Benefits and Insurance

Benefits

The District 403(b) Plan, also known as tax-sheltered annuities (TSA), is self-administered. Use the form below for new enrollment or change of deduction. The form includes list of authorized vendors.

403(b) Wage Deferral Authorization Form

Questions on 403(b) accounts should be directed to Payroll:

  • Jenny Evans: 952-681-6425
  • Ali Blessing: 952-681-6431
  • Sue Weber: 952-681-6429

Plan Documents

Benefit Extras

Enrollment Information

Forms and Documents

Plan Document

Medical Expense Flexible Spending Accounts have been replaced by Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and are no longer available.

Contact Information

612-672-2195 or 1-800-CALL-EAP

Website: fairview.org/EAP
Passcode: bloomingtonschools

Employee Assistance Program

Bloomington Public Schools partners with Fairview to provide staff with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The program is available to all Bloomington Public Schools staff and their family members including spouses, parents, children, siblings, partners, etc. This benefit provides access to professional confidential counseling and/or assessment and referral services at no cost to staff. There is 24-hour telephone access to address urgent needs.

Counselors offer support and guidance for:

  • Relationship, parenting and family concerns
  • Work-related concerns and work-life balance
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Conflict management
  • Grief
  • Change management
  • Financial problems
  • Leaves of absence and returning to work

Active district employees who are considering retirement should schedule a pre-retirement conference with either PERA or TRA (see contact information below) based on your current position. Once you finalize your retirement date please submit a letter of resignation/retirement to Human Resources with a copy to your supervisor/principal. Information on continuing insurance benefits will be mailed to your home from Benefit Extras.

Contact Human Resources at 952 681-6440 or mburroughs@isd271.org if you have any questions. 

PERA offers retirement group counseling sessions periodically through the metro area. Contact PERA for more information or to schedule an appointment. 651-296-7460.

MN State Retirement System (MSRS) Post Retirement Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP)

Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)

Teacher Retirement Association (TRA)

The Value of Your Pension

Do you know that you have a pension? 

Check out this Pension video to see how the pension works, where contributions are invested and how you are saving for retirement.  

Insurance

The district offers an annual open enrollment period in late spring which allows staff to enroll or make changes to their benefits without a qualifying life event per IRS regulations.

A qualifying life event includes a change in marital status, number of dependents, employment status, residence or coverage. Staff may also make changes to their coverage if their spouse is experiencing an open enrollment period in their place of employment. The deadline for making changes is 30 days from the qualifying life event or qualifying date.

Eligibility for employment benefits is determined by collective bargaining contracts or district policy.

Changes or new enrollments during open enrollment take effect at the beginning of the plan year, July 1. 

2024-25 Open Enrollment Information

Open Enrollment period: April 29 - May 10, 2024

New this year: Staff will verify and make changes to their coverage through an online benefits platform called Employee Navigator, allowing employees to have easier access to their benefits information. All employees will need to enroll in this new system regardless of if they have changes or not.

Dental, vision and accident information and forms are listed under their respective sections.

Information Sessions

Tuesday, May 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
ESC Room 601

Help Guides

Contact

Vickie Hepler
Human Resources
952-681-6444
vhepler@isd271.org

VOYA Compass Accident Insurance with Wellness Rider

Accident insurance is portable.  This means that if you terminate your employment with the district (resignation or retirement) you can convert the insurance to an individual plan.

Contact Vickie Hepler (vhepler@isd271.org) in Human Resources for more information on this process.

Rates and Summary

How to Submit an Accident Claim or Wellness Benefit Claim

Voya Compass Critical Illness Insurance

All part-time and full-time employees are automatically covered by Critical Illness Insurance through Voya. This benefit, recommended by the Labor Management Committee and approved by the School Board, is being paid through our self-insured medical insurance fund. This plan provides a one-time tax-free lump-sum benefit of $2000 payable upon diagnosis of pre-defined critical illnesses – cancer, heart attack, coronary artery bypass, stroke, kidney failure, major organ failure, paralysis or coma. If you experience one of these diagnosis, you will receive a check sent directly to your home, which can be used to help pay deductibles, prescriptions or whatever you wish.

The $1.09 semi-monthly premium ($26.16 annually) is treated as income for tax and social security purposes. You will see "Taxable Critical" a non-wage item of $1.09 each pay period. You may opt out of this benefit by contacting Vickie Hepler in Human Resources at 952-681-6444.

Critical Illness is portable.  This means that if you terminate your employment with the district (resignation or retirement) you can convert the insurance to an individual plan. Please contact Vickie Hepler in HR if you want information on this benefit.

How to Submit a Critical Illness Claim

  • How to file a critical illness claim
  • Submit via fax or mail. A claim check will be mailed to your home address. 
  • Fax: 877-464-2280
  • Mailing address:
    VOYA Claims 
    PO Box 320
    Minneapolis, MN 55440

Delta Dental

Rates and Summary

Plan Documents

Mobile App

Delta Dental Hearing Program

Delta Dental of Minnesota has a partnership with Amplifon to offer a hearing discount program. All employees of Bloomington Public Schools who are enrolled in Delta Dental have access to this discount program at no cost to you or the district. 

