What You Need To Know

(Changes Only – benefits effective April 1, 2026)

• We will continue to offer the three Cigna healthcare plans (SureFit Network, LocalPlus Focused Network and OAP Extended Network) for the 2026 calendar year. These plans include providers across all specialties, with the primary distinction being the range of providers available within each network. Compare the Cigna healthcare plans options side-by-side by visiting the Healthcare Plan Comparison Chart.
• There will be no changes to the current healthcare rates.
• Changes to your benefits will become effective April 1, 2026. Therefore, updated premium deductions will be reflected as of the April 17, 2026 pay date. 
• Spousal Surcharge will apply if your spouse/domestic partner has coverage available from their own employer and you enroll them in a Cigna healthcare plan.
• The current Flexible Benefits will continue to be offered.

If you do not participate during this enrollment period, you current benefits will continue for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year. If you are currently declining healthcare coverage, your opt-out election will continue for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year.

(Mandatory Enrollment – benefits effective January 1, 2026)

Your annual election will be effective retroactively to January 1, 2026. Therefore, you will be able to submit claims for services rendered as of January 1st. Please note, the online application will calculate your bi-weekly deduction based on your elected annual contribution and the number of payrolls available for the remainder of the calendar year.

• A Medical FSA can be used for medical expenses, dental care, and vision care. The amount you decide to contribute to the account for the year is deducted from your salary before income taxes. This reduces your taxable income, saving you money on taxes. For 2026, the IRS has increased the annual contribution limit for Medical FSA to $3,400 (formerly $3,300).
• Dependent Care FSA allows you to use pretax dollars to pay for eligible expenses related to care for your child, disabled spouse, elderly parent, or other dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. For 2026, the IRS increased the annual contribution limit to $7,500 per household (formerly $5,000). Medical expenses for your dependent are not eligible for reimbursement under the Dependent Care FSA. 
• Consider the ‘Use it or Lose it Rule’ – It is important to be conservative in making elections because unused funds left in your account at the close of the Plan Year are not refundable to you.   

NOTE:  You will not be allowed to make any changes to your benefits after the enrollment deadline of April 8, 2026 unless you experience an event that qualifies as an eligible Change In Status. Additionally, any out-of-pocket expenses you may have incurred to date under the Cigna SureFit Network healthcare plan will not be transferred to any other healthcare plan; therefore, it will not count towards your maximum out-of-pocket accumulation.

During the open enrollment period, you will have two enrollment links. One named “Open Enrollment” to make changes to your Medical and Flexible Benefits, and another named “ FSA” to make changes to your Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). You will need to click on both links.

Log into the Employee Portal and follow these steps:

1. Go to the SAP tab
2. Select Employee Self-Service
3. Click Benefits
4. Under Life Events, select the enrollment links

For additional Information and enrollment assistance, please contact the FBMC Service Center at 1-855-632-7748. Please visit https://mdcpsbenefits.com for additional information regarding your benefits.

• If you enroll a dependent(s) in your benefits, the Social Security Number is required during the enrollment process for each dependent. You must submit dependent eligibility documentation (i.e., marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificate for natural children), for all covered dependents, upon request. If you do not provide the required documentation, coverage will be terminated.
• You and your dependent(s) must be enrolled in the same healthcare and flexible benefits plans.
• If you cover your spouse/domestic partner on your healthcare plan and your spouse/domestic partner has coverage available from his/her own employer, an additional annual surcharge of $800 will be charged. The annual surcharge will be billed on a biweekly basis according to your pay schedule. If your spouse/domestic partner does not have an employer sponsored healthcare plan available to him/her, please make sure to select the appropriate response on the online enrollment application and the spousal/domestic surcharge will not be applied.

Core Benefits

• Full-time benefits eligible employees will continue to be provided Board-paid Standard Short-Term Disability (STD) coverage.
• The School Board provides a Term Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) program with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for all full-time employees based on the agreement with your union and your annual base salary, rounded up to the next $1,000.

To find out more about Board-paid Group Term Life and AD&D, contact the MetLife representative at (305) 992-7029.