AT&T 2021 Benefits Information

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Ryan

The information below outlines the changes for the 2021 benefits. If you are viewing this page on your phone all of the links for texting and calling will work – clicking on the text or phone number link will open your text app with the appropriate information to send or open the dialing app with the number to dial ready to go.

To All AT&T Employees:

Members should have received an announcement from AT&T advising the open enrollment period for 2021 benefits is from October 12 to November 13, 2020. Everyone should confirm their plan, associated pricing and elections prior to November 13 because there are some key changes for 2021 benefits.

Tobacco User Surcharge
Important action required: Whether or not you are a tobacco user, you must take action during your enrollment window to avoid the Tobacco User Surcharge. If you don’t use tobacco, change to non-smoker status when you enroll. If you or your spouse/partner uses tobacco and enrolls in an AT&T medical plan, you’ll pay an additional monthly surcharge. What’s a “tobacco user”? Someone who uses tobacco products at least once a month or more, on average, is considered a tobacco user. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, vaporizers and smokeless tobacco. If you use tobacco and want to avoid the surcharge, you can participate in a tobacco cessation program. The tobacco surcharge is $720 per year ($60 per month) per person, up to $1,440 for both employee and spouse/partner, if applicable. AT&T offers a tobacco cessation program with 2Morrow Health through Castlight. For more information on how you can download the 2Morrow Health app and complete the tobacco cessation program to waive the tobacco surcharge see the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for the AT&T Medical Plan in which you are enrolling or visit mycastlight.com/att. To register for Castlight text APP to 35925 to download the app, or visit mycastlight.com/att.

Working Spouse/Partner Surcharge

You must take action to certify that your spouse/partner does not have medical coverage available from a current employer. AT&T encourages you and your spouse/partner to compare the cost of AT&T medical options with those available through your spouse’s/partner’s current employer. If you enroll your spouse/partner and your spouse/partner has access to coverage through a current employer, you will have to pay a $100 monthly surcharge. If your spouse/partner does not have access to coverage through a current employer, you must certify that during Annual Enrollment to avoid the surcharge. Otherwise, the surcharge will be added to your monthly medical coverage contribution (what you pay out of your paycheck each month). Be sure to check the current status to avoid the surcharge. For more information on surcharges, see the Surcharges video.

Note – You don’t have to pay the surcharge if your spouse/partner works for AT&T.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Your maximum annual HSA contribution amount is increasing for 2021:

  • Individual coverage is $3,600
  • Individual + 1 or more is $7,200

If you are age 55 or older, you can make an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution to your account each year. Limits are reviewed by the IRS annually and may be adjusted.

If you are enrolling in an HSA for the First Time – If certain requirements are satisfied, you can open an HSA with any financial institution. However, to contribute to your HSA through payroll contributions, you must establish an HSA account with Fidelity and you must complete the following steps:

  • Input your desired annual HSA contribution amount on the AT&T Benefits Center Website or by calling 877-722-0020
  • Once Fidelity receives your HSA election (approximately three business days later), log on Fidelity NetBenefits. On the home page, next to Health Savings Account click “Open” to complete your online application.
  • To designate your beneficiary, choose Beneficiaries from the Quick Links menu under the Health Savings Account tile on the home page.

Elections made at Annual Enrollment will be effective January 1, 2021.

Remember, you can change your HSA election at any time here or by calling 877-722-0020.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Your maximum annual Health Care FSA contribution amount is increasing to $2,750 for 2021.

HSA & FSA

If you are enrolled in the Option 2 medical plan you are now eligible for payroll deductions if enrolling in an HSA with Fidelity. See Save $$ With HSAs & FSAs for more information on this tax-advantaged program.

The health and well-being of your loved ones might feel more critical now than ever before. Enroll in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to help save for eligible health care and dependent care costs. You generally don’t pay taxes on these payroll contributions, leaving more money in your paycheck. Ensure you have the coverage needed to take care of yourself and those who matter most to you.

HSA payroll contributions and any other contributions described in this notice are governed by the AT&T Flexible Spending Account Plan. For more information, refer to the AT&T Flexible Spending Account Plan Summary Plan Description (SPD). In the case of any discrepancy between this notice and the terms of the AT&T Flexible Spending Account Plan, the plan terms will govern.

Note – If you enroll in both HSA and FSA at the same time, then the HSA would only be eligible for dental and vision services. Employees may not want to contribute as much to HSA knowing it’s not going towards medical.

CarePlus

CarePlus is a supplemental benefit program providing coverage for a list of specified treatments and services generally not covered under the AT&T Medical Program. You don’t need to be enrolled in an AT&T Medical Program to sign up, but you must be enrolled in CarePlus to receive any CarePlus benefits. For 2021, CarePlus covered services will continue to be offered to you on a contribution “holiday”. There will be no required monthly contribution for 2021. In future years, if the contribution “holiday” ends, you will be notified in advance. If contribution changes are made, you will need to make an active election during enrollment to continue your CarePlus coverage. If you do not make an election when the contribution “holiday” ends, you will be opted out of CarePlus. You can resume participation at a future date. Note: please see plan for new experimental services effective September 1, 2020.

