• Health and Limited Flexible Spending Account (FSA) maximum: $3,050
• No increase in Vision rates.
• Virtual Physical Therapy provided by Kaia at no additional cost to employees and their dependents age 18+ enrolled in a UHC medical plan. Kaia uses artificial intelligence (AI) to track your movements.
• 2nd.MD Second Opinion service is provided at no additional cost to those employees in a UHC medical plan. The Second Opinion service offers access to convenient consultations with medical experts, virtually and by phone.
• Effective January 1, 2023, additional medications will be added to the list of those requiring step therapy, quantity limits and prior authorization. If your medication is impacted, you will receive a letter advising you of this change and entailing any action needed or available alternatives.
• Medical and Dental rates have increased; RCPS makes every effort to provide affordable insurance rates for our employees. This increase in premiums is due to increased medical costs, prescription drug costs, and claims.

Employees should visit myRCPS for information about enrolling in benefits.

We continue to provide benefit plans which promote healthy living. Please review the plans and select the plan that works best for you and your family. Rates are paid over 10 months for 12 months of coverage. The amount in parentheses is a credit to the HSA account.  

A Health Savings Account is an account that allows you to accumulate funds deposited by RCPS on your behalf, as well as your own pre-tax contributions, to cover healthcare expenses toward your deductible. You must be enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

Employees should visit myRCPS to learn more and enroll.

HSA Advantages

• You must not exceed the IRS maximum contribution each year which includes both employee and employer contributions made on your behalf. The 2023 IRS maximum for an individual is $3,850 and $7,750 for family. HSA catch up (for age 55 and older) $1,000.
• Out-of-Pocket Costs Reduced: You can use the money in your HSA to pay for eligible medical and prescription expenses and satisfy your plan’s annual deductible.
• Account Portability: Unused account dollars are yours to keep even if you retire or leave the company.
• Healthcare dollars can grow over time: You can also invest your HSA dollars in select funds.
• HSA dollars can be used for future eligible expenses such as medical, dental or vision expenses.

HSA-eligible Expenses 

The products and services listed below are examples of eligible expenses for payment under your HSA, to the extent that such services are not covered by your medical, vision and dental insurance plans. This list is not all-inclusive; additional expenses may qualify, and the items listed below are subject to change in accordance with IRS regulations. Please refer to IRS Publication 502 to verify that your expense is eligible.

HSA Tax Provisions and Eligibility Requirements

Contributions to your HSA account are made pre-tax and withdrawals from your account for eligible medical expenses are tax free.

• Earnings on the account are not taxed and there is no lifetime maximum accumulation of your HSA account.
• Withdrawals for reasons other than eligible medical expenses taken before age 65 are subject to additional 20% penalty but there is no distribution required at age 70 ½.
• HSA account holder must not be covered by any other health plan (i.e. Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, Group, and Individual coverage unless the coverage is a High Deductible Health Plan).
• Cannot be covered by a spousal medical FSA and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.

 Limited Purpose Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• You may only enroll in a Limited Purpose Health FSA. With the Limited Purpose Health (FSA), only dental and vision expenses are eligible for reimbursement; medical expenses are not eligible for reimbursement.

The HRA Medical Plan is a medical plan with a Health Reimbursement Account funded by Roanoke City Public Schools.  This account is used on an employee’s behalf by UnitedHealthcare (UHC).

• When an employee enrolls in the HRA Medical plan, there is a Health Reimbursement Account, (HRA) that is a part of the plan. This HRA is a tax-exempt account established by Roanoke City Public Schools and it can be funded only by employer contributions, and not through a Section 125 cafeteria plan. The contributions to the fund are excluded from the employee's gross income, and are not subject to FICA or FUTA taxes. The disbursements from the fund used to pay for qualifying medical expenses are also excluded from the employee's gross income.
• The assets in the fund, HRA dollars, can only be used to pay the eligible medical expenses of the employee, the employee's enrolled spouse, and the employee's enrolled dependents. Roanoke City Public Schools’ HRA allows expenses that apply to the deductible along with coinsurance, the out-of-pocket maximum, and Rx co-pays as eligible expenses to be paid for by the HRA. 

