• When are insurance benefits effective for a new employee?
• If I do not enroll for health and dental coverage as a new employee, may I enroll at a later date?
• For insurance plans that involve a monthly deduction for my contribution, when does that monthly deduction come out of my paycheck?
• As a new employee to the District, when do I receive my benefit enrollment forms?
• How do I add my newborn or spouse to the health and dental plans or change from single to family coverage during special enrollment?
• How do I terminate health and dental insurance coverage for myself and/or my family members?
• Who do I talk to about coverage, claims, or billing questions for the MPS Health Plan?
• Who do I talk to about coverage, claims, or billing questions for the MPS Dental Plan?
• How do I obtain a health plan ID card?
• How do I obtain a dental plan ID card?
• What happens to my insurance benefits when I leave employment at the District?

When are insurance benefits effective for a new employee?
As a new employee, you have 31 days from the date you begin employment to choose your benefit programs. However, it is advisable that you enroll as soon as possible, preferably before your start date. New employees are eligible for insurance benefits on the first day of the month immediately following the completion of one (1) month’s employment.

Example: If an employee starts on August 10th, their insurances are effective on October 1.
Example: If the enrollment form is received on August 31, coverage can be effective beginning on October 1.

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If I do not enroll for health and dental coverage as a new employee, may I enroll at a later date?
The Mesa Public Schools benefit programs are pre-tax cafeteria benefits program under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Code. The IRS regulations governing the program do not permit changes after open enrollment, except in very limited circumstances. Once you have elected a plan, you must stay in the selected plan, at the selected coverage level, for the full calendar year, unless there has been a qualifying event. A qualifying event is a change in family status, such as the birth of a child, loss of a dependent, marriage, or divorce. A qualifying event can also occur in cases where your spouse's employment is terminated. You have 31 days from the occurrence of the qualifying event to make changes to your benefits. The changes made, however, must be because of and consistent with the change in status that has occurred.

The penalty for non-compliance with the IRS regulations is the loss of tax-exempt status for both Mesa Public Schools and the employees in the plan. Changes outside of the open enrollment period will be permitted only in accordance with the IRS regulations. For this reason, you are cautioned to be very careful in making your selections.

The qualifying reasons for the termination of individual coverage are referred to in the Plan Document/Summary Plan Description. Contact the Benefits Office if you have any questions.

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For insurance plans that involve a monthly deduction for my contribution, when does that monthly deduction come out of my paycheck?

Deductions are calculated so that employees that are less than 12 month contracts, will pre-pay for the summer months premiums by their last checks in May.

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As a new employee to the district, when do I receive my benefit enrollment forms?
New employees receive their enrollment forms at the benefits orientation. The employee completes the forms and then they are collected by a Benefits Representative at the orientation session.

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How do I add my newborn or spouse to the health and dental plans or change from single to family coverage during special enrollment?
If you have never had coverage with the district, you must attend a benefits orientation to add a newborn, or spouse to the health and dental plans. The process for special enrollment is the employee must come down to the Employee Benefits office and sign-up for a benefits orientation meeting.

If you have district coverage currently, and are making a change to that coverage as a result of a qualifying status event, the enrollment forms are available from the Benefits Office, or you can download them from the Benefits Forms Page. Complete and return them to the Benefits Office to arrive no later than 31 days after the qualifying event (date of birth, date of marriage, etc.).

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How do I terminate health and dental insurance coverage for myself and/or my family members?
Request health/dental coverage cancellation forms from the Benefits Office or download them from the Benefits Forms Page, and complete and return them to the Benefits Office. Health/dental coverage will end the last day of the calendar month in which the change occurs.
Example: If an employee has a dependent child in school who turns age 24 on September 10, insurance coverage for the child will end September 30.

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Who do I talk to about coverage, claims, or billing questions for the MPS Health Plan?
Direct these health plan questions to United Healthcare at (866) 844-4867.

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Who do I talk to about coverage, claims, or billing questions for the MPS Dental Plan?
Depending on the plan you are enrolled:
Total Dental Administrators (dental EPO): (602) 266-1995
United Concordia (dental PPO): (800) 332-0366

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How do I obtain a health plan ID card?
United Healthcare issues health plan ID cards automatically to all new participants. These cards are sent directly to you from United Healthcare. You may also request an additional card or a replacement card directly from United Healthcare by calling them at (866) 844-4867.

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How do I obtain a dental plan ID card?
TDA and United Concordia issues dental plan ID cards automatically to all new participants. These cards are sent directly to the new employee from the carrier. An additional card or replacement card may also be requested directly from by calling -

Total Dental Administrators (dental EPO): (602) 266-1995
United Concordia (dental PPO): (800) 332-0366

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What happens to my insurance benefits when I leave employment at the Medical District?
Refer to the Continuation of Coverage: COBRA, FMLA & Leaves of Absence to answer the individual questions that you may have.

During paid FMLA, unpaid FMLA, and paid Long Term Medical leave, Mesa Public Schools will maintain the district-provided benefits and optional employee-paid benefit plans for you on the same terms and conditions as if you had continued to work. Thus, if you paid for all or part of your coverage before leave, you will be required to continue the coverage during your leave through payroll deduction or by direct payment to the Benefits Department.
During unpaid Long Term Medical qualifying leave, Mesa Public Schools does not maintain the district-provided benefits. In order to continue coverage of the previously district-provided benefit plans, COBRA continuation coverage must be elected. COBRA laws allow you to extend your coverage for eighteen months from the date of eligibility.

In all cases, it is critical to discuss your family and medical leave with the Human Resources Office, and the Employee Benefits Office to make sure you have taken all the necessary actions. Please call the Human Resources and/or the Employee Benefits Departments with any questions.

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