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Charlotte County moves to single open-enrollment window; medical plan to switch to Aetna
Summary
Charlotte County staff announced the county is consolidating to one annual open-enrollment period, confirmed a Jan. 1 switch of medical coverage from Cigna to Aetna, and provided details on beneficiary elections, portability of voluntary policies, and new ID cards to be mailed in December.
Caroline Whannel, Internal Communications Manager for Charlotte County, and Jenny Bolestron, Benefits Coordinator, told county employees the human-resources team is moving to a single annual open-enrollment period this year so staff can make all benefit elections at once.
"Honestly, I think 2 open enrollments is confusing, so going to just 1 makes everything easier," Bolestron said, explaining employees will be able to make elections for medical, voluntary, and dependent-care accounts in the BenTech system.
The county provides a $50,000 basic life benefit to all employees, and Bolestron urged staff to log in to BenTech to name a beneficiary. "Even if you've not gone into BenTech, you have to go in there and elect or name your beneficiary," she said.
Open enrollment was under way at the time of the briefing and "goes through November at midnight," Bolestron said, adding that employees may revise elections any day before the window closes. Employees who want to keep existing voluntary policies may be able to port them: Bolestron identified Transamerica, Boston Mutual and Aflac as carriers that can be ported and said instructions for Aflac are available in BenTech; she offered individualized help for the other carriers.
Caroline Whannel confirmed the county's medical coverage currently uses Cigna and that the medical plan will change to Aetna effective Jan. 1. There will be no change to dental, which remains with Cigna, and vision coverage will continue with EyeMed.
Bolestron said new Aetna ID cards will be mailed to employees' homes by December. "You'll have all your information on the front of the card. Back of the card will have what you pay for each service, and it will have a phone number to our clinic and to our my pharmacy Punta Gorda," she said.
Whannel closed the briefing by encouraging staff with questions to contact Bolestron for help completing elections in BenTech or for guidance on portability.
