email from MetLife with a link to complete the
Statement of Health online.
• An eligible dependent is defined as: 1) your opposite or same sex spouse; or 2) your
unmarried children under age 26 (natural, adopted; or stepchildren/foster children who
depend on your support).
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOptional Life Insurance Rates
How to estimate your Optional Life Insurance bi-weekly rate:
Example: 40-year-old applying for 2 x salary. Salary is $49,300.
Steps Example Calculate for Yourself
A. Find your age-based rate on the rate sheet (left) $ 0.037 $_________________
$99,000
(2 x salary rounded to
B. Choose how much coverage you are applying for: the nearest $1,000 ) $_________________
99
C. Divide that coverage amount by 1,000 ($99,000 / 1,000) $_________________
$3.66
D. Multiply A x C for estimated bi-weekly cost ($.037 x 99) $_________________
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentDependent Life Insurance
You may also purchase Dependent Optional
Life insurance for:
• Your opposite or same sex spouse
• Your unmarried children under age 26
– Natural / adopted
– Stepchildren/foster children
Note: you do not need to supply marriage
certificates/birth certificates for dependent optional life
You may elect:
• $2,000 Spouse/$1,000 Child
• $4,000 Spouse /$2,000 Child
• $10,000 Spouse /$5,000 Child
* The bi-weekly rate is not based on salary.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentFlexible Spending Accounts
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentFlexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Visit the Open Enrollment website to watch a recorded FSA presentation from MCG’s FSA vendor, Benefit
Strategies.
• What is an FSA? It is an IRS-approved tax-free account that saves on:
Qualified out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses
Federal and State Income tax
Social Security Tax
• 3 Account Options: Health Care FSA, Child Care FSA, and Commuter Choice Transit
• FSA accounts are administered through Benefit Strategies
• FSAs are “use-it or lose-it” accounts; claims must be incurred during the 2021 plan year (January 1,
2021 – March 15, 2022) and submitted by April 30, 2022.
IMPORTANT: You must re-enroll in an FSA every Open Enrollment if you want to participate in the upcoming plan year.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentFlexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Why You Should Enroll
Give yourself a raise by reducing your taxes!
• Elect the annual amount you want to place in your FSA(s) for the upcoming plan year during Open Enrollment
• That amount is divided by 26 and taken from your biweekly paychecks on a pre-tax basis (21 paychecks for
10-month employees)
• Then, use your pre-tax FSA dollars to pay for eligible "out-of-pocket" health care, child-care or transit
expenses
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentHealth Care FSA
• Contributions are “use it or lose it.”
• Expenses must be incurred between January 1 – March 15
• Claims must be submitted by April 30 of the following year
• You may elect to contribute up to $2,750. Your total annual election amount is available to spend on the first
day of the new plan year
• FSA debit card allows you to pay for expenses at the time of service
• Examples of IRS qualified eligible expenses:
• Copays (medical, prescription, dental, vision), deductibles and coinsurance; amounts over reasonable
and customary charge
• Hearing aids
• Acupuncture
• Orthopedic shoes
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs (no longer require doctor’s prescription)
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentChild Care FSA
• Contributions are “use it or lose it.”
• Expenses must be incurred between January 1 – March 15
• $5,000 annual maximum per household ($2,500 for married filing separately)
• Funds are available to spend as they are accumulated through payroll deductions
• Reimbursable expenses:
• day care centers
• elder care
• before/after school care
• babysitter fees that allow you and your spouse to work or go to school (no child support payments)
• Qualifying dependents:
• Children under the age of 13 and are a tax dependent of the employee
• Spouse or tax dependent that is physically or mentally incapable of self-care
• Must coordinate between filing a tax credit with IRS and your Dependent Care FSA plan
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentCommuter Choice Transit FSA
• $230 per month maximum for MCGEO staff; $260 per month maximum for Unrepresented staff.
• Applies to employee commuting expenses only (not spouses or dependents).
• Can enroll throughout the year (not limited to Open Enrollment election).
• Eligible expenses include: Metro, Marc, Vanpool, Lyft Line, Uber Pool
• Debit card – may be used for some expenses (not Metro).
Metro riders will have to submit claim forms for reimbursement.
• Funds must be used within 180 days of election.
• If retiring or leaving the County, will need to coordinate use all available funds
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentUsing Your FSA Funds
Health Care FSA: Your full annual election amount is available on the first day of the plan year.
Child Care FSA: Your funds are available as they accumulate through payroll deductions.
Commuter/Transit FSA: Your funds are available as they accumulate through payroll deductions.
The FSA Debit Card
• Your FSA debit card is the same card for your Health Care, Child Care, and Transit/Commuter FSA accounts
• The card is pre-loaded with your full annual Health Care FSA election amount. You can use the card to pay for IRS qualified expenses at
the time of service or when paying a bill. Receipt notifications will be mailed to you monthly by Benefit Strategies. Your response to
receipt notifications is necessary under the provisions of the plan. No response my result in the ineligibility of the purchase and as a
result your card may be temporarily deactivated.
• If you are enrolled in the Child Care FSA, the card can also be used in child-care settings. Just remember that the card will only work for
an amount that does not exceed the available balance in your Child Care FSA account on that day.
• The card can also be used to pay for your commuter/transit expenses; however it does not work for WMATA metro. Metro riders will have
to submit manual claims for reimbursement from your Commuter/Transit FSA.
