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Healthy employees are the heart of a great organization and we appreciate our employees’ contributions to our success. It is our privilege to offer you the wide range of valuable health and wellness benefits, including affordable options for everything from medical, prescription drug and dental, to life insurance and disability benefits. EBRPSS is proud to offer the following comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees. Participants share the costs of some benefits (medical) and EBRPSS provides other benefits at no cost to the participant (life, accidental death & dismemberment). In additional, there are voluntary benefits with reasonable group rates that can be purchased through payroll deductions (dental, vision, supplemental life insurance, disability, accident and critical illness coverage). All benefits are effective the first of the month following 30 days of continuous full-time employment.
Healthy employees are the heart of a great organization and we appreciate our employees’ contributions to our success. It is our privilege to offer you the wide range of valuable health and wellness benefits, including affordable options for everything from medical, prescription drug and dental, to life insurance and disability benefits. EBRPSS is proud to offer the following comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees. Participants share the costs of some benefits (medical) and EBRPSS provides other benefits at no cost to the participant (life, accidental death & dismemberment). In additional, there are voluntary benefits with reasonable group rates that can be purchased through payroll deductions (dental, vision, supplemental life insurance, disability, accident and critical illness coverage). All benefits are effective the first of the month following 30 days of continuous full-time employment.
Benefit Advocate Center – bac.ebrpschools@ajg.com | (833) 940-3885
Open enrollment will be held from October 1st through the 31st. Employees are highly encouraged to schedule a time to speak with a Benefit Counselor to review plan options and for assistance with enrolling.
If you don’t enroll in a new medical plan, you will lose medical coverage for 2026.
Please join us for a meeting to learn about your retiree benefits.
October 6, 2025 at 9am and 1pm (IRC building)
October 7, 2025 at 9am (IRC building)
Visit the Benefits Department to complete required paperwork. Active employees are encouraged to schedule a time with a Gallagher Enrollment Counselor.
For more information, please call (225) 922-5680 Monday thru Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm.
Any regular, full-time employee working a minimum of 25 hours per week is eligible for the benefits mentioned in this guide. You are eligible for East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s health plan upon date of hire. All other benefits are effective the first of the month following 30 days of continuous full-time employment.
Dependents include: your spouse, children under the age of 26, and disabled dependents of any age.
Certain documentation must be provided to EBRPSS before dependents can be added to your health plan. You MUST bring the required documentation in to the Benefits Department, or your dependent(s) will not be added.
-Documentation required for spouses (one piece of documentation required): Marriage Certificate
-Documentation required for children (two pieces of documentation required): Current or prior year tax return, birth certificate, final court order, legal adoption papers, legal guardianship papers, or a qualified medical child support order
Please visit the Benefits Department if you have any other special circumstances.
By law, elections made now will remain in effect until the next open enrollment period unless you or your family members experience a qualifying event. If you experience one of these qualifying events, you must contact your group leader within 30 days.
We are excited to continue our partnership with Louisiana Blue for our group health plan. There will be no changes to the Core or Buy-Up contribution rates; however there will be a change in the plan designs. The current Community Blue Plan will be replaced with a High-Deductible Health Plan. The three new plan offerings will have “select networks” otherwise known as “tiered networks” anchored by local hospitals. Members who seek services within the selected network will have lower out-of-pocket costs, or richer benefits. Should you need care with a provider outside of the selected network, your benefits will be covered at the in-network benefits schedule. The Buy Up Plan will continue to be the richest plan, with the most coverage but at a higher monthly premium. The Core Plan could be considered a “middle plan”; the coverage, although generous, is not as rich as the buy-up but the premiums are more affordable. Both the Buy Up and the Core Plans will continue to have $0 primary care visits but only when the care is rendered by a provider within the selected network.
The High-Deductible Health Plan will be new for 2026 and provides coverage for the lowest monthly premium. High-Deductible Health Plans have gained popularity over the last decade due to the ability to pair it with a Health Savings Account. Health Savings Accounts are considered a powerful financial tool for managing healthcare costs and savings for retirement. Please refer to the 2026 benefits guide to learn more about HSAs.
