Frequently Asked Questions

Top Questions

Which employees are eligible?

All regular full time and part time employees of the following companies who do not have existing FEHB or Tri-Care Reserve:

  • NANA Regional Corporation
  • Sivu
  • NMS
  • NANA Worley
  • NANA Pacific
  • Tuuq

You can enroll in an FEHB plan even if you did not enroll in a NANA plan for 2017.

If I have other medical coverage, am I eligible for an FEHB plan?

The only case where you are not eligible for an FEHB plan is:

  • You have existing Federal Employee Health Benefits coverage (this does not include other federally managed/funded plans like Medicare, VA, Indian Health Services)

However, if you have Tricare Reserve Select (not TriCare, not TriCare Prime – only Tricare Reserve Select), you are no longer eligible for that coverage now that you are eligible for FEHB. If you want to enroll for an FEHB plan, you must immediately notify Tricare to terminate your Tricare Reserve Select coverage, effective the day before your FEHB coverage begins.

When is open enrollment?

Open enrollment for 2021 will begin in November 2020.

When will my medical plan election take effect?

The new plan coverage will start the first day of the pay period following receipt of your completed enrollment by the benefits department. Plan elections are in effect through December 31 of the current calendar year, and can only be changed if you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).  There will be an  open enrollment period each year from mid-November to mid-December, with plans starting January 1 of the following year.  During open enrollment, you may make changes to your plan and/or covered dependents without the requirement of a QLE.

You should receive insurance cards and other information within about two weeks of your coverage effective date. This information will come from the insurance carrier you selected. If you do not receive your information within this timeframe, call the toll-free telephone number listed for that carrier. You can use the “Compare Plans Tool” to find the contact information for your insurance carrier.

General

General Questions

What is the FEHB?

FEHB is the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program. This is the same insurance offered to U.S. federal government employees. FEHB is the largest group health insurance program in the world, with 8 million members. This health insurance is also available to employees of approved tribal employers. NANA was recently approved and can extend FEHB benefits to all of its subsidiary employees.

Do I have to enroll in a medical plan?

No, but if you do not want coverage you need to “waive” coverage using the enrollment form.

What types of plans are available?

The federal government plans include:

  • Fee for Service with Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
  • Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)
  • Consumer Driven High Deductible plans (CDHP)
  • High Deductible Plans (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

For more information on the plans available in the state you live or work in, see the links on the home page.

How can I compare plans if I live in one state and work in another?

You’ll need to do the comparison using one zip code, and then the other. You can’t compare plans for more than one zip code at a time.

Does NANA offer dental and vision coverage?

Yes, NANA offers stand-alone dental and vision plans. Please note that some of the federal medical plans include limited dental and/or vision coverage as well.

Can I add medical coverage or change my coverage later in the year?

If you have a “qualifying life event (QLE),” you may be able to add a medical plan or change your coverage. Some examples are:

  • Your family changes through marriage, divorce, birth, death or for other reasons
  • Your employment changes, for example from on-call to regular
  • You lose coverage under a spouse’s insurance plan
  • You become entitled to Medicare

More information about QLE is available here.

What happens to my health plan if I leave the company?

You will have coverage for 31 days at no cost. Then you have several options:

  • You can enroll in “Temporary Continuation of Coverage” for up to 18 months. You will pay the entire premium and an administrative fee.
  • You can convert to an individual medical policy
  • You can get other coverage inside or outside of the health insurance exchanges

Can I cancel my health plan later in the year?

If you have a “qualifying life event (QLE),” you may be able to cancel your health plan. Some examples are:

  • Your family changes through marriage, divorce, birth, death or for other reasons
  • Your employment changes, for example from on-call to regular
  • You lose coverage under a spouse’s insurance plan
  • You become entitled to Medicare

More information about QLE is available here.

Eligibility

Who is Eligible?

Which employees are eligible?

All regular full time and part time employees of the following companies who do not have existing FEHB or Tri-Care Reserve:

  • NANA Regional Corporation
  • NANA Development Corporation
  • NMS
  • NANA WorleyParsons
  • NANA Pacific
  • Tuuq

If you are unsure of your employment status (full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal, etc.), check with your manager.

Which employees are not eligible?

  • Variable Hour (On-Call) Employees
  • Seasonal/Temporary Employees
  • Contract Employees
  • Tribal Retirees
  • Volunteers
  • Non-Citizens working outside of the US

If you are unsure of your employment status (full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal, etc.), check with your manager.

