Benefits

Gilbert Public Schools offers medical coverage through AmeriBen using the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) network. The information below is a brief outline of the plans available to you and your eligible dependents. Please note that there are no out-of-network benefits. You can use any doctor or hospital in the PPO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona network. 

You have three medical plan options:

• The Trust Plus Plan (EPO Plan)
• The Trust Savings Plan Option 1 (HDHP)
• The Trust Savings Plan Option 2 (HDHP)

A comparison of medical and prescription drug benefits are available in the full Gilbert Public Schools Employee Benefits Guide.  

What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

An HSA is a tax-sheltered bank account that you own to pay for eligible health care expenses for you and/or your eligible dependents for current or future healthcare expenses. The Health Savings Account (HSA) is yours to keep, even if you change jobs or medical plans. There is no “use it or lose it” rule; your balance carries over year to year.

Plus, you get extra tax advantages with an HSA because:

• Money you deposit into an HSA is exempt from federal income taxes.
• Interest in your account grows tax-free; and
• You don’t pay income taxes on withdrawals used to pay for eligible health expenses. (If you withdraw funds for non-eligible expenses, taxes and penalties apply).
• You also have a choice of investment options which earn competitive interest rates, so your unused funds grow over time.

Are you eligible to open a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

Although everyone is able to enroll in the Qualified High Deductible Health Plan, not everyone is eligible to open and contribute to an HSA. If you do not meet these requirements, you cannot open an HSA.

• You must be enrolled in a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (QHDHP)
• You must not be covered by another non-QHDHP health plan, such as a spouse’s PPO plan.
• You are not enrolled in Medicare.
• You are not in the TRICARE or TRICARE for Life military benefits program.
• You have not received Veterans Administration (VA) benefits or Indian health services (ISH) within the past three months.
• You are not claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.
• You are not covered by a traditional health care flexible spending account (FSA). This includes your spouse’s FSA. (Enrollment in a limited purpose health care FSA is allowed).

Enrolling in dental coverage is optional. You and your dependents may receive dental care from any provider you choose. However, you will receive the highest level of benefits when you choose a provider within the Delta Dental Preferred Network. Providers in Delta Dental’s Premier Network and all other qualified dental providers will be covered at the out-of-network rate.

Basic short-term disability is provided at no cost to all full-time, benefit-eligible employees. Additional voluntary short-term disability is available to purchase through Lincoln Financial Group and may help to provide income if disabled for a short period of time.

Gilbert Public Schools provides Basic Life and AD&D benefits to eligible employees, at no cost. The Life insurance benefit will be paid to your designated beneficiary in the event of death while covered under the plan. The AD&D benefit will be paid in the event of a loss of life or limb by accident while covered under the plan.

The above benefits will begin to decrease at age 70. Please refer to the plan documents.