Summary of Benefits available soon!
What is a Flex Spending Account?
You can save money on your health care and/or dependent day care expenses with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). You set aside funds each pay period on a pre-tax basis and use them tax-free for qualified expenses. You pay no federal income or Social Security taxes on your contributions to an FSA. (That’s where the savings comes in.) Your FSA contributions are deducted from your paycheck before taxes are withheld, so you save on income taxes and have more disposable income. You can contribute to your FSA through pre-tax payroll deduction up to $3,300 for Healthcare/Medical spending or up to $7,500 for Dependent Care spending. For the health plan FSA, any unused portion leftover at the end of the year will rollover to the next year. For the Dependent Care, this will not rollover. If you do not use the full amount by the end of the plan year, you will forfeit those dollars. Refer to IRS Guidelines for more information on reimbursement procedures and qualified expense specifications. During the year, participants have access to this account for reimbursement of expenses that insurance does not cover, for example:
-Deductibles, co-pays, and other eligible expenses not covered by insurance
-Prescription drugs and medical supplies
-Dietary supplements and vitamins with a doctor’s letter of medical necessity
-Dental services, orthodontics, and dentures
-Eyeglasses, contacts, solutions, and eye surgery
-Weight-loss programs (associated with a specific disease)
-Weight-loss over-the-counter drugs with doctor’s letter of medical necessity
-Chiropractic services
-Vitamins with doctor’s letter of medical necessity
-Psychiatric care and psychologist’s fees
-Smoking-cessation programs
-Smoking-cessation over-the-counter drugs
-Adult and child daycare services
-Adoption expenses
When you use tax-free dollars to pay for these expenses, you realize an increase in your spending power and substantial tax savings.
Click here for a list of additional expenses that qualify for reimbursement.
Employee Class One – All full-time, active employees hired prior to July 1, 2002, and working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible for coverage on the policy effective date. A delayed effective date will apply if the employee is not actively at work.
Employee Class Two – All full-time, active employees hired after July 1, 2002, and working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible for coverage on policy effective date. A delayed effective date will apply if the employee is not actively at work.
Employee Class Three – Retired employees
Available to all classes – Accelerated Death Benefit, Seat Belt, Airbag, Common Carrier, Conversion.
For more information, please see the Glossary.
NOTE: This is not intended as a complete description of the insurance coverage offered. Controlling provisions are provided in the policy, and this summary does not modify those provisions or the insurance in any way. This is not a binding contract. A certificate of coverage will be made available to you that describes the benefits in greater details. Should there be a difference between this summary and the contract, the contract will govern.
Sponsored by: East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Effective Date: January 1, 2009
Employee – All full-time, active employees hired prior to July 1, 2022, and working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible for coverage on the policy effective date. A delayed effective date will apply if the employee is not actively at work.
Spouse – Cannot be in a period of limited activity on the day coverage takes effect.
Dependent – Cannot be in a period of limited activity on the day coverage takes effect.
Exclusion: Suicide – Benefits will not be paid if the death results from suicide within two years after coverage is effective. May apply if employee contributes toward the premium.
Available to all classes – Accelerated Death Benefit, Conversion, and Portability.
For more information, please see the Glossary.
NOTE: This is not intended as a complete description of the insurance coverage offered. Controlling provisions are provided in the policy, and this summary does not modify those provisions or the insurance in any way. This is not a binding contract. A certificate of coverage will be made available to you that describes the benefits in greater details. Should there be a difference between this summary and the contract, the contract will govern.
Employee – All full-time, active employees hired prior to July 1, 2022, and working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible for coverage on the policy effective date. A delayed effective date will apply if the employee is not actively at work.
Spouse – Cannot be in a period of limited activity on the day coverage takes effect.
Dependent – Cannot be in a period of limited activity on the day coverage takes effect.
Exclusion: Suicide – Benefits will not be paid if the death results from suicide within two years after coverage is effective. May apply if employee contributes toward the premium.
