New Hire Benefits Orientation

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New Hire Benefits Orientation
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LEAVE

• Leave policies for classified employees is
  mandated by the Louisiana Department of State
  Civil Service. Leave for grant employees are
  mandated by regulations of the granting
  authority. For unclassified, n on-civil service
  employees, the College has formally adopted the
  Louisiana Community and Technical College System
  (LCTCS) Policy II.3.003 Leave Record
  Establishment and Regulations for all
  Unclassified, Non-Civil Service Employees as its
  official policy. Regulations regarding all forms
  of leave for unclassified faculty and staff (sick
  leave, annual leave, faculty leave, sabbatical
  leave, advanced degree leave, military leave,
  special/civil/emergency/other leave including
  bereavement/funeral leave, family medical (FMLA)
  leave, educational leave, administrative leave,
  compensatory leave, leave without pay, workmen's
  compensation leave, leave of absence without pay)
  as are addressed in LCTCS PolicyII.3.003

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Annual Leave for Unclassified Employees on the
12-Month Basis

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Sick Leave Earnings
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Faculty Leave for Employees on Nine (9) Month
(Academic Year) Basis Only

• 1. Faculty Leave is leave granted to eligible
  (full-time) faculty members employed for the
  academic year and who have a regular tour of
  duty.
• 2. Faculty leave is paid leave in lieu of annual
  leave and is comprised of the days between terms
  and at holiday periods when students are not in
  classes.
• 3. Faculty leave shall be granted as specified by
  the official calendar of the institution served,
  and shall be taken as it is granted.

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Holidays

• Under the R.S 155 provision, Each institution
  of higher education in the state, through a
  representative appointed by it, shall designate a
  maximum of fourteen (14) legal holidays per
  calendar year to be observed by all of its
  employees.
• 2008 Holidays
• 1. January 1, 2008 (Tuesday) New Years
  Holiday
• 2. January 21, 2008 (Monday) Martin Luther
  King Day
• 3. February 05, 2008 (Tuesday) Mardi Gras
• 4. March 21, 2008 (Friday) Good Friday
• 5. July 4, 2008 (Friday) Independence Day
• 6. September 1, 2008 (Monday) Labor Day
• 7. November 27, 2008 (Thursday) Thanksgiving
  Day
• 8. November 28, 2008 (Friday) Day after
  Thanksgiving
• 9. December 24, 2008 (Wednesday) Christmas/Winte
  r Holiday
• 10. December 25, 2008 (Thursday) Christmas/Winter
  Holiday
• 11. December 26, 2008 (Friday) Christmas/Winter
  Holiday
• 12. December 29, 2008 (Monday) Christmas/Winter
  Holiday
• 13. December 30, 2008 (Tuesday) Christmas/Winter
  Holiday
• 14. December 31, 2008 (Wednesday) Christmas/Winter
  Holiday

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Benefits

• Medical
• The Office of Group Benefits (OGB) is responsible
  for administering life and health benefits for
  state employees, participating school boards, and
  certain political subdivisions.
• A summary of the benefits offered by our health
  plan is provided on the OGB website
  (www.groupbenefits.org), as are listings of our
  health maintenance organizations and our Flexible
  Benefits Plan. You will also find a listing of
  our preferred providers, exclusive providers plan
  documents, and specific information for
  providers. This site also discusses our flexible
  benefits plan, contractors for mental health, and
  prescription drug plan.
• Current medical benefits plans offered to Region
  9 employees are as followed
• OGB PPO Plan
• EPO Plan (Administered by United Health Care)
• Humana HMO

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Eligibility

• Full Time Employees and Dependents
• Legal Spouse
• Never married children under 21 that you support
• Never married children up to 24 who full time
  students (need proof within 30 days of each
  semester start)
• Dependent Verification Required

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Pre-Existing Conditions

• If diagnosed or treated within 6 months prior to
  enrollment date
• Then that condition is pre-existing and no
  benefits payable for that condition in first 12
  months of coverage.
• Must complete enrollment form within 30 days for
  a new dependent otherwise pre-existing condition
  applies.
• May be exempt from PEC if continuously covered
  without a 63-day break in coverage.

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Plan Overview
PPO EPO HMO
Coverage in Network All Regions All Regions Nationwide Network All Regions
Admin OGB UnitedHealthcare Humana
Lifetime Max per person 5 million for ALL health care expenses 5 million for ALL health care expenses 5 million for ALL health care expenses
Deductible 500 Active 300 Retired 3 person max 300 Active/Retired 3 person max None
Out-of-Pocket Maximum 1000 per person No maximum 1000 per person 3000 per family
Hospital In-Network 10 of Contracted Rate Pre-Cert Required 100 per day 300 max per admit Pre-Cert required 100 per day 300 max per admit Pre-Cert required
MD Visits 10 of Contracted Rate No referrals required Copays 15 PCP 25 Spec. No referrals required Copays 15 PCP 25 Spec. No referrals required PCP required
Subject to plan year deductible and/or applicable co-insurance Active employees and retirees without M/C Subject to plan year deductible and/or applicable co-insurance Active employees and retirees without M/C Subject to plan year deductible and/or applicable co-insurance Active employees and retirees without M/C Subject to plan year deductible and/or applicable co-insurance Active employees and retirees without M/C
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Key Points

• New employees who want to enroll in health
  insurance must complete the Acknowledgement of
  Pre-Existing Condition and Statement of Physical
  Condition form and the Insurance Portability Law
  (IPL) Application.

