====Health Insurance====

**This page contains links to various health insurance documents, both from our insurance provider, United Healthcare (as of February 28, 2021), and from government entities.**

For information on dental benefits see [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/Dental here]]. 

For information on well being resources for the Des Moines IA area see [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/ResourcesforStaff]].

**Eligibility and Enrollment**
Waiting Period: Employees will be eligible for health insurance after 60 days of employment. Employees may enroll after the initial period **only** (a) for a qualifying event or (b) during open enrollment (immediately prior to the plan renewal).
Minimum Hours Requirement: Employees "routinely required to work" 30 hours/week

Employees will receive benefits beginning on the first day of the calendar month following eligibility.  Enrollment forms (including for those waiving) are due prior to the enrollment date.  [[AEHealthInsuranceEnrollment How to Enroll or Submit Waiver]]

Eligible employees' dependents and/or spouses are also eligible for coverage under our plan, but Project Vote Smart pays 0% of these premiums

**Payment of Premiums**
All employees who have met eligibility requirements will have 100% of their health insurance premiums paid by Vote Smart unless otherwise notified.  Vote Smart's contributions to employee health insurance will be reflected on employee pay stubs, but will not impact their salary. This information can also be found in [[PoliciesandProcedures]].

Coverage of a spouse and/or dependent(s) may be requested, but the cost of these premiums must be covered by the employee.  In this case, the employee would owe the difference between the employee+dependent/spouse/family premium and the employee-only premium.  Vote Smart pays all the premiums directly, and then works with our accountants to automatically deduct the appropriate amount from the employee's paycheck on a monthly basis.  

For any staff who do not enroll in PVS insurance and pay for their own health coverage out of pocket, they may be eligible for reimbursement, however, **this is not guaranteed**. To determine if you are eligible for reimbursement, provide the Office Manager with the details of the alternative coverage plan you are on and proof of payment for each month of coverage paid for; they will work with our accountants. Plans that are subject to additional fines, fees, taxes, or other financial costs will not be authorized.  If determined to be eligible, **the reimbursement will be processed through payroll** in accordance with your health insurance eligibility date.  The reimbursement amount will be equivalent to and not greater than the amount paid for a staff member who is on the PVS insurance plan. Premiums paid for dependents are not eligible for reimbursement by PVS. 

**Benefits**
Key Benefits for Individual Plans:
$25 Co-Pay for Primary Care Visits
$0 Co-Pay for Virtual Visit via designated provider, $10 In-Network Virtual Visit
$1500 Deductible
20% Co-insurance (generally, in-network)
$5,000 Max Out-of Pocket

See full documentation at [[https://votesmart.easecentral.com EaseCentral]].

{{files}}Project

**In-Network Providers**
	See your insurance card for which networks are assigned to you.  You can search the providers in these networks on [[http://myuhc.com through the online system]]
	
	Designated telemedicine providers (covered at no charge) include Amwell, Doctors on Demand, Telehealth

**Notices**

[[https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6NCNB9fmEupbVc4RUNPcTJVNGc/edit?usp=sharing Here]] is the notice from Medicare concerning drug coverage.

Each of these documents contains helpful contact information which will get you in touch with people and organizations that can answer your questions about healthcare.

As other notices about health insurance become available, they will be handed out/emailed to staff members, physically posted in the office when required, and posted on this wiki page. 

If there is other insurance information you wish to see, contact the Office Manager. You may be directed to contact Cole Kramer, our account executive (contact info [[http://wiki.votesmart.org/OtherContacts#hn_Insurance here]]).