Full-Time Employees
All full-time benefits-eligible employees are offered at no cost the following benefits:
- Health Insurance (Board-paid): Cigna SureFit– Free Employee-only Option
- Standard Short-Term Disability (STD) (Board-paid): Plan provides a benefit of 60 percent of your earnings up to a maximum of $500 per week. Benefits under this plan are paid up to 22 weeks.
- Life Insurance (Board-paid): The School Board provides a Term Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) program with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for all full-time employees. The coverage amount is either one or two times your annual base salary rounded up to the next $1,000.00. Administrators and Confidential Exempt Personnel received two times the annual base salary. All other employees receive one times their annual base salary. The minimum benefit for employees represented by AFSCME is $10,000. Additional life insurance may be purchased through payroll deductions to bring maximum benefits to an additional, one times the amount provided by the School Board. Employees are eligible to increase the life insurance amount to a maximum of five times the annual base salary after the first year of participation in the optional life program. Evidence of Insurability will be required for any increases in coverage. To find out more about Board-paid Term Life and AD&D, contact the MetLife representative at (305) 992-7029.
Full-Time Employees
This is a mandatory Employee Benefits Enrollment. Your and your dependents’ current healthcare plan and/or Flexible Benefits will terminate on December 31, 2024; therefore, you must enroll during this open enrollment period. If you are currently enrolled in a Disability (STD buy-up and/or LTD) plan, those benefits will continue for the 2025 plan year; therefore, premium increases will automatically be applied.
To continue offering healthcare options that meet the needs of our employees, M-DCPS has increased the Board-paid contribution towards our employees and their eligible dependents’ coverage for the 2025 plan year. As a result, employees will not experience an increase in healthcare premiums unless changing salary band, healthcare option, or level of dependent coverage (tier).
We are here to support, guide and assist you with your enrollment: therefore, we are providing face-to-face, telephonic and virtual enrollment assistance with a Benefits Representative. Visit https://mdcpsbenefits.com/scheduler/ to schedule an appointment with a Benefits Representative and to select what type of enrollment assistance you would like or by calling 1 (833) 632-7782, Monday- Friday, 7 am – 7 pm EST.
For general questions regarding the 2025 open enrollment, please call the FBMC Service Center at 1 (855) 632-7748, Monday – Friday, 7 am to 7 pm EST.
What You Need to Know
Important Enrollment Information:
- This is a mandatory enrollment for Cigna healthcare and Flexible Benefits. Effective January 1, 2025, the School Board will introduce two new Cigna healthcare plans, the OAP Extended Network and the LocalPlus Focused Network, which will replace the OAP High and OAP Standard plans. We will continue to offer the SureFit Network plan, which is the employee-only free healthcare option for all full-time benefit’s eligible employees.
- If you do not make a healthcare selection, you will be automatically assigned to the Cigna SureFit Network (Employee only) healthcare plan. This plan requires the selection of a Primary Care Physician (PCP); therefore, Cigna will assign you a participating provider based on your zip code.
- If you are currently declining healthcare coverage, your opt-out election will terminate on December 31, 2024. If you wish to continue your current declination of healthcare election, you must elect to opt-out by the enrollment deadline and submit the Declination of Healthcare Coverage Affidavit with proof of current other group or state-funded healthcare coverage. Sole submission of these documents does not mean you have elected to decline healthcare coverage.
- If you are currently enrolled in a Disability (STD buy-up and/or LTD) plan, those benefits will continue for the 2025 plan year therefore, premium increases will automatically be applied.
- If you are currently enrolled in Flexible Benefits, those benefits will terminate on December 31, 2024. There is no plan design changes for the 2025 plan year. However, there will be slight rate increases.
- If you are currently enrolled in a Medical FSA and/or Dependent Care FSA, your participation in these accounts will terminate on December 31, 2024.
- All employees who experienced a change in Salary Band, as a result of a salary increase in June 2023, may experience an increase in both employee and dependent rates.
For additional information, please call the FBMC Service Center at 1 (855) 632-7748, Monday – Friday, 7 am to 7 pm EST.
The enrollment application will be available during the open enrollment period 24 hours/ 7 days a week. You must use Google Chrome web browser for the online enrollment application.
Healthcare Plans:
Effective January 1, 2025, the School Board will be introducing two new Cigna healthcare plans, the OAP Extended Network and the LocalPlus Focused Network, which will be replacing the OAP High and OAP Standard plans. We will continue to offer the SureFit Network plan*. These three healthcare plans include providers across all specialties, with the primary distinction being the range of providers available within each network. For more information regarding the Cigna plans click the button below.
*NOTE: Selection of a Primary Care Physician (PCP) is required at the time of enrollment and you must reside in the tri-county (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach) service area. If a PCP is not selected, Cigna will assign you a participating provider based on your zip code.
Dependent Coverage:
- 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.
Additional Information:
Benefits Salary (annual base salary as of June 30 each calendar year) determines:
- Your salary band and the Board Contribution to your and your dependents’ healthcare cost.
