Newly-eligible employees’ benefits become effective the first of the month following the first scheduled payroll in which benefit deductions are taken. 

See Changing Your Benefits.

• Waiving medical coverage 
  • All benefit-eligible employees may elect to opt-out of medical insurance coverage during the annual Open Enrollment period – you must meet with a Benefits Counselor to opt-out and provide a completed Declination of Medical Coverage Affidavit.
• Adding dependents 
  • If you are adding a new dependent, you must see a Benefits Counselor and submit the appropriate documentation.
• Voluntary benefits
  • Employees who enroll online and are interested in increasing or adding voluntary benefits will be required to make an appointment with a Benefits Counselor for those selections only.

Provided you’ve made the necessary contributions, your group health plans and flexible benefits will continue until the last day of the month in which termination occurs, unless you separate on the last work day of the month, then your benefits will continue to the end of the following month. If you completed your contract year, your benefits will continue until August 31st.

Note: If an employee is in active pay status on the last work day of the month, the insurance is in effect through the end of the following month, unless the last work day is the day before a holiday (paid or unpaid), in which case the employee’s insurance will terminate at the end of the month of separation.

You will receive a COBRA notice allowing you the opportunity to continue your group health and life insurance benefit coverage after the end of the month of your termination. 

Exception: If you qualify for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), your coverage will end the last day of the month in which eligibility for FMLA ends, as long as required employee contributions are made. 

Cobra Rates

Your benefits as an active employee end on the last day of the month in which you retire. However, for all employees who retire at the end of a school year and work through their contract period, coverage will end on August 31st of that year. As a DCPS retiree, you are eligible to continue your health, dental, vision, basic life, and some voluntary benefits if you pay the monthly premium in full. The Florida Blue medical plans are not available options to retirees age 65+ and Medicare eligible. Retirees age 65+ and Medicare eligible are given the option to enroll in one of the Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage Plans and/or one of the Medicare Part D Pharmacy Plans (See Retiree page for more details).

Note: Your retirement date must be in a month in which you are covered under the District’s benefits plan in order to continue benefits as a retiree.