Frequently Asked Questions How do I enroll in ESI’s benefits? Once your new hire paperwork has been submitted to ESI, you will receive an email with instructions on how to complete our electronic benefit packet. The benefit packet will include information on each of the plans and the monthly cost for each plan available to you. Am I required to enroll in all of the programs, or can I elect stand-alone programs? The programs are offered un-bundled, so you can elect any combination of plan(s). For example, you are able to enroll in the dental plan only without enrolling in the medical plan, if desired. When will my benefits begin? For full-time employees who are hired with the expectation of working at least 30 hours per week, the waiting period for benefits to start is the first of the month following your date of hire. For example, if you start with ESI on July 15th, your benefits will begin on August 1st. Substitutes, Part-Time and/or Variable Hour employees may be eligible for benefits following a one-year measurement period, beginning on the date of hire, to determine the employee’s average hours worked. How long will I have coverage? You will be covered through the end of your ESI contract period. You may be invoiced for your premium over the summer if your contract spans two fiscal years or if you have subsequent year contracts with ESI. What happens to my coverage when my first contract ends? If I return to ESI, will I have to re-apply for benefits? You will be covered through the end of the month of the last month of your contract with ESI. After your contract expires, you can stay on ESI’s plan through COBRA coverage. If you decide to return to ESI for a second year, your coverage can be reinstated immediately upon returning your benefit election decisions to ESI’s Human Resources department.
Can I use my ASRS premium subsidy to pay for ESI’s medical plan? It is important to remember that ESI is not an ASRS employer, so if you choose to enroll in either medical plan, you will be forfeiting your monthly ASRS premium subsidy during the time that you are enrolled. You can, however, use your ASRS premium subsidy to help pay for dental and/or vision coverage if you choose to continue to keep that coverage through ASRS. How do I terminate my ASRS coverage? Can I reinstate my plan once I am no longer working with ESI? If you have ASRS coverage, mail a letter of termination with your name, social security number and signature to the Phoenix office. ASRS coverage can be reinstated within 31 days of terminating your contract with ESI or during the ASRS annual open enrollment, which usually runs from mid-October to mid-November with coverage effective January 1st. What if I want to make changes to my benefit elections during the year? ESI’s benefit plan year runs from January 1st through December 31st. The benefits you select during your initial eligibility period will be in effect until the end of the plan year and can only be changed during ESI’s Open Enrollment period which takes place in December, or if you experience a Qualifying Life Event such as marriage, divorce, or birth/adoption of a child. Will my cost for coverage change during my contract? ESI’s benefits run on a calendar year basis and so rates may change starting in January. The cost for the new calendar year will be provided to you during Open Enrollment so you can plan your benefit elections accordingly. When will I receive my ID cards? You will receive an ID card from EMI Health if you enroll in the medical, dental or vision plan. If you enroll in a combination of these three plans, you will receive one card with information for each benefit.
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