NOTE: This is not intended as a complete description of the insurance coverage offered. Controlling provisions are provided in the policy, and this summary does not modify those provisions or the insurance in any way. This is not a binding contract. A certificate of coverage will be made available to you that describes the benefits in greater details. Should there be a difference between this summary and the contract, the contract will govern.
Summary of Benefits | Sponsored by: East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Long-term disability is intended to protect your income for a long duration after you have depleted short-term disability or any sick leave your company may offer.
Eligibility – All full-time active employees working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible for coverage.
Maximum Monthly Benefit – 60% of salary up to $10,000 per month rounded to the nearest $1
Maximum Benefit Duration – Reducing benefit Duration / Age 65
Own Occupation Period – 24 months
Elimination Period – 180 days; the umber of days you must b disable prior to collecting disability benefits
Accumulation of Elimination Days – You can satisfy the days of your elimination period with either total (off work entirely) or partial (working some hours at your current job) disability. If you are working on a partial basis, you will have 2x the elimination period days to satisfy the total of 180 days.
Pre-Existing Condition – You may not be eligible for benefits if you have received treatment for a condition within the past 12 month until you have been covered under this plan for 24 months or if you remain treatment free for a period of 12 consecutive months.
Waiver of Premium – You will not be required to pay premium during any time of approved total or partial disability.
Survivor Income Benefit – A survivor benefit may be paid to your beneficiary if you should die while receiving qualifying disability payments.
EmployeeConnectSM – Access to an employee assistance program for the employee or an immediate household family member who may be experiencing personal or workplace issues.
Benefit Limitations – Mental illness: 24 months; substance abuse: no limit; specified illness: no limit
Portability – If your employment is terminated for any reason other than retirement, disability, or a leave of absence, you can keep your current LTD coverage at the same rate for up to 12 months. Your current coverage must have been in force for at least 12 months.
Own Occupation – The occupation trade or profession you were employed in prior to your disability as defined by the US DOL Dictionary of Occupational Titles.
Total Disability – You are considered totally disabled if, due to an injury or illness, you are unable to perform each of the main duties of your own occupation. Your “own” occupation is covered for a specific period of time. Following this, the definition of total disability becomes the inability to perform any occupation for which you are reasonably suited based on your experience, education, or training.
Partial Disability – You are considered partially disabled if you are unable, due to an injury or illness, to perform the main duties of your regular occupation on a full-time basis. Partial disability benefits may be payable if you are earning at least 20% of the income you earned prior to becoming disabled, but not more than 99%. Partial disability benefits allow you to work and earn income from your employer as well as continue to receive benefits, which may enable you to receive 100% of your income during your time of disability.
Continuation of Disability – If you return to work full-time but become disabled from the same disability within six-months of returning to work, you will begin receiving benefits again immediately.
Benefit Duration Reduction – Your benefit duration may be reduce if you become disabled after age 65.
Pre-Existing Condition – Any sickness or injury for which you have received medical treatment, consultation, care, or services (including diagnostic measures or the taking of prescribed medications) during the specified months prior to the coverage effective date. A disability arising from any such sickness or injury will be covered only if it begins after you have performed your regular occupation of a full-time basis for the specified months following the coverage effective date, unless no treatment was received for the specified consecutive months after the coverage effective date.
Benefit Exclusions – You will not receive benefits in the following circumstances:
Benefit Reductions – Your benefits may be reduced if you are receiving benefits from any of the following sources:
Benefit Termination – This coverage will terminate when you terminate employment with this policyholder, or at your retirement.
NOTE: This is not intended as a complete description of the insurance coverage offered. Controlling provisions are provided in the policy, and this summary does not modify those provisions or the insurance in any way. This is not a binding contract. A certificate of coverage will be made available to you that describes the benefits in greater details. Should there be a difference between this summary and the contract, the contract will govern.
Summary of Benefits
Sponsored by: East Baton Rouge Parish School System | Effective Date: January 1, 2009
Short-term disability is intended to protect your income for a short duration in case you become ill or injured.
Eligibility – All full-time active employees working 30 or more hours per week in an eligible class are eligible for coverage.
