Benefits

Health insurance is offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. The BCBS website allows the employee to find a doctor under the different networked plans. The employee may also check the formulary drug list to see if their prescriptions are covered under their health plan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Website

Summary of Benefits and Coverages:
Basic + Plan         
$750 CMM 
Double Gold - Enrollments in this plan are closed
$3250 CDHP Plan 
$6350 CDHP Plan

Benefit Booklets (Summary Plan Descriptions):
Basic + Plan
$750 CMM Plan 
Double Gold Plan - Enrollments in this plan are closed
$3250 CDHP Plan
$6350 CDHP Plan

South Central Service Cooperative Health Insurance Benefits Presentations

On January 17, 2019 and February 12, 2019, Rae Lopez from the South Central Service Cooperative presented some of the newer benefits offered to employees on the Mankato Area Public Schools health plan.  The links below include a live taping of the February 12th event and a prerecorded presentation.  

• Live Presentation from February 12, 2019
• Prerecorded presentation

COBRA Continuation Coverage
Notice of COBRA Continuation Coverage

New - Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options and Your Health Coverage

• Exchange Notification Information for ISD 77 Employees

The Customer Service telephone number for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is 1-866-537-7702. For enrollment forms and plan information, please see the information provided on this webpage. For any additional information or further questions, please contact the Business Office.

Dental Insurance 
Dental Insurance is offered through Delta Dental. Please click on the Delta Dental Website link below to visit their website for more information or to search the network.

Delta Dental's Customer Service number is: 1-800-553-9536. For information on what the district offers, please contact the district's Business Office.

Delta Dental Website
Delta Dental Enrollment Form
Delta Dental Maintenance Form

Dental Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD)

1. Self-Insured Dental Plan for Teachers, Administrators and Food Service as of July 1, 2017
2. Voluntary Dental Plan

Mankato Area Public Schools provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as a benefit to employees and families through VITAL Work Life.

The program is geared toward recognizing an employee's problems and helping to find appropriate help.  This service is confidential and is available to both employees and members of their household--at no cost to you.  Their phone number is: 1-800-383-1908.

www.VITALWORKLife.com
User Name: mankatoschools
Password: member

Long-term disability is a benefit offered through National Insurance Services Company.  The waiting period and employer contribution is determined by individual employment agreements.

Certificates of Coverage

• Clerical - All other specified employees
• Cooks Long Term Disability
• Custodians Long Term Disability
• Paraprofessionals Long Term Disability
• Superintendent and Administrators Long Term Disability
• Teachers with 5 or more yrs of service Long Term Disability
• Teachers with less than 5 Years of Service Long Term Disability

The Mankato Area Public Schools Flexible Benefits Program is offered through Further (formerly Select Account).  This plan is established to provide employees with a way to save money on costs for medical and dependent care expenses.  It is a salary reduction plan permitting participants to choose among more than one benefit.  It is classified as a "cafeteria plan" for Federal income tax purposes.  There are three components to the plan:

• Pre-tax premiums for insurance deductions
• Medical reimbursement account--$2,750 limit
• Dependent care reimbursement account--$5,000 limit

The reimbursement account allows you to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care expenses and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.  Employees are able to lower their taxable income because the money placed in the reimbursement account(s) is taken out of each paycheck and in most cases, State income taxes.

Further Contact Information:
Phone: 800-859-2144
Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00am to 8:00pm (Central Time)
Website: www.hellofurther.com
Address: P.O. Box 64193, St. Paul, MN 55164-0193
Fax: 866-231-0214

Employees of Mankato Area Public Schools are eligible to participate in 403(b) tax sheltered accounts as established pursuant to United States Public Law N. 98-370.

Application to participate, change or terminate a tax sheltered account must be made on form, which are available in the business office.  Amounts withheld from salary and paid for the purchase of a tax-sheltered account shall comply with provisions under Section  403(b) of the IRS Code as amended and with Minnesota Statute.