UMR - A UnitedHealthcare Company

Bloomington Public Schools offers staff health insurance through UMR, a UnitedHealthcare Company. Here are resources including how to find a healthcare provider in our network, plan rates, summary of benefits, and services offered through UMR.

How to Find a Provider

  • To find a provider, follow these steps: 
    • Log on to www.umr.com
    • Select "Find a provider"
    • In the provider network search bar, search for "UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Network" 

Enrollment/Change

A qualifying life event for an enrollment change includes a change in marital status, number of dependents, employment status, residence or coverage. Staff may also make changes to their coverage if their spouse is experiencing an open enrollment period in their place of employment. The deadline for making changes is 30 days from the qualifying life event or qualifying date.

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) Rates

Services Offered Through UMR

Teladoc Health is a 24/7 virtual health care service for employees and their families enrolled in the district health plan.

Clear Script is a pharmacy benefit offering employees and their families enrolled in the district health plan easy access to prescription drugs.

Gym Reimbursement Plan - UMR offers a reimbursement plan for up to two family members who go to a gym 36 times or more during a three month period. Fill out this form to take advantage of this benefit.

Other UMR Resources

Plan Documents

Double Coverage - District Contribution Exclusion

Employees who have health or hospitalization insurance coverage under another plan may participate in the district health insurance, but they will receive no district contribution toward the monthly premium. This does not include employees who receive Medicare, or Tri‐Care or Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, or exceptions granted by the Executive Director of Human Resources. The exclusion includes all employment contracts and plans. 

Federal Age 26 Mandate

Federal Health Care Reform allows the insurance coverage of a dependent to age 26 regardless of whether the child is married, a student or a dependent.

HealthEquity, Inc.

Eligibility

IRS Limits

Hardship HSA

HSA Member Guide

HSA Beneficiary Designation

Although a beneficiary is not required on your HSA account, it is a good idea to designate a beneficiary designated so the funds may be easily accessed by your beneficiary if necessary. You can designate primary and contingent beneficiaries by logging into your HSA account. 

If you are enrolled in the District health insurance, you are automatically enrolled in the District-sponsored Healthy Savings Program. The Healthy Savings Program is a way to save on fresh produce, in addition to weekly Healthy Savings discounts and in-store promotions or coupons at participating stores. 

For more information, visit www.MyHealthySavings.com.

The district provides coverage through Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America for eligible costs if your identity is stolen. Coverage is provided at no charge to all full and part-time district employees and their immediate family members. 

  • Employees are automatically enrolled.
  • Eligible costs may include attorney fees, long distance telephone charges, lost wages, etc. 
  • To file a claim, call 800-842-8496

Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company

  • Eligibility: All full-time and part-time employees, starting on the first day of the month after hire
  • Amount: two times salary (effective July 1, 2010), spouse and children through age 26 are insured for $15,000 effective January 1, 2023.)
  • Enroll or change beneficiaries in Employee Navigator
  • Contact Vickie Hepler in Human Resources for more information: vhepler@isd271.org or 952-681-6444

PERA members who wish to purchase additional life insurance

PERA members who are actively at work are eligible to purchase additional term life insurance through NCPERS.

If you have additional questions, please call Member Benefits at 1-800-525-8056 or ncpers@memberbenefits.com

The Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company

  • Includes Accidental Death & Dismemberment
  • LTD is a benefit for all full-time employees. Enrollment is automatic and the premium is paid by the district.
  • LTD has a 90 day wait period before benefits are payable. If approved, LTD will provide 66 2/3% of your annual salary (100% taxable).
  • With questions before filing a claim or to file a claim, contact Vickie Hepler at 952 681-6444 or The Hartford 1-800-523-2233 after filing a claim.

Pre-existing Condition Exclusion

For employees hired after July 1, 2010.

  • Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company will not pay monthly income benefits if your disability is due to a pre-existing condition and you become disabled during the first 12 months your insurance is in effect.
  • A pre-existing condition is defined as a sickness or accidental injury for which, during the 3 months immediately before the effective date of your insurance you did one or more of these: received medical treatment, care, services, or advice; took prescribed drugs, or had medications prescribed; experienced related or resulting symptoms or aggravations which would be a reasonable cause for an ordinarily prudent person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment from a doctor or health care facility.

If you are planning to retire or have retired from Bloomington Schools, check out District Group Insurance in Retirement for information on continuing insurance coverage in retirement.

Medicare supplement for retired Bloomington staff is available through UCare. 

Medicare D Creditable Coverage Notification

The prescription drug coverage offered by UMR is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is considered Creditable Coverage.

2024 Medicare D Creditable Coverage Official Notice

Staff members who have a work-related injury should follow these steps:

  • Report all injuries, even minor ones that may or may not require medical attention, to your supervisor the same day. Your supervisor will immediately contact Jenny Wine in HR at 952 681-6440 to report the injury.
  • Complete an "employee accident investigation report" within 24 hours of your injury. Forms are available from your school secretary or nurse.
  • If you need to see a doctor, Risk Administration Services (RAS), our worker's comp provider, prefers that you seek medical attention at:

U.S. HealthWorks (formerly Airport Clinic)
7550 34th Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55420 
Phone: 612-727-1167

Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

You are not required to go to this clinic, but may seek medical attention where you choose, especially after work hours. Be sure to tell the provider this is a work-related injury.

 If you have questions, please contact Jenny Wine at jwine@isd271.org