How will medical insurance work for new hires?

New hires can elect FEHB medical at any time within 60 days of their date of hire, and coverage starts the first of the pay period after their completed forms are received by Benefits.

If I have coverage through Indian Health Service, can I enroll in an FEHB plan?

Yes. If you qualify for IHS services you may still have a separate FEHB medical insurance policy.   You are not eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account if you have actively used IHS medical services in the preceding three months.

If I have coverage through Tricare Reserve Select (TRS), can I enroll in an FEHB plan?

Yes. However, you must immediately notify TRICARE to terminate your coverage, or you will have to repay TRS for all monies paid on claims retroactive to your FEHB eligibility date or you may face fines and/or a charge of fraud. Click here to access to Tricare Reserve Select website. Contact phone numbers are listed by coverage region on the right-hand side under “Your Contacts.”

My spouse is on Medicare - can I participate in the FEHB medical plans?

Yes. Each plan’s “Summary Plan Description” (available using the “Compare Plans Tool”) has a section about coordination with Medicare. If you plan to include your spouse in your FEHB coverage, refer to those documents for more information.

Are all NANA employees "tribal employees?"

Yes. NANA is considered a “tribal employer” under the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program. All employees who work for a tribal employer are “tribal employees.”

Which family members are eligible?

  • A spouse (including a same-sex spouse)
  • Children under age 26, including adopted children, recognized natural children or stepchildren (including children of same-sex domestic partners in certain states); or foster children living with employee in regular parent/child relationship.
  • Children age 26 or older incapable of self-support, if disabling condition began before age 26 (medical documentation required)

Which family members are not eligible?

  • Grandchildren, unless foster child requirements (as defined in the Handbook) are met
  • Parents
  • Siblings
  • In-laws

HSA/FSA

HSAs and FSAs

Do the FEHB plans have a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

Some of the FEHB plans have medical reimbursement accounts, including Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA). For more details, click here.

Some FEHB plans put part of my premium in a Health Savings Account (HSA). Does that count toward my IRS limit?

While we can’t offer tax advice, in general the IRS contribution limits include money contributed from the medical plan (also called a “premium pass-through”) as well as any extra money you put in the HSA during the year.

Can I have payroll deductions made to my HSA?

NANA does not offer payroll deductions to HSAs, because there are many different banks that manage HSAs for the different FEHB medical plans. However, employees can still make contributions to their HSAs and while we can’t give tax advice, in general those contributions, up to the IRS limits,  are not taxed. If you make contributions to your HSA (with “post-tax” funds), your HSA bank will send a form (Form 5498-SA) showing your contributions during the year. You use the information on that form to file Form 8889, which has a line for contributions you made, and calculates a tax benefit. You can find more information on tax treatment of HSAs, Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) and Medical Savings Accounts in this IRS publication.

I have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Can I choose an FEHB plan that has a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

If you have an FSA, you are not eligible for an HSA. However, most of the FEHB plans offer a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) if an employee is not eligible for an HSA.

Costs

Costs & Deductions

What is the cost of the different plans?

You can use the “Compare Plans” tool to see the monthly premium costs for each plan. The cost listed is the monthly cost you pay – NANA will pay their portion of the premium directly to the insurance company.

How do I pay for my medical plan?

You will pay premiums on a pre-tax basis. Your medical plan premiums will be paid with a deduction from your paycheck twice a month (or 4x/month if you are on a weekly pay schedule).

We have 26 pay periods – how do the medical plan deductions work?

Your medical plan premiums will be paid in 24 payments from your first two paychecks of every month. Two paychecks – which fall on a third payday in a month – will not have medical plan premiums.

Enrolling

How to Enroll

How do I enroll?

Now that open enrollment has closed, eligible new employees will receive information about enrollment with their new hire packets.

New hires after April 1, 2017 can elect an FEHB medical plan at any time within 60 days of their date of hire, and coverage starts the first of the pay period after their completed forms are received by Benefits.

Existing employees who did not choose a medical plan during open enrollment will need to wait until the next open enrollment in November 2017 for coverage starting January 1, 2018 unless they have a “qualifying life event” (QLE). Click here for more information.

When is open enrollment?

Open enrollment for 2018 will begin in November 2017.

What happens if I don’t enroll for a medical plan?

If you do not enroll in an FEHB plan, you will not have medical coverage through NANA.