The Retirement Systems of Alabama

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- RSA
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- PEEHIP
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Public Employees' Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP)

PEEHIP New Employee Information

New Employees - Enrollment in PEEHIP Coverages

This web page was designed to make it easy for new employees to find the information they need to make informed decisions about the health insurance plans offered by PEEHIP. It is important that you understand your enrollment options and that you complete the enrollment process timely within 30 calendar days of your date of hire. Otherwise, you are only allowed to enroll in single Hospital Medical coverage effective the date the paper enrollment application is completed and submitted to PEEHIP. Also, you must wait until next Open Enrollment period to enroll in family coverage, the Optional Coverage Plans and the Flexible Spending Plans.

Coverages Offered by PEEHIP to New Employees:

Prior to enrolling, consider your options. New employees can enroll in one of three different Hospital Medical Plans. In addition, new employees can enroll in any and/or all of the Optional Coverage Plans. New employees can also enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans are shown below. Click the link on the desired plan to learn more.

•	Hospital Medical Coverage:
	•	Basic Hospital Medical Plan;
	•	Hospital Medical Supplemental Plan; OR
	•	VIVA Health Plan
•	Optional Coverage Plans:
	•	Cancer,
	•	Dental,
	•	Indemnity, and/or
	•	Vision
•	Flexible Spending Accounts:
	•	Health Care Spending Account
	•	Dependent Care Spending Account

Note: A new employee is NOT automatically enrolled in the PEEHIP hospital medical plan. The employee must take action to enroll in the coverage. Learn more about the above coverages by clicking here to access and/or download the PEEHIP Member Handbook.

When to Enroll:

A new employee may enroll in PEEHIP coverages but must do so within 30 days of his or her date of hire.

Note: If not enrolled in a timely manner, the new employee is only allowed to enroll in single Hospital Medical coverage effective the date the paper enrollment application is completed and submitted to PEEHIP. The new employee must wait until next Open Enrollment period to enroll in family coverage, the Optional Coverage Plans, and the Flexible Spending Plans.

How to Enroll:

•	Online: A new employee can enroll online through Member Online Services. This is the preferred method. Follow these easy steps to enroll online:
	•	Go to www.rsa-al.gov and click "Member Online Services."
	•	Log in using your User Id and Password. If you do not have a User Id and Password, click "Register Now" and follow the onscreen prompts to create your User Id and Password.
	•	Once logged in, click "Enroll or Change PEEHIP Coverages."
	•	Select the "New Enrollment" option and click Continue.
	•	Follow the onscreen prompts until you receive a Confirmation page confirming your enrollment requests were saved and submitted to PEEHIP.

		Click here to view the Online Tutorials which will open a step-by-step video to help walk you through the online enrollment process. You will be able to watch what to do along with each step explained to you on the video.
•	Paper Form: A new employee can enroll by properly completing and submitting to PEEHIP the Health Insurance and Optional Enrollment Application. The completed and signed form can be mailed or faxed to PEEHIP.

Note: Your school system must enter your information in the “Employer Portal” in order for you to enroll in PEEHIP coverages. As soon as your information is entered in the Employer Portal, you can begin enrolling in coverage.

Coverage Effective Dates:

A new employee hired during the Open Enrollment period of July 1 through September 30 can choose his or her effective date of coverage to be either:

	•	The date of hire;
	•	The first day of the month following the date of hire; or
	•	October 1.

A new employee hired outside of the Open Enrollment period of July 1 through September 30 can choose his or her effective date of coverage to be either:

	•	The date of hire; or
	•	The first day of the month following the date of hire

What You Will Need to Enroll:

	•	If enrolling in family coverage, you will need your spouse’s Social Security number and the Social Security numbers for other eligible dependents.
	•	If your last name differs from your spouse and/or your other dependents, you will need to submit to PEEHIP a copy of your marriage certificate and copies of birth certificates of your other dependents. If these documents are received and approved by PEEHIP, the “pending” status for your dependents will be removed.
	•	If applicable, you will need to submit to PEEHIP a copy of your Certificate of Creditable Coverage to remove the waiting period.

Your Waiting Periods for Pre-Existing Conditions:

•	A 270-day waiting period will NOT apply on pre-existing conditions for new employees and their dependents whose effective date of coverage is any date beginning July 1 through October 1.
•	A 270-day waiting period WILL apply on pre-existing conditions for new employees and their dependents whose effective date of coverage is any date beginning October 2 through June 30.
	•	If a Certificate of Creditable Coverage showing proof of previous insurance coverage is received and approved by PEEHIP for the new employee and dependents, the waiting periods will be removed.

Payment of Premiums:

•	Health insurance and optional coverage plans: The PEEHIP premiums are deducted from the employee’s paycheck in the month prior to the month of coverage. For example: the premium for October’s insurance coverage is deducted in September.
	•	Note: New employees who elected coverage effective their date of hire will not have begun receiving a paycheck for payroll deduction for the first month’s premium, and in some cases the second month’s premium. The new employee must submit their premium payment(s) directly to PEEHIP. Failure to pay premiums timely will result in a cancellation of coverage.
•	Flexible spending accounts contributions are deducted from the employee’s paycheck in the current month. For example: the contribution for October is deducted in October.

Frequently Asked Questions for New Employees – click here.

Other Frequently Asked Questions – click here.

PEEHIP Member Handbook– use this handbook as a reference throughout the year.

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