3. Insurance Enrollment Information
This is a brief introduction to your State of Alaska employee benefits, which includes life insurance supplemental benefit options, and health insurance. You are responsible to know and manage your benefits. You need to know what health plan you are in: AlaskaCare, or a Union Health Trust. This is determined by what bargaining unit you are in. Everyone is eligible for Optional Benefits.
Information for AlaskaCare and Optional Benefits is available from the Department of Administration, Division of Retirement and Benefits at http://doa.alaska.gov/drb. Click on the Benefits tab and then on the Employee tab. Here you will find detailed benefit information, forms, and the Insurance Enrollment link to begin the online enrollment process for Optional Benefits or AlaskaCare. The Enrollment Guide gives you the information you need to make enrollment decisions for AlaskaCare or Optional Benefits. For additional information about Union Health Trusts, On the Retirements and Benefits home page click on Benefits, Employee, and on the Health tab click on "What Plan am I in?". If you need additional assistance with AlaskaCare or Optional Benefits contact the Benefits Section at 907-465-4460, toll-free at 1-800-821-2251, or by email at doa.drb.benefits@alaska.gov.
Please Note: Specific information for Alaska Marine Highways (AMHS) and Public Safety Employees Association (PSEA) employees is not included in this benefit information.
Life Insurance
Complete benefit information for both the Basic and Optional Life plans are available at: http://doa.alaska.gov/drb.
Basic Life Insurance: The State of Alaska provides basic life and accidental death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance to all eligible State employees and their dependents beginning on the 31st consecutive calendar day of employment. Leave-without pay taken within the first 30 days of employment may postpone the coverage until 30 consecutive days have been met. The Basic Life & AD&D benefit amount is $2000 for the employee and lesser amounts for dependents. The plan pays an additional $5000 if the employee's death is accidental. Employees are automatically enrolled in the plan at the time of hire, however you must still complete the Basic & Optional Life enrollment form (5-301a) in your hire packet to designate your beneficiaries.
Select Life Insurance: You may purchase additional life insurance for yourself equal to your annual salary (rounded to the highest thousand) up to a maximum of $60,000.00 (SU and Confidential bargaining unit employees maximum is $100,000.00.) Premiums are calculated based on your age (as of July 1st of the current benefit year) and salary at the time of enrollment and are deducted from your post-tax wages. Premiums are adjusted every benefit year for wage and age changes. To enroll you must complete the Basic and Select Life Enrollment Form included on the New Employee Orientation Forms page. You have the option to sign up for Select Life Benefits each year during the annual open enrollment. Open enrollment is generally mid May through mid June on an annual basis, with the new elections becoming effective July 1st. Changes may also be made within 30 days of a qualified status change.
Part-time employment: If you are a part-time employee, (scheduled to work at least 15 but less than 30 hours per week) and want to participate in the State's Basic Life and AD & D plans, you will need to sign the enrollment form and also enroll in your Group Health Plan. You must elect coverage within the first 31 consecutive calendar days of employment. You must pay one-half of the health and life insurance premium cost.
Optional Benefits (Optional)
Complete Optional Benefits Information is available on the Retirement and Benefits web site. Click on the Benefits tab, then the Employee tab.
All state employees with the exception of Labor, Trades and Crafts bargaining unit members, may select Life, Survivor, Disability, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Dependent Care Assistance Plan coverage benefits under Optional Benefits. Online Optional Benefit enrollment must be completed within 30 calendar days from your date of hire to qualify for those selections in the current benefit year (July 1st - June 30th). The premium amount for any benefits elected under Optional benefits is deducted (50% each pay period) from your pre-taxed gross pay. Coverage begins the first of the month after you have completed 30 days of employment. Enroll online at doa.alaska.gov/drb by clicking on Insurance Enrollment located on the right side of the page. You have the option to sign up for Optional Benefits each year during the annual open enrollment. Open enrollment is generally mid May through mid June on an annual basis, with the new elections becoming effective July 1st. Changes may also be made within 30 days of a qualified status change.