New: Health Management Services for Certain Chronic Conditions

These new programs provided coverage for health management services for certain chronic conditions (e.g. Diabetes Prevention, Diabetes Management, Hypertension Management, and Weight Management) offered by our Designated Network Provider (Livongo). These services are only available if you are enrolled in a company self-insured medical option and with a diagnosis from a medical professional. These services are covered as preventive care, at no cost to you. The programs utilize a connected device that monitors your condition and provides feedback to you based on your preferences. To learn more about these services see the Other Resources link on the right, use the Castlight app, or visit go.livongo.com/ATT.

New: Nox Health Sleep Services

The Nox Health Sleep Services program may provide coverage for services provided by the Sleep Center of Expertise, a Designated Network Provider. Limited services (online sleep checkup, sleep report and sleep health educational content) are available to all employees at no cost to you. These services are also available at no cost to your spouse/partner who is enrolled in any AT&T sponsored health care program (e.g. medical, dental, vision or CarePlus). Additional services may be available to those enrolled in a company self-insured option such as diagnostic sleep testing and treatment solutions for sleep disorders including sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome and circadian rhythm disorders. Treatment solutions are delivered by a team of board-certified Physicians specializing in sleep medicine, sleep coaches, and clinical sleep specialists. Treatment initiation, care, and medical management are provided via Telehealth. To learn more about the SleepCharge program, see the Other Resources link on the right, use the Castlight app, or visit sleepcharge.com/att.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

EAP Services are confidential assessments, referrals, and short-term interventions to help with personal, family or work-related concerns. No enrollment is required and EAP services are available at no cost to you and your household members. You can also call at any time-the EAP is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There may be many reasons why you might contact the EAP:

  • Managing stress, anxiety, or depression
  • Relationship/marital conflicts
  • Parenting and children
  • Grief and loss
  • Job stress
  • Substance use

The EAP is administered by Optum. Visit www.liveandworkwell.com, or call 866-263-9253 to get started. You will have up to 5 counseling visits per issue, per year, at no cost to you. EAP visits can be scheduled as virtual or in-person sessions, whatever is most appropriate for you. If you need services beyond the scope of the EAP, you may be referred to your Mental Health/Substance Abuse benefits through your medical program or to other community resources.

Note – Last year the plan was changed to Optum and retained for 2021.

Beneficiaries

Note – Employees need to make sure their beneficiary information is up to date.

Dependent Eligibility

Note – Dependents will age out at 26.

Retiring soon

After you retire and become eligible for Medicare, you and your dependents may become ineligible for certain company-sponsored benefits. For those who remain eligible for company coverage, Medicare becomes the primary coverage.

As a retiree, once you and/or your dependents become eligible for Medicare, you (or they) must enroll in Medicare. If you delay, you could receive a late enrollment penalty from Medicare and experience a gap in coverage. Visit medicare.gov for call Medicare at 800-633-4227 regarding eligibility for Medicare Part A and to enroll in Medicare Part B. Medicare requires the following in order for you or your eligible dependent to be enrolled in a Medicare plan:

  • You must be entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Medicare Part B
  • You must continue paying your Medicare Part B premium
  • You must have a permanent street address (this cannot be a PO Box)
  • You must have your Medicare ID card number
  • You must live within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or U.S. territories

If you are not eligible for Medicare Part A, enrolled in Medicare Part B and/or you live outside the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or U.S. territories, contact the U.S. Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213, TTY 800-325-0778. If you become Medicare-eligible for reasons other than age, you must contact AT&T Benefits Center and advise them of your Medicare effective date to be sure you are enrolled in the appropriate AT&T coverage options. Be sure to contact the U.S. Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov to enroll. To learn more about how Medicare affects your AT&T benefits, see the Medicare and You video. For more detailed information, read the AT&T Termination of Employment Benefits Guide. For complete benefit eligibility rules, refer to your Refer to the Health and Wellness section of your medical plan SPD for details.

Note – If you’re Medicare eligible, then it becomes your primary coverage.

If you have an HSA – Once you are enrolled in any part of Medicare, you can no longer contribute to an HSA. You can continue to use and spend your HSA on qualified medical expenses, but you can no longer add to it. When you retire from AT&T, your HSA goes with you. That means you can continue to take tax-free withdrawals from your HSA balance to help pay for qualified medical expenses. Keep in mind, there are no account maintenance fees, if you choose to keep your HSA where it is. If you still have an HSA balance at age 65, you can take taxable withdrawals for non-medical expenses as well, without an additional penalty. If you withdraw funds out of your HSA for non-medical expenses before age 65, you will pay a 20% IRS penalty, in addition to taxes, on the amount withdrawn.

Note – HSA accounts are portable, so it goes with you.

Need help enrolling

Have questions or need help enrolling? Call the AT&T Benefits Center now or schedule an appointment with a representative to move faster through annual enrollment.

Note – Employees should watch the interactive videos for additional assistance regarding open enrollment.

Medical plans

Per the Company:

  • There was a slight change with providers because the price point was getting too high. The Company thought we shouldn’t offer an unaffordable plan (e.g. sometimes employees were paying $600 a month), which were United Health Care and HealthNet. This is why we removed those 2 plans, and most employees were starting to migrate out of those plans.
  • If the employee is currently enrolled in United Health Care and HealthNet and they fail to make a selection through open enrollment the employee is moved to the default plan. The default plan is the lowest contribution option, which is West HCN Option 2.
  • If the employee fails to make a selection during open enrollment and they’re placed on the default plan “Option 2” the employee can contact the Benefits Center to amend their 2021 medical selection. The employee will receive a letter confirming their selections by December 1, 2020 explaining how to make those changes.
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