KEENE PARAPROFESSIONALS

Keene paraprofessionals are contracted each year under standardized hours which fall within the following three definitions of employee status.  Eligibility for different benefits depends upon the scheduled number of annual hours.

• Full-time Paraprofessionals - 1950 scheduled annual hours or more per year.
• Regular Paraprofessionals - 1200 or more scheduled annual hours but fewer than 1950 annual hours per year.
• Part-time Paraprofessionals - less than 1200 scheduled annual hours per year.

Full-time or Regular Keene Paraprofessionals who work over 1200 hours per year are offered a comprehensive benefits package of medical insurance, including prescriptions and vision care; dental insurance; life insurance; long-term disability and short-term disability; enrollment in the NH Retirement System; direct deposit; Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts; 403(b) plan through Fidelity; sick leave; paid personal leave; paid holidays; and vacation (for full-time paras who work year round).

Part-time paraprofessionals who work between 30 and 32.5 hours/week, (between 990 and 1199 annual hours), are eligible for a limited number of sick days; paid personal leave; paid holidays; direct deposit; Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts and a 403(b) plan through Fidelty. 

Part-time paraprofessionals who work less than 25 hours per week (less than 990 annual hours) may elect to enroll in direct deposit and the District sponsored 403(b) plan through Fidelty.

Once hired as a full-time or regular Keene Paraprofessional you have 30 days to choose the medical and/or dental insurance most useful to you and your dependents. Once you submit your elections, your choices will be recorded as your benefits elections until the next Open Enrollment period (every July 1st). You may not make any changes to your elections – even within the 30 day enrollment period – unless you have a qualified family status change.  The effective date for medical and/or dental insurance is the first of any given month following date of hire or date of qualifying event.

Currently, both medical and dental insurance is offered through the Local Government Center (LGC) HealthTrust. LGC HealthTrust has contracted with Anthem BC/BS of NH to insure their medical plans and Northeast Delta Dental to insure the Option 3A dental plan offered to full-time and regular Keene Paraprofessionals.

MEDICAL PLANS

 
Summary Plan Descriptions:

• BlueChoice POS Medical Plan Summary

• Matthew Thornton Blue HMO Medical Plan Summary

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COSTS

Employee deductions for medical and dental are taken on a pre-tax basis throughout the school year.  In 2010-2011, Board's contributions for medical are based on 95% of the current HMO premiums.  

DENTAL PLAN

For the 2010-11 school year, the Board will contribute maximum amounts towards the Option 3A Northeast Delta Dental Plan as shown below.

*In 2010-11, 20 payroll deductions will be taken for health and dental insurance from September 10, 2010 to June 17, 2011.

FORMS NEEDED TO ENROLL IN MEDICAL AND/OR DENTAL INSURANCE

• Medical and/or Dental Application and Change Form

• Dependent Child Certification Form

• Civil Union Partner – Certificate of Tax Dependent Status

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PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE

Prescription coverage for employees and eligible family members on the POS and HMO plans are offered through the Caremark Prescription Benefit Program at:

• $3.00 co-pay for generic prescriptions
• $15.00 co-pay for brand name prescriptions
• $1.00 co-pay for 90 day mail away through CVS/Caremark   

VISION CARE

Employees and eligible family members enrolled in the LGC HealthTrust’s medical plans are also automatically enrolled in the EyeMed supplemental vision program.

• EyeMed Information

LIFE INSURANCE

Term life insurance, with Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) is offered to full-time and regular Keene Paraprofessionals at no cost.  Members have a life benefit amount of $65,000 (sixty-five thousand dollars).  Life insurance goes into effect the first day an employee is eligible or begins working for the district and remains in effect until an employee either retires or resigns.  Upon initial date of hire, or to change a beneficiary, please complete the following sections only on the enrollment form and return to Human Resources:  Applicant, Beneficiary and Signature.

• Keene Paraprofessionals Life Insurance Enrollment Form

• Keene Paraprofessionals Certificate of Life Insurance Booklet

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LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE

Long-term disability insurance is fully funded by the Keene School District at no cost to the employee.  Long-term disability (LTD) is paid as a monthly benefit by our insurance carrier at 60% of your pre-disability earnings.  The benefit waiting period for long-term disability is the later of:  a) 90 days; or b) the date your accumulated sick leave ends, if applicable.

• LTD InsuranceBooklet

SHORT-TERM DISABILITY COVERAGE

Short-term disability (STD) is paid by the District at 60% of either your per diem rate (if you are paid an annual salary), or 60% of your hourly rate (for support staff).  An employee is eligible for STD upon exhaustion of all sick leave OR on the 10th consecutive day out sick (whichever is later).

NEW HAMPSHIRE RETIREMENT SYSTEM

The NH Retirement System is a public employee, defined benefit plan that provides a lifetime pension upon retirement.  The amount of the pension is based on salary and active years of service.  Teachers and employees contribute 5% of their gross pay into NHRS.  Once a member has contributed to NHRS for a minimum of ten (10) years, they become vested and eligible for a lifetime pension.  A member who is age 60 or older and actively working may retire with no minimum years of creditable service.

ENROLLMENT FORMS - To enroll in NHRS, please complete the following two forms and return to the SAU 29 HR office, along with required copies of your birth certificate and social security card:

• NHRS Member Information/Enrollment Form
• NHRS Designation of Death Beneficiaries Pre-Retirement Form

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DIRECT DEPOSIT

A paraprofessional may elect direct deposit of paychecks at anytime by completing the following form and returning to the payroll office:

• Direct Deposit Form
  

SECTION 125 - FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

Plan Year July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011

Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to set money aside on a pre-tax basis to pay for out-of-pocket healthcare and/or dependent care expenses. For complete information on these tax saving plans, click on either the HealthCare Savings Account Brochure or the Dependent Care Savings Account brochure below.  You may elect an annual election for a HealthCare Savings account of $200 minimum up to $1,500 maximum.  An annual election for a Dependent Care Savings Account is allowed at $200 minimum up to $5,000 maximum.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2011, FSA participants can no longer use FSA money to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medicines (e.g. Advil, Ibuprofen, cough syrup). FSA participants may continue to use FSA funds to purchase OTC items that are not considered a drug or medicine, like bandages and reading glasses. Because our FSA plan year begins July 1st, these changes take effect in the middle of the 2010 Plan Year, so please keep this in mind as you consider how much FSA money to set aside for the upcoming plan year. Further information can be found at the LGC website:  http://www.nhlgc.org/coverage/fsaindividual.asp

If you wish to participate in an FSA account, please fill out the enrollment form below and return to Human Resources no later than 25 days after your hire date OR prior to July 1st during any given plan year.

• Section 125 Healthcare FSA Brochure

• Section 125 Dependent Care FSA Brochure

• Section 125 Enrollment Form - Keene Paraprofessionals

• Section 125 FSA Direct Deposit Form

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403(B) Plan

NH School Administrative Unit 29 is pleased to partner with Fidelity Investments as our exclusive provider of investment options and recordkeeping services for the SAU 29 403(b) plan.

• 403(b) Plan Information