To: ALL Benefit Eligible Employees

From: RSS Benefits Office

Re: Annual Open Enrollment 2024

Rowan-Salisbury Schools is pleased to announce this year’s Annual Open Enrollment for the 2024 benefit plan year.

2024 Open Enrollment is October 9-27, 2023 for BOTH the State Health Plan & Mark III Employee Benefits.

Beginning Monday, October 9, 2023 through Friday, October 27, 2023, all benefit eligible employees will be REQUIRED to self-enroll on the State Health Plan and Mark III Employee Benefits websites. Benefit Focus (State Health Plan) representatives will be able to assist with the health insurance enrollment via the call center. Mark III Employee Benefits will be onsite at each of the schools to assist employees. Please reach out to your school treasurer to inquire about the specific date and time for your school’s onsite enrollment.

Principals and Directors, it is critically important to communicate with all benefit eligible employees that Open Enrollment is soon! Not all employees have access to email and may miss the needed information. School sites must also make employees on leave of absence aware of this Open Enrollment information. Communication will be shared via emails, the RSS website, text messages, and ConnectEd calls. Every effort must be made to inform all benefit eligible employees.

Policies elected during Open Enrollment will have an effective date of January 1, 2024. All Mark III Employee Benefits deductions will continue to be taken on a 9-month basis. Health insurance is paid on a 12-month basis and NC Smart Choice escrow will be taken out for those employees who are not paid for twelve months. The escrow funds will be used to pay for health insurance coverage during the two non-pay summer months for all 10-month employees.

Important Points to Remember:

• The State Health Plan and Mark III Employee Benefits will not any make exceptions for enrollments outside of Open Enrollment. Do not miss enrolling at this time in both benefit programs as NO changes can be made without a qualifying life event after the Open Enrollment period has passed.
• Who needs to complete this? ALL Rowan-Salisbury Schools benefit eligible employees.
• Do I have to complete enrollment if I was just hired and signed up at that time? YES—this is for next year’s benefits, beginning January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
• I have just updated my benefits; do I have to complete Open Enrollment? YES—this is for next year’s benefits; everyone must complete the process.
• Tobacco users have until November 30, 2023 to visit their Primary Care Provider or a CVS Minute Clinic to complete at least one tobacco cessation counseling session to earn the premium credit for their enrollment. You must also upload a copy of the office visit summary into the Document Center located in Benefit Focus at www.ebenefitsnow.com.

DO NOT wait until the last day to enroll! Be proactive as issues may arise, or documents may need to be gathered.

Mark III Employee Benefits:

On-Site: October 10, 2023-October 13, 2023; October 16,2023-October 20, 2023; or,

Self-Service: October 9, 2023-October 27, 2023

State Health Plan Enrollment Support Center:

(855-859-0966) hours will be extended:

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

**Note: Please keep in mind the busiest time for the State Health Plan Enrollment Support Center is usually the first two days and the last two days of the enrollment period.

As a reminder, the State Health Plan will offer webinars for all employees to learn more about their 2024 benefits prior to and during Open Enrollment. Please visit the State Health Plan website at www.shpnc.org to sign up for any of the webinars listed below.