Current Employee: Benefit Enrollment Information
Employee Services Center Menu
The Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GPB) is the insurance program administered by the Employees Retirement Systems of Texas (ERS). ERS administers benefits for employees and retirees of state agencies, higher education institutions, and other groups.
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Health Benefits (Click to Expand)
UnitedHealthcare is the third-party administrator for HealthSelect™ of Texas. HealthSelect is available in all Texas counties, and you may enroll based on the county where you live or the county where you work. Levels of coverage are:
- In-area (network and non-network), and
- Out-of-area (if you live or work outside of Texas or if you are retired, age 65 or over and have Medicare benefits).
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Prescription Benefits (Click to Expand)
Caremark is the prescription drug benefit manager for participants in HealthSelect of Texas.
To get your medication, take your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. Using a network pharmacy will lower your costs and the pharmacy will submit the claim for you. You can submit long-term or maintenance medications to the mail order pharmacy by completing the Caremark Mail Service Order Form. You can also purchase long-term and maintenance medications at participating Extended Days Supply (EDS) pharmacies.
Visit the Caremark Website - Register with your prescription card. Registering allows you to take advantage of Caremark's many online services, including searching for a network pharmacy and online prescription refills from the mail service pharmacy.
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Dental (Click to Expand)
ERS has two dental plans. Each has different costs, benefits, service areas and participating dentists. The dental plans are administered by HumanaDental.
For an Explanation of Benefits or to Enroll, Add or Drop Coverage click here
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TexFlex (Click to Expand)
Need a better way to budget? TexFlex is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that lets you pay for planned out-of-pocket health and dependent daycare expenses tax-free. You decide how much to contribute out of your paycheck into either a healthcare or dependent daycare account. Use the money to pay for big or routine expenses throughout the year.
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Optional Insurance (Click to Expand)
Optional insurance coverage can protect you and your loved ones in the event of an accident, disability or death.
- Term Life & Dependent Term Life
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Disability
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COBRA (Click to Expand)
COBRA stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. It allows you and your dependents to keep your health and dental coverage under the Group Benefits Program (GBP) for a certain period of time after you leave employment. This is called "COBRA continuation coverage."
If you choose COBRA continuation coverage, you will pay the full cost of your premium(s).
COBRA continuation coverage is limited to the benefits you have when you leave employment. For example, if you wish to continue your health coverage after you leave state employment, you have to be enrolled in a state health plan on your last day on the payroll.
After you leave employment, ERS will send you a COBRA Notification, election form and instructions for paying your premiums. Read the notice carefully and call ERS if you have questions.
Each benefit listed on the website includes a COBRA section in the plan details. Review these benefits to find out about the options available to you.
Resources:
COBRA at ERS Website
COBRA Rates
COBRA Terminations
COBRA Family Status Changes
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Enrollment Opportunities (Click to Expand)
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New Employee or Newly Hired in a Benefits Eligible Position
31 Days
During your first 31 days of employment or promotion into a benefits eligible position is your opportunity to enroll in:
- Dental coverage
- Optional insurance coverage such as Life and Disability Insurance
- TexFlex - Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
90 Days
During your first 90 days of employment or promotion into a benefits eligible position is your opportunity to enroll:
- Your family in Health Insurance
- Full-time employees are automatically enrolled in Health coverage that starts the 1st day of the month after your 90th day of employment.
- Long-Term Care Insurance
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Annual Enrollment
During the annual enrollment period each year, you can make changes to your benefits without requiring a qualifying life event.
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Qualifying Life Events
During the plan year, a qualifying life event (QLE) such as marriage, divorce, loss of other coverage, or birth of a child may allow you to make changes within 30 days of the event.
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Year-round Enrollment
You can enroll in a Texa$aver 457 Plan or apply for Long-Term Care Insurance at any time.
