Newly hired employees have 60 days from the first day of employment to enroll in benefits. Benefits will take effect the first day of the month following the date that you submit your request in Employee Self Service, providing that you have uploaded all applicable supporting documentation. For example, if you submit your enrollment on March 15, your benefit coverage will begin April 1.
If you do not elect benefits during the 60-day window, you must wait until the annual Open Enrollment period to enroll.
2024 BCPS Active Employee Benefits Guide
HOW TO ENROLL
Newly hired employees must complete their enrollment using the Benefits Enrollment Wizard in Employee Self Service. From your BCPS device, open your Microsoft Edge Browser, visit www.office.com, Click on "All Apps", then select "ESS" or Employee Self Service.
MetLife optional life insurance enrollment is not available in Employee Self Service through the Enrollment Wizard. To apply for coverage, please complete the MetLife Enrollment Form and submit to:
[email protected]
As a new hire, the guaranteed issue amount is 3 times your salary in optional life insurance. If you wish to enroll your spouse in optional life insurance, the guaranteed issue amount is $50,000. You must be enrolled for employee optional life insurance to elect coverage for your spouse. You may elect $10,000 life insurance for your unmarried child/children up to the age of 26. Statement of health is not required for children.
* Please note that if you wish to enroll in coverage beyond the guaranteed issue amounts, a Statement of Health is required by MetLife. You must return the completed Statement of Health directly to MetLife using the instructions found on the first page. If you are enrolling your spouse, a separate Statement of Health will need to be completed and submitted.
A link to these forms can be found in our Forms Repository.
IMPORTANT FACTS TO CONSIDER AS A NEW HIRE
- Benefits for newly hired employees take effect the first day of the month following the date that you submit your request in Employee Self Service, providing that you have uploaded all applicable supporting documentation. For example, if you submit your enrollment on March 15, your benefit coverage will begin April 1.
- The benefit elections you make as a new hire stay in effect until the end of the Plan Year. This is an IRS requirement which allows our plans to qualify as pre-tax deductions.
Employees who experience a qualifying life event are permitted to make changes to their benefit elections after their 60-day window, or outside of Open Enrollment.
- Employees may choose which eligible family members they want to include in each benefit election. For example, you may cover yourself and your dependents for medical benefits, but only yourself for dental coverage.
- If you and your spouse are both BCPS employees, you can each enroll in individual coverage, or one of you can elect two-person or family coverage. If you elect coverage separately, you cannot cover one another as dependents. Similarly, eligible dependent child(ren) may only be covered under one of you.
- Proof of dependent eligibility is required. Documentation may be copies of a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or adoption papers. Documentation must include the employee’s name and last four digits of their social security number. Failure to provide this identifying information could result in a delay of coverage. Documentation may be sent via interoffice mail to the Office of Benefits and Retirement, Greenwood, via fax to 410-887-8950, or scanned and e-mailed to [email protected].
- Employees who submit false information intended to provide health care coverage for alleged dependents not eligible for such coverage may be subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment. Such employees will also be held financially responsible for all claims filed, and will be required to reimburse the board for any payments made on behalf of or for the benefits of an ineligible person claimed as a dependent.
VERIFYING YOUR BENEFIT ELECTIONS
As a newly hired employee, you must check your paystub to make sure the proper deductions are being taken. Contact the Office of Benefits and Retirement immediately if you notice a discrepancy.