The Kiowa Casino is committed to offering a comprehensive employee benefits program that helps our team members stay healthy, feel secure and maintain a work-life balance.

Life and Disability: We are moving our life and disability benefits from Mutual of Omaha to Symetra. With this move, comes some exciting changes.

Basic Life/AD&D: We are increasing this benefit from $25,000 to $30,000 at not cost to you. This provides extra benefits for your beneficiaries.

Voluntary Life: The Guaranteed Issue is increasing to $150,000 for the employee and $100,000 for the spouse. In addition, Symetra is granting a one-time open enrollment, which will allow members to increase their benefit, or enroll (even if previously declined), without EOI.

Also, the spouse’s voluntary life rate is currently determined by their age. Effective July 1, their rate will be based on the employee’s age. Some enrolled members will see no change or a decrease in their cost per paycheck, while others will see an increase. For one year, the Casino will cover any additional cost for currently enrolled members that are affected by this decision. You will be responsible for any increase in cost due to a benefit increase during open enrollment. This change will also affect when your spouse hits the reduction schedule.

Supplemental Policies: The Casino will no longer sponsor these policies with Aflac; however, we are now offering new policies through Symetra. Symetra's integrated claims process helps insureds get the most value out of their benefits. When a disability or death claim is initiated, Symetra’s teams automatically cross-checks coverage to identify eligibility for any of these benefits. This means just one step can initiate multiple claims, streamlining the filing process and ensuring you receive all eligible benefits.

Symetra’s policies are richer and will cost less per paycheck. With that said, members can keep their Aflac policies if they want to, by setting up direct pay with Aflac. I recommend you keep your current Cancer policy if you have been diagnosed with cancer. Please refer to the Aflac Always flyer in your open enrollment packet for more information.

Your Cost Per Paycheck: Our medical premiums increased 7.2%, so you’ll see a change to your payroll deductions for this benefit. You may see a change to your Voluntary Life, AD&D and Short-term Disability payroll deductions if you advanced to a new age band or had a change in salary.