Health Insurance
All full-time permanent and long-term non-permanent employees, and their eligible dependents, are covered by state paid health insurance. Participation is not optional. The State contributes a Benefits Credit towards the cost of your health insurance. Depending on your bargaining unit affiliation, and the plan you choose, you may be required to pay a portion of the premium. Please refer to the following information below for determining the appropriate plan that you will be covered under.
AlaskaCare
The following employee groups are under the AlaskaCare plan administered by the State:
- Supervisory
- Confidential
- Correctional Officers
- AVTEC
- Mt. Edgecumbe Teachers
- Employees not covered by collective bargaining
More information can be found at http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/alaskaCare/index.html.
Health Insurance: Coverage is provided to all full-time permanent/probationary, and long-term non-permanent employees and their eligible dependents beginning on the thirty-first (31) consecutive calendar day of employment. Leave-without-pay taken within the first 30 days of employment may postpone the coverage until 30 consecutive days have been met. You must elect coverage within 30 days of your hire date, or you will be enrolled in the default plan. Half of the employee's portion of the pretax premium is deducted each pay period. Leave-without-pay taken within the first 30 days of employment may postpone the coverage until 30 consecutive days have been met. Information on how to enroll for these benefits can be found on the Division of Retirement and Benefits Web site by clicking on the link above. You may also choose to enroll during open enrollment or with a qualified status change.
Part-time employment: If you are a part-time employee (scheduled to work at least 15 but less than 30 hours per week) you are eligible to participate in the AlaskaCare Health Plan. To participate you must elect coverage within the first 30 consecutive calendar days of employment. You are required to pay one-half of the employer portion of the premium as well as the employee's portion. If elected, your health care benefits will be effective on the 31st consecutive day you in pay status. Leave-without-pay taken within the first 30 days of employment may postpone the coverage until 30 consecutive days have been met. Information on how to enroll for these benefits can be found on the Division of Retirement and Benefits Web site by clicking on the link above. You may also choose to enroll during open enrollment or with a qualified status change.
Union health trusts
The following employee groups are covered by Union health trusts and the Trust should be contacted for details.
- General Government
- Labor, Trades and Crafts
-- General Government Union --
Contact your General Government Union Health Trust for enrollment information at 866-553-8206 or http://www.aseahealth.org.
Your association participates in the ASEA Group Health Trust. Upon receiving the Employee Information Form, the Heath Trust will mail you an enrollment packet. Health care benefits will be effective the first day of the calendar month following 30 continuous days of employment. Leave-without pay taken within the first 30 days of employment may postpone the coverage until 30 consecutive days have been met. Your health benefits selection forms must be completed and returned to the Trust within 30 days of your hire date, or you will be enrolled in the default plan.
Part-time employment: If you are a part-time employee (scheduled to work at least 15 but less than 30 hours per week) you are eligible to participate in the Group Health Plan. To participate you must elect coverage within the first 30 consecutive calendar days of employment. You are required to pay one-half of the employer portion of the premium as well as the employee's portion. If chosen, your health care benefits will be effective the first day of the calendar month following 30 continuous days of employment. Leave-without-pay taken within the first 30 days of employment may postpone the coverage until 30 consecutive days have been met. You may also choose to enroll during the annual or open enrollment period or with a qualified status change.
-- Labor, Trades & Crafts (LTC) --
Information can be found at http://www.local71.com
Your association participates in the LTC Health Trust. When deductions become necessary, the employee's portion of the pre-tax premium is deducted 50% each pay period. Health care benefits are effective the first day of the calendar month following 30 continuous days of employment. Contact your union representative for enrollment information. Leave-without-pay taken within the first 30 days may postpone the coverage until 30 consecutive days have been met.
Additional benefits are available through the Group Health Trust, such as additional supplemental coverage.