403(b) Universal Availability Notice

Salary Reduction Agreement

Mankato ISD Advisor Contact Information

A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account, that works in conjunction with a high-deductible health plan, which allows you the ability to save tax-free money for eligible medical expenses.  The Mankato Area Public Schools Health Savings Accounts are administered through Further (formerly Select Account). Employees who are covered on one of Mankato Area Public Schools high deductible plans are eligible for a Health Savings Account (HSA).   

For more information on health savings accounts please visit www.hellofurther.com.

On January 18, 2017, Marlo Peterson from Further provided an HSA educational meeting to employees.  The PowerPoint presentation is provided below.  

• Power Point Presentation from 1/18/17

SmartShopper is a health care shopping and savings program that works with your medical benefits.  With SmartShopper, you and your covered family members shop for different medical procedures and tests via phone, web, or mobile device.  When you choose to have your procedure at a facility on the SmartShopper list, you earn cash.  You also save money on what you pay out-of-pocket for the procedure.  

Register by calling the SmartShopper Personal Assitance Team at 1-866-285-7452 or go online to bcbsmn.smartshopper.com

Enrollment Instructions

 

Omada^® is a digital behavior change program that inspires healthy habits you can live with long term. It combines the behavior change science and unwavering support you’ll need to lose weight, keep it off, and help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Omada includes:

• Wireless smart scale to monitor your progress
• Professional health coach to keep you on track
• Interactive program that adapts to you
• Weekly online lessons to educate and inspire
• Small group of participants for real-time support

More great news: if you [or your adult family members] are at risk for type 2 diabetes or heart disease, and enrolled in our Blue Cross^® and Blue Shield^® of Minnesota health plan, Mankato Area Public Schools will cover the entire cost of the program—a $650 value.

Take a 1-minute risk screener to see if you’re eligible: omadahealth.com/bcbsmn1

 

Employee Health Promotions (EHP) was created to improve the health and quality of life of MAPS employees. This, in turn, will help to improve the academic achievement of our students.

Mankato Area Public Schools employs approximately 2400 individuals. EHP aims to provide a wellness service for each and every one.

EHP is managed by a leadership team. In addition, each MAPS site has an EHP representative. These are the wellness leaders for their building. They are responsible for the dissemination of EHP information, organizing wellness events or classes, supporting participation in district-coordinated events and rewarding site employees in achieving wellness goals.

The elements of our employee wellness program include the following:

• Health education and health-promoting activities that focus on skill development and lifestyle behavior improvements.
• Supportive social and physical environments that promote health and reduce the risk of disease.
• Integration of the worksite program into the school structure.
• Employee assistance programs to help employees balance work and family life.
• Worksite screening programs
• An evaluation and improvement process to help enhance the program’s effectiveness and efficiency.

MAPS staff receive monthly EHP Newsletters highlighting ongoing or future events.

EHP welcomes feedback. If you have questions, concerns, comments or ideas, please share them! You can provide feedback here. 

Life Insurance is a benefit offered through National Insurance Services Company.  Coverage is determined by individual employment agreements.

Certificates of Coverage

• Administrators & Principals
• Custodians
• Food Service
• Interpreters/Braillist
• Non-Affiliated Category 1 & 2
• Paraeducator
• Secretaries
• Teachers

Hello from Learn to Live!

We are excited to announce the launch of our confidential, online mental health programs for MHC employees and families who have coverage with the MHC health plan.

Learn to Live is an online resource for those of us struggling with stress, depression, sleeplessness or social anxiety, providing help anywhere, any time. Our programs are built on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Online CBT has been proven as effective as in-person care in over 10 years of clinical research. To learn more about our programs, visit our website and click “take a tour.”

Employees and family members (age 13 and older) who have coverage with the MHC health plan can enroll for free in any of our interactive programs:Social Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, or Stress, Anxiety & Worry. We encourage you to take a quick assessment to find out if any of these challenges are impacting your life.

 

MHC’s online mental health programs benefit – Learn to Live – is excited to announce their new page for on-demand Webinars!  These webinars are offered at no cost to all MHC health plan participants and family members! 

