Less Than Full-Time Employees
Health benefits are not offered to Palmdale School District casual (non-permanent) or less than full-time employees since you work variable hours or are scheduled to work less than 6 hours per day.
Please visit the Healthcare.gov or Covered California for information about coverage and assistance that may be available through the Affordable Care Act.
***Remember as a Palmdale School District employee you do not pay for state disability. Please look at the voluntary deductions for more information on disability options, long-term care, and additional life insurance.***
Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options
When key parts of the health care law took effect in 2014, there was a new way to buy health insurance: the Health Insurance Marketplace. To assist you as you evaluate options for you and your family, this notice provides some basic information about the Marketplace and employment based health coverage offered by Palmdale School District, Employer Identification Number (EIN): 95-6002342. Please note that this notice is informational only.
What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?
The Marketplace is designed to help you find health insurance that meets your needs and fits your budget. The Marketplace offers "one‐stop shopping," to find and compare private health insurance options. You may also be eligible for a new kind of tax credit that lowers your monthly premium. Open enrollment for health insurance coverage through the Marketplace is November 1, 2015- January 31, 2016. Individuals may also qualify for Special Enrollment Periods outside of Open Enrollment if they experience certain events.
Can I Save Money on My Health Insurance Premiums in the Marketplace?
You may qualify to save money and lower your monthly premium, but only if your employer does not offer coverage or offers coverage that does not meet certain standards. The savings on your premium that you are eligible for depends on your household income.
Does Employment-based Health Coverage Affect My Elibigility for Premium Savings Through the Marketplace?
Yes. If you have an offer of health coverage from your employer that meets certain standards, you will not be eligible for a tax credit through the Marketplace and may wish to enroll in your employer's health plan, if you are eligible. (Just because you received this notice does not mean you are eligible for the Palmdale School District health plan.) However, you may be eligible for a tax credit that lowers your monthly premium, or a reduction in certain cost‐sharing, if your employer does not offer coverage to you at all or does not offer coverage that meets certain standards. If your cost for self-only coverage under the Palmdale School District health plan is more than 9.5% of your household income for the year, or if the coverage your employer provides does not meet the "minimum value" standard set by the Affordable Care Act, you may be eligible for a tax credit. An employer‐sponsored health plan meets the “minimum value standard” if the plan’s share of the total allowed benefit costs covered by the plan is no less than 60 percent of such cost.
Note: If you purchase a health plan through the Marketplace instead of accepting health coverage offered by your employer, then you may lose the employer contribution (if any) to the employer‐offered coverage. Also, this employer contribution ‐ as well as your employee contribution (if any) to employer‐offered coverage ‐ is often excluded from income for Federal and State income tax purposes. Your payments for coverage through the Marketplace are made on an after‐tax basis.
How Can I Get More Information?
For more information about your coverage offered by Palmdale School District, please check your summary plan description or contact: Palmdale School District Health Benefits Staff Person, [email protected], 39139 N 10th St. East, Palmdale, CA 93550, Phone: (661) 947-7191.
For more information about coverage offered through the Marketplace please visit HealthCare.gov. The Marketplace can help you evaluate your coverage options, including your eligibility for coverage through the Marketplace and its cost. You will also be able to obtain an online application for health insurance coverage and contact information for a Health Insurance Marketplace in your area. If you decide to complete an application for coverage in the Marketplace, you will be asked to provide certain information about the health coverage offered by Palmdale School District. You can obtain this information by contacting the individual listed above.