New Employee Benefits Information

Newly hired employees

• Have thirty-five (35) days from their date of hire to enroll in medical, dental, vision and/or prescription benefits and flexible spending accounts (dependent care and/or health care) and thirty-five (35) days to enroll in supplemental life and/or long term disability benefits
• Log in to Benefitfocus to enroll 

• Enrolling Eligible Dependents
  
  Who is eligible for benefits?
  If you are electing Employee+1 or Family coverage you must add your eligible dependents using Oracle Self Service.
  
  • You must verify your dependents by providing supporting documentation i.e. Birth certificate for children and a marriage certificate for spouse. Additional information is available at Dependent Verification
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Information
  

  If you enroll in a FSA program at any point during the calendar year (Jan.-Dec.), please note that the amount elected is divided over the remaining pay periods in that year. For example:

  Scenario 1
  If an employee is hired in September and elects to participate in FSA dependent care in the amount of $5,000 for the calendar year, FSA becomes effective in October. The annual amount elected ($5,000) will be deducted from the remaining six pay dates in that year. Between October through December, $833.33 will be deducted on a pre-tax basis from the employees bi-weekly pay. Eligible expenses must be incurred during the calendar year (between October and December 31).

  Scenario 2
  If an employee is hired in September and elects to participate in FSA health care in the amount of $300 for the calendar year, FSA becomes effective in October. The annual amount elected ($300) will be deducted from the remaining six pay dates in that year. Between October through December, $50 will be deducted on a pre-tax basis from the employees bi-weekly pay. Eligible expenses must be incurred during the calendar year (between October and December 31).

• Benefits coverage is effective the first of the month following the date of hire (Hire date March 4 = coverage begins April 1)

Benefits enrollment is available online in Benefitfocus.   
Use your PGCPS assigned username and password to log on to Oracle.  
For questions about your username contact the Help Desk at 301.386.1549, or email helpdesk@pgpcs.org.

• New employees must submit mandatory Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS) forms during new employee orientation (see table below)

• Employees who fail to provide timely notice (within 35 days of the qualifying event)
• May be financially liable for outstanding claims for ineligible dependents;
• May be financially liable for repayment of the Board’s share of paid health care premiums for ineligible dependents;
• May be financially liable for repayment of claims paid for ineligible dependents;
• May be subject to disciplinary action, which may include termination.

Dependents who are removed from PGCPS’ group health plans due to a lack of or insufficient documentation will not be eligible for COBRA coverage.  

General Resources 

• Benefitfocus  | Benefitfocus Instructions(Benefits Portal)
• Benefit FAQ's
• PGCPS Office Directory

Insurance Benefits

• Rate Charts
• COBRA Information
• Benefits Notices
• How to Update Beneficiaries
  • Log in to Benefitfocus
  • Select View Benefits
  • Click the Edit button under Basic Life

• Extended Pay Option Plan-Newly Hired PGCEA Members
• Tax Information
• Direct Deposit Information
• Payroll

Maryland State Retirement and Pension System

• PGCPS Status of Verification Form (mandatory)
• MSRPS Application for Membership Form (mandatory)
• MSRPS Designation of Beneficiary Form (mandatory) | MSRPS Designation of Beneficiary Form Checklist - additional information
• MSRPS-Welcome to the Employees' and Teachers' Pension System (Hired on or after 7/1/2011) - video
• Maryland State Retirement webpage