 How the Health Reimbursement Account Works

• HRA dollars: These are dollars provided by Roanoke City Public Schools to an employee’s HRA account. HRA Dollars are only distributed to providers by UnitedHealthcare.
• HRA Dollar Access Point:The HRA Dollar Access Point is reached when an employee incurs $1,000 in eligible patient expenses. UnitedHealthcare will know when to distribute HRA dollars because they track employee expenses and know when an employee reaches the HRA Dollar Access Point, $1,000, in eligible patient expenses. After reaching the $1,000 Access Point, eligible patient expenses begin to be paid by UnitedHealthcare with dollars available in the HRA.
• HRA Dollars Available:
  • Employee Only Coverage: Each plan year, $1,000 HRA dollars are available in the HRA. The maximum HRA dollars an employee can accumulate in the HRA in a plan year is $2,000. This includes the plan year HRA dollars ($1,000) and unused HRA dollars rolled over from the year before (maximum of $1,000). An employee may use any or all HRA dollars available once the access point is met. If an employee terminates employment, HRA dollars are not portable.
  • Employee + Child, Employee + Spouse, and Employee + Family Levels of Coverage: Each plan year, $2,000 HRA dollars are available. The maximum HRA Dollars an employee can accumulate in a plan year is $4,000. This includes the plan year HRA Dollars ($2,000) and unused HRA dollars rolled over from the year before (maximum of $2,000). Whichever family member reaches the access point first may use any or all HRA dollars available in the HRA account. If an employee terminates employment, HRA dollars are not portable.
    • Since the maximum total deductible for the family plan is $4,000, it is possible that if the first family member reaches the access point of $1,000 and uses all available HRA dollars, and a second family member reaches the access point, of $1,000, they will be required to meet the full deductible of $2,000 before qualifying for co-insurance of 80% paid by UHC and 20% paid by the member.

Horace Mann/Wage Works Flexible Benefit Spending Accounts 2023 provisions: 

• Health FSA - IRS maximum: $3,050
• Limited Health FSA - maximum: $3,050 - for High Deductible Health Plan with HSA account participants.  This FSA is limited to eligible Vision and Dental expenses only.
• Dependent Care FSA - IRS maximum: $5,000
• Use of a debit card for eligible Health FSA expenses

2023 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) HoraceMann/WageWorks

2023 Health FSA allows Roanoke City Public Schools employees to pay for certain IRS-approved medical care expenses (as of January 1, 2010 under health care reform) not covered by their insurance plan with pretax dollars as well as copays, deductibles and coinsurance. See IRS publication 502. Examples include:

• Hearing services, including hearing aids and batteries

• Vision services, including contact lenses, contact lens solution, eye examinations and eyeglasses

• Dental services and orthodontia

• Chiropractic services

• Acupuncture

• Prescription contraceptives

The maximum amount in 2023 that you can contribute to your Health Care Flexible Spending Account is $3,050.

2023 Dependent Care FSA allows Roanoke City Public Schools employees use pretax dollars toward qualified dependent care such as caring for children under age 13 or caring for elders. See IRS publication 503. Examples include:

• The cost of child or adult dependent care. The cost for an individual to provide care either in or out of your house. Nursery schools and preschools (excluding kindergarten)
• The maximum amount you can contribute to your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account is $5,000.

WageWorks Contact information
Visit their website or call 877-924-3967


FSA for 2023 Monies: Use it or lose it!
You have until March 30, 2024 to incur eligible expenses and until March 30, 2024 to submit eligible expenses for reimbursement for 2023 monies.

