2023 Plan Year Benefits

Benefits Effective:
January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023

This website includes a brief overview of your benefit options and acts a reference guide for your insurance plans. You can refer to it any time you have questions about benefits, claims, etc. Take full advantage of this resource to become familiar with benefit offerings and prepare for open enrollment.

Benefits Office Contact Information – Polk County Schools

Shannon Robinson – robinson@polkschools.org

125 E Mills Street, Columbus, NC 28722

Phone: (828) 894-3051

Benefits Booklet

Polk Benefits Booklet 2023

What is Open Enrollment?

The open enrollment period allows you to review, change or continue benefit elections every year. Keep in mind that benefit plan changes are only allowed throughout the plan year if it is during open enrollment or you have a qualified Section 125 event. During open enrollment, you can do the following:

Elect or decline coverage, in addition to changing existing coverage.
Review personal information and verify that covered dependents are named on the plan. (If there are inconsistencies between your personal and/or benefit information, you will need to notify your employer.)
Confirm that the correct dependents are selected in order to be covered for every benefit including medical, dental, vision, etc.

Enrollment Schedule
Your FFGA Account Manager will be holding phone appointments during this year’s enrollment. Click here to view the schedule!

Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment has ended. Check back later for upcoming dates.
New Employees
You have 31 days from your actively-at-work date to make benefit elections.
Mid-year Changes
You may add or cancel coverage during the plan year if you have a change in family status. You must notify the benefits department within 31 days of the change.
Eligibility
Eligible employees must be actively at work on the plan effective date for new benefits to be effective.

Section 125 Plan Information and Rules

A Section 125 Plan provides a tax-saving way to pay for eligible medical or dependent care expenses. The funds are automatically deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis.

Here’s How It Works

A Section 125 Plan reduces your taxes and increases your spendable income by allowing you to deduct the cost of eligible benefits from your earnings before tax. Plus, the plan is available to you at no cost, and you’re already eligible – all you have to do is enroll.

Is It Right for Me?

The savings you may experience with a Section 125 Plan are outlined in the example below. For instance, you could potentially take home about $70 more each month if you participated in your employer’s Section 125 Plan – that’s a savings of $840 a year!

You cannot change your benefit elections for the plan year unless the benefits office receives notification in writing within 31 days of the status change. If the benefits office is not notified within 31 days of the status change, no benefit change can be made until the next annual open enrollment.

IRS specified changes in family status include:

Change in legal married status
Change in number of dependents
Termination or commencement of employment
Dependent satisfies or ceases to satisfy dependent eligibility requirements
Change in residence or worksite that affects eligibility for coverage

Section 125 Sample Paycheck^*

WITHOUT S125

Monthly Salary	$2,000
Less Medical Deductions	– N/A
Taxable Gross Income	$2,000
Less Taxes (Fed/State @ 20%)	-$400
Less Estimated FICA (7.65%)	-$153
Less Medical Deductions	-$250
Take Home Pay	$1,197

WITH S125

Monthly Salary	$2,000
Less Medical Deductions	-$250
Taxable Gross Income	$1,750
Less Taxes (Fed/State @ 20%)	-$350
Less Estimated FICA (7.65%)	-$133
Less Medical Deductions	– N/A
Take Home Pay	$1,267

You could save $70 per month in taxes by paying for your benefits on a pre-tax basis!

*The figures in the sample paycheck above are for illustrative purposes only.

This site contains a summary of the benefits offered by your employer. If there is a conflict between the terms of this outline of benefits and the actual contracts, the terms of the contracts will prevail.

2023 Plan Year Benefits

Benefits Office Contact Information – Polk County Schools

Benefits Booklet

What is Open Enrollment?

Enrollment Schedule

Open Enrollment

New Employees

Mid-year Changes

Eligibility

Section 125 Plan Information and Rules

Here’s How It Works

Is It Right for Me?

Section 125 Sample Paycheck^*

WITHOUT S125

WITH S125

Additional Resources & Notices

First Financial Group of America

2023 Plan Year Benefits

Benefits Office Contact Information – Polk County Schools

Benefits Booklet

What is Open Enrollment?

Section 125 Plan Information and Rules

Here’s How It Works

Is It Right for Me?

Section 125 Sample Paycheck*

WITHOUT S125

WITH S125

Additional Resources & Notices

First Financial Group of America

Section 125 Sample Paycheck^*