For free access, visit our website learntolive.com/partners and enter the code “MHC”.

As a third-party service, we want to assure you that our member information is completely confidential and will not be shared with anyone at your employer or MHC.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our team at clientservices@learntolive.com.

Warmly,

The Learn to Live Team

On the clock need a doc?

 All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer to get quick, convenient care with Doctor OnDemand. Video visits can be done in just minutes — with no travel time — which means it’s quick, it’s convenient and it saves money.

Board-certified doctors are available 24/7, 365 days a year to treat many common medical conditions. You also can schedule next-day appointments to see licensed psychologists and psychiatrists between the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time.
This service is available to any employee – on the health plan or not. If the employee is on the health plan, once they create an account with Doctor on Demand, the service provides real-time benefits eligibility and claims processing specific to their plan. Members also have the option to set up payment through their HSA, FSA or major credit card.

Get quick care

Doctor On Demand treats most of the top 20 conditions treated in urgent care centers, including:

• Upper respiratory infection
• Allergies
• Yeast infectionswoman sneezing 
• Sports injuries
• Travel medicine
• Sinus infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Back pain
• Rashes
• Strep throat

To learn more, or to sign up now, visit http://www.doctorondemand.com/bluecrossmn. 

Registration Instructions:

• Mobile Registration Steps
• Web Registration Steps

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and Sharecare have partnered on offering a new benefit available immediately to all employees on the district health insurance plan.   Sharecare is a digital health solution that helps people manage all their health in one place.  

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota is discontinuing the current Fitness Discount program upon the July 1, 2019 renewal and replacing it with a Fitness Incentive Program through the Sharecare solution. With this new Fitness Incentive Program, members will receive a $20 incentive for achieving an average of 10,000 step goal for 21 days a month.  The incentive will then provide a $20 reward available for redemption in the Sharecare online Marketplace.  

Set up your Sharecare account by visiting bluecrossmn.sharecare.com to login or register.  Step by step instructions along with how to sync your fitness device refer to the documents below.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Portal Sharecare Registration Instructions

How to Enroll in Sharecare Fitness Incentive Program Video

Fitness Incentive Challenges: Step by Step

Sharecare Fitness Incentive Program Tips

Sharecare TrackerSync Instructions

Sharecare Activity Conversion Chart

Real Age Reminder Information 

Rewards Redemption Instructions

 

Healthy living is just a deal away. Join Blue365® and start saving today!

 With Blue365, great deals are yours for every aspect of your life— like 20 percent off at Reebok.com, discounted products through Jenny Craig, or a gym membership for only $29 a month.

Register now at blue365deals.com/bcbsmn to take advantage of Blue365. It’s an online destination featuring healthy deals and discounts exclusively for our members.

Just have your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota member ID card handy. In a couple of minutes, you will be registered and ready to shop. Every week, we will send a special deal straight to your email inbox.

In an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, protect the health of the students, colleagues and families of our community, and provide a safe learning and work environment here at MAPS, please notify your supervisor/administrator immediately if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or been in close contact with a positive case.  

MAPS in partnership with MDH will begin the process of Contact Tracing.  Contract tracing is a tool that can help slow the spread of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).  Any information you share with the MAPS and/or MDH contract tracers is CONFIDENTIAL under HIPAA regulations.  This means your name and personal and medical information will be kept private.  

The Employee Health Promotions team wanted to share some resources below to help employees navigate during this COVID-19 time. 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota - Blue Cross Blue Shield, our health insurance provider has put together information on how they are responding to COVID-19.

Doctor on Demand - Provides treatment for 90% of the most common health conditions affecting your mind and body virtually.  

Employee Assistance Program - VITAL WorkLife

• Username: mankatoschools
• Password: member

Employee Health Promotions Newsletters - Check out current and past newsletters with great articles!  

District Facilities April 2020 Newsletter on Ergonomics - Great tips on ergonomics!  

