Employees on LTD may generally enroll or make changes to certain benefits as outlined below.
|
Benefit |
Changes permitted |
|---|---|
|
Medical plan |
Changes permitted |
|
Vision plan |
|
|
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) |
Not eligible to participate in FSAs |
|
Life insurance plan |
In general, can decrease or drop employee life insurance coverage, and can make any change to dependent life coverage (with EOI, as applicable) |
|
Short-term disability |
Does not apply |
|
Long-term disability |
No changes permitted |
|
Group legal |
Not eligible for group legal coverage |
|
Group auto and home |
Changes and/or enrollment permitted |
|
Pet insurance |
Changes and/or enrollment permitted |
Monthly invoice
If you are on LTD, you will continue to receive a monthly invoice from the Benefits Service Center for your insurance coverage. For more information, contact the Benefits Service Center at 800-66-MERCK (800-666-3725). Representatives are available Monday through Friday (excluding New York Stock Exchange holidays), 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. Or go to NetBenefits.
Reminder: enroll in Medicare as soon as first eligible
If you are an employee on LTD and have been out on disability leave for at least six months, you are no longer considered an active employee. Once you receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits (generally 24 months after you become disabled) or you are at least age 65, you are generally eligible for Medicare. Once you are eligible for Medicare for any reason (e.g., due to disability), Medicare becomes the primary payer for you and your covered dependents who qualify for Medicare, and the medical plan is the secondary payer. In this case, the medical plan will coordinate benefits with Medicare.
All of the medical plan options available to you require you and your covered dependents who are eligible for Medicare to enroll in Medicare — Parts A and B — when you are first eligible. The medical plan options will coordinate coverage with Medicare Parts A and B, even if you fail to enroll. Click here for additional information regarding Medicare — scroll to the bottom section on the page under “Additional plan features.”
Contact Allsup at 888-421-4377 if you or a covered dependent may qualify for Medicare benefits.
Note: Participation in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage is voluntary and Merck does not require that you or your covered dependents sign up for Medicare Part D while you are covered under the Merck medical plan.