2025 Benefits Open Enrollment will take place between Wednesday, October 23 and Wednesday, November 6, 2024. If you do not take any action by the Wednesday, November 6 deadline, you will not be able to make changes to your benefits until the next Open Enrollment period that typically occurs each fall, unless you experience a Qualified Life Event during the 2025 Plan Year.

Changes made during Open Enrollment take effect on January 1, 2025. All 2025 benefit plan contributions begin with your first paycheck in January.

To enroll or make changes to your benefit plans or covered dependents, access the enrollment website, https://compass.empyreanbenefits.com/gec. If you do not have access to a computer or smart device, contact the Graham Benefits Center at 877.878.9898 between 8 am CT and 5 pm CT between October 23 and November 6, 2024.

After you submit your elections, you will see a confirmation page that you can either print or save as a PDF. A confirmation number is included on the page and you should refer to this number in the event you need to contact the Graham Benefits Center after enrollment to correct your coverage.

You do not have to re-enroll in your benefits coverage during Open Enrollment. If you choose not to take action, current 2024 Plan elections as well as responses to the tobacco pledge and spouse access to other medical coverage (if applicable) will remain in place for the 2025 plan year. However, if you want to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account (healthcare/combination/dependent day care) and/or a Health Savings account, you must make a new election during Open Enrollment to continue participating in the New Year.

Yes, if you are eligible for benefits prior to January 1, 2025, you will need to complete your new hire elections for 2024 and then complete your elections for the 2025 Plan Year.

If you experience a qualified life event change after you have submitted your Open Enrollment elections, you can make applicable benefit plan changes online by clicking “Change Your Current Benefits” and selecting the Family Status Change event that is right for your situation. You will be prompted to enter the date of the qualified life status change (which can be no more than 31 days in the past) and then move on to make your 2024 changes. These changes may require you to revise your 2025 election; and if you need to, the system will prompt you to do so after you complete your event change.

Refer to the 2025 Benefits Guide to view the documentation needed to add a dependent during Open Enrollment.

Rates for all benefit plans are subject to change each year. You will experience a rate change for medical coverage; however dental and vision plan rates remain the same. Rates for these plans are in the 2025 Open Enrollment Newsletter and the 2025 Benefits Guide. If you do not make any changes to your coverage during Open Enrollment, you will remain in the same plans for the 2025 Plan Year and the new rates will apply effective January 1, 2025.

There are several ways you can compare the medical plans. You have the option to compare the medical plans while enrolling on line or you can access the plan comparison in the 2025 Benefits Guide. You can also click on the “Resources” link from the Main Menu and review the medical plan Summary Plan Documents (SPDs).

During Open Enrollment, you should go to https://compass.empyreanbenefits.com/gec and update your responses to the tobacco/nicotine pledge questions. You also have the option to call the Graham Benefits Center at 877.878.9898 and a representative will be able to make the update.

Yes, the HealthyGuidance Tobacco Cessation Program is available through the EAP provider, ComPsych. The program is designed to help you quit and to “stay quit”. If you are currently enrolled in the medical plan and paying the tobacco surcharge, you can eliminate the surcharge if you complete the HealthyGuidance program. For more information about the program go to www.guidanceresources.com or call 866.511.3359.

Yes, you have until October 31, 2024 to complete activities to earn wellness credits for the 2025 plan year.

If you are enrolled in the PPO or PPO with HRA plan, coverage begins for an individual member as soon his or her individual deductible is met. Once the family deductible is met, everyone in the family is covered even if their individual deductibles are not met. If you are enrolled in the PPO with HSA plan and elected to cover at least one dependent, you and your dependents are subject to the family deductible. Coverage will not begin until all family members’ expenses add up to the family deductible.

Yes, any balance in the healthcare FSA of $50 - $640 will carry over to the 2024 Plan Year. Please note: the carry over amount for the healthcare FSA will not be available until April, 2024. Your dependent day care FSA balance will not roll over – your expenses must be incurred by December 31, 2024 and all receipts for expenses must be submitted by March 31, 2025, or you will lose your remaining account balance.

You have until March 31, 2025 to submit all eligible healthcare expenses for reimbursement. In order to be eligible for reimbursement from your 2024 account, all expenses must be incurred by 12/31/24.

• Log on to your account at www.BCBSIL.com
• Under “My Coverage” in the middle of the screen, click “View medical benefits”
• On the left side, under Spending Account, click the “Health Care Accounts” link
• Review the table on the right for your current balance
• Your HRA activity is located in the Transaction Details section at the bottom of the screen

If you continue participating in the PPO with HRA for 2025, your 2024 balance will rollover. However, your 2024 account balance may not exceed $3,000 including the 2025 Company funding amount.

You will not need to re-enroll in the PPO plan however, you will need to enroll in the HSA benefit if you want to receive the Company funding for 2025. To receive the Company funding only, enter $0 in the box that asks how much you want to contribute. If you would like to make your own contributions to the HSA in addition to receiving the Company funding, enter the annual amount you want to contribute in the contribution amount box.