Official Government Website
Category: New Fiscal Year
Open Enrollment is COMING!
It’s time to think about your benefits for the coming plan year.
Open Enrollment runs April 25 – May 13
Open Enrollment is the only time each year that you can:
- Change medical plan types, such as switching from Traditional to PPO.
- Elect previously declined dependent dental coverage, dependent must also be enrolled in medical.
- Switch your premium deductions from post-tax to pre-tax or vice versa.
- Newly enroll or decline medical and dental benefits without a qualifying life event. If you miss the deadline you will not be able to enroll or decline benefits until next Open Enrollment without a qualifying life event.
- Enroll for Healthcare flexible spending account.
- Enroll for Dependent Care flexible spending account without a qualifying event.
If you are NOT making any of the changes listed above or enrolling in flexible spending, there is no action you need to take during open enrollment.
Annual enrollment in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) is required by the IRS. Employees who want to participate for FY2023 must enroll/re-enroll in the FSA during Open Enrollment. No exceptions can be made if you miss the May 13 enrollment deadline.
Ever wonder how flexible spending accounts work? We’ve posted a great video tutorial at ogi.idaho.gov and our Flexible Spending Account webpage.
FY 2023 Premium Rates, Summaries of Benefits & Coverage for all plan types, and more will be posted to the Office of Group Insurance website the week prior to Open Enrollment to guide you through the benefits available to you by your employer and administered by the Office of Group Insurance.
New Healthy Living Resources
The State’s health plan has not included a true lifestyle and weight management program in several years. So we are thrilled to roll out Wondr Health (formerly Naturally Slim) to all of our adult members. What we like about Wondr Health is that it isn’t a diet. It is a long-term investment in your nutrition and lifestyle education that results in weight loss and better overall health. Who can’t use that skill?
The program includes online courses, physical activity tracker, tailored content on behavioral eating, a team of counselors and a community of other Wondr Health participants. Best of all, the cost of the program is covered 100% regardless of which plan you have selected.
How do you get signed up? Check out the Wondr Health FAQ
For more about health promoting programs available to you, visit the Be Healthy page of the OGI website or visit the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal, https://members.bcidaho.com.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.
Preparing your health & wallet for the new plan year
The new plan year starts July 1! You can expect to start receiving frequent communications from Blue Cross of Idaho, Navia (if you signed up for Flexible Spending), Office of Group Insurance and your HR office highlighting new and continuing programs and benefits. All communications are intended to promote your “Benefits IQ” and show you how to put your premium dollars to good use.
Check out the FY22 New Plan Year Highlights that includes information about:
- New weight management program
- New diabetes management program
- Enhanced dental coverage
- New ER copay
- Continuing benefits you already have access to
- And more…
Keep in mind that if your insurance needs or personal situations change throughout the year, there are mid-year actions you can take to adjust your benefit elections. See the chart below for a very high level overview of acceptable changes. More detailed information can be found throughout the Office of Group Insurance website: https://ogi.idaho.gov
| When can I make changes? | Is this change limited to Open Enrollment? | |
| Medical | You can add/drop coverage for yourself and your dependents at any time during year. | No (exceptions for dependent dental) |
| Dental | You can drop dependent coverage at any time. | Adding previously declined dependent dental is limited to Open Enrollment EXCEPT when you are adding a newly eligible dependent to coverage; in this case previously declined dependents may enroll under a “tag along” provision. |
| Health Care FSA | You can increase/reduce your contributions after a qualifying life event. | Yes, unless you have a qualifying life event. To continue FSA, you must re-enroll every year during open enrollment. |
| Day Care FSA | You can enroll/increase/reduce your contributions after a qualifying life event. | Yes, unless you have a qualifying life event. To continue FSA, you must re-enroll every year during open enrollment. |
| Basic Life | You can change your beneficiaries at any time. | No |
| Voluntary Term Life (VTL) | You can enroll/increase/decrease your coverage any time. However, outside a life event you will be required to submit proof of insurability to be approved for coverage. | No |
Don’t have a Primary Care Physician (PCP) or Dentist? You can find a searchable list of in-network providers on the Blue Cross of Idaho Member Portal, members.bcidaho.com. Keep in mind the provider you select will determine your out of pocket costs. For instance, ChoiceDocs PPO medical providers and PPO dental providers have lower copays and/or co-insurance than other contracting providers.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.
Keep an eye on the Office of Group Insurance website, https://ogi.idaho.gov, for information in the Stay Informed blog, well-being resources in the Get Healthy page, information to navigate Life Events, and more…
You can always ask your agency’s HR office for information about enrolling in the medical and dental benefits if you are not currently enrolled or if you would like to add/delete dependents.
Questions? Contact the Office of Group Insurance in person, by telephone or email.
The Value of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Now is the time to enroll for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to begin participation July 1, 2021. Here is information to help you determine if an FSA is right for you. Open Enrollment ends May 14!
