PAT Employee Group: New Employee & Newly Eligible - Benefits Checklist

This checklist is designed to help you make your initial benefit enrollment selections within 31-calendar days of your start date/employment change date.

PAT Employee Group: New Employee & Newly Eligible - Benefits Checklist (printer-friendly)

CHECK	BENEFITS ITEM
null	Become familiar with the PPS webpage for your benefits - /Page/15959
	Review the PAT Benefit Guide: PAT Benefit Guide effective January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025 The Benefit Guide provides a general overview of the benefits PPS offers for your particular Employee Group.
null	On the Health & Welfare Trust Website, review insurance plan comparison, monthly rates/costs, imputed income rates (if covering a Domestic Partner/Domestic Partner's children), optional life insurance, voluntary AD&D insurance, and more. To view benefit information on the H&W Trust Website, you will: Select your Bargaining Unit (i.e., your Employee Group); Select your Status; then Click the GO! button. *Questions about Medical, Prescription, Vision, Dental, and/or Optional Benefits?* Health & Welfare Trust (plan administrator) Phone : 833-255-4123 (toll free) or 503-486-2107 Email: SD1@zenith-american.com
null	Coordination of Benefits (COB) - if you or your covered dependents will have health coverage under more than one plan, please review the following: Health and Welfare Trust Benefit Handbook language on COB plan rules: https://www.sdtrust.com/document/benefits/handbooks/2016-pfsp-active/psd-0g0-admin-info-eds-nonpat-web-j.html If you have Medicare coverage, read about Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) on the CMS website: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coordination-benefits-recovery/overview/secondary-payer For additional questions about Coordination of Benefits, contact your insurance provider directly.
null	Review Retirement Benefits - /Page/1660 You are automatically enrolled in PERS after you have met the eligibility requirements. You can enroll in the PPS 403(b) Plan at any time during the calendar year. Enrolling in the PPS 403(b) Plan is optional.
null	Access the PeopleSoft Employee Self-Service (ESS) Portal - https://selfservice.pps.net/ The PeopleSoft Employee Self-Service (ESS) Portal gives employees access to view and make changes to certain personal information, including benefits enrollment. We encourage you to access PeopleSoft Employee Self-Service (ESS) while on-site to complete your online benefits enrollment or make any personal information changes. If you would like to access PeopleSoft ESS off-site (e.g., from home), you MUST be set up with both 1) Duo 2-Step Security and 2) Google Authenticator Two Step Authentication. For assistance, contact the PPS IT Service Desk at 503-916-3375. For more information: https://www.pps.net/selfservice.
null	Make sure PPS has the correct current mailing address for you in PeopleSoft ESS - https://selfservice.pps.net/ You will receive your Health Insurance Marketplace/Exchange Notice (ACA Notice) and/or your new insurance cards to whatever current mailing PPS has on file for you.
null	Complete and submit the online benefits enrollment event in PeopleSoft Employee Self-Service (ESS) within 31-calendar days of your start date/employment change date. Once your employment information has been processed in the HR computer system, you will receive the Benefits Enrollment Notification to your PPS email account and personal email account (if on file), letting you know your online benefits enrollment event is ready for you to complete and submit in PeopleSoft ESS. You may then follow the Online Benefits Enrollment Instructions to complete and submit your benefits enrollment. If you do not receive your Benefits Enrollment Notification email within 7 business days from your start date/employment change date, contact the PPS Benefits Team at benefits@pps.net. *PeopleSoft ESS Login Issues?* Contact PPS IT Service Desk at 503-916-3375 Benefits Enrollment Technical Issues in PeopleSoft ESS? Contact the PPS Benefits Team at benefits@pps.net
null	*If you are covering a Domestic Partner, complete a notarized Affidavit of Domestic Partnership and submit to benefits@pps.net. PAT Domestic Partner Imputed Income IMPORTANT** : The value of your domestic partner health insurance coverage is considered a taxable benefit under federal IRS regulations. If you have domestic partner health insurance coverage, an additional taxable income, also known as imputed income, is added to your pay each month and then the appropriate taxes are withheld. The impact on your tax withholding will depend on your gross pay and your W-4 filing status. PPS cannot provide tax advice. We strongly encourage you to seek out a certified tax professional for assistance. * A Domestic Partner is an unmarried individual of the same or opposite sex whom you have been living with for six months or more prior to enrolling in PPS benefits. NOTE: A legally married spouse is not a Domestic Partner.
null	When will my health insurance start? Please refer to the PAT Benefit Summary for when your health insurance will start. PAT Benefit Summary The Benefit Summary provides a general overview of the benefits PPS offers for your particular Employee Group.
null	Receive your insurance cards in the mail 3-5 weeks after submitting your online benefits enrollment in PeopleSoft ESS. *Still Haven't Received Insurance Cards?* Health & Welfare Trust (plan administrator) Phone: 833-255-4123 (toll free) or 503-486-2107 Email: SD1@zenith-american.com
null	If you are covering dependents, prepare for and fully complete the mandatory H&W Trust dependent verification audit through Secova - https://sdtrust.com/enroll_dependent_verification.php Within 45 days AFTER enrolling in benefits, you will receive your verification packet from Secova to the mailing address on file for you. You MUST submit directly to Secova all required documents for the dependents you are covering on your PPS health insurance by the deadline provided in your verification packet. IMPORTANT: If you do NOT fully complete the mandatory dependent verification audit through Secova, your dependents will be dropped from your PPS health insurance on the first of the month following receipt of a final termination letter from Secova. Questions about the Mandatory Dependent Verification Audit through Secova? Health & Welfare Trust (plan administrator) Phone: 833-255-4123 (toll free) or 503-486-2107 Email: SD1@zenith-american.com *Still Haven't Received or Lost Your Secova Verification Packet? Questions about Required Documents?* Secova (dependent verification audit administrator) Phone: 877-632-8126 Email: Portland.DMS@Secova.com

There are only three times when you can enroll in benefits or possibly make changes to your benefits:

As a new employee or a current employee with job/work hour changes impacting benefits eligibility.
Within 31-calendar days* of a qualifying event.
During Annual Open Enrollment in October with your benefits beginning on January 1st.

* Unless otherwise indicated.