2016 Summer Enrollment: Retirees and Families Guide Page: 2
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ERS ONLINE ACCOUNT
Take a few minutes to review
your contact information and
dependent information; make
benefits changes online
Go to www.ers.state.tx.us and sign in to your online account.
Register for an account, if you have not done so already.
After you login,
- confirm that your contact information is correct or update as
needed,
- ensure each of your dependent's Social Security number
and date of birth are correct.
Reach out to your benefits coordinator or HR representative,
update online or call ERS if you need to update information.
Dependent eligibility and
verification
When you add a dependent, you'll be asked to certify
that each of your dependent children is eligible for Texas
Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP) coverage-unless
you've already certified each dependent. You can't enroll new
dependent children until you complete the online certification.
If you enroll any new dependents, including a spouse, in
health coverage, you'll be required to provide documentation,
such as a marriage license or birth certificate, verifying that
each dependent is eligible. To enroll a common law spouse,
you must obtain a Declaration of Informal Marriage from the
county courthouse with a registration date prior to the date of
your spouse's enrollment in the GBP. Documents dated after
the dependent was enrolled will not be accepted, even if that
date is before the coverage start date. If you don't provide
documentation by the requested deadline, your dependent
could be dropped from coverage.
If you have questions about the dependent eligibility
verification, contact Aon Hewitt Dependent Verification
Center toll-free at (800) 987-6605.
Tobacco-use status
Everyone enrolled in the GBP health insurance plans must
certify their status as tobacco users or non-users. This
online certification is legally binding. If you have already
certified yourself and your dependents, you don't have to
recertify unless anyone's tobacco-use status has changed.
The GBP offers tobacco users coverage for some prescription
drugs to help them quit tobacco. If you are a tobacco user, you
may be able to participate in Choose to Quit, an alternative to
the Tobacco User Premium, if it complies with your doctor's
recommendations. For more information about this alternative,
see the ERS Tobacco policy on ERS website at
www.ers.state.tx.us/Employees/Health/TobaccoPolicy/
or contact ERS toll-free at (877) 275-4377.How can I make changes if I don't
have internet access?
First, be sure to review your Personal Benefits Enrollment
Statement (PBES) that has information about your current
coverage and provides you with additional coverage options
that may be available. Then, call ERS during the enrollment
phase listed on your PBES, toll-free at (866) 399-6908. You
can also contact your agency benefits coordinator. If you're
an HHS Enterprise employee, contact the HHS Employee
Service Center toll-free at (888) 894-4747.HEALTH INSURANCE
Your health insurance options
During Summer Enrollment, you can enroll in or switch
medical coverage to HealthSelect of Texas, the new
Consumer Directed HealthSelect or an HMO, if you live or
work in an eligible area. Check the health plan comparison
chart on pages 6-7 for more information.
If you enroll in HealthSelect of Texas or Community First
Health Plans HMO, don't forget to select a primary care
physician (PCP). You do not need to designate a PCP if you
are enrolled in Consumer Directed HealthSelect, Scott &
White Health Plan or KelseyCare powered by Community
Health Choice. Once you've enrolled, your health plan will
mail a new ID card to you. Don't use your new card until
September 1. If you don't get your ID card by September 1,
contact your health plan.
Do you have other health
insurance?
If you have other health insurance that's as good as or better
than what the state provides (excludes Medicare), you can
waive your GBP health insurance and sign up for the Health
Insurance Opt-Out Credit. The credit can apply toward dental
insurance premiums, but not the State of Texas Dental
Discount Plan and State of Texas Vision.
NOTE: Waiving your state health insurance will cancel your
prescription drug coverage and your $2,500 Basic Term Life
Insurance policy.
HealthSelect of Texas in-area
participants need a PCP
If you live in Texas and are in HealthSelect, you need to
designate a PCP. If you live outside Texas, you have out-
of-area benefits and are not required to have a PCP. Your
PCP is listed on your HealthSelect ID card. You can call
United Healthcare to designate or change a PCP.
Need to find a PCP? Check out the provider finder at
www.healthselectoftexas.com.2 I ERS 1 2016 Summer Enrollment
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Employees Retirement System of Texas. 2016 Summer Enrollment: Retirees and Families Guide, pamphlet, Summer 2016; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1365028/m1/2/: accessed June 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.