BENEFITS
Welcome to your Nelson County Schools Benefits home.
Nelson County Schools offers employee benefits from two sources: state employee benefits and employee voluntary benefits.
State-provided benefits are offered through the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan (KEHP):
Health, Dental and Vision
Life Insurance
Deferred Compensation
Employee Voluntary benefits are administered by Houchens Insurance Group and include:
Short-term & Long-term Disability
Cancer Insurance
Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance
Accident Insurance
Group Critical Illness
For more information on voluntary benefits available click here. A representative from Houchens Insurance Group will reach out to new employees regarding plan details and enrollment.
State Health Benefits through Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan
For new regularly employed employees who are eligible for health insurance benefits at the time they are hired, coverage will begin on the first day of the second calendar month following an employee’s hire date. For example, if employment begins anytime in August, the employee is eligible for coverage October 1.
Within the first 35 calendar days of employment, employees must make insurance elections online in KHRIS ESS (preferred method) or complete an Enrollment Application and submit to the Insurance Coordinator. You can visit the KEHP website for enrollment instructions and guidelines.
Employees who fail to make their Health Insurance elections or waive coverage will be automatically enrolled in the the LivingWell Basic single plan with no HRA funding.
Employees should visit the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan to locate the Benefits Selection Guide and plan details.
The enrollment process employees can expect is as follows:
Upon hiring, the insurance coordinator will enter the new employee's information into KHRIS.
KHRIS will generate a system ID number. This number along with enrollment instructions will be mailed to the employee’s home address.
An employee must make enrollment selections through KHRIS online enrollment within 35 days of their hire date. An employee may also enroll by completing an Employee Benefits Enrollment Change Form and submitting to the insurance coordinator.
The Department of Employee Insurance (DEI) will process the enrollment and submit it to Anthem.
Anthem processes the enrollment and mails ID cards.
DEI sends a file to the district payroll to import premium deductions.
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CHOOSE THE MEDICAL INSURANCE PLAN THAT’S RIGHT GOT YOU
NCS offers three tiers of medical insurance coverage. These options are tailored to meet a range of medical needs and budgets.
OPTIONS
LivingWell CDHP
The Livingwell CDHP offers lower premiums and provides money in an HRA to help reduce deductible costs.
Best value of the plans offered by KEHP.
Recommended for those who have a little or a lot of healthcare expenses.
Both medical and pharmacy expenses apply to the out-of-pocket maximum.
Once out-of-pocket maximum is met, covered medical and pharmacy claims paid at 100%.
More LivingWell CDHP details on the KEHP homepage
LivingWell PPO
Designed for those willing to pay more in premiums to limit out-of-pocket costs to a co-payment for certain services.
Co-pays apply to doctor’s office visits, allergy serum, allergy shots, urgent care centers and non-specialty prescriptions.
Most expenses are subject to the deductible and then covered at 75%.
This plan has two out-of-pocket maximums — one for medical expenses and the other for prescription expenses, which means you will pay more out of your pocket.
Some services will always have co-pays, even after meeting deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
More LivingWell PPO details on the KEHP homepage
LivingWell Basic CDHP
Basic health insurance coverage and lower premiums, with an HRA to help reduce deductible.
Basic coverage for a very low premium.
Pay 30% for covered services after meeting deductible.
Both medical and pharmacy expenses apply to the out-of-pocket maximum.
Once out-of-pocket maximum is met, covered medical and pharmacy claims will be paid at 100%.
More LivingWell Basic CDHP details on the KEHP homepage
LivingWell High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
Lower premiums in exchange for higher out-of-pocket costs
Catastrophic-type of health plan
Recommended for those who expect to have lower overall healthcare expenses and only need preventive care
If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can use it with this plan
All covered services, except for qualified preventive care are subject to the deductible
Many complementary benefits offered under the other three health plan options are not covered under the HDHP (Carrum Health, HingeHealth, LivingWell Health Clinics, LiveHealth Online, UK Acupuncture)
More LivingWell HDHP details on the KEHP homepage
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ANTHEM OPTIONAL VISION INSURANCE
NCS offers optional employer-sponsored vision insurance administered by Anthem. Routine eye checkups are about more than making sure you can see clearly. They’re also important to overall health, safety, and learning.
Three tiers of coverage are offered. Details about each tier can be found in the 2025 Vision Benefits Selection Guide
VISION BENEFITS AT A GLANCE
Blue View Vision offers access to one of the country’s largest networks of eye doctors and eye-care retailers. This makes it easy to get eye care.
39,000 eye doctors in the Insight Network
28,000 locations
Online shopping at Glasses.com, ContactsDirect.com, Lenscrafters.com, Targetoptical.com, Ray-ban.com/insurance, and 1-800 CONTACTS®
National network of optical retail stores like LensCrafters®, Target Optical®, and most Pearle Vision® stores.
Vision benefits cover:
Adult routine eye exam.
Frames and either eyeglass lenses or contact lenses for adults.
Pediatric routine eye exams.
Frames and either eyeglasses lenses or contact lenses for covered children up to age 26. For children up to age 19, transitions lenses are included to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays and polycarbonate lenses at no extra cost.
