Helping you and your family reach and maintain good health is very important to James Irwin Charter School. We are pleased to offer a selection of benefits designed with your health and financial well-being in mind. We review our benefit programs each year to ensure we consider the best combination of benefit coverage, network access and affordability for employees.
The complete benefits package is briefly summarized on this enrollment site and in your Benefit Guide. Please review it carefully to select the coverage that best suits your personal situation. If there is any discrepancy between the insurance carrier's certificate of coverage/plan document and this guide, the insurance carrier's certificate of coverage/plan document takes precedence.
We are now in the 4th quarter of 2025, which means it's time to review your benefits package and make elections for the 2026 plan year.
Open Enrollment will start Monday, November 3rd and will run through Friday, November 14th.
This is a passive open enrollment session, meaning your core benefits will rollover. However, your HSA elections must be annually elected as these elections will not rollover from plan year to plan year. Please be sure to log into Employee Navigator to elect your HSA elections for the 2026 plan year.
During Open Enrollment, you may enroll in or make changes to your benefit programs. Open Enrollment is the only period during which you can add or change benefits unless you have a qualifying life event. Be sure to understand the offerings and enroll yourself and your eligible dependents in the programs you desire for the upcoming plan year. Annual deductibles and/or out-of-pocket maximums operate on a calendar year basis (from January through December).
We encourage all employees to login to Employee Navigator to confirm benefits for 2026 to ensure they are as you intend them to be for you and any dependents.
Open Enrollment Highlights
• We are moving Medical carriers for 2026 – all medical plans will be through Kaiser.
• All medical plans will receive a slight rate change that will be shared between JICS and its employees.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) will be offered and funded via Rocky Mountain Reserve (RMR).
• JICS will begin matching HSA contributions up to a certain amount on a monthly basis.
• An enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will be offered through Aetna, Resource for Living, for all benefit-eligible employees.
• We’ll be introducing a new Wellness platform – People EQ!
• InsurChoice is a voluntary employee-paid program where a variety of plans are offered at discounted rates on a direct-bill basis with the carrier.
Who is Eligible For Coverage:
New Hires:
Eligible employees are able to participate in the James Irwin Charter Schools (JICS) benefit plans on the 1st day of the month following 30-days of employment. You will receive benefit enrollment instructions with your new hire paperwork and will have 30 days to make your selections.
Employee Benefits Guide:
You can review detailed benefits information in the JICS Employee Benefits Guide.
James Irwin offers a comprehensive medical plan offering through Kaiser with a choice between a HMO (copay) Plan, HSA $4k Plan w/OneMedical, and HSA $5k Plan w/OneMedical.
How do I locate Medical Providers?
How do I access my Medical ID Card?
Employees will be receiving new medical ID cards with a new group number effective January 1, 2026.
Direct Primary Care enables the primary care physician to provide higher quality healthcare by building a closer doctor/patient relationship. The PCP can spend more time with the patient providing more personalized care and healthier, happier patients. James Irwin provides access to Direct Primary Care (DPC) services through OneMedical (previously PeakMed).
Employee enrolled on either the HSA $4,000 or HSA $5,000 receive OneMedical DPC plan at no additional cost.
Employees enrolled on the HMO Plan along with enrolled dependents (spouse or children) can pay to be enrolled with OneMedical at the JICS discounted fee.
The Health Savings Account is a cost savings tool that can assist with paying for qualified out-of-pocket medical costs. The HSA account is owned by you, the employee. Monies can be contributed up the annual maximum contribution set by the IRS every year. If you do not spend all of those funds during the calendar year, those funds will carry over into the next year. You own and control the money in your HSA. This is intended to be a savings account so the more money you put in, the more money you’ll have available to pay for qualified out-of-pocket health care expenses. If you change jobs or retire, your HSA balance goes with you. You must be covered by a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (QHDHP) to be able to contribute to an HSA.
Beginning in 2026, James Irwin will begin matching HSA contributions - meaning you must contribute in order to receive employer contributions.
• HSA $4k Plan: $50 / month for all tiers
• HSA $5k Plan: $100 / month for all tiers
In 2026, the maximum annual contribution for single enrollee set by the IRS is $4,400 and maximum family contribution is $8,750. A catch-up contribution, up to an additional $1,000, is allowed for individuals who are 55 years or older.
If you have any questions please contact Rocky Mountain Reserve at 888.722.1223.