- Board-paid life insurance amount.
- Disability benefit, which is a percentage of your benefit base salary.
- Benefits Salaries being used for the current Open Enrollment is your employee annual salary as of June 30, 2023.
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. The coverage amount is either one or two times your annual base salary rounded up to the next $1,000.00. Administrators and Confidential Exempt Personnel received two times the annual base salary. All other employees receive one times their annual base salary. The minimum benefit for employees represented by AFSCME is $10,000. Additional life insurance may be purchased through payroll deductions to bring maximum benefits to an additional, one times the amount provided by the School Board. Employees are eligible to increase the life insurance amount to a maximum of five times the annual base salary after the first year of participation in the optional life program. Evidence of Insurability will be required for any increases in coverage.
To find out more about Board-paid Group Term Life and AD&D, contact the MetLife representative at (305) 992-7029.
Online Enrollment
To-do List
Don’t know where to start? Use this list to prepare for enrollment.
Before You Enroll
This section will provide you with enrollment assistance information and computer settings to print your confirmation statement once you’ve completed your enrollment.
How to Enroll
This section will provide you with step by step instructions on how to enroll in your employee benefits.
To-do List
Don’t know where to start? Use this list to prepare for enrollment.
Before You Enroll
This section will provide you with enrollment assistance information and computer settings to print your confirmation statement once you’ve completed your enrollment.
How to Enroll
This section will provide you with step by step instructions on how to enroll in your employee benefits.
To-Do List
We recommend before you begin the online enrollment process you collect the following information:
- Your M-DCPS Portal Username and Password
- Dependents’ Name(s)
- Dependents’ Date(s) of Birth
- Dependents’ Relationship(s)
- Dependents’ VALID Social Security number(s)
- Proof of dependent eligibility must be submitted to the Office of Risk and Benefits Management for all added dependent(s), upon request. Otherwise, coverage may be terminated for any dependent whose eligibility has not been verified; claims incurred will not be paid and any premiums deducted will not be automatically issued.
- Disable the pop-up blocker on your computer to allow your Confirmation Notice to display at the end of your enrollment session.
- Employees covering a domestic partner of the same sex and legally married can add their eligible domestic partner on a tax-free basis with a copy of a marriage certificate.
FAQs
Getting
Started
What is the Open Enrollment Period?
The Open Enrollment period is a period of time, determined by your employer, during which you are allowed to make any changes to your current benefits.
Note: No changes are allowed after the commencement of a new plan year, unless you experience a qualifying event.
When are healthcare benefits effective and for how long?
The benefits are effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
Must all eligible employees enroll for benefits effective January 1, 2025?
Yes. This is a mandatory enrollment. If you do not re-enroll your current healthcare and/or flexible benefits will terminate December 31, 2024.
What should all eligible employees do during this Open Enrollment period for benefits effective?
- Log into the employee portal and during your open enrollment session, review and print your current 2024 Benefits Statement for reference during your enrollment.
- Use the statement to evaluate if the plans you currently have still meet your needs.
- In the Dependent and Beneficiary section of the enrollment application, you will see a list of the people you will be able to assign coverage and/or assign as a beneficiary. If their record does not exist, you will need to add one.
- Review/Update your beneficiary designation (Name, Date of Birth and Social Security Number is required)
- If you elect to cover your spouse or domestic partner in a medical plan, you will need to complete the spouse/domestic partner affidavit and check the applicable box on the online enrollment application that best describes the status of their coverage.
- Complete your 2025 benefit elections by submitting your changes and print your Employee Benefits Confirmation Statement.
What happens if I do not re-enroll by the enrollment deadline?
If you do not re-enroll during this Open Enrollment period, the following will occur:
- Your and your dependent’s current Cigna healthcare coverage will terminate on December 31, 2024.
- If you are currently declining healthcare coverage, your opt-out election will terminate on December 31, 2024. You will need to re-enroll in this option online during open enrollment.
- If you are being deducted the spouse/domestic partner annual surcharge, the deductions will terminate December 31, 2024.
- You will be automatically auto-assigned to the Cigna SureFit Network healthcare plan, which will be the free Board-paid option for all full-time benefits eligible employees.
- Selection of a Primary Care Physician (PCP) is required at the time of enrollment. If a PCP is not selected, Cigna will assign you a participating provider based on your zip code.
- You must live in the tri-county (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach) service area.
- If you are currently enrolled in Flexible Benefits, those benefits will terminate on December 31, 2024.
- If you are currently enrolled in a Medical FSA and/or Dependent Care FSA, those benefits will terminate on December 31, 2024.
- If you are currently enrolled in a Disability (STD buy-up and/or LTD) plan, those benefits will continue for the 2025 plan year therefore, premium increases will automatically be applied.
How will I know when I can access the online enrollment application?
You will be provided access to the online enrollment application during the Open Enrollment Period.
When is the last day to make a change for benefits effective January 1, 2025?
If making changes, you must complete your online enrollment selections by 11:59 pm on December 16, 2024.
When is the online enrollment application available?
