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, 2023, unless otherwise noted.
What’s New for 2023
Mental & Behavioral Health
Meru Health
Meru is a mental health app that includes unlimited 1:1 chat-based support from a therapist. This 12-week virtual program—available to employees and eligible dependents enrolled in an Aetna medical plan—treats patients with depression, anxiety and burnout by providing quick access to care and daily support from a licensed therapist. In addition to 1:1 therapist support (via text), Meru also provides interactive practices, peer networks and guided meditation and breathing through a wearable device provided to you. For more information, visit meruhealth.com/rei. Medical deductible and plan costs apply.
Brightline
Brightline brings virtual behavioral and mental health care to employees and their eligible dependents enrolled in an Aetna medical plan. Brightline provides comprehensive pediatric behavioral health for families, children and teenagers, ages 1.5 up to age 18. Medical deductible and plan costs apply.
Brightline provides a range of options, to get families the right care, when and where they need it:
- Connect+: Start with Connect, Brightline’s App, where you can access videos, interactive exercises, tips and guides and chat with a coach anytime.
- Coaching: Skills-based 1:1 sessions with expert behavioral health coaches to help families navigate everyday challenges.
- Care: Care from expert therapists, psychiatrists and speech therapists for everything from anxiety and depression to school stress, ADHD or behavior challenges.
- Behavioral therapy (ages 6–17)
- Evaluation and medication support (ages 6–17)
- Speech therapy (age 18 months–11)
For more information, visit hellobrightline.com/aetna, call 1-888-224-7332 or email care@hellobrightline.com.
Well-Being
Available to all employees and dependents
RethinkCare
In addition to Parental Success, we’re expanding our RethinkCare benefit to include Personal Well-Being and Professional Resilience. RethinkCare offers life skills-building exercises to support individuals at home and in the workplace to reduce stress and anxiety, strengthen emotional intelligence and support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Personal Well-Being: Provides unique courses in seven training areas to help develop lifelong skills for resilience, mindfulness and maintaining a positive mindset.
- Professional Resilience: Offers seven training areas for career growth, high-performing teams and managing co-worker stress. In addition, we provide tools and skills-building courses for managers and leaders to foster a culture of inclusivity, including industry-leading courses for supporting neurodiversity in the workplace.
- Parental Success: Training and consultations to help families manage modern challenges at home and at school for all children.
Get Started
- Access RethinkCare at rethinkbenefits.com/REI to sign up.
- Download the RethinkCare app at the App Store or Google Play and enter your password to start training.
Medical Plan Changes
Aetna
Physical Therapy: Hinge Health
Want relief from chronic back and joint pain? For employees and eligible dependents enrolled in an Aetna medical plan, Hinge Health offers 12 weeks of digital exercise with support from licensed physical therapists and your own personal health coach at no cost to you. Hinge Health equips you with wearable sensors that allow you to follow the exercises displayed on the app, showing you how to move and adjust your body in real time. The programs are made up of 15-minute playlists, tailored to your abilities and pain, that you work through three times per week. Your coach will be available via email, text or over the phone to answer your questions and act as an unlimited resource.
Visit hingehealth.com/find/aetna or call an Aetna Health Guide at 1-800-451-2967 for more information.
Preventive Care
More preventive care is covered for FREE when you use an in-network provider or facility! That’s right—more screenings and prescription drugs that won’t cost you a penny.
Gene-Based Therapies
Employees and eligible dependents enrolled in an Aetna medical plan have access to a designated program for gene-based therapy services. This program, called Gene-Based Cellular and Other Innovative Therapies (GCIT), helps patients who have been diagnosed with certain genetic conditions access FDA-approved gene-based or cellular therapies. Beginning in 2023, employees and eligible dependents who receive GCIT treatments must use an Aetna GCIT-designated provider for services. Travel and lodging reimbursement may be available.
Contact the Health Guide at 1-800-451-2967 for more information on the GCIT network of providers or GCIT designated services and travel and lodging reimbursements.
Travel and Lodging Benefits: Gender Affirming and Infertility Services
We are expanding our travel and lodging benefit to include gender affirming and infertility services. Employees and enrolled eligible dependents, who have pre-certified medical and prescripton services from an in-network provider and must travel more than 100 miles for services, will be reimbursed for certain travel and lodging benefits. The benefit provides up to $3,000 for:
- Lodging (up to $200 per night maximum)
- Airfare (domestic, non-refundable roundtrip ticket)
- Car rental, taxi or shared ride costs (up to $150 per day)
- Meals (up to $100 per day)
- Other incidental costs (e.g., parking) associated with receiving medical care
Beginning January 1, 2023, you can find a complete list of eligible expenses at myhealthequity.com and begin submitting eligible expenses for reimbursement. You must complete a reimbursement request claim form or file the claim for travel and lodging expenses on the HealthEquity website. In either case, you must submit copies of supporting bills or receipts for eligible expenses. Paper claims must be signed and sent to HealthEquity with legible copies of all receipts for processing either by fax (877-353-9236) or by mail to HealthEquity, P.O. Box 14053, Lexington, KY 40512.
