Quick Preview of Annual Enrollment 2013
Annual Enrollment starts November 5 and ends November 16. Watch your email and mybmcbenefits.com for details in the months ahead. For now, here’s a quick preview:
- Get your rewards. BMC will give you a $600 discount ($25 per paycheck) on your 2013 medical coverage if you complete health screenings and the Well Being Assessment™ by July 31, 2012. Good to know: If you were hired between May 1, 2012 and October 15, 2012, complete the Well-Being Assessment by October 31, 2012 and receive a $300 discount ($12.50 per paycheck).
- For 2013, you can contribute $3,250 (individual) or $6,450 (family) to a Health Savings Account. The catch-up contribution will remain the same at $1,000. These limits include BMC contributions to your account.
- New Limit on Health Care FSA Contributions. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (Healthcare Reform), the contribution amount to flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for medical expenses — including BMC’s Health Care FSA — will be limited to $2,500 per year. The current limit is $10,000. Watch this video to learn more about the cost-saving benefits of the BMC Health Care FSA.
- Wellness: We will continue our focus on healthy lifestyle choices and tools, resources, and programs to support efforts to maintain or improve your health.
Watch your email or visit mybmcbenefits.com in the upcoming months for details about annual enrollment, changes for 2013 and other important developments affecting your benefits.
BMC Deposits Second Contribution to HSAs in July
If you enrolled in the Aetna Health Savings Plan for 2012 and you opened a Health Savings Account with UMB Bank, you received the second company-provided contribution to your account in July.
If you are hired July 1 through November 30, you’ll receive 50 per cent of the 2012 annual amount within 30 days of eligibility. You are eligible for BMC's HSA contribution if you are actively employed by BMC on the date the company contribution is deposited to your HSA.
BMC's contribution depends on your base salary and the how many dependents you cover under the Aetna HSA Plan.
| If your base salary is: | And you choose: | |
|---|---|---|
| Employee-Only Coverage | Other Coverage Levels | |
| BMC's 2012 Contribution is: | ||
| $75,000 or less | $750 | $1500 |
| More than $75,000 | $500 | $1000 |
The amount deposited in July by BMC is 50% of the above annual amount.
Saving on Care: Emergency Rooms vs. Urgent Care Facilities
We've all been there. It’s a Saturday afternoon, your 8-year-old soccer star twists her ankle, and you panic and race to the emergency room.
Yes, the ER can be tempting. But remember, true emergencies (not fractures and flu symptoms) are treated first. That means you and your daughter's ankle may wait hours to see a doctor.
Meanwhile, your costs will be much higher than if you first call your doctor or go to an urgent care clinic.
You have options. That's why you should consider your alternatives to the ER now, so you'll be ready to make a better choice the next time you need care. Learn the eight great reasons to try urgent care and more here.
Tips for Traveling Abroad
If you're traveling abroad this summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Travelers' Health website provides health information for the traveler. The website provides information on immunizations that are needed for travel to various areas of the world. It also provides information for safe travel, including traveling with children and with people who have special needs. Read More...
New to BMC? Saving in a 401(k) or HSA is Good. Over-Contributing is Bad.
Paying taxes is bad enough. Paying penalties to the IRS for contributing above their annual limits for Health Savings Accounts or 401(k) accounts is…well…painful. To avoid over-contributing you need to know how much you put in your Health Savings Account and/or 401(k) at your last job and add these amounts to your current BMC contributions; both amounts count toward the IRS annual limits. Read More...
After answering the poll, check out these 8 Summer Steps for Healthy Living from WebMD.