Annual Benefits Open Enrollment

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 to Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 4:00PM EST 

For Changes Effective July 1, 2024 (Fiscal Year 2025)

View the FY25 Active Employee Open Enrollment Packet

View the FY25 Retiree and Surviving Spouse Open Enrollment Packet

View the FY25 FSA Enrollment Form

View the Cigna Dental/Vision Form

Please take this opportunity to think about what you and your family need in the way of health care.  Additionally, please review the list of additional required documents if you have dependents or are turning 65!

Be sure to read your FY25 GIC Benefits Decision Guide  for annual enrollment details.  Please review the material provided during annual enrollment, even if you don't plan to make any changes:

  • Review the GIC Benefit Decision Guide for benefit and rate changes effective July 1, 2024.
  • Review the City of Springfield Rate Sheet  to see which plan fits into your budget.
  • Consider enrolling in a limited network plan to save money every month on your premiums.  These plans have the same benefits as the wider network plans, but save money because they have fewer physicians, hospitals, and other providers.
  • Contact the plans to find out specific details for doctors and hospitals. Your GIC Benefit Decision Guide is an overview of GIC benefits; it is not a comprehensive plan handbook.
  • Check on copay tier assignments that affect what you pay when you get physician or hospital services.  Copay tiers can change each July 1 with new data.

Keep in mind!  Once you choose a health plan, you cannot change plans during the year, unless you move out of the plan's service area.  If your doctor or hospital leaves your health plan, you must find a new participating provider in your chosen plan. 

See the GIC website for the latest annual enrollment news, forms to expedite your decisions, and answers to frequently asked questions.   A new Summary of Benefits and Coverage document, as required by federal health care reform, provides a summary of a GIC plan benefits and cost-sharing requirements.  

If uou are making a change to your health insurance plan, GIC Enrollment Forms can be completed electronically through a secure email link. Contact the Employee Benefits Department at (413) 787-6055 or email: benefits@springfieldcityhall.com and the link will be forwarded to you from the GIC. 

If you have questions please contact us at benefits@springfieldcityhall.com or 413-787-6055. 

Mark the Date!  Enrollment forms must be submitted to the Employee Benefits Department or the GIC no later than Wednesday, May 1, 2024 by 4:00 PM EST!

FY2025 Benefit Highlights

Benefits Highlights for Fiscal Year 2025

  • The only change for Health Insurance plans is that Unicare is changing their name to Wellpoint effective July 1st, 2024. 
    • All Unicare members will receive new cards with the Wellpoint name on them prior to July 1st, 2024.
    • The doctors and hospitals will remain the same.
  • The City of Springfield will be changing Life Insurance carriers from Guardian to Boston Mutual effective July 1st, 2024. 
    • Boston Mutual will continue to offier the Basic Life insurance policy but will increase the amount to $5,000.00 and Supplemental (Optional) Life Insurance benefits will continue.
  • Trustmark and AFLAC - Effective July 1st, 2024 you will not be able to enroll in any new polices or may changes other than to cancel. The City will continue to offer payroll deductions for employees currently enrolled in Trustmark and AFLAC policies.

AmeriFlex - Flexible Spending Accounts

*Active Employees Only*

AmeriFlex by Colonial Life is the City’s FSA & Dependent Care FSA Provider

Enroll April 3, 2024 – May 31, 2024

FY25 FSA Enrollment Form

The City has partnered with AmeriFlex as the Section 125 Plan provider (Health & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts). You may elect to set money aside directly from your paycheck for a Flexible Spending Account (Health Care FSA and/or Dependent Care FSA).  The FSA benefit allows you to contribute pre-tax dollars to individual accounts for eligible uninsured or unreimbursed medical, dental, vision, and dependent care expenses.

                                                Annual Minimum               Annual Maximum

Health Care Accounts                      $300                                    $3,200

Dependent Care Accounts               $500                                    $5,000 

The Health Care FSA is a DEBIT CARD which allows you to “Swipe-N-Go”.  You will only be able to use your debit card for eligible health care expenses.

A Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or adult daycare. If you sign up for a Dependent Care Account, you will need to submit for reimbursements. 

If you are currently participating in the FSA benefit, you will be required to RE-ENROLL for the new plan year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.  To enroll/re-enroll, contact AmeriFlex at 888-868-3539 or email FSA Forms to benefits@springfieldcityhall.com . Forms can also be dropped off to Room 18 in City Hall.

Cigna Dental/Vision Plans

The City of Springfield will continue to provide dental and vision coverage through Cigna. Enrollment into the dental and vision benefit is separate from your enrollment into any of the medical plans. New Enrollments require completion of an additional form. Please review the Cigna Dental Base DPO4 and Vision benefit summaries for more detailed information about Dental and Vision coverage.

The City offers three (3) Dental Plans: 

  1. The current base DPO4 Dental Plan and PPO Vision Plan will continue to be offered. 
  2. Employees and Retirees can add supplemental Dental coverage by enrolling in a “Buy-Up” DPOB Plan.  The cost of this additional coverage will be paid by the Employee/Retiree. The City will continue to provide 75% of the cost of the DPO4 Base Dental/PPO Vision Plan.
  3. Employees and Retirees can opt into a lower cost narrow network DHMO Q5100 Dental/Vision Plan.  This plan has narrow network of providers and City will provide 75% of the cost of this plan.

Enrollment in either of these new plans can be completed by filling out the Cigna Enrollment Form and returning it to the Employee Benefits Department.  Deductions for these plans will begin in June. 

*The cost of the Dental Buy-up DPOB is 100%covered by the employee/retiree and is in addition to the Cigna Base DPO4 Plan.  Therefore, if you are a 52 week Individual employee, your total weekly deduction for Dental/Vision would be Base DPO4 ($1.63) + Buy-up DPOB ($2.76) = Total $4.39 per week

**An 52 week Individual employee enrolling in the Narrow Network DHMO Q5100 would only pay $1.51 per week

***If you do not purchase the Buy-up DPOB or switch to the DHMO Q5100, your deduction will continue be the Cigna Dental/Vision Plan-Base DPO4

Please contact a Cigna Representative to discuss plan options and what might be best for you and your family! 

Plan Name  Coverage    52 Weeks     26 Weeks     22 Weeks     Monthly  
Cigna Dental/Vision Plan - Base DPO4  Individual               1.63              3.27              3.86            7.08
   Family               3.78              7.56              8.94          16.39
           
 Dental Buy-Up DPOB   Individual               2.76              5.52              6.52          11.95
 *Supplemental paid by EE/RET   Family               6.92            13.85            16.36          30.00
           
 Narrow Network Dental/Vision DHMO Q5100   Individual               1.51              3.03              3.58            6.56
   Family               3.27              6.54              7.73          14.16
Page last updated:  Monday, April 1, 2024 02:32 pm