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a program that allows benefit eligible employees to pay for eligible medical, dental, vision care, and/or dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars through payroll deduction. You select a per pay period contribution amount, up to a specified maximum. The money deposited into these accounts is not taxed at the time of contribution, and remains tax-free when it is withdrawn as reimbursement for eligible expenses. If an employee wishes to take advantage of a FSA each year, they must renew the account during the open enrollment period.
Employees can enroll in either or both of the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) and/or Day Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA). Dollars deposited in these accounts are kept separate and cannot be transferred from one account to the other. Both accounts are administered by Navia Benefits Solutions and if the participating employee registers on the Navia website or mobile app they can track the activity of their account online.
Benefit eligible employees DO NOT have to be enrolled in the State’s health plan to participate in the FSA.
In addition to eligible medical, dental and vision expenses, the Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (HCFSA) are now allowed to reimburse items such as:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or medicines, without a prescription, such as aspirin, antihistamines, cough syrup, etc.
- Menstrual care products.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) like hand sanitizer and face masks.
- More approved items available for purchase on the FSA Store on the Navia member portal!
Items purchased to support general health, such as vitamins and supplements, still require documentation that the item was prescribed.
Day Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA) reimburse you for childcare expenses for children up to age 12. New for the coming plan year, the DCFSA annual maximum was increased to $7,746 (household max).
FSA debit cards are provided to all enrollees for free! However, not all stores or daycares have the technology to accept flexible spending debit cards. In that case, members can submit the receipt as a claim for reimbursement via the Navia member portal or mobile app.
For more information about how flexible spending accounts work, annual maximums, use-it-or-lose-it provisions, qualifying events to enroll or change mid-year, and other tips, visit the OGI Flexible Spending webpage.
If you are interested in participating, ask your HR office how to access your FSA enrollment before May 14.
The New Plan Year Starts July 1, 2020
Who couldn’t use a fresh start this year?
Well, it is a new year for the health plan. So now what should you do?
- Review the Benefits “To-Do” List on the OGI homepage, ogi.idaho.gov. The OGI website has helpful information about all the benefits available to you.
- Confirm or update your contact information at Blue Cross of Idaho using the phone number provided on the new ID cards that all members are receiving. If you have had any recent changes to your mailing address or email address, these are also important to keep updated.
- Select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and Dentist for your healthcare needs this year. Don’t have a provider? You can use the provider search feature on the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal. New feature this year, if you are on the PPO plan look for a Choice Docs provider to lower your copay.
- Schedule your annual preventive visit. Preventive visits are covered at 100% for all plans.
Had any life changes this year?
Had any life changes this year?The new plan year is a great time to review the beneficiaries on your Basic Life and Voluntary Term Life (VTL) policies. Your HR Office can assist you with making any updates. You can also visit the Life & Disability page of the website for additional guidance.
Did you know? Starting July 1, the spouse and dependent child life insurance benefits have been increased to $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
Other new plan year information to keep in mind:
- Telehealth services were so successful during the pandemic that medical and behavioral health appointments delivered by televisit will continue to be covered services in addition to the MDLive telehealth offering. MDLive visits are covered at 100% through July and all other visits are subject to copay and coinsurance.
- Vision benefits now includes an in-network option with a variety of providers across the state including Walmart and Costco. You can search for a provider near you by logging into www.vsp.com. More information will be posted on the OGI website soon.
- Nurse Advice Line starts July 1. The Nurse Advice Line lets you talk with a registered nurse 24/7 to help you make informed choices about your health.
- Medical, Vision and Dental plan contracts will be posted on the website as soon as possible.
Check out the list of FY21 New Plan Year Highlights [PDF] for more detail on new and continuing benefits.
Your agency’s HR office is also available to answer questions about enrolling in the medical and dental benefits if you are not currently enrolled or if you would like to add/delete dependents at any point during the year.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Check out the Member Registration Instructions [PDF] or have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.
Keep an eye on the Office of Group Insurance website, https://ogi.idaho.gov, for information in the Stay Informed section, well-being resources in the Get Healthy page, information to navigate Life Events, and more… Questions? Contact the Office of Group Insurance in person, by telephone or email.
It’s a new plan year…now what?
July 1, 2016 starts the new fiscal year (FY2017) for the State as well as the new plan year for group insurance. If you made changes during open enrollment such as switching from one plan type to another or electing previously declined dependent dental those changes are effective for your benefits in this new plan year.
If you enrolled or re-enrolled in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) and/or Day Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA), you’ve started seeing those deductions on your paystubs and you will be eligible to submit claims. Remember that the Health Care FSA is fully funded the first day of the plan year, but the Day Care FSA funds are only available with each payroll deduction.
We’ve posted helpful information on the Flexible Spending Account page. Also, check out the Navia Benefits Solutions website, https://idaho.naviabenefits.com to set up your username and password for your account.