Benefits Home

  • Welcome to Mercer Island School District Benefits! 

    employee benefits

    The welfare of our employees and their families is very important to us.

    With this in mind, Mercer Island School District is pleased to offer our employees a variety of benefits to enhance their sense of well-being and to help provide protection against the cost of catastrophic illness, injury, or disability. More detailed information regarding insurance benefits is provided throughout this website.
     
    Mercer Island School District benefits include the following:
     
    • Medical
    • Prescription Drug
    • Vision
    • Dental
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Short Term/Long Term Disability
    • Section 125 Plans
    • Optional Self Pay Plans 
     
    Eligibility
     
    Dental, vision, and disability coverage is mandatory for all employees working a .5 FTE or more. Employees working less than a .5 FTE do not qualify for dental, vision, and disability coverage.
     
    Employees must work at least 17.5 hours per week to qualify for optional medical coverage (Kaiser Permanente or Premera).

    Benefits Effective Date
     
    Provided that all necessary enrollment has been completed by the employee, benefits will be effective the 1st of the month following the employee’s start date, if hired between the 1st and the 15th of the month. If start date is on or after the 16th of the month, benefits will be effective on the first day of the second month of employment.
     
    Examples: 
     
    • Employee’s start date is October 12th; benefits effective November 1st
    • Employee’s start date is October 22nd; benefits effective December 1st

    Section 125 Pre-Tax Medical Benefits

    All salary deductions for Premera Blue Cross or Kaiser Permanente coverage will be deducted from your paychecks pre-tax.  This reduces your federal withholding and FICA taxes.
     
    If you wish to have your Premera Blue Cross or Kaiser Permanente salary deductions post-tax, please return the Section 125 IRS Premium Payment Plan Annual Election Form (pink form) to Payroll before the end of open enrollment.  Return the form only if you want the post-tax option. 
     
    If you do not return this form, you will default to your current choice.  If you do not have a current choice, you will default the the pre-tax option.