Table of Content
- Header
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Page
- WELCOME
- OVERVIEW
- ENROLLMENT
- MEDICAL/RX
- HSA
- DENTAL
- VISION
- LIFE & DISABILITY
- WELLBEING
- UNDERSTANDING YOUR BENEFITS
- Additional Resources
- Contact Us
- Footer
WELCOME
Welcome to Northwest Companies' 2024 Open Enrollment. This site houses all our benefit summaries and forms required to enroll or make changes to your current benefit elections. Helping you and your family reach and maintain good health is very important to Northwest Companies. Northwest Companies 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.
Regular employees working at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in benefits offered by Northwest Companies. 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.
OVERVIEW
Northwest Companies remains committed to providing a competitive, cost-effective benefit program, which we hope will be positively received by you and your families.
Please be sure to:
- Review your benefits open enrollment guide, which highlights the comprehensive coverage available to you and your family.
- Refer to your Summaries of Benefits and Coverage, for more benefit details.
- Read the Benefits Compliance notices to learn about your rights pertaining to your benefits.
The benefit choices you make during your initial enrollment or annual open enrollment remain in effect for the entire year.
QUALIFYING EVENTS
A Qualifying Life Event, or QLE, is a significant change in a person's life that allows them to make changes to their health insurance outside of the regular open enrollment period. Examples of qualifying life events include marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, loss of health coverage, and a change in employment status.
ENROLLMENT
Action Required:
All elections must be submitted by March 25. Enrollment forms can be downloaded below. The benefits you elect during open enrollment will be effective from April 1 - March 31.
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/RX
BCBSOK will administer your medical and prescription drug benefits again this year. We will offer two medical plan designs - a PPO option and an HSA option. These plans allow you the freedom to choose either an in-network or out-of-network provider for your health care needs. When you receive care from an in-network provider, you will experience significant savings. This is because in-network providers have agreed to negotiated discounts for our employees. Should you choose to receive care from an out-of-network provider, you may have to file the claim to receive reimbursement for covered expenses and your out-of-pocket costs will be much higher. Looking for more details about how items are covered? Please refer to the formal Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) below.
To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the BCBSOK website below.
Prescriptions
Preferred Generic (GENERIC) | Lowest copay (Tier 1): Most drugs in this category are generic drugs. Members pay the lowest copay for generics, making these drugs the most cost-effective option for treatment.
Non-Preferred Generic | Low copay (Tier 2): This category includes non-preferred and low-cost generic drugs.
Preferred Brand | Higher copay (Tier 3): This category includes preferred, brand name drugs that don't yet have a generic equivalent. These drugs are more expensive than generics, and a higher copay.
Non-Preferred Brand | Highest copay (Tier 4): In this category are nonpreferred brand name drugs for which there is either a generic alternative or a more cost-effective preferred brand including most specialty medications. These drugs have the highest copay. Make sure to check for mail-order discounts that may be available.
Preferred Specialty & Non-Preferred Specialty | Specialty Drugs (Tier 5 & 6): are the most expensive class of medications. Mail order is not available for Specialty Medications.
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.
HSA
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-free savings account that is owned by you, it is 100% vested from day one, and lets you build up savings for future needs. The funds may be used to pay for qualifying healthcare expenses not covered by insurance or any other plan for yourself, your spouse, or tax dependents. You decide how much you would like to contribute, when and how to spend the money on eligible expenses, and how to invest the balance. If you currently have an HSA, your contributions and current fund will rollover to 2024.
To be eligible for an HSA, you must be enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
UNDERSTANDING YOUR HSA
- Pre-tax contributions are deducted through payroll and deposited into your HSA account
- You can use your HSA available funds to pay for qualified medical expenses tax-free
- HSA funds can be used for non-eligible expenses but will be subject to regular income taxes and a 20% excise tax penalty
- HSAs remain with you even if you change health plans or companies. If you open an HSA and later become ineligible to make contributions, you can still use your remaining funds
- You can change your HSA contribution at any time during the plan year for any reason
MAINTAINING RECORDS
To protect yourself in the event that you are audited by the IRS, keep records of all HSA documentation and itemized receipts for at least as long as your income tax return is considered open (subject to an audit), or as long as you maintain the account, whichever is longer.
DENTAL
Northwest Companies' dental plan provides comprehensive coverage to help you and your family maintain good dental health. Dental coverage will be offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma this year. This plan is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan that includes a network of participating providers who have agreed to accept discounted payment rates through our plan. You can go to any dental provider you want, but you will pay less if you choose one that belongs to the plan's network. When you visit an out-of-network dentist, your cost could be higher, possibly balance billed, and the provider may not submit claims on your behalf.
Pre-treatment Estimate
- If your dental care is extensive and you want to plan ahead for the cost, you can ask your dentist to submit a pre-treatment estimate. While it is not a guarantee of payment, a pre-treatment estimate can help you predict your out-of-pocket costs.
PREVENTION FIRST!
Your dental health is an important part of your overall health. Make sure you take advantage of your preventive dental visits.
Preventive care services are covered at 100% if you visit an In-Network provider. They are also not subject to the annual deductible.
Looking for more details about how items are covered? Click on the link to view the formal plan summary.
If you are already enrolled in one of the Northwest Companies' BCBS dental 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 dental plan with BCBS including participating providers, coverage information, and explanation of benefits/claims. If you are currently covered, you will be able to register in the BCBS portal as of your effective date of coverage.
To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the BCBS website 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
Northwest Companies offers vision coverage through BCBS of OK to help pay for eye exams, prescription glasses and contact lenses.
You receive a higher level of benefits when you see a provider in-network. Review your coverage details in your Benefit Guide.
To find out if your provider is in-network, please visit the website below.
LIFE & DISABILITY
Northwest Companies provides you with Basic & Voluntary Life/AD&D coverage as well as Voluntary Short-Term Disability through BCBS of OK.
Basic Life/AD&D
Employees working [30 or more] hours per week are eligible for $15,000 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 Term 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.
Guaranteed Issue (FI) and Evidence of Insurability (EOI)
When you are first eligible (at hire) for Voluntary Life and AD&D, you may purchase up to the Guaranteed Issue (GI) for yourself and your spouse without providing proof of good health (EOI). Annually, you are able to increase elections up to $100,000, not to exceed the GI amount without proof of EOI.
Any amount elected over the GI will require EOI. If you elect optional life coverage, and are required to complete an EOI, it is your responsibility to complete the EOI and send to the provider (address will be listed on your form). In addition, your spouse will need to provide EOI to be eligible for coverage amounts over GI, or if coverage is requested at a later date.
Voluntary Short-Term Disability
Everyday illnesses or injuries can interfere with your ability to work. Even a few weeks away from work can make it difficult to manage household costs. Short Term Disability coverage provides financial protection for you by paying a portion of your income, so you can focus on getting better and worry less about keeping up with your bills. Your coverage through Dearborn pays 60% of your income to a maximum of $1,500 per week.
Please consult your Employee Benefits Guide and review the benefit summaries for additional details.
WELLBEING
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 Northwest Companies, 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.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR BENEFITS
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
Juana Morland
jmorland@northwestcraneservice.com
(580) 254-8070
Account Team Contacts
Jill Zamudio
Account Manager
jill.zamudio@nfp.com
405-513-8965
Shelby Parker
Account Executive
shelby.parker@nfp.com
405-513-8902