INTRO
Message from Human Resources
Helping you and your family reach and maintain good health is very important to Lerner Publishing Group (LPG). LPG is pleased to offer a selection of benefits designed with your health and financial wellbeing 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.
Eligibility
Regular employees working at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in benefits offered by Lerner Publishing Group. When you enroll in the benefits program, you may also cover your eligible benefits. Dependents include your legal spouse, child(ren) up to age 26 (regardless of student status, marital status, residence, or financial dependence on you), and an unmarried child incapable of self-support.
Education Sessions
If you were unable to join one of the live webinars, please click below to view a 20 minute recording of the open enrollment presentation.
OVERVIEW
We are pleased to announce that there are no premium increases for your medical, dental or vision plans effective June 1.
As you know, Lerner Publishing sponsors a self-funded medical plan. This means you share in the cost of the plan through your payroll deductions, copays and coinsurance, Bind provides the plan administration and Lerner Publishing pays the claims. This year our plan ran well, meaning costs were well managed resulting in a good renewal. Some years we aren't so fortunate and increased costs must be shared. So given the personal and business challenges we have all experienced during the pandemic, we are happy to share this good news!
Please review your 2021 LPG Employee Benefits Guide for information on all of your benefits.
2023 OPEN ENROLLMENT
Action Required:
All elections must be submitted by 4:00 PM on May 21. The benefits you elect during open enrollment will be effective from June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022.
If you are not making any changes, no form is required. Your current benefits will carry over into this next plan year.
Flexible Spending Accounts are elected on the calendar year, therefore enrollment will be conducted in the fall.
To make changes, please download the following forms, complete and return to Maggie Wolfson in Human Resources by May 21.
ELECTION CHANGES
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 or 60 days if the event is due to birth or adoption of a child.
Refer to your Employee Benefits Guide or contact Human Resources if you have questions about qualifying events.
MEDICAL
How Does On-Demand Health Insurance Work?
When you enroll in the Bind medical plan, you automatically receive Core Coverage. Core Coverage provides substantial coverage of physician and hospital services - including preventive care, emergency and urgent care, office visits, inpatient and outpatient hospital visits and prescription drugs. Core Coverage also provides substantial coverage for common conditions and events, such as maternity care, cancer treatment and physical therapy.
Core Coverage does not provide coverage for certain excluded diagnostic and medical procedures. However, coverage for many of the excluded procedures are available by signing up for "Add-In" (short for "Additional Insurance") coverage.
Add-Ins are separate coverage options for 45 less common procedures including, for example, endoscopies, hernia repairs, hysterectomies, lumbar spine fusion and knee, should arthroscopies. This allows you to tailor the plan coverage to your needs.
DENTAL
LPG's dental plan provides comprehensive coverage to help you and your family maintain good dental health. Providers are part of the MetLife 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.
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
LPG offers a voluntary vision coverage through EyeMed 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 EyeMed Network. Review your coverage details in your Benefit Guide.
BASIC LIFE and LTD
LPG provides you with Basic Life/AD&D coverage and Long-term disability income benefits at no cost.
Basic Life/AD&D
Employees working 30 or more hours per week are eligible for $25,000 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.
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.
Long Term Disability
Disability benefits are designed to replace a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to an accident or sickness. Benefits begin after a 90 day elimination period are are equal to 60% of covered monthly earnings up to $5,000 for full-time employees. The benefit that is paid to you taxable.
Additional features of these benefits include access to an Employee Assistance Plan, Travel Assistance, and Life Services.
FSA
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR THE FSA IS NOV. 2, 2022 - NOV. 23, 2022 FOR JANUARY 1, 2023 ELECTIONS.OOPYou
The Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible expenses. By contributing to one or both of the Flexible Spending Accounts you reduce your taxable income, so you pay less in taxes — which saves you money.
The election you make during enrollment is your election for the entire plan year. You may change it only if you have a qualifying life event and the change request must be consistent with the event.
You may contribute as follows:
Health Care FSA
- Up to $2,750 annually
- All benefit eligible can participate, unless you or your spouse are contributing to an HSA.
- Reimbursements allowed for unreimbursed medical, prescription, dental, and vision expenses
Dependent Care FSA
- Up to $5,000 annually
- Limited to $2,500 if you are married and file separate tax returns
How the Plan Works
You must incur your eligible expenses during the plan year — January 1 to December 31. An expense is considered to be incurred when the service is performed, not when you are billed or pay for the service. You do, however, have until March 31st annually to file your claims. Any funds after March 31 unclaimed will be forfeited.
COLONIAL LIFE BENEFITS
LPG provides a competitive benefits package for all employees as part of our total compensation package. We realize you make benefit choices based on what’s important to you and the needs of your changing lifestyle. Therefore, along with our core benefits, we offer these additional benefits which help to provide financial support to employees. Additional benefits include:
- Accident Care
- Cancer Assist
- Critical Illness
- Short-Term Disability
- Individual Term and Whole Life Insurance
ID Shield / Legal Shield
Life is unpredictable. You never know what's around the corner. IDShield and LegalShield provide you with access to legal and ID protection services.
Identify Theft Shield Protection:
- Consultation with Licensed Fraud Investigators
- Privacy & Security Monitoring
- Full identity restoration
- Lost Wallet Assistance
- Fraud Alerts
LegalShield Benefits:
- Consultation on Unlimited Legal Issues
- Contract and Document Review
- Wills, Living Wills, and Healthcare Directive
- Traffic Representation for Minor or Major Moving Violations
- IRS Audit Protection
- 24/7 Emergency Access
Contact Us
As you consider your benefit options, please be sure to review all available information: Employee Benefits Guide, Intranet, and other videos and flyers found on this webpage. If you don't understand your benefits or need any assistance, please contact:
Maggie Wolfson
612-332-3344
mwolfson@lernerbooks.com