Employee Benefits Enrollment

  • Benefits Eligibility at WESD

    Washington Elementary School District (WESD) determines employee benefit eligibility based on hours of service. Full-time classified employees regularly scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week or variable employees averaging 30 hours per week (130 hours per month) during the designated measurement period may be eligible for benefits.

    Eligible positions include:

    • Full-time Classified Employees (30+ hours/week)

    • Certification  with contracts of 0.50 FTE or greater

    Eligible dependents include your lawful spouse and dependent children, as defined in the benefit glossary.

    For more details about premiums, eligibility, or dependent coverage, please refer to the current benefits guide or contact the WESD Benefits Office.

     
     

  • HIPAA

    HIPAA Notice for Employees

    HIPAA Notice 

     Our Washington Elementary School District Employee Benefit Trust Self‑funded Health Plan follows federal law to ensure your Protected Health Information (PHI) remains confidential. Here’s what you should know:

    • How your information is used and shared: The plan may use or disclose PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations—but always within HIPAA guidelines.

    • Your privacy rights: You have the right to access, correct, and obtain an accounting of disclosures of your PHI.

    • Our obligations: We must maintain reasonable safeguards, provide this notice, and abide by the terms of the privacy policy.

    • Complaints: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the plan or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    • Contact information: For questions about the plan’s privacy practices or to obtain a copy of the full HIPAA Notice

    Take action:

    • Review the complete HIPAA Notice (available through HR, benefits portal, or upon request).

    • Keep this summary in mind when you access or share PHI—your privacy matters.

    Thank you for helping us protect your health information.

  • New Hire Enrollment

    Coverage becomes effective based on the start date of the benefit-eligible position.  

    Employees hired between the 1st and the 15th day of the month become eligible for benefits on the first day of the next month following their first date of employment.
     
    Employees hired between the 16th and the 31st day of the month become eligible for benefits on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment.   
     
    Failure to enroll within 31 days of your hire date will result in you not receiving benefits for the current year. You will not be able to enroll yourself and/or your eligible dependents until the next Open Enrollment period unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event (change in status). A qualifying life event, under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, includes marriage, divorce, death of a dependent and gain of a child due to birth or adoption.

     
    Open Enrollment  

    Open Enrollment is held in the Spring for benefits taking effect on July 1st of the same year.  Enrollment is completed on the ESS system.   Information regarding Open Enrollment will be emailed to all benefit-eligible employees in advance of the Open Enrollment Period.  
     
    Covering During Summer Months 
     
    Employees who work less than a 12-month calendar prepay their summer months of coverage throughout the school year. Normal premiums are deducted from 19 paychecks starting in September.     
     
    Regular coverage through the summer months is continued, but is dependent upon the employee's return to work for the new school year.  If a classified employee does not return to work for the new school year, benefits will terminate based on the actual last day worked of the prior school year (in a benefit-eligible position).  If a certified employee does not return to work for the new school year, benefits will be terminated based on the last day of the employee's contract for the prior school year.  
     
    Termination of Benefits
     
    Employee coverage ends on the last day of the month in which:
    • your employment with the District ends; or
    • your employment contract ends; or
    • you are no longer eligible to participate in the plan; or
    • you cease to make any contributions required for your coverage; or
    • the date the plan is discontinued; or
    • the date of your death.
     
    Upon termination, eligible employees will receive notification regarding COBRA coverage. 

Insurance Terms

  • Accident:

    Posted by:

    An unforeseen and unavoidable event resulting in an injury which is not due to any fault of the covered person.
    Comments (-1)

  • Benefit(s), Benefit Payment:

    Posted by:

    The amount of money payable for a claim, after calculation of all deductible amounts, coinsurance, copays and plan exclusions, maximums and limitations.
    Comments (-1)

  • Calendar Year:

    Posted by:

    he 12-month period beginning January 1 and ending December 31. FSA and HSA maximums accumulate during the calendar year.  All other benefits are on a fiscal year basis.  
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