Mesquite ISD

Mesquite ISD will offer health insurance to hourly employees who have a reasonable expectation of working a minimum of 10 hours per week. Because hourly employees are not members of the Teacher Retirement System (TRS), the district does not contribute to the cost of the employee’s health insurance.  Hourly employees who elect Mesquite ISD health coverage must pay 100 percent of their insurance premiums in advance each month (see Payment of Premiums below). For rate and plan summary information, see RELATED LINKS.

ALL hourly employees must either enroll in a Mesquite ISD health plan or decline the coverage. This is done within 31 days of your hire date for your NEW HIRE ENROLLMENT opportunity and/or each August during the BENEFITS ANNUAL ENROLLMENT opportunity. If you are not enrolling in the Mesquite ISD health insurance, you must decline it each plan year! To enroll in the MISD health insurance, you must complete paperwork in the Benefits Office within your enrollment opportunity.  The Benefits Office is located in the Administration Building at 3819 Towne Crossing Blvd., Mesquite, TX 75150.

Hourly enrollees in the health plan will not receive a monthly bill, invoice or payment reminder. Upon enrollment, health insurance rates will be determined by the plan you select. Payment receipts will be furnished upon request.

Health Insurance Rates for Hourly Employees

Hourly Employee Responsibilities

Hourly Employee Benefits Change Form

Health insurance premiums must be paid in advance for the upcoming month's coverage. Premium payments are due or postmarked to the Benefits Office by the 30th day of each month. If the 30th falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is due on the last working day of the month. You are responsible for paying for coverage that you are enrolled in. Payments may be made by check or money order (payable to Mesquite ISD), MasterCard, Visa or Discover.

FYI – Non payment of premiums will not automatically cancel your insurance. You MUST come into the Benefits Office to cancel your policy. You ARE responsible for premiums due in the same month of cancellation.

Continuation Of Benefits Information

COBRA

This notice applies to you and your eligible dependents should you elect coverage under the Mesquite ISD’s group health, dental, and/or vision insurance plan(s).

The notice outlines covered participants' potential future options and more importantly your notification obligations under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) should you ever lose your health, dental, and/or vision insurance in the future for certain reasons.

Step #1:
Please read the notice carefully. It is important that each individual covered under the plan read the notice and be familiar with the information. Should you add additional dependents in the future, notice to the covered employee and spouse at this time will be deemed notification to that newly covered dependent as well.

Step #2:
If there is a covered dependent whose legal residence is not yours, you are required to provide in writing to the benefits department the appropriate address so a separate notice can be sent to them as well. Please use the COBRA Address Notification Form located at the end of this notice for this purpose. Should you ever move in the future, please use this form to keep us informed so you can receive future information if needed.

Step #3:
Understand Your Notification Obligations! Under the terms of the group health, dental, and vision plan(s), only a spouse and eligible dependents, as defined by the insurance policy, can be covered under the plan. Therefore, under the rules of the policy and federal law, you or a covered spouse/dependent are required to notify the plan administrator of a divorce/legal separation or if a covered dependent ceases to be a dependent under the terms of the group plan. Please take special note of the section in the notice that details your notification obligations and the appropriate steps to take when making this notification. Should you fail to follow the outlined notification procedures; any available rights will be lost.

Step #4:
Place this notice in your records for future reference. Should you have any questions concerning this notice or your notification obligations, please do not hesitate to call the benefits department at 972-882-7359.

General Notice of COBRA Continuation Coverage Rights

IMPORTANT INFORMATION PLEASE READ

Click Here for Sample COBRA Specific Rights Notice

It is important that all covered individuals (employee, spouse, and dependent children, if able) take the time to read this notice carefully and be familiar with its contents. If there is a covered dependent whose legal residence is not yours, please provide written notification with the Address Notification Form to the benefits department so a notice can be sent to them as well.

Under federal law, Mesquite ISD is required to offer covered employees and covered family members the opportunity for a temporary extension of health, dental, and/or vision coverage (called "Continuation Coverage") when coverage under the health, dental, and/or vision plan would otherwise end due to certain qualifying events. This notice is intended to inform all plan participants, in a summary fashion of your potential future options and obligations under the continuation coverage provisions of the COBRA law. Should an actual qualifying event occur in the future, the plan administrator will send you additional information and the appropriate election notice at that time.

Notification Of Address Change

To ensure all covered individuals receive information properly and efficiently, it is important you notify Mesquite ISD of any address change as soon as possible. Failure on your part to do so will result in delayed notifications or a loss of continuation coverage options. Complete a Cobra Address Notification Form, sample located at the end of this notice.

Any Questions?

Remember, this notice is simply a summary of your potential future options. Should an actual qualifying event occur and it is determined that you are eligible for continuation of coverage, you will be notified of all your actual rights at that time. If any covered individual does not understand any part of this summary notice or has questions regarding the information or your obligations, please contact the Mesquite ISD Benefits Office at 972-882-7359.

COBRA ADMINISTRATION CONTACT INFORMATION

Health continuation of coverage:

If you have any questions concerning your rights to health continuation of coverage, you should contact FFGA at or (800) 523-8422. If you want to talk to someone about the medical insurance or the BCBS IL network, please call 855-760-3135. If you want to speak with someone about the prescription benefits or Prime Therapeutics, call 855-649-9607. To find a doctor, check claim status, manage your health and more, go to: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.

For more information about your rights under ERISA, including COBRA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other laws affecting group health plans, contact the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) in your area or visit the EBSA Web site at Employee Benefits Security Administration. Addresses and phone numbers of Regional and District EBSA Offices are available through EBSA’s website.)

Dental continuation of coverage: If you have questions concerning your rights to dental continuation of coverage, you should contact the customer service department at (800) 523-8422 or write to Mesquite ISD Benefits Office, 3819 Towne Crossing, Mesquite, TX 75150.

Vision continuation of coverage: If you have questions concerning your rights to vision continuation of coverage, you should contact the customer service department at (800) 523-8422 or write to Mesquite ISD Benefits Office, 3819 Towne Crossing, Mesquite, TX 75150.

COBRA Qualifying Event Notification Form