Evergreen Park ESD 124 announces medical plan changes, special open enrollment and dependent-audit timeline

Erica Mendoza, a benefits consultant with Gallagher, told Evergreen Park ESD 124 employees during a recorded special enrollment session that changes to the district’s medical plans will take effect July 1, 2024, and that the Educational Benefit Cooperative (EBC) will conduct a dependent‑eligibility audit Oct. 1–Nov. 15.

Mendoza said the special enrollment covers medical plans only and permits employees to enroll, waive coverage, switch among plan options, or add or drop dependents during the window. “You can switch between plan options and you can add or drop dependents,” she said, adding that changes outside this period require a qualifying life event such as birth, marriage or loss of coverage.

Why it matters: the plan design changes alter member cost-sharing and how deductibles and out-of-pocket limits apply. Mendoza and co-presenter Brian Franz, also of Gallagher, walked through the new High‑Deductible Health Plan (Plan H), the HMO changes and prescription tiers so employees can decide which plan best fits their needs.

Plan H (HDHP) changes and key numbers Mendoza said the district has introduced separate in-network and out‑of‑network deductibles and out-of-pocket limits on Plan H. Key figures presented were an individual deductible of…