Eligible employees (20+ hours per week) can save money by converting unreimbursed medical expenses and dependent care expenses from an after-tax to a before-tax basis. 

To better service our employees, we will be transitioning our current October – September benefit plan year to a January 1 through December 31 plan year effective January 1, 2020.  This will be beneficial in a variety of ways; lining up our deductible and out-of-pocket accumulations on the calendar year, assist us with the 1095-C reporting which is based on the calendar year, and providing and aligning our Open Enrollment with other employers for family insurance planning purposes. 

In anticipation of this plan year change, we will be implementing a short plan year on our Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Plans effective October 1, 2019.  With this being said, you will be able to enroll in this flex plan year for October 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 and claims incurred during this 3 months will be eligible for reimbursement.  Due to the 3-month plan year, the annual maximums will be $675 for the Health Care Flex Plan and $1,250 for the Dependent Care Flex Plan.  We will hold open enrollment in November, for the January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 plan year.

This transition will not affect the Health Care Flex (up to) $500 carryover provision to the short plan year or the 2020 plan year.  The carryover provision means that (up to) $500 remaining in your Health Care Flexible Spending Plan at the end of the plan year will carryover to be used on expenses incurred during the next plan year.

This fall, an email will be sent out from the HR Department to all employees eligible to participate and enroll.  This information will be sent in late August.    New employees that are hired after the open enrollment period are eligible to enroll and any employees that experience a qualifying event, may enroll or make changes to their current status.  For more information, contact Paulette Kerzmann or (701) 323-4072.

The following guides/links can be found on the iVisions site:

Mobile App Installation and Login Instructions for Discovery Benefits

Discovery Benefits Link

Benefit Participant Contact Information Sheet

Filing Claims - Employee Handout

Out-of-Pocket Reimbursement Request Form

Benefits Debit Card Employee Handout