Your dental plan is provided Delta Dental of Colorado. Delta Dental offers two (2) provider networks to select from, PPO and Premier. We encourage you to initially see if the dentist participates in the PPO network as this will lower the cost paid out of pocket when using an in-network PPO dentist for services. PPO dentists provide greater network discounts than the Premier plan. If the dentist isn’t in the PPO network, check to see if they participate in the Premier network. Premier dentists provide a lesser network discount, but at a lesser cost than going 100% outside of the Delta Dental network.
How do I locate Dental Providers?
How do I access my Dental ID Card?
The vision plan is new with Aetna for the 2026 plan year and will have a new group number. When utilizing your vision plan, please let your vision provider know you’re with Aetna so they can verify your eligibility with the correct carrier.
How do I locate Vision Providers?
You can also call 1-877-9-SEE-AETNA (1-877-973-3238) (TTY:711)
Register on your member website at Aetna.com. Click "Vision Details" or download the Aetna Health app today to get started.
James Irwin Charter Schools believes in offering our employees the opportunity to provide for their family's future rather than leaving it to chance.
Basic Life / AD&D Insurance
James Irwin Charter Schools (JICS) provides all eligible employees with $25,000 of Basic Life and AD&D insurance at no cost to you. Basic life Insurance provides financial protection to your loved ones. In the event of your death, an individual(s) of your choosing (your beneficiary) will receive a cash payment from the insurance provider, Reliance Standard. Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage provides an additional benefit if you suffer an injury from an accident that results in the loss of a limb, speech, hearing, or death.
Voluntary Life / AD&D Insurance
Employees may purchase additional Life and AD&D Insurance protection for themselves, their spouses, and children through Reliance Standard.
Employee: increments of $10,000 up to $500,000
Spouse: increments of $5,000 to a maximum of $100,000 not to exceed 50% of employee’s election
Child(ren) up to age 26: Increments of $2,500 up to $10,000
Initial Eligibility Guarantee Issue
•Employee: $100,000 (under age 70)
•Spouse: $50,000 (under age 70)
•Child: $10,000
Evidence of insurability will be required for Employees and/or Spouses who apply for coverage after their initial eligibility period, for participants who wish to increase their benefit and for new hires that elect amounts above the guarantee issue limits.
Employees must be enrolled in order to elect spouse and/or child coverage. Premiums are based on the election amount and policy date, January 1st. Spouse premiums are based on the spouse’s age, not the employee.
Remember to keep your beneficiaries up-to-date at all times by visiting the Ease portal.
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Long-Term Disability (LTD) provides income continuation for both non-work and work-related accidents or illnesses that are expected to continue for a long period of time. James Irwin Charter Schools (JICS) pays for the LTD coverage for benefit-eligible employees.
Voluntary Short-Term Disability
This plan provides income replacement benefits when a qualified disability occurs. If you are unable to work due to a non-work related illness or injury. It is 100% paid by the employee with your premiums being paid on a post-tax basis.
Please see your 2026 Benefit Guide for details.
Resource for Living is an employer-sponsored program and is available to all benefit-eligible employees. The EAP program is at no cost to you and all members of your household. Children living away from home can access services up to age 26. Services are confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find Care
Online Resources
JICS partners with InsurChoice powered by NFP, a leader in the insurance space, which allows customers to shop competitive rates from many nationally recognized carriers to make sure your home, car, pet, home appliances, travel plans, and more are covered in case anything unexpected occurs. InsurChoice is a voluntary employee-paid program where a variety of plans are offered at discounted rates on a direct-bill basis with the carrier.
Please visit the InsurChoice website here or scan the QR code below for more information.
Identity Theft Recovery
This full service ID Recovery Program will perform the recovery you or a family member fall victim to identity theft. In the event of identity theft, the victim will be assigned a dedicated Privacy Advocate that will act on behalf of the person to restore their identity. Privacy Advocates are Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialists by the Institute of Fraud Risk Management.
Bereavement Services
Bereavement Support Services provide confidential and professional support services to all covered employees and family members to cope with the loss of a loved one—at no extra cost. Such services available are unlimited telephonic grief counseling, legal and financial services.
24/7 Emergency Travel
By enrolling in Reliance Standard's programs, you have around-the-clock access to On Call International’s 24-hour, toll-free travel assistance services. Whether you need help with an illness or injury, lost passport, missing luggage or even a prescription refill, you can rest assured you (and your covered dependents!) have access to a personal travel emergency companion anytime you’re more than 100 miles away from home.
As you consider your benefit options, please be sure to review all available information. If you don't understand your benefits or need any assistance, please contact Shaya Johnston at shaya.johnston@jamesirwin.org.