Summer Enrollment Information
Employee Retirement System (ERS) Summer Enrollment for fiscal year 2008-2009 will be July 28 through
August 22, 2008. Summer Enrollment is your annual opportunity to make changes to your benefits.
All benefit participants will receive a Personal Enrollment Statement (PES) notice in the mail. The PES will
include name, mailing address, eligibility basis (county), and benefits you are currently enrolled on file in ERS
Online as of Friday, July 4th, 2008.
Is your address updated in the Employees Retirement System, (ERS)?
In order to receive important information regarding your benefits, it is very important that you update your
home address, email and phone # immediately! Please go on-line and change your home address, if needed.
- You and your dependents are automatically re-enrolled each year in your insurance plan. However, if
you want to add or drop dependents, you must make changes on-line. Note: If you are adding eligible
dependents, please have their social security number, birth date, and the Primary Care Physician's
(PCP) identification number prior to making changes (you will need this information to make the
change on-line).
- To make changes on-line, go to www.ers.state.tx.us. You will need your UserID # (social security
number with no dashes) and your ERS password. Your password remains the same year to year unless
you have changed it. If you are new to ERS, you should have received a password by e-mail.
- IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN OR DO NOT HAVE YOUR PASSWORD, you will need to go to
www.ers.state.tx.us - click on ERS On-Line - enter your User ID # (social security number with no
dashes) - then, click on Need a new password? and follow the instructions. Your password will be
either mailed to your home address or e-mailed to you. Note: it is best to obtain your ERS On-Line
password now-before Summer Enrollment to avoid delays.
- If you have a change in family status during the summer not associated with summer enrollment (such
as birth, marriage, divorce, etc.) you need to see your campus HR Department to complete the proper
paperwork.
- Health Select - Blue Cross and Blue Shield premiums and coverage will remain the same. The State will
continue to pay 100% of the Health premiums for full-time employees and 50% for their eligible
dependents.
- Aetna Dental, premiums and coverage will remain the same.
- If you have a TexFlex account now, (FY 07-08), you will be automatically re-enrolled in the ERS
system at the same amount (and with a PayFlex Debit Card, if you have one) for September 1, 2008,
unless you make a change during Summer Enrollment. It is critical that you check the ERS system
to make sure that you want to have the same TexFlex pledge that you have this year for next year...if
not, you need to change the amount during Summer Enrollment.
- VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: Your Summer Enrollment statement will show that you pay
for Optional Life II and Long Term Disability (LTD). PLEASE BE AWARE THAT LSCS pays for
these benefits, so please DO NOT drop them during summer enrollment. Once the employee has
passed the initial new hire period for benefits enrollment, Optional Life II and Long Term Disability
(LTD) will require Evidence of Insurability (EOI) to prove good health for qualifying for coverage.
Don't forget, LSCS also provides Short Term Disability (STD) internally at no charge. On your ERS
statement you will have a "waived" status for state STD coverage.
- If you are on the State Kids Insurance Program (SKIP) or if you think you qualify for SKIP, you must
re-enroll for Plan Year 2009 unless your SKIP effective date is June 1, 2008 or later. If you need to
re-enroll make sure your application is postmarked by August 1, 2008. For more information, including
the SKIP application and instructions, visit www.ers.state.tx.us/insurance/skip .
NEW THIS FY PLAN 2008-2009
- Health Select and CAREMARK - our new prescription drug program.
This year two new ID cards will be mailed to you - a medical card from Blue Cross and Blue
Shield and a prescription drug card from Caremark.
You can still go to your local pharmacy but you will need to show your new prescription drug ID
card to your pharmacist so you pay the right amount.
You will continue to fill any new or mail order refill prescription to Medco through August 31,
2008. Caremark will start filling mail service prescriptions on September 1st, 2008.If you have refills left on a mail service prescription after August 31, your refill information will
transfer from Medco to Caremark on September 1, 2008.
- The State of Texas Dental Choice Plan administrated by Government Employees Health
Association (GEHA),
The GEHA premiums will increase by 5%. Coverage will remain the same.
GEHA Member only $0.00 - premiums ($22.08) paid by LSCS
GEHA Member & Spouse $19.65 monthly
GEHA Member & Child $27.82 monthly
GEHA Member & Family $47.47 monthly
- TexFlex: TexFlex will have an annual administrative fee of $24 per each Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Health and Dependent care starting on 09/01/08. The fee will be deducted from the account(s) at the beginning of the new plan year (September 1). The fee is used to help cover administrative expenses (such as processing claims, checking claims
documentation, issuing checks and direct deposits, and monitoring daily operating expenses)
If you decide to have or request a debit card, there will be an additional fee of $15. If you have both FSA-Day Care and FSA Health accounts, the debit card fee will be deducted from the FSAHealth
account. The debit card is optional
Please check your LSCS e-mail address frequently during the summer. This will be the ONLY WAY of getting
information to all employees. It is very important that you check the ERS website for benefits changes and
insurance-related information, such as finding your primary care physician (PCP) and prescription information
on-line.
If you need to contact ERS, Health or Dental providers here are the phone numbers:
ERS/Benefits Division 1-877-275-4377
HEALTHSELECT BLUE CHOICE 1-800-252-8039
CAREMARK 1-888-886-8490
DENTAL CHOICE - GEHA 1-800-618-2389
DENTAL DMO - AETNA 1-800-275-1794
If you have any questions, please contact your campus
HR Department at your location or the System Office
Benefits Department.
LSCS contact information:
SO - Cristina Patetta - 832-813-6566
SO -Donna Cook - 832-813-6659
LSC-NH - Cyndie McNamee - 281-618-5408
LSC-K - Ruth Hutyra - 281-312-1542
LSC-T - Karen Gaede - 281-351-3361
LSC-M - Cindy Moeykens - 936-273-7078
LSC-CF - Shannon McNees - 281-290-3958