Benefits
Health Care Benefits
Medical and Dental Insurance coverage with HCPS is not automatic. Enrollment is necessary.
HCPS offers the following healthcare plans:
Key Advantage 250 & TLC High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP):
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Medical, Surgical and Vision - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
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Dental - Delta Dental of Virginia
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Behavioral Health and EAP - ValueOptions, Inc.
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Prescription Drugs - Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
Handbooks and Benefits Guides
Prescription Plan Booklet:
Retirement Plan
Virginia Retirement System (VRS):
Hopewell City Public Schools VRS-eligible employees contribute 5% of their creditable compensation towards VRS. In addition, the school system contributes 100% of the VRS-eligible employee’s group life insurance premiums.
VRS-covered employees should go to myVRS to register. You can view your account information, including service and member contributions, purchase of prior service information, employment, and compensation history, and basic group life insurance coverage, updated monthly. In addition, you can create retirement benefit estimates and change your address.
Member Benefit Profiles (MBP) is posted electronically to your myVRS account annually. VRS encourages each member to review their MBP closely for accuracy. This document has important information about your retirement benefits. Any inaccurate information should be corrected before your retirement date to prevent any hold-up on your retirement benefits.
Not registered? Register at: MyVRS
Employees Are Encouraged to Subscribe to Member News to receive the latest updates on their VRS benefits.
Voluntary Savings Plans for Hybrid Employees Only
VRS/VOYA Defined Contribution Plan (DCP)
How do I enroll?
You may enroll at any time. Payroll deductions start the first of the month after you enroll. to get more information:
Authorized Vendors Under the 403(B) & 457(B) Plan Are:
Horace Mann - Brent Lucy at 757-562-0936, brent.lucy@horacemann.com
Vangard -at 877-893-5426, clientservices@vanguard403services.com
Financial U - Matthew Clark at 866-299-2060 Ext. 114, matthewclark@financialu.net
Forms & Booklets:
Plan 1 - Member Handbook (Hired before July 1, 2010, vested with 5 years of service)
Plan 2 - Member Handbook (Hired before July 1, 2010, not vested less than 5 years of service)
Hybrid Retirement Plan - Member Handbook (Hired on or after January 1, 2014)
Note: All beneficiary forms are process through the myVRS portal.
Please Note: The above documents are links or PDF's. To obtain the free version of Adobe Reader.
COBRA
Life is full of changes! Nothing Stays the Same.
It is devastating to go without insurance during a change in family status. Such as, jobs change, employees retire, and children grow up. COBRA can help with that transition.
What is COBRA?
Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Hopewell City Public Schools allow the continuation of group medical insurance for up to 18 months in the following situations.
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An employee retires.
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An employee terminates for any reason other than gross misconduct.
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An employee's work hours are reduced to a level ineligible for benefits.
There are special rules which apply to retiree plans.
Who is eligible?
The benefit is available to eligible employees and their dependents. However, dependents are only eligible to enroll in COBRA if the employee elects COBRA and they enroll with the employee.
How much does COBRA cost?
Premiums for coverage are usually more expensive than health coverage for active employees, since usually the employer pays a portion of the premium for active employees, while COBRA participants will have to pay the entire premium themselves.
What would cause this benefit coverage to end?
This coverage ends when the continuation period expires, payment is not received, or Hopewell City Public Schools cancels the health plan contract.
Change Due To Life Event
Change in Family Status and Qualifying Mid-Year Events
Once a plan and/or membership election is made, it is irrevocable until the next Open Enrollment unless a recognized Qualifying Mid-Year Event (QME) occurs. Outside Open Enrollment, membership, and plan changes may be made only with a QME that is on account of and consistent with your Status Change. Only specific events quality as a change in family status.
Change in your employment status:
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Begins/ends Full-time Employment
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Begins/ends Leave Without Pay Or Family Medical Leave
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Begins Retirement
Change in your marital status:
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Marriage, Divorce, Or Death Of A Spouse
Change in your number of eligible family members:
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Birth Or Adoption (Dhrm Must Review All Pre-adoptive Placements To Verify Eligibility)
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Death Of A Covered Child
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Covered Child Loses Eligibility Coverage Under Your Plan (Exceeds Age Limit, Marries, Becomes Self-supporting, Etc.)
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Judgment, Decree, Or Order Requiring Coverage Of A Child
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Permanent Custody Of A Child
Changes affecting your family member(s) employment:
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Spouse Or Covered Child Gains Employer Health Plan Eligibility (Including Switching From Part-time To Full-time Employment)
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Spouse Or Eligible Child Loses Employer Eligibility (Including Switching From Full-time To Part-time Employment)
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Spouse begins/ends leave without pay
Other changes affecting your dependent(s):
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annual enrollment or significant change allowed under another employer's plan
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gain/losses eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid
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losses eligibility under another government-sponsored plan
Changes due to special circumstances:
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Employee Or Dependent Moves In Or Out Of The Plan's Service Area
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Hipaa Special Enrollment Due To Loss Of Other Coverage*
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You Or A Family Member Permanently Change Residence, Affecting Eligibility For The Plan
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A court has required that another party cover your children
*Under HIPAA, if you lose your group health coverage, you may be able to enter another group health plan for which you are eligible (such as a spouse's plan), even if the plan generally does not accept late enrollees. Special enrollment rights are also triggered by marriage, birth, adoption, and placement for adoption.
How it Works:
If a qualifying event occurs, you must report it within 30 days. If you don't request a change in benefits within the 30-day period following your family change, you cannot make changes until the next open enrollment period.
Minnesota Life (VRS)
Term Life Insurance
When you Retire:
If you are a member of VRS, your basic group life insurance benefit continues at no cost to you, provided you meet the age and service requirements for service retirement. Minnesota Life, the VRS group life insurance provider, bases the amount of your basic group life insurance on your annual salary at the time of your retirement.
The amount of your life insurance reduces after retirement at a rate equal to 25% on January 1 of the first full year following the date the employee is separated from service and each year thereafter until it reaches 25% of its original value.
Beneficiaries:
Keeping your beneficiary information up-to-date will ensure that benefits are paid promptly and according to your wishes. Any time you have a change of family status such as birth, death, change in marital status or another event, complete a new designation. You may change your beneficiary at any time by requesting a Beneficiary Designation Form (VRS -2) from your employer.
Optional life insurance policy that can be purchased by employees within 30 days of becoming covered by VRS.
Policy & Brochure:
Group Life Brochure
