Page 4 - Burnham Benefits Guide 2017

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Who May Enroll

All regular full-time employees working at least 30 hours per week and their eligible dependents may participate in
Burnham’s benefits program. Your eligible dependents include:
• Legally married spouse
• Registered domestic partners (same sex only, affidavit may be required)
• Children under age 26 regardless of student or marital status

When You Can Enroll
Eligible employees may enroll at the following times:
• As a new hire, you may participate in the company’s benefit plans on the first day of the month following the completion
of 30 days of full-time employment
• During annual open enrollment
• Within 31 days of a qualified change in family status as defined by the IRS – see Changes to Enrollment
• You may enroll for Voluntary Life insurance at any time, subject to proof of good health and carrier approval

How to Enroll
All benefit elections must be made on the EaseCentral online enrollment system. See page 18 for more information.

Paying for Your Coverage
The Basic Life, AD&D, Employee Assistance Program and Travel Assist Program benefits are provided at no cost to you and are
paid entirely by Burnham. You and the company share in the cost of the Medical, Dental and Vision benefits you elect. Burnham
contributes 85% of the cost for employee coverage and 50% of the costs for your dependents. Any Voluntary Life and Voluntary
Short Term Disability benefits you elect will be paid by you at discounted group rates. Additionally, you must choose if you would
like your LTD coverage considered as a post-tax benefit. You have the choice of either having premiums considered as part of
your taxable income, thereby, receiving a tax-free benefit should you go out on a claim or pay no taxes on the LTD premium but
receive a taxable benefit. Your Medical, Dental and Vision contributions are deducted before taxes are withheld which saves
you tax dollars. Paying for benefits before-tax means that your share of the costs is deducted before taxes are determined,
resulting in more take-home pay for you. As a result, the IRS requires that your elections remain in effect for the entire plan year.
You cannot drop or change coverage unless you experience a status change.
Changes to Enrollment

Burnham’s benefit plans are effective July 1st through June 30th of each year. There is an annual open enrollment period
each year, during which you can make new benefit elections for the following July 1st effective date. Once you make your
benefit elections, you cannot change them during the year unless you experience a qualified change in family status as
defined by the IRS. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Marriage, divorce, legal separation or annulment
• Birth or adoption of a child
• A qualified medical child support order
• Death of a spouse or child
• A change in your dependent’s eligibility status
• Loss of coverage from another health plan
• Change in your residence or workplace (if your benefit options change)
• Loss of coverage through Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Becoming eligible for a state’s premium assistance program under Medicaid or CHIP

Please note that coverage for a new spouse or newborn child is not automatic. If you experience a change in family status,
you have 31 days to update your coverage. Please contact Human Resources immediately to complete the appropriate
election forms as needed. If you do not update your coverage within 31 days from the family status change, you must wait
until the next annual open enrollment period to update your coverage.
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