Q&A: New Hires (or Newly Benefits-Eligible)

Q: I just got hired into a benefits-eligible position.  How do I sign up for insurance?

A: You should set an appointment to have an orientation meeting in Human Resources.  Benefits are just one part of the important information you will receive in your orientation meeting.  To make your appointment, call (541) 790-7660.

Q: I had my orientation meeting, but I misplaced some of the documents from my benefits packet .  Can I get another one?

A: Electronic versions of the documents can be found below.  Since each employee group gets a slightly different package, be sure to select your proper employee group.

Q: When is the deadline to turn in my forms?

A: You must submit your election forms within 31 days of your first day of work in a benefits-eligible position.  The first page of the employee benefits package is an acknowledgement of this deadline which you sign in your orientation meeting and get to keep a copy with your specific date.   Obviously if you download this packet from the web, this page will have blank spaces rather than your specific date.  If you've misplaced your copy of this form and need a reminder of when your 31 days will be up, please call Human Resources at (541) 790-7660. 

Q: When do my benefits become effective?

A: Most of your benefits (e.g., your medical/dental insurance) take effect your first day of work in your benefits-eligible position.  The exceptions to this are life insurance and LTD insurance which take effect the first of the month coinciding with or following your first day of work in your benefits-eligible position.

Q: If I take the full 31 days to submit my forms, are my benefits delayed?

A: The coverage itself will be retroactively effective back to the proper date for that plan (see above).  It takes time to process everything once you turn in the forms, so if you receive services prior to receiving your cards in the mail, you may have to deal with the inconvenience of paying the full amount up front and getting reimbursed by the insurance carrier once everything is in place.  Sometimes providers will agree to see you and delay submitting the claim until your insurance is in place, but they are not required to do so.

Q: The insurance carrier doesn't have any record of me yet, but I need services right away and I can't afford to pay the bill up front.  Is there any way you can assure my provider that I really am benefits eligible now and will have retroactive coverage?

A: Your provider can call the 4J Employee Benefits Manager at (541) 790-7675 to get verbal confirmation of your eligibility.  If they need something in writing, they can call and request a letter be faxed to them.  If you haven't submitted the forms yet, we can't guarantee that you'll have coverage, because you may not if you miss the deadline or submit an election to waive coverage, but we can certainly assure them of your eligibility.  If you have submitted your forms and we are in the midst of processing, we can inform them of your elections.