Maximum Monthly Benefit – 60% of weekly salary up to $1,000 per month
Maximum Benefit Duration – 26 weeks
Elimination Period – Benefits begin on the 8th day from an accident or 8th date from an illness
Pre-Existing Condition – You may not be eligible for benefits if you have received treatment for a condition within the past three months until you have been covered under this plan for six months
Waiver of Premium – You will not be required to pay premium during any time of approved total or partial disability.
Enrollment – You are able to take advantage of this coverage now without a health examination. You may not be offered this opportunity again until your annual open enrollment.
Integration of Benefits – The benefits from this policy will be reduced by benefits you may receive through state disability or your employers sick pay plan.
Total Disability – You are considered totally disabled if, due to an injury or illness, you are unable to perform each of the main duties of your own occupation. Your “own” occupation is covered for a specific period of time. Following this, the definition of total disability becomes the inability to perform any occupation for which you are reasonably suited based on your experience, education, or training.
Partial Disability – You are considered partially disabled if you are unable, due to an injury or illness, to perform the main duties of your regular occupation on a full-time basis. Partial disability benefits may be payable if you are earning at least 20% of the income you earned prior to becoming disabled, but not more than 99%. Partial disability benefits allow you to work and earn income from your employer as well as continue to receive benefits, which may enable you to receive 100% of your income during your time of disability.
Continuation of Disability – If you return to work full-time but become disabled from the same disability within six-months of returning to work, you will begin receiving benefits again immediately.
Benefit Duration Reduction – Your benefit duration may be reduce if you become disabled after age 65.
Pre-Existing Condition – Any sickness or injury for which you have received medical treatment, consultation, care, or services (including diagnostic measures or the taking of prescribed medications) during the specified months prior to the coverage effective date. A disability arising from any such sickness or injury will be covered only if it begins after you have performed your regular occupation of a full-time basis for the specified months following the coverage effective date, unless no treatment was received for the specified consecutive months after the coverage effective date.
Benefit Exclusions – You will not receive benefits in the following circumstances:
Benefit Reductions – Your benefits may be reduced if you are receiving benefits from any of the following sources:
Benefit Termination – This coverage will terminate when you terminate employment with this policyholder, or at your retirement.
NOTE: This is not intended as a complete description of the insurance coverage offered. Controlling provisions are provided in the policy, and this summary does not modify those provisions or the insurance in any way. This is not a binding contract. A certificate of coverage will be made available to you that describes the benefits in greater details. Should there be a difference between this summary and the contract, the contract will govern.
Dental coverage is provided by MetLife. Please see the 2026 Benefits Guide for more information.
Please refer to the Benefit Guidebook.
Vision coverage is provided by MetLife. Please see the 2026 Benefits Guide for more information.
Please refer to the Benefit Guidebook.
You may know people who have been affected by a critical illness such as cancer, stroke or heart attack, and witnessed the impact it had on their quality of life. Are you prepared if a critical illness were to happen to you? Critical Illness insurance can help you when you need it the most. It provides a valuable benefit should you or your family be faced with bills resulting from a critical illness. This benefit is in addition to your medical insurance. It helps fill the financial gaps left by deductibles, coinsurance and other out-ofpocket expenses.
Please contact the Benefits Department for more information about this benefit.
Even minor accidents can leave you with major expenses. When accidents happen, they are often followed by a number of bills. Are you prepared? Accident Expense insurance plan pays a cash benefit directly to you in addition to any other benefit or insurance you receive. Even with medical insurance, you still have to meet deductibles and pay for coinsurance. There may be additional costs due to emergency room fees, x-rays, follow-up care and other uncovered services. This plan can help you pay for these and other covered expenses. EBR Schools gives you the option of 2 accident policies. For example, accidents as a result of these activities may be covered by this policy: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, Paintball, Mountain Biking, Motorcycle Riding, Cheerleading, Skateboarding, Automobile Accidents, Hunting, and Boxing.
Please contact the Benefits Department for more information about this benefit.
