REI is committed to rewarding co-op employees with competitive pay and benefits, plus unique perks to get outside. Our plans continue to provide the same great benefits you’ve seen in the past, with a few new items that become effective January 1, 2021, unless otherwise noted.
What’s New for 2021
Medical
Aetna
REI Saver and Choice Medical Plans
Data iSight
Data iSight can help you save when you see an out-of-network provider. If you receive a bill from a provider that reflects an amount due that is greater than the amount on your Explanation of Benefits (EOB), call Data iSight at 1-866-835-4022. Let the representative know you are an Aetna member and have been charged an amount greater than that shown on your EOB. They’ll work to help reduce the cost of your bill.
Preventive Care
More preventive care is covered for FREE! That’s right—more screenings and prescription drugs that won’t cost you a penny.
Prescriptions
Rare Conditions Care ValueSM Safeguard
The Rare Conditions Care ValueSM (RCCV) program from Express Scripts can help reduce costs and improve care for rare conditions. In the program, you and your family members have access to one-on-one counseling with experts in rare conditions, discounts on medications and more.
HIV PrEP Medications
As part of the Affordable Care Act, medications prescribed for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) are covered for select patients. For more details, visit express-scripts.com or call 1-800-462-5916.
Telemedicine
Teladoc
Teladoc is a national network of U.S. board-certified physicians, pediatricians, behavioral health specialists and dermatologists who are available on demand, 24/7. Through this service, take care of non-emergency medical issues via phone or online video consultations. In most instances you pay less for a Teladoc consult than you would for an office visit with your primary care physician, behavioral health specialists or dermatologist. You pay per session and the costs is applied toward your deductible.
- Primary care provider: You pay $47 per session and this cost applies toward the deductible.
- Behavioral health specialist: You pay $85 per non-medical doctor (e.g., therapist) per session; $95-$190 per psychiatrist session. Costs apply toward the deductible.
- Dermatologist: You pay $75 per session and this cost applies toward the deductible.
Life Insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance
You can purchase Supplemental Life Insurance through The Hartford. For 2021, we’re expanding the benefits coverage options below.
Any change to your Supplemental Life coverage may be subject to Evidence of Insurability (EOI). Learn more here.
| Coverage Options | Part-Time Employees | Full-Time Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | 1 to 8 times your Basic Life benefit of $20,000, to a maximum of $160,000 | 1 to 8 times your annual base pay, to a maximum of $850,000 |
| Spouse/Life Partner | Adding additional coverage options to include: $20,000, $50,000, $75,000, $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000 Spouse/Life Partner Supplemental Life Insurance may not exceed your combined Basic Life plus your Employee Supplemental Life Insurance coverage. |
|
Special Life Insurance Enrollment Period
For the 2021 Benefits Open Enrollment period, you may increase coverage in certain situations without EOI.
During this period, The Hartford is allowing a one-time opportunity to enroll in Life Insurance up to the guarantee issue amount without requiring EOI for Employee Supplemental Life and Spouse/Life Partner Life Insurance. If you’re updating Employee Supplemental Life or Spouse/Life Partner elections, the enrollment system may state that EOI is required. Your elections will be reviewed and only the elections that exceed the guaranteed issue amounts listed below will require EOI.
What are the guaranteed issue amounts for Life Insurance?
- For part-time employees, the guaranteed issue is $120,000 for Employee Supplemental Life Insurance.
- For full-time employees, the guaranteed issue is $500,000 for Employee Supplemental Life Insurance.
- For Spouse/Life Partner Life Insurance, the guaranteed issue is $75,000.
*Reminder: Your Spouse/Life Partner benefit cannot exceed your combined Basic and Supplemental Employee Life coverage.
What if my spouse/life partner or I were previously denied coverage?
If you or your spouse/life partner were previously denied life coverage, this is your one-time opportunity to enroll in coverage up to the guarantee issue amount without EOI.
Is EOI required if I am enrolling in Voluntary Long Term Disability?
Yes, EOI is required for Voluntary Long Term Disability if you were not enrolled in coverage for 2020. The special enrollment period only applies to Employee Supplemental Life and Spouse/Life partner Life Insurance.
Common Carrier
If enrolled in Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, and accidental death or dismemberment occurs on a common carrier (i.e., travel while on a plane, bus or train), the AD&D plan will pay two times the principal sum, up to a maximum of $500,000.
Accelerated Death Benefit for Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
Eligible employees diagnosed with a terminal illness may be paid up to 80% of combined coverage at the time of diagnosis, subject to approval.
Leaves of Absence and Disability
Mandatory Long Term Care (LTC) Tax and Benefit
Beginning in January 2022, all working Washingtonians must pay a payroll tax to a state fund designed to cover the costs of residents’ long term care. Visit the Washington Mandatory Long Term Care page for details.
Leaves and disability administration has transitioned to Lincoln Financial Group effective January 1, 2021
Any new leave of absence effective January 1, 2021, will be administered by Lincoln Financial Group and will continue to be initiated through the REI Health Guide at 1-800-451-2967.
What this change means for you
Did you or are you receiving short-term disability or salary continuation pay for your own health condition prior to January 1, 2021?
Your claim will continue to be managed by The Hartford. You will continue to work with The Hartford for any items related to your short-term disability, salary continuation or paid parental leave.
- You will need to contact the Hartford directly at 866-218-1551 or communicate to your leave coordinator online.
Are you on an REI paid parental leave or receiving salary continuation for care of a family member?
You will receive another letter from Lincoln Financial Group with details on your specific leave, including a new leave ID number. This leave ID number will be used to identify your case with Lincoln Financial Group.
- Your letter outlines any additional information Lincoln Financial may need from your and/or your doctor to confirm you are still eligible for leave.
- If you have questions regarding your leave or to file a leave extension, you can contact the Healthy Guide at 1-800-451-2967 or online.
Are you on unpaid family medical leave, or any unpaid REI leave?
You will receive another letter from Lincoln Financial Group with details on your specific leave, including a new leave ID number. This leave ID number will be used to identify your case with Lincoln Financial Group.
- Your letter outlines any additional information Lincoln Financial may need from your and/or your doctor to confirm you are still eligible for leave.
- If you have questions regarding your leave or to file a leave extension, you can contact the Healthy Guide at 1-800-451-2967 or online.
Did you file a leave of absence claim with The Hartford prior to January 1, 2021?
You won’t need to refile your family medical leave or REI leave. The Hartford has provided Lincoln Financial Group with the appropriate information to ensure your leave will continue uninterrupted in 2021.
Updates to Our Personal Leave Policy
Beginning January 1, 2021, personal leaves will be based on a rolling 12-months to align administration across our leaves of absence programs. What this change means:
REI’s personal leave policy was temporarily updated in August to allow 24 weeks of leave to up to three times a year. Employees will receive 24 weeks of personal leave in 2021. If you are on a personal leave of absence that extends from 2020 into 2021, the days/weeks used in 2021 will apply to your 24 weeks of available leave time.
Long Term Disability (LTD)
Temporary Recovery
Temporary recovery during the 26-week waiting period: If you become disabled under the plan, return to work and then become disabled again, temporary recovery may effect your LTD benefits. If the same disability recurs within 30 consecutive work days, you will not have to start a new benefit waiting period.
Special Life Events
Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Due to the pandemic, effective July 15, 2020, the IRS allows extra time for you to submit reimbursement requests for claims incurred in 2019. You can also increase, decrease or stop contributions without a qualified life event in 2020—although you can’t decrease or stop contributions below the amount you have been reimbursed for 2020.
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