Major Medical Insurance
FEHB- Federal Employees Health Benefits – www.opm.gov

Regular full time and part time employees (working at least 16 hours per week) are eligible to enroll in FEHB. For 2023 employees have 18 different options. Please read the information carefully to determine what plan best fits your needs. There is a question and answer tool located on the OPM website that can assist you in determining which plan best fits your individual need.  Refer to the rate sheet included with this information when you review, as the rates outlined for “Federal employees” are slightly different. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians contributes more of the premium than the federal share indicated on the website.   Your FEHB enrollment will be effective on the 1st of the month after your date of hire, unless otherwise specified. 

Example: hired on May 5, your effective date is June 1.  You can review all the plans and different eligibility rules at www.opm.gov. 

Also, the Tribal FEHB handbook for Indian Tribal Governments is located on this website. 

Please review this handbook for full details of the FEHB program. All plans offered through FEHB meet ACA standards.    

MBCI does participate in premium conversion. The plan you elect cannot be changed or canceled throughout the year unless you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) such as birth, death, marriage, divorce, adoption or loss of other coverage).  If you do have a QLE, please notify the benefits office no later than 60 days after the event.  Please refer to the FEHB handbook version dated 07/26/13 for full details.        

Please read the part-time employee classification information in the Reminders section to assist in determining the part-time employee’s full eligibility.

Dental Insurance
CIGNA
800-244-6224
Plan ID# 3345191
mycigna.com

Providers may call to verify eligibility or benefits by calling: 800-244-6224

Regular full- time and part- time employees are eligible.

Dental insurance is effective the first of the month following your date of hire.

Example: You are hired May 5– your effective date is June 1. The dental premium is a pre-tax payroll deduction. 

Traditional Single Dental Coverage:              $10.97 per pay period. 

Traditional Family Dental Coverage:             $17.34 per pay period.

Enhanced Single Dental Coverage:                $17.26 per pay period.

Enhanced Family Dental Coverage:                $30.69 per pay period. 

Specific plan information is attached for the Traditional and the Enhanced Dental Plan options.  These deductions are every payday.

Dental coverage cannot be canceled or changed during the year unless you have a QLE (qualifying life event), such as birth, death, marriage, divorce, adoption or loss of other coverage) see the benefits office for complete details. If you do have a QLE the change must be made within 60 days.

Vision Insurance
CIGNA
877-478-7557

Benefits: Vision is effective on the first of the month following your date of hire.  All regular full-time and part-time employees are eligible to receive this benefit. This is a primary vision care benefit and is intended to cover only eye examinations and corrective eyewear.  Medical or surgical treatment of eye disease or injury is not provided under this plan.  Plan features include frame benefit, eyeglass lens benefit, and contact lens benefit.  There’s a $10 co-pay for eye exams and $25 co-pay for materials.

Life Insurance Benefits
Provided at no cost to the Employee
NY Life
888-842-4462

Benefits:   All regular full time and part time employees are eligible to receive a Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance policy of $100,000. This is a term life policy; it does not accumulate any cash value.  Your benefits could double if death results from an accident.  At age 70, your amount of life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment benefits will be reduced by 50%. This policy will be effective on the first day of the month following your date of hire. The employee has the option of purchasing additional coverage after the probationary period. (90-days) (Up to $200,000 with no underwriting) The life policy has a conversion option upon termination. All premiums are fees associated are determined by NY Life. There is also an end of life benefit that can be accessed if certain conditions apply before the death of the employee.

Employer Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
Provided at no cost to the Employee
NY Life
888-842-4462
mynylgbs.com

Benefits: This short-term disability policy will provide the regular full-time and regular part-time employees with disability payments for a maximum of 6 months per sickness or accident.  The weekly benefit is $150.00 less taxes (net pay $138.52).  The employee must be medically disabled from working their full schedule, under a physician’s care and off work to file a disability claim.  A one-week waiting period is required to be served on all illnesses; however, no waiting period is required on an accident disability claim.  This benefit is only for non-work-related illness or injury. On a routine normal pregnancy and delivery, the maximum benefits paid up to six weeks. This policy will be effective on the first day of the month following the completion of the employee’s date of hire.

Long-Term Disability
NY Life
888-842-4462

Premiums: The employer will pay a $500 per month benefit for each employee. The employee can elect an optional buy up of 60 % of their annual salary

Benefits: This long-term disability policy will provide the regular full-time and part-time employees with an amount of $500.00 per month.  This policy will be effective on the first day of the month following the employee’s date of hire.  The employee must be completely disabled for a period of 6 months before a claim can be filed.  This maximum benefit is payable for a period of five years or age 65 or whichever is greater.  Benefits will be coordinated with Social Security benefits. Additional coverage may be purchased up to 60% of the employee’s annual salary. The additional premium will be payroll deducted bi-monthly.

401(k) Retirement Plan
Transamerica
800-401-8726
www.ta-retirement.com

Benefits: An employee is eligible to make Elective Contributions as of the first quarter following the date of hire and the attainment of age 18. An employee will be eligible for the Employer-Matching and non-matching contributions, if any, beginning the first of the quarter following the completion of one Year of Service, in which you worked 1,000 hours or more, and the attainment of age 18.

**Employees can enroll/make changes in the plan each quarter. A notice will be distributed via e-mail, as well as through your supervisor- noting the deadlines for enrollments, changes, etc.

Employees may contribute from 1% to 25% of their gross pay up to an annual maximum of $22,500 for 2023 before Federal and State taxes are withheld.  The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will match the employee’s contribution up to 8%.  If the employee chooses not to contribute to their retirement account (and you are not a highly compensated employee), MBCI will contribute 3% of your gross pay to your account.  To receive this 3% benefit the employee must complete an enrollment form.

Employees who are 50 and older are eligible for catch-up contributions.  The annual maximum for catch-up contributions for 2023 is $7,500.00.  Employees who elect the catch-up option must complete a new enrollment form each year.

Supplemental Insurance
Aflac, CIGNA, Trustmark, & NY Life

Supplemental benefits such as life, accident, disability, cancer, critical illness are optional.  Enrollment in supplemental benefits will be offered annually. Enrollment normally takes place in the fall for a January 1 effective date. New employees can enroll upon completion of their 90 day probationary period.  Please see the attached instructions.

Deferred Compensation

Deferred Compensation is administered by the Tribal Finance office. Employees who are interested in Deferred Compensation may contact the Finance Office directly at 601-650-7445 or 601-650-1622 to receive further information.   

Please notify the Risk Management / Insurance Office of any of the following changes immediately:

Name Change

Family Status Change (QLE’s)

Address Change

Job Status Change (Full-time, Part-time)

Department/Location Change

Payroll Deductions:     Employees of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Tribal Government Division are responsible for the payment of the premiums for FEHB dependent coverage and any other benefit that is payroll deducted, including the supplemental insurance deductions while on any leave of absence, including FMLA. Your failure to remit any monthly premium due within 30- days from your first day of absence will result in loss of coverage. 

Part-time employees– your final determination for eligibility in each benefit will depend on your hours worked and length of service/date of hire. This will be reviewed upon hire and after you attend new employee orientation. Once all information is received regarding the employees’ working hours and length of service- a determination can be made regarding eligibility. In any case- an employee must work at minimum 16 hours per week to be considered for entry into any benefit.

riskman@choctaw.org

601-650-1579-phone 

601-650-9684-fax

Physical Address: 

390 Industrial Road

Choctaw, MS 39350

Mailing Address: 

PO Box 6086

Choctaw, MS  39350