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Life Insurance

• Office of Group Benefits provides life insurance
  for employees and their dependents at state group
  rates.
• Underwritten by Prudential Insurance Co. of
  America
• Group Term Life Plan
• State pays half the premium for employees and
  retirees
• Employee pays premium for dependent life.
• Reduction of 25 in coverage and appropriate
  reduction in premiums, July 1st following ages 65
  70.
• Choose between Basic Plan and Basic Plus
  Supplemental
• Accidental Death Dismemberment benefits are
  available to all active retired employees who
  are covered under the Basic or Basic Plus plans.
• Retirees over 70 not eligible for ADD benefits.

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Flexible Benefits

• Why Are Flexible Benefit Plans Important?
• Increase spendable income
• Easy
• Reduce Taxes

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What Are Flex Plan Options?
Flex Plan Options Flex Plan Options
Premium Conversion Option (No Fee) Put aside your eligible payroll health care premium deductions
Premium Conversion Option (No Fee) Eligible premium deductions will automatically continue in the Flex plan from year to year unless you request to drop out during annual enrollment
Dependent Care FSA (3.50/Month) Set aside money from paycheck for dependent care expense
Dependent Care FSA (3.50/Month) MUST RE-ENROLL in this program each year during annual enrollment
Health Care FSA (3.50/Month) Set aside 600 - 5000 from paycheck for out-of-pocket medical expenses
Health Care FSA (3.50/Month) MUST RE-ENROLL in this program each year during annual enrollment
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Spending Account Eligibility Requirements

• Premium Conversion- You are eligible if you are
  an active, full-time employee of the State of
  Louisiana whose agency participates in the State
  of Louisiana Flexible Benefits Plan.
• Health Care FSA Eligibility - You are eligible to
  participate if you meet all of the following
  conditions
• are an active full-time employee,
• be continuously employed by current employer for
  at least the twelve consecutive months
• are employed by a state employer that utilizes
  the State of Louisiana Flexible Benefits Plan,
  and pay the administrative fee.
• Dependent Care FSA Eligibility - You are eligible
  if you are an active, full-time employee of the
  State of Louisiana whose agency participates in
  the State of Louisiana Flexible Benefits Plan and
  pay the administration fee.

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FAQs

• When can I change my elections?
• Once you enroll, your election will remain in
  effect for the entire plan year unless you have a
  qualified status change, such as a marriage,
  divorce, or the birth or adoption of a child.
• What happens if I have money left in my FS
  account at the end of the plan year?
• Due to current IRS regulations, any money left in
  your Health and Dependent Care FSAs after all
  claims have been processed for that plan year
  must be forfeited. Please remember the IRS USE
  IT or LOSE IT rule. You cannot carry your money
  into the next plan year or be paid in cash,
  however, a Grace Period has been added. (This
  modifies the IRS Use it or Lose it rule.) This
  period allow you to incur eligible expenses in
  this period to be paid with money remaining in
  your prior year account. The Grace Period
  timeline is set each plan year. The Run-Off
  Period is the 45-day time period after the end of
  the Grace Period, during which participants can
  submit eligible expenses incurred during the
  preceding plan year for reimbursement.

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Key Points

• Employees have 30 days from hire date to enroll
  in the Flexible Benefits Plan. The employee must
  complete both the GB-01 Insurance Enrollment Form
  and the Flexible Benefits Enrollment form and
  indicate their enrollment choice OR waiver of
  coverage. Do not sign in both places.
• Once enrolled OGB member may only change plans
  during annual enrollment.

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Questions?

• A summary of the benefits offered by our health,
  life insurance, or flexible plans are provided on
  the OGB website (www.groupbenefits.org).
• This site will provide a benefit comparison
  chart, schedule of rates, and plan documents.
• Please ask your HR Representative if you have
  additional questions.

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Miscellaneous Benefits

• Other Benefits are offered to State employees via
  general deduction by various vendors.
• Below lists some of the benefits offered
• Dental
• Vision
• Savings Programs
• PrePaid Legal Services
• Insurance Plans
• Life
• Accidental
• Cancer
• Heart Attack
• Intensive Care
• Disability
• Hospital
• To enroll in these benefits, the employee will
  need to contact the vendor directly. Please
  refer to the Miscellaneous Vendor Contact Sheet.

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TRSL Retirement Plan

• Retirement benefits and contribution requirements
  for LTC Region 9 employees are mandated by the
  Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.
• All full-time, unclassified personnel are
  required by state law to enroll in Teachers
  Retirement System of Louisiana members as a
  condition of employment. Plan members will
  contribute 8 of their salaries. For more
  information regarding TRSL, please visit
  www.trsl.org.
• The percentage contribution of each employee to
  his/her retirement plan is matched with a certain
  percentage by the College. Annually, the
  percentages for the State Retirement Plan,
  Teachers' Retirement Plan, and the Optional
  Retirement Plan (ORP) are set by each plan.
  Employer Contributions for FY 08 -09 15.5

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LASERS

• Retirement benefits and contribution requirements
  for LTC Region 9 employees are mandated by the
  Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System
  (LASERS).
• All classified personnel are required by state
  law to enroll in Louisiana State Employees
  Retirement System (LASERS) as a condition of
  employment. Employees will contribute 8 if hired
  after 7/1/06 and 7.5 if hired before 7/1/06. For
  more information regarding LASERS, please visit
  www.lasersonline.org.
• The percentage contribution of each employee to
  his/her retirement plan is matched with a certain
  percentage by the College. Annually, the
  percentages for the State Retirement Plan,
  Teachers' Retirement Plan, and the Optional
  Retirement Plan (ORP) are set by each plan.
  Employer Contributions for FY 08 -09 20.4