The application is available during the Open Enrollment period 24 hours/7 days a week.
Coverage
What if I enroll and I want to change my benefits selections?
You may log into the enrollment site and change your healthcare benefits selections as many times as you want throughout the Open Enrollment period. Your last saved and submitted selections will be your benefits, effective January 1, 2025. Changes made to your benefits during the Open Enrollment period, will be effective January 1, 2025. For full-time employees, the first deductions will be taken on the payroll date January 10, 2025.
What elections can I make during Open Enrollment?
During this period, you may make changes to your current benefits, delete, or add eligible dependent.
Can I select coverage for myself through one benefit plan and another for my family?
No. You and your eligible dependent(s) must be covered with the same benefit plan and provider.
Can I decline healthcare coverage?
Yes. You may decline healthcare coverage. You must provide proof of other group or state-funded program coverage. Enrollment in an individual healthcare plan does not qualify. Additionally, you must agree to the provision set forth in the affidavit and provide current proof of other group or state-funded coverage.
If I decline healthcare coverage, what happens to the Board contribution towards my healthcare coverage?
In lieu of healthcare coverage, you will receive $100 per month paid bi-weekly through the payroll system, based on our deduction pay schedule (subject to withholding and FICA) as follows:
- 10-month employees will receive their payments in 20 pay checks.
- 11-month employees will receive their payments in 24 pay checks.
- 12-month employees will receive their payments in 26 pay checks.
If you do not provide proof of other group healthcare coverage or state-funded healthcare coverage, you will be automatically assigned to the Cigna SureFit Network (Employee-only) healthcare plan and standard Short-term Disability.
If electing to decline healthcare coverage during this Open Enrollment, you are required to submit current proof of enrollment in another group or state-funded program, even if previously submitted.
What healthcare plans are being offered for the 2025 plan year?
The Cigna Healthcare plans being offered are:
- OAP Extended Network
- LocalPlus Focused Network
- SureFit Network
Is there a free healthcare option being offered?
Yes. The Cigna SureFit Network Plan, employee-only coverage, is being offered at no cost to all benefits eligible employees.
How do I view the Cigna Healthcare directories?
To view participating providers in Cigna: log in to www.mycigna.com and click on “Find a Provider”.
How do I prove that my spouse/domestic partner has or does not have group coverage available through her/his employer?
During the online enrollment, the application will display an Affidavit and you will be given the opportunity to click on the box that best describes the status of your dependent's group coverage.
- 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 bi-weekly basis according to your pay schedule.
- If you cover your spouse/domestic partner on your healthcare plan and your spouse/domestic partner does not have an employer sponsored healthcare plan available to him/her, the spousal surcharge will not be applied.
- If your eligible dependent’s access to group healthcare coverage changes mid-year, please contact FBMC at (305) 995-7404.
Dependent
What do I need to submit to ensure that my dependent(s) will have coverage?
-
If not previously submitted, you will need to submit dependent eligibility verification. Otherwise, your dependent’s coverage may be terminated.
Will my current Adult Child dependent’s coverage continue?
No. Your current adult child healthcare coverage will terminate December 31, 2024. If you wish to continue their participation in a sponsored group healthcare plan, you must re-enroll them for the 2025 plan year.
Leave & Termination
If I take a Board-approved leave of absence, whom do I contact about my benefit?
Once your leave is approved and the Office of Risk and Benefits Management receives notification, you will be eligible for applicable benefits in accordance to your Bargaining Unit and type of leave. You will be billed for employer-paid benefits in accordance to the type of leave and labor contact. Additionally, you will be billed for all employee-paid benefits.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools implements the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) through provisions contained in the School Board Rules and collective bargaining agreements.
For questions regarding your benefits while on leave, please call the Leave Billing Specialist at (305) 995-7062, option 4.
What happens to my benefits if I terminate employment?
Your coverage will cease at the end of the calendar month in which employment terminates. Benefits will remain in effect through August 31st for 10-month employees who terminate employment during the last month of the school year.
NOTE: An individual who loses coverage under the plan becomes entitled to elect COBRA. The individual has the right to continue his or her medical, dental, and vision coverage under COBRA law for a period of 18 months and/or Medical FSA deposits until the end of the plan year following termination of employment.
To-Do List
We recommend before you begin the online enrollment process you collect the following information:
- Your M-DCPS Portal Username and Password
- Dependents’ Name(s)
- Dependents’ Date(s) of Birth
- Dependents’ Relationship(s)
- Dependents’ VALID Social Security number(s)
- Proof of dependent eligibility must be submitted to the Office of Risk and Benefits Management for all added dependent(s), upon request. Otherwise, coverage may be terminated for any dependent whose eligibility has not been verified; claims incurred will not be paid and any premiums deducted will not be automatically issued.
- Disable the pop-up blocker on your computer to allow your Confirmation Notice to display at the end of your enrollment session.
- Employees covering a domestic partner of the same sex and legally married can add their eligible domestic partner on a tax-free basis with a copy of a marriage certificate.