A hospital stay can be financially difficult, especially if money is tight and you’re not prepared. Hospital Indemnity coverage will pay you in the event you or a covered family member needs to stay in the hospital. Metlife pays these benefits directly to you and you can use them however you wish — for medical bills, rent or mortgage, living expenses, etc. Hospital Indemnity can help you absorb the financial impact of a hospital stay without busting your budget. You can purchase coverage for you, your spouse, and children. EBR Schools gives you the option of 2 hospital policies.
Please contact the Benefits Department for more information about this benefit.
AFLAC Whole Life insurance is a smart investment to protect you and your family’s financial freedom. The plan can help take care of your loved ones’ immediate and future needs if you should pass away. Immediate needs can include burial/funeral expenses, uninsured medical costs and current bills and debts. Future needs could include income replacement, education plans, ongoing family obligations, emergency funds, and retirement expenses. This plan also builds cash value that is paid directly to you, unless otherwise assigned. This means that your family will have added financial resources to help with ongoing living expenses.
Please contact the Benefits Department for more information about this benefit.
Accelerated Death Benefit – Accelerated Death Benefit provides an option to withdraw a percentage of your life insurance when diagnosed as terminally ill (as defined in the policy). The death benefit will be reduced by the amount withdrawn. To qualify, you have satisfied the Active Work rule and have been covered under this policy for the required amount of time as defined by the policy. Check with your tax advisor or attorney before exercising this option.
AD&D – Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance provides specified benefits for a covered accidental bodily injury that directly causes dismemberment (e.g., the loss of a hand, foot, or eye). In the event that death occurs from a covered accident, both the life and the AD&D benefit would be payable.
Conversion – If you terminate your employment or become ineligible for this coverage, you have the option to convert all or part of the amount of coverage in force to an individual life policy on the date of termination without Evidence of Insurability. Conversion election must be made within 31 days of your date of termination.
Guarantee Issue – For timely entrants enrolled within 31 days of becoming eligible, the Guarantee Issue amount is available without any Evidence of Insurability requirement. Evidence of Insurability will be required for any amounts above this, for late enrollees or increase in insurance and it will be provided at your own expense.
Limited Activity – A period when a spouse or dependent is confined in a health care facility; or, whether confined or not, is unable to perform the regular and usual activities of a healthy person of the same age and sex.
Portability – If coverage has been in force for at least 12 months, you may continue coverage for a specified period of time after your employment by paying the required premium. Portability is available if you cease employment for a reason other than total disability. A written application must be made within 31 days of your termination.
Seat Belt, Airbag, Common Carrier – If you die as a result of a covered auto accident while wearing a seat belt or in a vehicle equipped with an airbag, benefits are payable up to $10,000 or 10% of the principal sum, whichever is less. If loss occurs for you due to an accident while riding as a passenger in a common carrier, benefits will be double the amount that would otherwise apply as outlined in the certificate.
Term Life – Coverage provided to the designated beneficiary upon the death of the insured. Coverage is provided for the time period that you are eligible and premium is paid. There is no cash value associated with this product.
BeneficiaryConnect – Support services for beneficiaries who have experienced a loss.
TravelConnect – Travel assistance services for employees and eligible dependents traveling more than 100 miles from home.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – OPTUMHEALTH BEHAVIORAL SOLUTIONS
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free service to all full time employees of East Baton Rouge Parish School System. The EAP provides confidential assistance to employees who are experiencing difficulty dealing with personal and work related problems that affect their lives. No enrollment is necessary and all contacts with the EAP are strictly confidential.
The EAP can provide assistance with problems such as:
OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions welcomes your questions and inquiries please contact
OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions 1-866-374-6062
www.liveandworkwell.com
(password: EBRPSS)
On August 27, 2021, the Board voted and approved a change to the basic life insurance benefit for retirees. Beginning January 1, 2013, all retiree basic life insurance for those under age 70 will be capped at $25,000 until the retirees turn age 70. At the age of 70, the benefit reduces to $7,500. For retirees over the age of 70, there is no change to the $7,500 life insurance benefit. Retirees should maintain current beneficiary information with EBRPSS Department of Benefits.
