New Hires
As a new permanent full or part-time employee of CMS, you are eligible for benefits. While some benefits may be paid by CMS, you must enroll in all benefits you want to participate in. You have 30 days from your date of hire to enroll online at cms.hrintouch.com and make your benefit elections . If you do not enroll within the first 30 days, you may not enroll until the next open enrollment period, unless you experience a qualifying status change during the year. (See Mid- Year Changes below for additional information.)
Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is the one time each year you have the opportunity to make changes to your benefits. You can change your plan type, as well as add or drop coverage. You may also change who you cover on your insurance during this time. Any changes made during open enrollment must remain until the following open enrollment period, unless you have a qualifying life change event. If you do not enroll in benefit plans when you are first hired, open enrollment allows you to enroll without any qualifying event.
Follow-Up Enrollment:
Enrollment Dates: July 18 - 29, 2011
Effective Dates: September 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012
For the first time, effective September 1, 2011, active and retired employees who wish to enroll in the 80/20 Standard plan will be required to pay a premium for subscriber only coverage.
However, there will be a premium-free option for the 70/30 Basic plan for employees and retirees.
In addition to these changes, there will be a 5.3 percent increase in dependent premiums for the 2011/2012 benefit plan year, beginning September 1, 2011.
Members who wish to remain on the plan in which they enrolled during Annual Enrollment and concluded June 8, 2011, will not need to do anything during the Follow-up Enrollment period.
Changes will be done through the website: cms.hrintouch.com. All passwords will be reset to the social security number (without dashes) for the July 18th Follow-Up Enrollment Period. What Happens if You Don't Enroll Timely
What Happens if You Don't Enroll Timely
If you do not submit your paperwork to the benefits office within the first 30 days of employment, you may not be able to enroll in any plans until open enrollment. If you have a qualifying life change event during the year, you may be allowed to enroll at that time. See “Mid-Year Changes” below for additional information. If you do enroll after your first 30 days, you may be subject to a waiting period.
Mid-Year Changes
The enrollment options you select will remain in effect during the 2011 - 2012 plan year. You will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make changes unless you experience a qualifying change in status event, per the IRS. Qualifying change in status events include:
- Marriage, divorce, legal separation
- Death
- Birth, adoption, or placement of child in foster care
- A change in employment status for you, your spouse or your legal dependents, such as a ending or beginning a new job
- Your dependent ceasing to qualify as an eligible dependent due to age or student status
- A significant change in the cost of group benefit plans
- You or your dependent becomes eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.
If you have a qualifying change in status event during the year, and you want to make changes to your benefits elections, you must:
1. Log in to the HR InTouch Benefit enrollment site: cms.hrintouch.com
2. Provide documentation of the qualifying change in status event. This information should be sent to the Benefits Department no later than 30 days following the qualifying change in status event. This may include documents such as a
a. birth certificate
b. marriage certificate
c. COBRA notification
3. Your mid-year change must be consistent with the qualifying change in status event. Any requests received after 30 days or that are inconsistent with the qualifying change in status event will not be processed.
Name and Address Changes
If you expereince a qualifying event that accompanies a legal name change (such as marriage or divorce) you may go online to HR InTouch to complete all name and/or address changes. If you have legally changed you name, you will need to provide appropriate documentation to CMS. This documenation includes ALL of the following:
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A copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree
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A copy of your Social Security card that reflects your new name
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W-4 and state tax forms reflecting your new name
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Notice of Change of Beneficiary from the State Retirement System (if applicable)
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State Licensure Update from DPI (if applicable)
The paperwork referenced above can be downloaded from the "Forms and Documents" section to the left. Upon completing your paperwork, please return to the Benefits Office, Courier # 846.
Waiting Period for Preexisting Conditions
Employees or dependents not enrolling when first eligible may have a 12-month waiting period for preexisting conditions. A preexisting condition is defined as a condition, disease, illness or injury diagnosed and treated within six months prior to the effective date of coverage. Health care services determined to be related to a preexisting condition are not covered during the waiting period.
You must complete all benefits enrollment or changes within 30 days of a family status change in order to avoid a 12-month waiting period for preexisting conditions.
