403(b) UNIVERSAL AVAILABILITY NOTICE

Updated 5/12/2021

You have the opportunity to save for retirement by participating in the Mt Blue Regional School District’s 403(b) plan (“Plan”). A 403 (b) plan is a retirement plan for certain employees of public schools, tax-exempt organizations and ministers. Contributions are mad under a Salary Reduction Agreement (SRA) with your employer. This agreement allows your employer to withhold money from your paycheck to be contributed directly into a 403 (b) account for your benefit. Usually, you do not pay income tax on these contributions until you withdraw them from the account. We recommend that all employees view a brief, 3-minute video presentation explaining what a 403(b) plan is, and how to contribute.

If there are any questions, you may contact The OMNI Group at 877-544-6664.

How Can I Participate?

Prior to contributing, you must open an account with an investment provider participating in the Plan, a list of which is available below. You can participate in the Plan with pre-tax contributions by completing and submitting a Salary Reduction Agreement (“SRA”) online at the OMNI 403b website, or by submitting a completed SRA form, which can be found on the same website, to The OMNI Group either by facsimile to (585) 672-6194 or by mail at 1099 Jay St., Bldg F, Rochester, NY, 14611 (“OMNI”).

How Much Can I Contribute Annually?

You may contribute up to $19,500 in 2021; this amount is subject to change annually. If you have at least 15 years of service with your employer or you are at least 50 years old, you may also be able to make additional catch-up contributions. For appropriate limits for your particular circumstances, please contact OMNI’s Customer Care Center at 1-877-544-6664.

What If I Already Have An Account?

If you are already contributing to the Plan, and you want to change your contribution amount or service provider, simply complete and submit a new SRA. See directions above for on-line and paper submission options.

What If I Do Not Want To Contribute?

If you do not want to take advantage of this program, simply submit an SRA with the option “I do not wish to participate at this time” selected. See directions above for on-line and paper submission options.

How can I get more information?

You can access further information at the OMNI 403b website or by viewing the 3-minute video presentation.

The following Vendors are authorized to receive contributions and contract exchanges between vendors under the Mt Blue Regional School District 403(b) Plan:

RATES & COVERAGE FOR UPCOMING, 2024 OPEN ENROLLMENT - More Info to Come

Outline of Coverage - Delta Dental PPO plus Premier Network

Coverage Information

Northeast Delta Dental open enrollment must be completed and submitted to the business office annually by July 31.  The effective date of the change is September 1, 2024. If there is an event such as marriage, divorce, losing another coverage, the change form can be completed at the time of such event in PowerSchool Records. The cost to the employee has not increased. It remains at:

$555.96 annually for the employee and one additional family member;
$1,190.28 annually for the employee and two or more additional family members.
There is no cost to the employee for a single subscriber plan.

Outline of Benefits

RSU #9 dba Mt. Blue Regional School District
Group Number: 0638-5253

Contract Year for Benefits - September 1 through August 31

Eligibility Period - Determined by the Employer

Waiting Period: None

Eligible Persons - Subject to the "Eligibility" provision above, employees and their dependents may be enrolled. Your employer pays the cost for eligible employees.  Employees are responsible for the cost of their enrolled dependents. If enrolling dependents, all dependents must be enrolled for the term of the Agreement.  A newborn child is automatically covered for the first thirty-one (31) days following birth.  Coverage will continue if the child is formally enrolled within the first thirty-one days following birth or the child may be enrolled thereafter at any open enrollment or as of the first day of the month following the month of the child's second birthday.

Benefit Coverages and Percentages Paid by Northeast Delta Dental -

Diagnostic & Preventive: 100%
Basic Restorative: 80%
Major Restorative - including implant services: 50%

Benefit percentages shown are based upon the actual charge submitted up to the Maximum Allowable Charge for participating dentists, or Delta Dental's allowance for Non-Participating dentists.

Maximum Benefit - The maximum amount which your plan will pay is $1000 per person per Contract Year for Diagnostic & Preventive, Basic and Major benefits.

Deductible - There is no deductible

Notice of May Open Enrollment

Open enrollment for health insurance is during the month of May. The effective date of the change is dependent upon your contract renewal date. July 1 is the effective date for administrators, support staff, and school lunch workers. September 1 is the effective date for teachers and any other September 1 contracts. Applications for change for the July or September 2024 contract year must be completed and returned to the business office by May 24, 2024.

The following benefit information was provided by MEA Benefits Trust in a Rate Notice dated April 24, 2024. Please click here for more important MEA Benefits Trust Plan Documents and Open Enrollment Information.

effective July 1, 2024

Benefits for the 2024-2025 benefit year:

• MEA Choice Plus Plan
• MEA Standard Plan
• MEA Standard 500 Plan
• MEA Standard 1000 Plan

Below is a document with 7/1/24 - 6/30/25 monthly rates. The employer's and employee's percentage of the plan vary depending on the RSU 9 employee group. Please note that these employer's and employee's percentage are subject to completion of contract negotiations for some groups. Additional benefit information and comparative information is available on MEA Benefit Trust's website and on Anthem's MEABT site. 

After reviewing the information on this page, if you would like to make any changes to your coverage, log into PowerSchool Records and complete a new form.

Open Enrollment Dates: May 1, 2024 through May 24, 2024

FAQ - Helpful Tips and Reminders

The enrollment for the Health/Dependent Care Spending Account is administered by Horace Mann. Troy True is the local agent and representatives at his office are available at 645-4779. The reimbursement plans will be processed by Health Equity. This year during the month of May, you must complete forms indicating participation or refusing participation. We must be able to document that everyone is offered this opportunity if audited by the IRS. There are three opportunities with our plan:

• Paying your insurance premiums prior to taxes.
• Flexible Spending Account; this benefit is an opportunity to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses with pre-tax dollars, thus reducing your taxable earnings at W-2 time.
• Dependent Care Reimbursement; this benefit is an opportunity to pay for eligible dependent/child care expenses with pre-tax dollars, thus reducing your taxable earnings at W-2 time.

The effective dates are as follows:

July 1 for administrators, psychologists, adult ed staff, support staff, and school lunch workers.
Section 125 Enrollment Form for July 1, 2024 Effective Date 

September 1 for teachers and other professional staff members.
Section 125 Enrollment Form for September 1, 2024 Effective Date

Information for additional benefits.
FSA Quick Start
FSA w/ Carryover
Dependent Care

Select the form that is appropriate for your effective date in PowerSchool Records. The completed forms must be completed in Records by May 24, 2024.

Effective January 17th, all following personnel forms can be found in PowerSchool Records.

• Change of Address
• Change of Name Form
• Dental Application and Change Form
• Federal W4 Form
• Maine W-4 Form
• MePERS Member/Benefit Recipient Data Update
  • All Member Forms
• Anthem Application/Change Form
• Conference Request Form Procedure - important instructions
• Conference Request Form - Please see important instructions in the above Conference Request Procedure
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Gift Card Sign-off Form

Course Approval Forms can still be found below at this time:

• Course Approval Form - Professional & Support Staff
• Course Approval Form - Administrators

September 2024 Forms

The first payroll of 2024/25 school year is September 6, 2024. 

• MePers Retirement Forms
• Social Security Retirement
• Retiree Checklist
• MEA Benefits Trust - Rate Band