Introduction
Our benefits program is designed to offer employees substantial coverage to meet both individual and family needs. This booklet includes only highlights. The specific terms of coverage, exclusions and limitations are contained in the plan documents and insurance certificates. All coverage and coverage costs are subject to change at any time in the future. If you have any questions about a specific service or treatment, please contact the appropriate insurance carrier.
Annual enrollment is your opportunity to learn about the 2025 Health Care Program, review your current coverage and choose the best options for you and your family. Please review our 2025 Enrollment Guide to learn more about our 2025 benefits offerings.
How To Enroll
You will have access to the Ease enrollment portal throughout the year but will only be able to make benefit elections during the Open Enrollment period. Managing Open Enrollment through the EASE portal will help you make better benefits decisions by easily comparing options, plan deductibles, SBCs, and actual costs per pay period - in less time than it takes to drink of cup of coffee!
iOS & Android mobile app: Sometimes, life makes it difficult to prepare for a trip to the doctor's office. You can quickly access plan information, details, and policy numbers from any location. Securely review your benefits information on the go with the EASE mobile app.
Log into the EASE enrollment portal during Open Enrollment - May 22 through May 27 - and enroll and/or modify your elections for 2025. Remember to review your elections carefully and sign off on any changes. All employees need to log into EASE during Open Enrollment to update personal information and beneficiaries and to elect/or decline coverage.
The benefits you elect during Open Enrollment will be effective from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The benefit choices you make during your initial enrollment or annual open enrollment remain in effect for the entire year. You can, however, modify your elections under certain circumstances, called "Qualifying Events." These are events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, loss of eligibility under another plan. If you experience a qualifying event, you may make changes to your benefits within 30 days of the event. Refer to your Employee Benefits Guide or contact Human Resources if you have questions about qualifying events.
Click the direct link below to enroll now!
Benefits Overview
Please review the 2025 Open Enrollment Employee Benefits Guide.
Medical
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma will administer your medical and prescription drug benefits this year. The PPO options offer the freedom to see any provider when you need care. When you use providers from within the PPO network, you receive benefits at the discounted network cost. Most expenses, such as office visits, emergency room and prescription drugs are covered by a copay. Other expenses are subject to a deductible and coinsurance.
If you are already enrolled in one of the City of Newcastle BCBS medical plans today and have not already done so, please be sure to register through the BCBS member portal where you can access important information pertaining to your medical plans with BCBS including participating providers, cost estimates for services, explanation of benefits/claims, and your accumulation amounts for deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. If you are not currently covered, you will be able to register in the BCBS portal as of your effective date of coverage.
Helpful Rx Cost Saving Tools & Tips!
MAIL ORDER - Many drugs are available in a 90-day supply, rather than the 30-day retail supply. Typically, mail order drugs are subject to two-times the standard 30-day copays noted above, resulting in lower expenses for you.
GOOD Rx - There are many tools online that you can use in order to save on prescription costs. One being www.goodrx.com, an online Rx database that allows you to find what pharmacy is the cheapest for your specific prescription. Additionally, you may be able to find a coupon that will greatly reduce your cost. It is important to remember that many of the coupons can only be used outside of your plan (insurance will not be applied and costs with the coupon will not count towards your deductibles and/or out-of-pocket maximums).
ASK YOUR DOCTOR - Make sure to ask if there are cost savings alternatives to the prescription they are providing. Many times, there are generic or different manufacturers that will save you money at the pharmacy.
To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the link below.
Dental
City of Newcastle's dental plans provide comprehensive coverage to help you and your family maintain good dental health.
Providers are part of the BlueCare Dental network, or you may see an out-of-network dentist of your choice. Be aware if you go out-of-network, your costs will be higher.
To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the link below.
Vision
DID YOU KNOW?
- Eye exams can help detect serious eye and general health conditions sooner: high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol
- Babies should receive their first professional eye exam at 6 months
- 80% of learning in the first 12 years comes through the eyes
City of Newcastle offers vision coverage through VSP to help pay for eye exams, prescription glasses and contact lenses. You receive a higher level of benefits when you see a provider in the VSP Choice network. Review your coverage details in your Benefit Guide.
To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the link below.
Life & AD&D
City of Newcastle provides you with Basic & Voluntary Life/AD&D coverage through Mutual of Omaha.
Basic Life/AD&D
Employees working 30 or more hours per week are eligible for $75,000 coverage payable to your designated beneficiary in the event of your death. An additional accidental death & dismemberment benefit (AD&D) is payable to you in the event of a covered dismemberment or to your beneficiary if your death is the result of an accident.
Voluntary Life/AD&D
A sudden accident or death can leave you or your loved ones in a vulnerable position. Employees have the opportunity to enroll in Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance which will supplement lost income in the event of an accident or death. If you choose to enroll in employee coverage, this will be in addition to your employer provided Basic Life coverage.
Who's Your Beneficiary? Naming a beneficiary is a crucial part of electing life insurance. Also, don't forget to update your primary or secondary beneficiary if you experience a life event, such as a divorce or birth of a child.
Please consult your Employee Benefit Guide and review the benefit summaries for additional details.
Wellness
In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, where stress and mental health issues are on the rise, effective well-being plays a crucial role. At City of Newcastle, we recognize that a healthy, content workforce is not only more productive but also fosters a positive culture. We strive for a supportive and inclusive environment where we encourage and support improvement of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Whether within a corporate setting, a community, or on a personal level, well-being focuses on fostering awareness, empathy, and support to create a healthier and more balanced workplace and environment for all. Prioritizing employee wellness and wellbeing is not just a policy but a reflection of our commitment to both the individual and collective success of team.
To access the wellbeing newsletter, which includes resources, tips, recipes, and more, please select the button below.
Additional Resources
Contact Us
As you consider your benefit options, please be sure to review all available information: Employee Benefits Guide and other videos and flyers found on this webpage. If you don't understand your benefits or need any assistance, please contact HR or our team at NFP.
Client Contacts
Doris Raab
draab@cityofnewcastleok.com
(405) 387-4427
Account Team Contacts
Jill Zamudio
Senior Account Manager
jill.zamudio@nfp.com
405-513-8965