2025 Open Enrollment and State of Florida Benefits
Benefits Open Enrollment for 2025 will offer eligible full-time Northwest Florida State College employees more choices and more coverage as we transition into the State Group Insurance Program.
The State Group Insurance Program offers and manages a comprehensive package of insurance benefits for eligible full-time active and retired employees and their dependents, including health, dental, vision, life, and supplemental insurance plans and savings and spending accounts.
2025 Benefits Open Enrollment Dates
Monday, October 14 – Friday, November 1, 2024
Why Move Into the State Group Insurance Program Now?
In June 2024, House Bill 5101 was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. This bill authorizes and mandates the participation of the 28 Florida College System (FCS) institutions, including Northwest Florida State College, in the State Group Insurance Program (SGIP).
In light of this, the College is preparing to transition employee benefits to the SGIP effective Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
2025 Benefits Open Enrollment Requires You To Actively Enroll
Since the State Group Insurance Program offers different benefit carrier and plan options than your current Northwest Florida State College benefits, you will be required to actively enroll during open enrollment in order to have insurance benefits for 2025.
If you do not actively enroll during open enrollment, you will not have benefits for 2025. The state does not provide for any default benefit enrollment if you fail to actively enroll.
People First: A New Way To Enroll
With the transition to the State Group Insurance Plan, Northwest Florida State College employees will log on to People First ― the State of Florida’s online, self-service, secure web-based portal to enroll in benefits.
More information on how to log in to the portal will be sent to NWFSC employees from the Department of Management Services in September.
New Benefit Plans and Options
The Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) is planning to release the 2025 Plan Year Benefits Guide and 2025 plan year updates to the myBenefits website in fall 2024. We will continue to update this page as we become aware of additional information.
In the meantime, you can access 2024 plan year insurance plans, coverage details, and employee premium rates for a preview of the state benefits.
Please keep in mind that the below links are for 2024 plan year information. DMS has advised us that they do not anticipate any employee premium changes for most of the 2025 plans, including health, dental, and vision. However, there may be minor updates to the health plan out-of-pocket maximums.
Benefits Guide
Explore plan options to make an informed decision about your benefits.
Videos
View short videos on the plan options in both English and Spanish.
Health Plan Options: PPO and HMO
The State offers multiple PPO and HMO options, including high-deductible health plan HSA options, for employee and family health insurance coverage:
PPO
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans provides coverage both in and out-of-network. You can self-refer to many specialists, and you have access to a nationwide network. Northwest Florida State College’s current UHC Choice Plus and Choice Plus Premium plans are PPO plans.
HMO
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans covers only in-network services, except in certain emergency situations. You may be required to have a primary care provider and referrals to some specialists.
Start Exploring the Health Plans, Provider Networks and Pharmacy Benefits
Benefits Enrollment Events
One of the best ways to ensure you are prepared for the 2025 Benefits Open Enrollment is to participate in events that allow you to ask questions and learn more about your options and how to enroll. Full-time employees must check their College email for emails from Roberta Mackey, HR Executive Director, listing the Zoom meeting dates, times, and links.
What can you do to prepare for the insurance changes?
- Mark your calendars for open enrollment: October 14 – November 1, 2024.
- All full-time employees must actively participate in open enrollment to ensure benefits coverage. Every full-time employee must complete all necessary paperwork to enroll.
- Learn more about benefits by reviewing the Department of Management Services (DMS) 2024 Benefit Guide for general information only, as dates and numbers may change. The College will inform employees when the DMS 2025 Benefit Guide is available.
- Any bridge coverage offered for the remainder of FY2025 (health insurance, life insurance, and EAP) is for FY2025 only and is not guaranteed to continue in FY2026. Changes to the existing dental and vision insurance and flexible spending accounts are also permanent based on the new SGIP offerings.
- Compile documentation for any eligible dependents you plan to enroll in any plan. Individuals will be required to upload documents for dependents, e.g., marriage license, birth certificates, tax return, etc., for dependents.
- Monitor your NWFSC email address for information and updates. You may receive information from the College and from DMS.