Helping you and your family reach and maintain good health is very important to Northgate. Northgate 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.
Northgate remains committed to providing a competitive, cost-effective benefit program. Each year we take great care and detail in the benefit programs offered to employees. Below are highlights of the new changes that will be effective January 1, 2023:
All regular employees working at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in the benefit plans offered by Northgate. For new employees, benefits are effective on the 1st of the month following 60 days from your date of hire. When you enroll in the benefits program, you may also cover your eligible dependents. Dependents include your legal spouse and children. Children eligibility is as follows -
ENROLLMENT INSTRUCTIONS:
The Benefit choices you make during your 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.
Contact Human Resources if you have questions about qualifying events.
BCBSM
BCBSM will continue to be the medical and prescription carrier this year. Below is an overview of common services and limits for the three plans offered to you, for a more detailed look, please review the Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
BCBSM Online Visits
BCBSM Online Visits provides members the opportunity to receive medical and mental health care from the comfort of your own home. With BCBSM Online Visits, eligible employees and dependents have access to board certified doctors, psychiatrists and licensed therapists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
How Much Does It Cost?
To get access to these convenient services, download the BCBSM Online Visits app from the App store or Google Play store, visit www.bcbsmonlinevisits.com, or call 844.606.1608.
Health Equity
A Health Savings Account (HSA) allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for Qualified Medical Expenses. By contributing to a HSA you reduce your taxable income, so you pay less in taxes — which saves you money.
To be eligible to contribute towards an HSA tax-free, you must meet the requirements below:
2023 HSA IRS Maximums are as follows:
$3,850 for a single contract
$7,750 for a two person or family
2023 Employer Contribution:
Single: $250
Two Person/Family: $500
$1,000 "Catch Up" contribution for those age 55+
Ameritas
Northgate offers eligible employees an option of two dental plans through Ameritas. For more information see Ameritas Dental Benefit Summary.
BCBSM through VSP
Northgate now offers vision coverage through BCBSM/VSP to help pay for eye exams, prescription glasses and contact lenses. For a more detailed explantion of benefits please review the Vision Benefit Summary.
BASIC
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.
Contributions
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
Limited Purpose FSA
Dependent Care FSA
Prudential
Northgate provides you with financial protection options for life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term disability and long-term disability with Prudential.
Company Paid Life/AD&D
Northgate provides all eligible employees with Life Insurance to provide your loved ones some financial relief. Accidental Death and Dismemberment pays in addition to Life if your death is deemed an accident and dismemberment pays a partial amount to you. Coverage amount is 1x annual salary, see Benefit Summary for more details.
Voluntary Life/AD&D
Employees also 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 this employee paid coverage, this will be in addition to your employer provided Basic Life/AD&D described above. See Benefit Summary for details and ADP for rates.
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.
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. Benefits begin on the 8th day of an accident or illness, will be paid for up to 12 weeks and can cover 60% of your weekly income up to the max amount. See ADP or Benefit Summary for more details and exclusions.
Long-Term Disability
Illnesses or accidents can disrupt your life, and your ability to work for months – even years. Long-Term Disability provides financial protection for you by paying a portion of your lost income, so you have financial support to manage your disability and your household. Benefits begin after 90 days and can cover 60% of your monthly earnings up to the max amount, for as long as you are disabled or until you reach your Social Security Retirement Age. See ADP or Benefit Summary for more details and exclusions.
Prudential
Northgate 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 INSURANCE
Our coverage pays you cash benefits that correspond with hospital and intensive care confinement. Your plan may also include coverage for a variety of occurrences, such as: dismemberment; dislocation or fracture; ambulance services; physical therapy and more. The cash benefits can be used to help pay for deductibles, treatment, rent and more.
CRITICAL ILLNESS INSURANCE
You choose benefits to protect yourself and any family members if diagnosed with a critical illness. Then, if diagnosed with a covered critical illness, you will receive a cash benefit based on the percentage payable for the condition.
HOSPITAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE
Our Hospital Indemnity insurance pays a cash benefit for hospital confinements. This benefit is payable directly to you and can keep you from withdrawing money from your personal bank account or your Health Savings Account (HSA) for hospital-related expenses. It is increasingly important to not only protect your finances if faced with an unexpected illness, but also to empower yourself to seek the necessary treatment.
GuidanceResources (Employee Assistance Program)
Personal problems, planning for life events or simply managing daily life can affect your work, health and family. GuidanceResources is a company-sponsored service that is available to you and your dependents, at no cost, to provide confidential support, resources and information to get through life's challenges.
Phone: 1 (800) 311-4327
Online: www.guidanceresources.com
Company Web ID: GEN311
IMG’s Travel Assistance Services
An indispensable offering available to you and your dependents. IMG has extensive experience handling complex and remote medical transport situations, as well as providing support for travel concerns when they arise. Our team of international, multilingual specialists are accustomed to working across time zones and with different languages and currencies. Utilizing IMG’s extensive global network of medical care providers, our onsite 24/7/365 U.S.-based call center is available day or night to provide high-quality care you can depend on.
Toll-free within the U.S.: 1 (855) 847-2194
From anywhere in the world: 1 (317) 927-6881
Email: assist@imglobal.com