Advantages of an FSA

FSAs provide you with an important tax advantage [see chart below] that can help you pay health care and dependent care expenses on a pretax basis. By anticipating your family’s health care and dependent care costs for the next year, you can actually lower your taxable income. New elections must be made each year to the Flexible Spending Account to continue participation.

• An account minimum of $100 per year is required in each FSA account

Medical and Prescription Drug Overview

This is a summary of In-Network Benefits for our UnitedHealthcare medical and prescription drug plans for the upcoming plan year January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. Our plans allow you the freedom to use providers in and out-of-network; however, charges are paid at a lower percentage for out-of-network providers. Prior authorization is required for certain services, tests, and procedures; your provider will coordinate any necessary prior authorization. Additional information about UnitedHealthcare plans is available on myRCPS, or you may call the  phone number on your UnitedHealthcare medical card.

The Virginia Retirement System (VRS), an independent state agency, provides retirement and other benefits to covered Virginia public sector eligible employees. Go to the VRS' website for information, forms, publications and access to your retirement information. Sign into “MyVRS” to look at your retirement information and run your own retirement estimates. If you need assistance, please call VRS at 888-827-3847.

Plan 1 and Plan 2

You have a Defined Benefit Plan (Pension), and the option to apply for Disability Retirement, if applicable.

Hybrid Plan

You have a Defined Benefit Plan (Pension), and two Contribution Accounts: 401a and 457. You can go online to varetire.org and view more information about your plan under the “Defined Contribution Plans” tab. For assistance, call VRS Defined Contribution Plans at 877-327-5261. Hybrid employees are eligible for Short-term and Long-term disability coverage after a year and one day of employment. VACORP manages this program and their toll-free number is 844-404-2111.

Life Insurance Benefits

VRS-eligible employees will be covered for Group Life Insurance at no cost through Securian Financial/VRS.Group Life Insurance, as noted on VRS’ website:

Natural death benefit: The natural death benefit is equal to your creditable compensation rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled. Example: If your compensation is $41,400, that amount will be rounded to $42,000 and then doubled for a natural death benefit of $84,000.

Accidental death benefit: The accidental death benefit is double the natural death benefit. Example: If your natural death benefit is $84,000, that amount will be doubled for an accidental death benefit of $168,000.

Optional Life Insurance: You are also eligible to apply to purchase additional life insurance for yourself, spouse, and dependent children through the Optional Group Life Insurance Program. You would pay the premium for this additional coverage through payroll deductions.

RCPS offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for whenever an employee wants professional help with a personal problem (e.g. drug and alcohol abuse, family/marital difficulties, or mental health issues, etc.) whether or not the problem is interfering with job performance. THe EAP helps the employee to return to a high level of productivity by prompt and effective treatment of a problem.

Eligibility
Any full or part-time employee in the Roanoke City Public Schools can access this program.

Where
Meetings are available virtually and by phone.

Carilion Employee Assistance Program- Roanoke
213 McClanahan, St. 201A
Roanoke, VA 24014
(540) 981-8950 or (800) 992-1931

Carilion Employee Assistance Program-Radford at CHRVMC
2900 Lamb Circle
Carilion Clinic NRV, Suite 203
Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 731-7379 or (800) 992-1931

Get Started

Call (540) 981-8950 for Roanoke or (540) 731-7379 for Radford or toll free, any location: (800) 992-1931. Identify yourself as a Roanoke City Public Schools' employee who wants EAP services and an appointment will be made for you. (This call is confidential. The school system is not aware of the employee who contacts EAP directly.) The EAP offers virtual and counseling by phone.

After Hours In Case of An Emergency: An EAP consultant can be reached after hours in case of an emergency by calling the Carilion Clinic Switchboard at (540) 981-7000 and requesting to page the EAP Counselor on-call.

Conducting our business in an ethical manner is the obligation of all employees. By fulfilling this obligation, we not only protect the reputation and image of Roanoke City Public Schools, we also honor our responsibility to Roanoke City Public Schools' stakeholders and maintain the public's trust. The School Board also feels it’s important that every employee have a variety of options in communicating issues to the School Administration. 

