INTRODUCTION
Birch Family Services is pleased to offer you and your family a comprehensive benefits program. Understanding your healthcare options and determining the best plan options that fit your needs is very important. We understand that navigating through your benefits package can be complex and wish to offer as much support and valuable information as possible.
2025 BENEFITS OVERVIEW
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2025?
1. AETNA MEDICAL: Birch's Medical Plan is receiving several enhancements starting 4/1/2025!
- Frequently used services such as Primary Visits, Specialist Visits, Urgent Care, and Prescription Drugs no longer require you to hit the deductible!
- The Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is now integrated with Aetna (previously Ameriflex). Medical services subject to the deductible will be paid automatically by Aetna.
2. GUARDIAN DENTAL: Birch will continue to offer the same 3 dental plans designs - DMO, Low PPO, and High PPO. Starting this year, these plans will now be administered by Guardian.
3. GUARDIAN (VSP) VISION: Birch will continue to offer the same vision plan design. Starting this year, the vision plan will now be administered by Guardian (utilizing VSP's network of providers).
WHAT'S REMAINING THE SAME FOR 2025?
LINCOLN FINANCIAL LIFE & DISABILITY: Birch provides you with Basic Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability at no cost to you. While Birch offers basic life insurance, some employees may want to purchase additional coverage. You have the option to purchase Voluntary Life Insurance through Lincoln Financial.
LINCOLN FINANCIAL VOLUNTARY BENEFITS: Birch is pleased to offer you additional insurance and income protection for you and your family. Birch recognizes that each employee has different needs and is offering several voluntary plan options for you to choose from. You have the option to enroll in the following voluntary benefits:
GENOMIC LIFE: Genomic Life will continue to be offered on a voluntary basis. Genomic Life helps optimize your health – now, and in the future – based on your personal health, family history, and DNA – to catch disease early, inform choices, and tailor care so it works best for you!
ENROLLMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Coverage for new full-time employees begins:
Open enrollment for current full-time employees is generally held in February - March. Open enrollment is the one time each year that employees can make changes to their benefit elections without a qualifying life event.
Elections/Changes you make during open enrollment will become effective on April 1, 2025. If you have questions about any of the benefits mentioned in this guide, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Human Resource team or The Graham Company’s Service Line.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
In order to comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Birch determines your eligibility for medical coverage based on the number of hours you work each month.
- Employees must work at least 30 hours per week to be eligible for the Medical/Dental/Vision/Health FSA
- Employees must work at least 19.5 hours per week to be eligible for the Dependent Care FSA
- Employees must work at least 15 hours per week to be eligible for the Lincoln Voluntary Benefits
DEPENDENT COVERAGE
In addition to electing coverage for yourself, you can elect to cover your eligible dependents. Your eligible dependents include your spouse/domestic partner, your children up to age 26 regardless of student status, marital status, financial dependence or residence and your children of any age who are mentally or physically disabled and depend on you for support.
EMPLOYEES EXPERIENCING A QUALIFIED CHANGE OF STATUS
Unless you experience a life-changing qualifying event, you cannot make changes to your benefits until the next open enrollment period—prior to April 1st.
Qualifying events include:
- Marriage or Divorce
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Change in child’s dependent status
- Death of a spouse, child, or other qualified dependent
- Change in employment status or a change in coverage under another employer-sponsored plan
- Entitlement to Medicare or Medicaid
