The beginning of the year is a good time to review payroll deductions and make sure you take advantage of what Citizens Energy Group offers you as an employee. Below are several helpful reminders about your benefits. Visit the HR iTrust site for more details on all benefits.
Check deductions on your paystub. Review your first pay slip of 2022 to ensure that all deductions are correct. This includes county tax and elected medical, dental, full vision, voluntary life (Term, Boston Mutual, Unum), Health Savings Account (HSA), flex spending, dependent care, 401(k), and charitable contributions to United Way and the Warm Heart Warm Home Foundation.
Remember that HSA elections can be changed. Unlike most other benefits that can’t be changed unless you experience a life event, you can change the amount you contribute to your HSA at any time. Simply log into your account at ceg.bswift.com and click on the green link labeled “Change HSA Contribution.” 
Take advantage of health and wellness benefits. Don’t forget that Citizens offers several discounts at fitness facilities and for Weight Watchers. Our wellness coordinators also provide health coaching and wellness challenges. In addition, Citizens will reimburse you up to $30 three times per year for participating in any running/walking events, including those held virtually. Visit the Health & Wellness iTrust site for details.
Reminder about insurance cards. New ID cards for medical insurance will be issued only to individuals who made changes for 2022. Anyone who elected the full-service vision plan (whether as a new or existing election) through Guardian should have received an ID card before the start of the new year. If you did not, visit www.guardiananytime.com and use our group policy #0566785. If you have questions, call the VSP network at 1-877-814-8970. You will NOT receive an ID card in the mail for dental insurance. You simply need to notify your dentist that you have insurance through Delta Dental. You also can download the Delta Dental mobile app, which provides helpful tools such as a dentist search and a toothbrush timer, as well as your dental insurance information, including claim status and a cost estimator. 
Add identity protection at any time. Identity protection is a voluntary benefit, through Identity Force, that employees can enroll in or cancel at any time. The benefit is offered at a 60 percent-reduced rate from retail. To enroll or cancel, simply log into your account at ceg.bswift.com and click on the green link labeled “Enroll in ID Coverage.”
Don’t forget about the pension calculator. PensionCenter is an online tool employees can use to get valuable information about the pension plan, including personal estimates, modeling, and forecasting. To access the tool, click on “Pension Calculator” from the Employee Resources tab on the iTrust home page. If you have not yet registered, contact Adrianne Bowers, Manager of Compensation and Benefits, for your login information.
Stay in the know with Citizens Connect. This communication tool is an easy way for employees to learn about Citizens’ benefits and wellness programs. New information arrives as tiles (short articles) via email from “Citizens Energy Group Benefits” approximately every two weeks. You also can choose to receive the information via text message by clicking on “Settings” from the menu at the top right of the Citizens Connect website, entering your mobile phone number, and updating your notification preferences. If you earn at least 200 points per quarter by reading tiles, you are entered to win prizes.
Use the Benefit Resource Center. Citizens employees can call the Benefit Resource Center with insurance questions. Benefit specialists can help you translate confusing jargon, understand what your plan includes, work directly with insurance carriers to resolve tricky issues regarding claims and denials of service, and help you choose the right plan for you and your family. Specialists can be reached Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. by calling 855-874-0829. You also can send questions by email to BRCMidwest@usi.com.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides 24/7 counseling. Community Health Network’s EAP offers short-term counseling to employees and anyone who lives in their household. For confidential, free help with life’s stressors, call 800-543-4158 or 317-621-7742. EAP counselors are experienced, master’s-level, state-licensed therapists trained to offer professional support for a variety of situations.
