Important Information About Your Enrollment

Amherst County Government offers an excellent benefits package which includes the following employer paid and voluntary benefits for full-time employees:

– Employer subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance

– Voluntary supplemental health insurance policies through Colonial Life

– Required participation in the Virginia Retirement System plans and a voluntary deferred Compensation Plan

– Employer paid life insurance and optional voluntary life insurance through Securian/ Minnesota Life

– Paid Leave Benefits

– Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) through HealthWorks

More information is provided about these benefits on pages 15-20 of your benefits guide and in Employee Navigator. Please call HR at 434-946-9420 if you have any additional questions about employee benefits.

IN-PERSON & SELF-ENROLL

During your annual enrollment period, a PGB Benefits Representative will be available by appointment to meet with you one-on-one to help you evaluate your benefits based on your individual and family needs, answer any questions you may have, and assist you in the enrollment process. If you prefer, you may also self-enroll online following the instructions on the Enrollment Instructions page of this site.

ANNUAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD: April 14, 2025 – May 9, 2025

ELIGIBILITY:

– Full-time employees whose work week averages 30 hours or more are eligible to participate.

IMPORTANT NOTICES:

– When do my benefits start? The plan year for Colonial Life Insurance Products, The Local Choice (Anthem Health, Delta Dental of VA, and Anthem Blue View Vision), Delta Dental of VA (Stand-Alone Policy), Anthem Blue View Vision (Stand-Alone Policy), Flex Facts Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts, and CHUBB Long Term Care Benefits runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

– When do my deductions start? Deductions for Colonial Life Insurance Products, The Local Choice (Anthem Health, Delta Dental of VA, and Anthem Blue View Vision), Delta Dental of VA (Stand-Alone Policy), Anthem Blue View Vision (Stand-Alone Policy), Flex Facts Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts, and CHUBB Long Term Care Benefits start June 2025 for all enrolled employees.

– Why have my Accident or Medical Bridge benefits not started yet? The Health Screening Rider on the Colonial Accident and Colonial Medical Bridge plan have a 30-day waiting period for new enrollees. Coverage, therefore, will not begin until July 31, 2025.

– What is an EAP? Your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your eligible family members. An EAP is an employer-sponsored benefit that offers confidential support and resources for personal or work-related challenges and concerns. Please see the EAP pages of this benefit guide for more details and contact information.

– How do Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds work, and do my FSA funds have to be used by a specific deadline? Flexible Spending Account expenses must be incurred during the plan year to be eligible for reimbursement. After the plan year ends, an employee has 45 days to submit claims for incurred qualified spending account expenses (or 90 days after employment termination date). If employment is terminated before the plan year ends, the spending account also ends. Failure to use all allotted funds in the FSA account will result in a “Use It or Lose It” scenario. Your plan also includes a rollover provision! This means that if you have money left in your FSA at the end of the plan year, you can carryover up to $640 into the next plan year. Any remaining funds beyond $640 is forfeited under the “Use It or Lose It” rule.

– My spouse is enrolled in an Health Savings Account (HSA), am I eligible for an FSA? As a married couple, one spouse cannot be enrolled in a Medical Reimbursement FSA at the same time the other opens or contributes to an HSA.

– How do Dependent Care Account (DCA) funds work and when do they need to be used? Dependent Care Accounts are like FSA accounts and allow you to request reimbursement up to your current balance. However, you cannot receive more reimbursement than what has been deducted from your pay. Any remaining funds in your DCA account must be utilized before the deadline. Failure to use all allotted funds in the DCA account will result in a “Use It or Lose It” scenario. Your plan includes a grace period which is an additional 2.5 months (running July 1, 2026, through September 15, 2026), during which you can incur eligible expenses that can be reimbursed. Therefore, you have from July 1, 2025, through September 15, 2026, to incur qualified expenses eligible for reimbursement. If you do not incur qualified expenses by September 15, 2026, and/or file by September 30, 2026, any contributions are forfeited under the “Use It or Lose It” rule.

– When will I get my card? If you will be receiving a new debit card, whether you are a new participant or to replace your expired card, please be aware that it may take up to 30 days following your plan effective date for your card to arrive. Your card will be delivered by mail in a plain white envelope. During this time you may use manual claim forms for eligible expenses. Please note that your debit card is good through the expiration date printed on the card.

– I want to sign my family up for benefits as well, what information will I need? If signing up for any coverage on your spouse and/or children, please have their dates of birth and social security numbers available when speaking with the Benefits Representative.

– What is the difference between pre and post-tax benefits? Pre-tax benefit contributions are taken from an employee’s paycheck before state and federal taxes are applied. Post-tax benefit contributions are paid after taxes are deducted. It’s important to note that some coverages may still be subject to taxes even if paid for through pre-tax deduction or employee contribution.

– Can I change my benefit elections outside of the enrollment period? Elections made during this enrollment period CANNOT BE CHANGED AFTER THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD unless there is a family status change, otherwise known as a qualifying life event (Mid-Year Events), as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. Examples of Mid-Year Events can be found here. Once a Mid-Year Event has occurred, an employee has 30 days to notify PGB’s VA Employee Services at 1-800-387-5955 to request a change in elections.

– I have a pre-existing condition. Will I still be covered? Some policies may include a pre-existing condition clause. Please read your policy carefully for full details.

YOU CAN MAKE THE FOLLOWING BENEFIT ELECTIONS DURING THE ANNUAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD:

– Enroll in, change, or cancel Health Savings Accounts.

– Enroll/Re-Enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts.⁺

– Enroll in, change, or cancel Dental Insurance (Stand-Alone Policy).*

– Enroll in, change, or cancel Vision Insurance (Stand-Alone Policy).*

– Enroll in, change, or cancel Long Term Care Benefits.

– Enroll in, change, or cancel Colonial coverage.

THE FOLLOWING BENFIT ELECTIONS MUST BE MADE WITH YOUR BENEFITS REPRESENTATIVE DURING THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE ENROLLMENT:

– Enroll in, change, or cancel The Local Choice benefits (Anthem Health, Delta Dental of VA, Anthem Blue View Vision).

⁺You will need to re-enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts if you want your benefits to continue each plan year.

*The Dental and Vision Stand-Alone Policies are for employees who have waived coverage under the Local Choice (Health, Dental, & Vision) plan. Employees enrolled in the Local Choice plan may not enroll in the Dental or Vision Stand-Alone Policies.

IMPORTANT NOTE & DISCLAIMER

This is neither an insurance contract nor a Summary Plan Description and only the actual policy provisions will prevail. All information in your benefits guide including premiums quoted is subject to change. All policy descriptions are for information purposes only. Your actual policies may be different than those in the benefits guide.