Due to COVID-19 the health fair scheduled for April 15, 2020 at City Hall has been cancelled. Open Enrollment will happen online. If employees/Non-Medicare Retirees have any questions you can call Nancy at 413-448-9808 and she will get back to you or the City has a dedicated line at Blue Cross to answer any questions that you might have in regards to this year’s benefit change to the HMO and Blue Care Elect (PPO) Benchmark 2 plans, that number is #1-800-782-3675 from 8AM – 6PM Monday thru Friday. If you would like to make any changes you can fill out the online application and either email it to me with the proper documentation (ex birth cert, marriage cert, etc), drop it in an envelope to my attention at the mail box outside the back door at city hall or mail it to me at the City of Pittsfield, attention Nancy, 70 Allen Street, Pittsfield Ma 01201 on or before the due date which is May 11, 2020. Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.
Information Previously Sent Out With City Paychecks:
- Open Enrollment Information
- FY21 MIIA Rate Sheet
- High Level FY21 Plan Comparison Going from BM1 to BM2
Health Insurance
The City offers comprehensive health coverage benefits to qualified employees, offered through MIIA/ Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Available Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are:
- Access Blue New England Saver (High Deductible)
- Access Blue New England Saver Summary of Benefits and Coverage
- Blue Care Elect $300 Deductible (PPO)
- Blue Care Elect $300 Deductible Summary of Benefits and Coverage
- Blue Care Elect Saver (PPO High Deductible)
- Blue Care Elect Saver Summary of Benefits and Coverage
- Network Blue New England $300 Deductible (HMO)
- Network Blue New England $300 Deductible Summary of Benefits and Coverage
To enroll in a plan you must be a new benefit-eligible employee or a current benefit-eligible employee during open enrollment. Open enrollment is typically the first week of April through the first week of May and coverage begins annually on July 1st.
Please note: You may also be eligible to enroll mid-year due to a qualifying event (e.g. marriage, birth of a child, loss of coverage through another plan, etc.).
Health Savings Account (HSA)
A Health Savings Account (HAS) paired with an HSA-qualified health plan allows you to make tax-free contributions to an FDIC-insured savings account. HSA balances earn tax-free interest and can be used to pay for qualified medical, dental, vision and prescription expenses.
You may learn more about your HSA, qualified medical expenses, and more, by visiting: https://www.healthequity.com/learn/hsa/
https://www.healthequity.com/hsa/employee-education
https://learn.healthequity.com/qme/
The HSA is available to those whom enroll in the BCBS high-deductible health plan
Deferred Compensation Options
The City of Pittsfield partners with three companies so that employees may invest pretax dollars in a 457 retirement plan. For more information on the available companies please click on the choices below:
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance for active City of Pittsfield employees is provided through Guardian Dental Insurance. Please refer to the Guardian Dental Coverage booklet for further information. (Subject to change due to annual open enrollment updates).
To enroll, you must be either a new benefit-eligible employee or a current benefit-eligible employee during open enrollment. Open enrollment is typically the first week of April through the first week of May and coverage begins annually on July 1st.
Please note: You may also be eligible to enroll mid-year due to a qualifying event (e.g. marriage, birth of a child, loss of coverage through another plan, etc.).
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts are a way for employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for:
- Out of pocket medical/dental expenses not covered by your current health/dental plans
- Prescription drug co-pays
- Dependent care costs
City employees have the option of establishing a Flexible Spending Account through Cafeteria Plan Advisors, Inc. The enrollment period for this benefit is typically the first week of April through the first week of May for the following fiscal year.
Limited-Purpose FSA
Used in conjunction with a health savings account (HSA), an LPFSA allows you to contribute additional pre-tax dollars to use for dental and/or vision expenses. This allows you to maximize your pre-tax HSA contributions and contribute additional pre- tax dollars to an LPFSA.
Basic Life Insurance
The City of Pittsfield administers a basic term life insurance policy of $10,000, through Guardian Life, to its employees at the time of hire. The City pays 50% of the cost and the employee pays the other 50%.
Optional Life and Accident/Disability Insurance
Annually, the City of Pittsfield offers voluntary plans at the employees’ expense, for:
- Accidents
- Chronic Illness
- Life
- Short-term disability
Plans are offered through Guardian (term-life) and Colonial Life Insurance (short-term disability and universal life)