Retired participants of the EBRPSS medical plans and their covered spouses, who reach age sixty-five (65) on or after June 1, 2005, must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B in order for their claims to be paid under this Plan. If a retired participant or covered spouse is eligible forMedicare, but not enroll for Parts A and B, the claims of the person eligible for Medicare will be denied.
There are three (3) times when retirees can sign up for Medicare Part B:
Retirees not eligible for Medicare may continue the EBRPSS plan. However, the premium structure in future years will reflect a non-Medicare rate.
Additional information can be obtained at the Medicare Website: Medicare.gov
If you are a full time employee with EBRPSS, you are eligible to participate in a voluntary 403B or 457 Plan. EBRPSS does not contribute to these plans. It is 100% employee contributions.
A 403B Plan is a tax-deferred retirement plan available to employees of public educational institutions and certain tax-exempt organizations. A 403B Plan allows you to make pre-tax contributions by convenient payroll reduction and save that money for your retirement.
A 457 Plan is a type of deferred pay compensation plan. contributions are made on a pre-tax basis.
Kimely Pitre is the account representative for EBRPSS. She can assist with enrolling, making changes, stopping deductions, as well as answering any questions about IRS defined rules and regulations.
Phone: (225) 397-4378
Email: kimely.pitre@corebridgefinancial.com
Members can print ID cards, locate providers, view claims, and more on www.metlife.com
Members can get a copy of their BCBSLA insurance cards by going to www.BCBSLA.com
Birth, adoption, legal custody, death, marriage, divorce, gain/loss of coverage
The employee has 30 days to notify EBRPSS of the event. For example, an employee married on November 12, 2022 must notify EBRPSS by December 12, 2022 if they will to add their new spouse to the EBRPSS line of coverage. Any notification beyond thirty days will not be allowed and the employee will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment period to make changes. Please fill out this form and bring any supporting documentation required to the Department of Benefits.
In most cases, all active coverage ends in the month in which the employee is terminated. The only exception is if the employee works until the end of the school, then the coverage would remain active until August 31st of the same year.
To submit a Life Insurance claim, please follow these instructions:
1. Notify EBRPSS of the death
2. Submit the employer statement, death certificate, beneficiary statement, and benefits confirmation to Lincoln
If there is no beneficiary listed in either scenario, a preferential beneficiary form may be completed. This form may be used if the beneficiary on file is deceased and proof of death has been received by EBRPSS.
Please call Aflac at 1-800-206-8826 between 7am and 4pm CST.
Contact EBR Schools Benefits Department
(225) 922-5680
Monday – Friday | 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
(excluding holidays)
Contact EBR Schools Benefit Advocate Center
(883) 940-3885
Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Contact Your Benefit Plan Service Provider
(See List Below)
Sheila Bradley, Benefits Supervisor – SBradley@ebrschools.org | (225) 922-5441
Kennia Thigpen, Benefits Specialist II – KDaniels2@ebrschools.org | (225) 922- 5418
Additional information can be obtained from the Member Services departments of each vendor or from the vendor website.
Benefit Advocate Center – bac.ebrpschools@ajg.com | (833) 940-3885
Medical
BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (888) 226 2583, (225) 298-7327 | www.bcbsla.com
BlueCare Telemedicine (888) 269-3554 | www.bluecarela.com
Mental Health and Substance Abuse (888) 226-2583, (225) 298-7327 | www.bcbsla.com
Dental/Vision Plan
MetLife (800) GET-MET8 | www.metlife.com
Voluntary Life and ADD Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability
AFLAC (800) 922-3522 | www.aflac.com
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Optum EAP (866) 374-6062 | www.liveandworkwell.com, access code: ebrpss
East Baton Rouge Enhanced Benefits
Read and understand your rights as detailed in this overview which provides the major provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as COBRA.
See how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act affects you and your family. This site provides a brief overview of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as well as the latest news and frequently asked questions.
The official U.S. government site for Medicare information.
Click below to view the Medicare Part D Notice.