• Cards are re-loaded each year after you make your new annual election. Please keep your cards! You will only receive a new card if
your old card is about to expire.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentAFLAC Voluntary Plans
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOther Voluntary Benefits: Aflac To ENROLL:
Text: SETAPPT” to: 41411
(only available to unrepresented and IAFF employees) or
Call: 920-420-8861
or
Short-Term Disability Email: susan_mcdaniel@us.Aflac.com
• Provides short-term cash benefits in the event of disability
• Monthly benefit amounts available from $500 - $6,000 (subject to income requirements)
• Benefit options of 3, 6, 12, 18 or 24 months with a variety of elimination periods
Critical Illness Insurance
• Provides a lump sum cash benefit in the event of critical illness
• Benefit amounts available in $5,000 increments from $10,000 - $30,000
*Participants pay 100% through payroll deduction for Short-Term Disability and Critical Illness Insurance
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentCarrier Resources & Cost-Saving Tips
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentLower Your Out-of-Pocket Costs
Choose the plan that’s right for you.
• See the medical benefits chart for options.
• Stay in network. Use the provider search engines on your carrier website or mobile app to find in-network providers.
Seek preventive care.
• Check-ups, immunizations and screenings are an important part of staying healthy. They can detect or prevent serious diseases and keep you healthy.
Know where to go for care.
• You have many options of places to go when you need care. If your medical condition isn’t serious or life threatening, you can save money by connecting
with a doctor online through a virtual visit or going to an urgent care center or convenience care clinic instead of a hospital emergency room.
Review your prescription drug plan options.
• Decide which Caremark prescription plan is best for you. Note that the Kaiser HMO includes prescription drug coverage. Both the Standard and High
Option Caremark plans cover the same prescription drugs but have different copay and deductibles.
Use generic and long-term prescriptions.
• Opt for lower-cost, generic drugs whenever possible.
• Ask your doctor to write a 90-day prescription instead of a 30-day prescription to participate in the mail order prescription program.
Take advantage of tax savings by participating in Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Use pre-tax dollars for eligible out of pocket services and items.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentBuilt-in Wellness Support
Take advantage of the free programs available to you through your medical carrier! Each of MCG’s medical carriers (Kaiser, UHC, & CareFirst)
offer valuable programs to help you manage your health.
Disease Management Programs
• Help manage your chronic condition through personalized coaching, support and encouragement and online education materials
Emotional Wellness & Stress Management Support
• Help manage stress through mobile apps and other self-care resources
Maternity Programs
• Support healthy moms and healthy babies
Weight-loss Programs
• Offers telephonic coaching support and web-based tools to help ensure long-term weight management
• See the next slide for an example of an MCG success story!
Smoking Cessation Programs
• Supportive coaching to make quitting more successful
Discounts
• Gym memberships, weight loss programs and more
For more information about the programs available to you, please see the Open Enrollment Guide and contact your medical carrier.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentCarrier Mobile Apps
Access Your Benefits Anytime and Anywhere You Go
All of MCG’s health insurance carriers offer a simple-to-use tool that can help make your life easier while you’re
on the go. Download your carrier’s Mobile App to help you personalize, organize, and access your important
plan information on your phone or tablet.
• Schedule Virtual Visits
• Manage and track claims
• View ID card information
• Find doctor and compare costs and quality ratings
• Review your coverage
• Track your account balances and deductibles
• Access a variety of health and wellness tools
Visit Google Play or the Apple App Store to download your carrier’s App
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMaking Changes
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentMake Changes Online
MCG HR Employee Self Service Benefits
• All Open Enrollment changes should be made online via
Employee Self-Service (ESS).
• Visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe for step-by-step ESS
instruction videos.
• Print your 2021 confirmation statement before exiting ESS.
This is your receipt for your 2021 elections. If there is any
discrepancy with your enrollment, you will be required to
provide your confirmation statement as proof of your open
enrollment activity. Without proof, no changes will be
permitted after Open Enrollment ends.
Contact the IT Help Desk at 240-777-2828, option 2 for login
assistance.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentQuestions?
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOpen Enrollment Assistance
Follow these steps (in this order):
1. Review the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the Open Enrollment website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe
(available beginning September 21). You can enter key words into the interactive search bar to quickly locate the answer to
your question.
2. Visit the MC311 website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc311 and search key words for your question. The search
results contain various knowledge-based articles with information related to your search words. Simply click on the
corresponding link and the detailed answer is revealed.
3. Attend one of OHR’s Virtual Office Hours via Microsoft Teams. Members of OHR's Health Insurance Team will be on hand to
address employee questions by video or via the chat box. View the schedule and access the sessions through the Open
Enrollment website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oe (available beginning September 21).
4. If you have tried all the methods above and still have Open Enrollment-related questions, please contact OHR's MC311
Customer Service Center at 240-773-6471 (Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm) to open a service request. A member of the health
insurance team will respond to service requests in the order they are received. Tip: Please provide an email address at the
time you place your Service Request. This will ensure the fastest response possible.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentOnline Resources
Visit the 2021 Open Enrollment Webpage.
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OE
Visit OHR’s Webpage
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HR
Health Insurance active employees
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentLegal Information
The County reserves the right at any time and for any reason to amend the Program, subject to the County's collective bargaining
agreements. The County expects to continue the Program, but it is the County's position that there is no implied contract between individual
employees and the County to do so.
The County may amend the Program, prospectively or retroactively to comply with applicable law.
In the event of a conflict between this presentation, the County Code and/or the Summary Description, the County Code then the Summary
Description will govern.
Office of Human Resources, Montgomery County GovernmentThank You
We hope you enjoyed learning about 2021 Open Enrollment.
~Your OHR Health Insurance Team
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