Learn to Live - Learn to Live is an online resource for those of us struggling with stress, depression, sleeplessness or social anxiety, providing help anywhere, any time.  Enter code MHC to access this free resource for employees and dependents on the MAPS health plan age 13 and older. 

Sharecare - Sharecare is a digital health solution that helps people manage all their health in one place.  There are great articles on all aspects of health and wellness. 

Bodyweight Interval & Flexibility/Yoga Workouts - Join Tia Dupont, Recreation Specialist is offering free workout videos.  Join her google classroom, class code is 5llaq6l.   

Mayo Clinic Stress/Anxiety Related Videos 

• Feeling stressed?  Remember the 4 A's
• 7 ways to de-stress right now
• 8 reasons healthy sleep should be non-negotiable
• Small steps for a day-changing morning
• How to break up with your social network at bedtime
• Mental health benefits of tidying up

Mental Health Resources

• Crisis Text Line: Text – MN to 741741 for free 24/7 assistance for mental health crisis

• Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• Stomp Out Suicide: 1-651-777-5222

• CDC - Stress and Coping

• Child Trends - Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Harvard University Managing Fears and Anxiety around the Coronavirus

• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. COVID-19 Resources

• Very Well Mind - How to Cope With Anxiety About Coronavirus

American Red Cross - Free Mental Health First Aid for COVID-19 Online

Calm - Sleep, stress, meditations, gratitude resources, masterclass opportunities, resources for kids

Stress Help From The CDC - Tips for reducing stress during the pandemic

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation - Assorted kindness/positivity resources

Yale - Science of Wellbeing Course

Dr. Sood - Free access to his Resilient Option Course - Use coupon code - Resilience100

Trauma Resources for Educators - This MDE reference guide is a resource for teachers and school staff, to support students coping with trauma.  

Knutson + Casey, PC  (www.knutsoncasey.com) - Providing full service estate planning solutions (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives) in the Mankato Area.  Discounts for MAPS employees.  Make your estate plan part of your back to school prep.

 

 

 

 

2020 Open Enrollment - Video Health, Dental, Life, LTD Overview as of 7/1/2020

VITAL WorkLife Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) Orientation Video Overview of of EAP. Suggested Audience: All Employees

Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) Mobile App

Teacher Retirement Association (TRA) Your paycheck of the future! TRA counselors will provide a presentation that includes: What is TRA? What does having a pension mean? Where does TRA fit in my retirement finances? Suggested Audience: Employees contributing to TRA. 

Teacher Retirement Association (TRA) - How to Follow-Up

Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) - Video Are you a teacher hired after July 1, 2007, or a retiring Principal? If so, learn more about a Retiree HRA, the benefits, what the funds can be used for, how to seek reimbursement, and how to access your account. Suggested Audience: Principals and Teachers hired after July 1, 2007 that currently have a Retiree HRA through MidAmerica Administrative & Retirement Solutions, or will at the time of retirement. 

Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) What is PERA? How is the vesting determined? How are the benefits calculated? Things to know now and the process when you are ready to retire! Suggested Audience: Employees contributing to PERA.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) Suggested Audience: Employees who would like to learn about the advantages of an FSA and/or HSA account. Please note, in order to have an HSA you would need to be enrolled in a high deductible health plan. 

Health Care Savings Plan - MSRS Pre Retirement Seminar Get all your Health Care Savings Plan (HCSP) questions answered. What is a HCSP? When can I access the HCSP? How do I use the HCSP? Suggested Audience: Para-educators, Teachers hired before July 1, 2007, Cooks, Custodians, Secretaries, Principals, and Non-Affiliated employees.

403(b)s - Video What is the difference between a traditional 403(b) Plan vs. a Roth 403(b) Plan. What are the advantages and disadvantages? Suggested Audience: All Employees.

Financial Considerations When Selecting a Medical Plan - Video Identify how to select the best medical plan for you and your family when considering coverage, out of pocket cost, monthly cash flow, and tax advantaged Health Savings Account options. Suggested Audience: All employees eligible for health insurance.