Annual Enrollment

FY 2021 Summer Enrollment Period is Now Closed.  If you need help, please contact hrbenefits@austincc.edu.

FY 2021 Summer Enrollment - June 29, 2020 to July 11, 2020

ERS has announced the summer enrollment period for ACC employees.   The ERS Summer Enrollment Guide  has information about all of the insurance plans and what will change in FY2021.  Most plans will have no or very slight premium decreases and there are no major health plan changes for next year.  Please see the appropriate rate sheet and chart for more information about plan premium rates. The most notable changes that will be effective September 1, 2020 include:

  • Mental health benefits in the HealthSelect plans will be administered by BCBSTX directly, rather than by Magellan.
  • E-cigarettes and vaping products will be included as tobacco products subject to the tobacco-user premium.
  • In-network diagnostic mammograms will be covered at the same benefit level as preventive mammograms.
  • The annual contribution limit for the Health Care and Limit-purpose Flexible Spending Accounts will increase to $2,750.
  • In-network benefits for frames and contacts in the State of Texas Vision plan will increase to $200.
  • ERS will no longer offer HMOs, including Scott & White, effective September 1, 2021.

ERS has also announced that they will not hold in-person summer enrollment fairs this year.  Instead, they will host virtual presentations by ERS staff and have separate virtual question and answer sessions with each of their insurance plan vendors, see schedule and registration information. Employees are welcome to participate in any meetings they wish but will need to register in advance to receive a link for each specific meeting.

In addition, HR Benefits staff will be available by phone or email to help employees with enrollment questions.  Employees may schedule a time to talk to an HR Benefits staff member over the phone or email HR Benefits.

If you do not want or need to make any changes to your benefits, no action is needed during summer enrollment for your benefits to roll forward into the new plan year.  If you do make changes, they will be effective on September 1, 2020.

ERS Emails Confirmation of Changes

If you make any changes to your ERS benefits during Summer Enrollment, ERS will email you a confirmation statement that lists all of the changes. In some cases ERS will send the confirmation by mail. Email confirmations are sent on the same day that the changes are entered in ERS OnLine. Please review your Summer Enrollment confirmation statement carefully to be sure that it reflects the benefit changes you intended to make.  If you find a mistake, contact ERS at 877-275-4377.

Important Reminder:  If you need to make a Family Status Change or Post Hire Change during the months of July and August, you will need to complete this change form and send it to the ACC HR Benefits office or call ERS customer service at 877-275-4377.  During Summer Enrollment, ERS does not allow employees to go online and make these types of changes.

Make Sure Your Changes Were Completed

Making your summer enrollment changes is like doing your taxes; because you do it only once a year it can be confusing and easy to make mistakes.  That is why it is so important to make sure that your benefits are correct during September.  Here are some tips.

  1. If you make a change during July, you should receive a confirmation by email or mail from the Employees Retirement System (ERS) soon thereafter.  If you don’t, something may be wrong.  Check your ERS account online or call ERS at 877-275-4377.
  2. Check your September 2020 online pay statement to be sure it reflects your correct benefits.  Log into the ACC Online Services portal to see your monthly pay retainer.  If there is a problem, contact HR Benefits immediately.
  3. If you enroll in or change health plans, you should receive a new ID card from the carrier by September 1.  If you don’t, call the carrier; BCBSTX at 800-252-8039 or Scott & White HMO at 800—321-7947.  Delta Dental does not issue ID cards.
  4. If you sign up for a TexFlex account, be sure you are in the correct type of account, Health Care versus Dependent Care.  If you sign up for the wrong account, the money can’t be transferred to the other account and will potentially be lost.
  5. If you make a change that requires evidence of insurability, i.e. enrolled or increased optional life, enrolled in dependent life, short term disability or long term disability, once approved make sure it is reflected in your ERS account and on your ACC online pay statement.
  6. If you think a mistake has been made, you must contact ERS (877-275-4377), the carrier (see above) and/or the ACC HR Benefits office (hrbenefits@austincc.edu) by October 15.  Most enrollment corrections can be made until that date.  After October 15, you will not be able to correct your benefits for the remainder of FY2021, unless you experience a qualified life event during the year.

Helpful Resources