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ANTHEM OPTIONAL DENTAL INSURANCE
NCS offers optional employer-sponsored dental insurance administered by Anthem. Coverage is available in three tiers. Details about each tier can be found in the 2025 Dental Benefits Selection Guide
Dental coverage options include
Access to a large number of dentists in the plan;
An extra cleaning if you’re pregnant, have diabetes, or another qualifying condition;
A benefit for a brush biopsy that can help diagnose oral cancer;
No out-of-pocket costs for cleanings, X-rays, and other preventive care services when you see a dentist in the plan; and
Easy-to-use online tools, including a Dental Health Assessment, Dental Cost Estimator, and Ask a Dental Hygienist.
Teledentistry, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Using technology and telecommunications, employees can get dental care remotely, without the need to go to a dentist’s office.
Orthodontic benefits now include at-home clear aligners - Ortho@Home - providing a simple, more budget-friendly option in the Gold plan for children up to age 18.
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AUTOMATIC LIFE INSURANCE WITH METLIFE
As a Commonwealth of Kentucky public employee, your participating employer provides $20,000 of basic life insurance coverage to eligible employees at no cost to you!
OPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE
In addition to the free $20,000 of life coverage, you have the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your eligible dependents. The basic and optional term life insurance plans also provide Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits, providing additional financial protection in the event of death or injury caused by certain injuries.
Life insurance is not a part of open enrollment. You can make changes to your life insurance anytime. You can enroll or increase your coverage throughout the year, but you may be required to submit evidence of insurability.
2025 Optional Life Insurance Details
LIFE INSURANCE BENEFICIARIES
Life insurance beneficiaries can be added and updated at any time. Employees should have beneficiaries listed for basic life insurance and optional life insurance.
To add or update your life insurance beneficiaries in KHRIS follow the steps below:
1. Log into your KHRIS account at https://khris.ky.gov/irj/portal
2. Under My Benefits select "Dependents and Beneficiaries".
3. Click "Add" to create a beneficiary or an external organization, such as a charity or trust fund. This section is a holding bucket. It does not assign the person to a plan.
4. Once beneficiary information has been entered, click "Save and Back" to return to the home screen.
5. Choose "Life Insurance Beneficiary Change" under My Benefits. Here you will go through three steps to assign your beneficiaries to a plan. Be sure to indicate if the person or organization is the primary or contingent (secondary) beneficiary, and to assign percentages to each person or organization.Step 1 is a summary of your benefit elections. Click NEXT at the top of the page.
Step 2 lists your Basic Life along with any optional life plans you are currently enrolled in. Click on the pencil icon to add or change your beneficiaries. Once you have indicated the percentages for your beneficiaries, click on the ADD button.
Step 3 allows you to review and save your changes. Click Save.
VOLUNTARY BENEFITS
Employee Voluntary benefits are administered by Houchens Insurance Group
They include include:
Short-term & Long-term Disability
Cancer Insurance
Voluntary Group Term Life Insurance
Accident Insurance
Group Critical Illness
For more information on voluntary benefits available click here. A representative from Houchens Insurance Group will reach out to new employees regarding plan details and enrollment.
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Covers up to 66% of your income
Maternity Coverage
Built in accident benefits
Built in hospital confinement benefits
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
Protects your paycheck
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Covers you in the event you are off work for an accident or illness after 90 days income
Covers 60% of your income
Coverage for 2 years of disability or to age 65
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Help cover expenses from diagnosis through recovery.
In the event of a cancer diagnosis, Colonial Life is here to help. Cancer insurance helps provide a financial safety net that can assist with covering cancer-related expenses that medical insurance doesn’t cover, so you can focus on what matters most: recovery.
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If you are eligible for state benefits, you are provided $20,000 in life insurance through your state benefits. As an employee of Nelson County Schools you can purchase additional life insurance.
Employees can elect up to $200,000 in additional life coverage, your spouse can elect up to $50,000, and you can elect $10,000 for our children. Coverage is based on eligibility through medical underwriting.
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Accident insurance is designed to help you fill some of the gaps caused by increasing deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket costs related to accidental injury. The benefit to you is that you may not need to use your savings or secure a loan to pay expenses.
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Critical illness insurance is designed to focus on the many ways critical illness touches your life. You can use the benefit any way you wish. Whether it’s for treatment, changes to your home or someone to watch your children.
If you’re diagnosed with a covered critical illness, group critical illness insurance from Colonial Life can help with your expenses, so you can concentrate on what’s most important-your treatment, care, and recovery.
Some critical illnesses covered include heart attack, stroke, end-stage renal failure, major organ failure, coma and blindness, as well as others.
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This coverage can help with medical costs associated with a hospital stay that your health insurance may not cover. These benefits are available for you, your spouse, and eligible dependent children.
Group Medical Bridge insurance can help with the medical costs associated with a hospital stay that your health insurance may not cover. These benefits are available for you, your spouse and eligible dependent children.
The plan is compatible with health savings account (HSA) guidelines, but may be offered to employees who do not have an HSA. Talk with your insurance provider to learn about coverage details.
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Even after insurance payments for emergency transportation, you could receive a bill of up to $5,000 for a ground ambulance and as high as $70,000 for an air ambulance.
Please refer to Employee Navigator for the brochure and price. CONTACT: 304-791-9401