Kaiser Washington
The following changes will become effective January 1, 2023:
- The brand prescription drug copays will be $20 for retail prescriptions and $40 for mail order prescriptions.
- Ambulance services will be a $150 copay per trip.
- Infertility services will be covered at 50% coinsurance, including infertility prescription drugs, and do not include assisted reproductive technology. The medical deductible applies.
- Out-of-network coverage will no longer be covered, except in urgent and emergency cases.
Call customer service at 1-800-324-9208 or text 773-974-3113 Monday through Friday from 7 AM–6 PM PT / 10 AM–9 PM ET to get your questions answered.
Saving Accounts
Health Savings Account (HSA) Maintenance Fee Update
Beginning January 1, 2023, if you’re enrolled in the HSA, you will no longer be charged a $2 monthly maintenance fee if your balance is less than $5,000.
Leaves of Absence
State Paid Family Leave Benefits
Colorado
Beginning January 1, 2023, deductions for the Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) will begin. The cost of FAMLI is a shared fee between employees and their employers and is based on 0.9% of wages. This rate is set through 2025 by Proposition 188, which was voted in November 2020. This new deduction will be seen on your pay stubs beginning in January. You can review the Premium and Benefits Calculator on the FAMLI website to estimate what your premiums may be.
While deductions begin in January 2023, benefits will not become available until January 2024. Benefits include care for a new child, including foster and adoption; care for yourself if you have a serious health condition; care for a family member’s health condition; arrangements for a family member’s deployment; and care to address the immediate safety needs and impact of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. For more information, visit the FAMLI website.
FAQs
Who is eligible for FAMLI?
Most Colorado employees become eligible to take paid leave after they have earned at least $2,500 in wages within the state, over a period of a year.
How much paid time off does FAMLI provide?
Most employees are eligible to receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Those who experience pregnancy or childbirth complications may receive an additional four weeks.
Will the rate change for FAMLI benefits?
The rate is set at 0.9% for the first two years of the program. Past 2025, the rate will be set each year according to a formula based on the fund’s balance and usage rates. The amount is capped at 1.2% of wages.
Oregon
Beginning January 1, 2023, deductions for the Paid Leave Oregon program will begin. The cost of Paid Leave Oregon is shared between employees and employers and is based on 1% of gross wages. The cost is split so that employees pay 60% of the contribution rate and REI pays 40%. Your contribution will be taken out of your bi-weekly paycheck.
While deductions begin in January 2023, the benefit won’t be available to employees until September 3, 2023. The Paid Leave Oregon program is available for the following:
- Family leave: Birth of a child, bonding within the first year of birth, adoption or foster placements and care for a family member’s serious health condition
- Medical leave: To care for yourself when you have a serious illness or injury
- Safe leave: For survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment or stalking
For more information about Paid Leave Oregon and common FAQs, visit the Paid Leave Oregon website.
FAQs
Who is eligible for Paid Leave Oregon?
Most employees working in Oregon are covered by Paid Leave Oregon. Here’s what you need to know.
You are automatically covered if:
- You work in Oregon;
- You earned at least $1,000 the year before you apply for benefits; and
- You have a life event that qualifies you (learn more).
How much leave can I take under Oregon Paid Family Leave?
- You can take up to 12 weeks of paid time off of work in a year.
- If you’re pregnant, have given birth or have health issues related to childbirth, you may be able to take up to two more weeks, for a total of 14 weeks.
- You can take leave continuously or intermittently.
Mental & Behavioral Health
Meru Health
For employees enrolled in the REI Access Plan, Meru is a mental health app that includes unlimited 1:1 chat-based support from a therapist. This 12-week virtual program treats patients with depression, anxiety and burnout by providing quick access to care and daily support from a licensed therapist. In addition to 1:1 therapist support (via text), Meru also provides interactive practices, peer networks and guided meditation and breathing through a wearable device provided to you. For more information visit meruhealth.com/rei. Medical deductible and plan costs apply.
Well-Being
Available to all employees and dependents
RethinkCare
In addition to Parental Success, we’re expanding our RethinkCare benefit to include Personal Well-Being and Professional Resilience. RethinkCare offers life skills-building exercises to support individuals at home and in the workplace to reduce stress and anxiety, strengthen emotional intelligence and support diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Personal Well-Being: Provides unique courses in seven training areas to help develop lifelong skills for resilience, mindfulness and maintaining a positive mindset.
- Professional Resilience: Offers seven training areas for career growth, high-performing teams and managing co-worker stress. In addition, we provide tools and skills-building courses for managers and leaders to foster a culture of inclusivity, including industry-leading courses for supporting neurodiversity in the workplace.
- Parental Success: Training and consultations to help families manage modern challenges at home and at school for all children.
Get Started
- Access RethinkCare at rethinkbenefits.com/REI to sign up.
- Download the RethinkCare app at the App Store or Google Play and your password to start training.