The Roanoke City Public Schools’ Employee Hotline, 800-556-3041, is a 24-hour telephone service line available to all staff for reporting potentially illegal or unethical matters observed, discovered or experienced in the workplace. This resource is operated by a third party agency to ensure confidentiality. The Roanoke City Public Schools’ Employee Hotline is not meant to replace ongoing communication between employee and supervisor, but it does provide the employee an anonymous alternative. In addition to the hotline, there is also a reporting option on the internet. https://rcps.alertline.com

The Roanoke City Public Schools’ Employee Hotline is available for reporting workplace violations such as:

Discrimination/harassment

• Conflicts of Interest
• Inappropriate gifts or entertainment
• Bribery
• Fraud
• Questionable accounting and auditing matters
• Environmental, health or safety issues
• Improper use of confidential information
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Stealing or misuse of company property
• Other violations of company policies or criminal conduct

Aflac

Aflac offers disability income protection, accident, cancer, hospital confinement coverage.

• Disability income protection insurance: Benefits include total disability, partial disability and transitional disability
• Accident indemnity protection insurance: Allows cash benefits to be paid directly to employee
• Personal cancer indemnity insurance: Includes first occurrence benefit, radiation and chemotherapy benefit
• Hospital confinement indemnity insurance: Daily benefit and rehabilitation benefit

Employees should visit myRCPS for more information. Premiums are paid through payroll deduction, post tax, and coverage is portable

Allstate

Allstate offers group accident and cancer coverage

• Group accident coverage is guaranteed to be issued, which means there is no evidence of insurability required.
• Group cancer coverage: if not elected during open enrollment or if not elected within 31 days of hire, evidence of insurability is required. 

Premiums are paid through post-tax payroll deduction. Employees should visit myRCPS for more information.

Pharmacy Plan Enhancement

The Right Rx program powered by US-Rx Care may help reduce your out of pocket prescription spending. Right Rx is an innovative program that works with your UnitedHealthcare pharmacy benefit plan to analyze all of your prescription drugs and communicate with your doctor on quality of care and cost-saving opportunities.

Do all employees who are in a medical plan have this enhancement?

• Yes, Right Rx will review all those on the medical plan to see if there are any cost-saving opportunities available to them.

What do employees do to participate?

• Respond to Right Rx’s call. At times, US-Rx Care may call to discuss pharmacy care options. Please answer these calls as a prompt reply will provide opportunities to save money.
• Initiate a call to complete a proactive medication review.  For questions regarding this program, please contact US-Rx Care at 800-241-8440.

What do employees do if they don’t want to participate?

• This program is voluntary and if Right Rx calls, an employee may elect to participate in the savings opportunity or not.  

Diabetes Health Plan through UnitedHealthcare

The Diabetes Health Plan [DHP] rewards pre-diabetic and diabetic members and their dependents 18 years and older, on our health plans who routinely follow independent, medically proven steps to help manage their diabetes – such as regular blood sugar checks, routine exams and preventive screenings. This plan offers individuals who follow preventive steps the prospect of reducing annual out-of-pocket costs.

Benefits include:

• Specific diabetes supplies and diabetes-related prescription drugs (as described by the   program) at no charge

• Lower or no co-payments for doctor related visits with potential savings of up to $500 a year

How do members enroll?

• Open Enrollment: Enrollment is automatic; however, members will be given an opportunity to opt-out if they wish.

• After Open Enrollment: If you or your 18 year or older dependent becomes newly diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes or Diabetes after 1/1/23, you have an opportunity to self-enroll. An application to self-enroll is available by going to the RCPS Intranet website: Human Resources, click the “Forms - Benefits” link.  Submit your information to the address on the form.

How can members get more information on this program?

• Online information: www.uhctogether.com/RCPS
• Questions: call  866-944-9001