Medical Plan Changes
Physical Therapy: Hinge Health
Want relief from chronic back and joint pain? For employees and eligible dependents enrolled in an Aetna medical plan, Hinge Health offers 12 weeks of digital exercise with support from licensed physical therapists and your own personal health coach at no cost to you. Hinge Health equips you with wearable sensors that allow you to follow the exercises displayed on the app, showing you how to move and adjust your body in real time. The programs are made up of 15-minute playlists, tailored to your abilities and pain, that you work through three times per week. Your coach will be available via email, text or over the phone to answer your questions and act as an unlimited resource.
Visit hingehealth.com/find/aetna or call an Aetna Health Guide at 1-800-451-2967 for more information.
Preventive Care
More preventive care is covered for FREE when you use an in-network provider or facility! That’s right—more screenings and prescription drugs that won’t cost you a penny.
Gene-Based Therapies
Employees and eligible dependents enrolled in an Aetna medical plan have access to a designated program for gene-based therapy services. This program, called Gene-Based Cellular and Other Innovative Therapies (GCIT), helps patients who have been diagnosed with certain genetic conditions access FDA-approved gene-based or cellular therapies. Beginning in 2023, employees and eligible dependents who receive GCIT treatments must use an Aetna GCIT-designated provider for services. Travel and lodging reimbursement may be available.
Contact the Health Guide at 1-800-451-2967 for more information on the GCIT network of providers or GCIT designated services and travel and lodging reimbursements.
Travel and Lodging Benefits: Gender Affirming and Infertility Services
We are expanding our travel and lodging benefit to include gender affirming and infertility services. Employees enrolled in the Access Medical Plan, who have pre-certified medical and prescription services from an in-network provider and must travel more than 100 miles for services, will be able to be reimbursed for certain travel and lodging benefits. The benefit provides up to $3,000 for:
- Lodging (up to $200 per night maximum)
- Airfare (domestic, non-refundable roundtrip ticket)
- Car rental, taxi or shared ride costs (up to $150 per day)
- Meals (up to $100 per day)
- Other incidental costs (e.g., parking) associated with receiving medical care
Beginning January 1, 2023, you can find a complete list of eligible expenses at myhealthequity.com and begin submitting eligible expenses for reimbursement. You must complete a reimbursement request claim form or file the claim for travel and lodging expenses on the HealthEquity website. In either case, you must submit copies of supporting bills or receipts for eligible expenses. Paper claims must be signed and sent to HealthEquity with legible copies of all receipts for processing either by fax (877-353-9236) or by mail to HealthEquity, P.O. Box 14053, Lexington, KY 40512.
Leaves of Absence
State Paid Family Leave Benefits
Colorado
Beginning January 1, 2023, deductions for the Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) will begin. The cost of FAMLI is a shared fee between employees and their employers and is based on 0.9% of wages. This rate is set through 2025 by Proposition 188, which was voted in November 2020. This new deduction will be seen on your pay stubs beginning in January. You can review the Premium and Benefits Calculator on the FAMLI website to estimate what your premiums may be.
While deductions begin in January 2023, benefits will not become available until January 2024. Benefits include care for a new child, including foster and adoption; care for yourself if you have a serious health condition; care for a family member’s health condition; arrangements for a family member’s deployment; and care to address the immediate safety needs and impact of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. For more information, visit the FAMLI website.
FAQs
Who is eligible for FAMLI?
Most Colorado employees become eligible to take paid leave after they have earned at least $2,500 in wages within the state, over a period of a year.
How much paid time off does FAMLI provide?
Most employees are eligible to receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Those who experience pregnancy or childbirth complications may receive an additional four weeks.
Will the rate change for FAMLI benefits?
The rate is set at 0.9% for the first two years of the program. Past 2025, the rate will be set each year according to a formula based on the fund’s balance and usage rates. The amount is capped at 1.2% of wages.
Oregon
Beginning January 1, 2023, deductions for the Paid Leave Oregon will begin. The cost of Paid Leave Oregon is shared between employees and employers and is based on 1% of gross wages. The cost is split so that employees pay 60% of the contribution rate and REI pays 40%. Your contribution will be taken out of your bi-weekly paycheck.
While deductions begin in January 2023, the benefit becomes available to employees beginning September 3, 2023. The Paid Leave Oregon program is available for the following:
- Family leave: Birth of a child, bonding within the first year of birth, adoption or foster placements and care for a family member’s serious health condition
- Medical leave: To care for yourself when you have a serious illness or injury
- Safe leave: For survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment or stalking
For more information about Paid Leave Oregon and common FAQs, visit the Paid Leave Oregon website.
FAQs
Who is eligible for Paid Leave Oregon?
Most employees working in Oregon are covered by Paid Leave Oregon. Here’s what you need to know.
You are automatically covered if:
- You work in Oregon;
- You earned at least $1,000 the year before you apply for benefits; and
- You have a life event that qualifies you (learn more).
How much leave can I take under Oregon Paid Family Leave?
- You can take up to 12 weeks of paid time off of work in a year.
- If you’re pregnant, have given birth or have health issues related to childbirth, you may be able to take up to two more weeks, for a total of 14 weeks.
- You can take leave continuously or intermittently.
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