2026 Medical/Prescription
LGBTQ + Guide (Gender Affirmation Care and Support)
Livongo by Teladoc Diabetes Support Program
2026 Health & Welfare Plans Combined Summary
CVS Caremark Prescription Drug List
CVS Caremark Expanded Preventive Drug List - PPO Plan with HRA and High Deductible Plan with HSA
CVS Caremark Prescription Drug Pricing Tool
We offer some of the best medical plans available, but depending on your preferences one plan may be better than the other for you. That's why you get to choose what works best for you and your family!
There are two decisions you need to make when choosing your medical coverage – (1) pick your plan type and (2) depending on which plan you choose, pick the insurance company.
Note: If you are in Hawaii, please click here for details on the Hawaii Medical Plan.
Curious about which plan might be best for you?
Check out the below benefits enrollment video to learn about what each plan offers and the key differences.
Learn more about the plans through informational webinars, Surest benefit consultations and find additional resources.
Health Insurance Made Simple
Get the lowdown on your medical plan options and find what works best for you.
Saving for Health: HSA & HRA
Learn how to use your Health Savings Account and Health Reimbursement Account to stretch your dollars.
Choosing your medical coverage
No matter which medical plan you choose:
- In-network preventive care is covered at no cost to you.
- For all other care, you pay a share of the cost, but how this works is different under each plan.
- You’ll pay less if you use in-network providers; the EPO plan and Surest Copay Only plan only covers in-network providers unless it’s an emergency.
Types of Plans
- Surest Copay Only Plan
- Offers coverage with in-network providers only—in an emergency you can seek care outside of the network.
- Many services require only a copay.
- You can also enroll in a Health Care FSA.
- PPO Plan with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA Plan)
- Offers both in- and out-of-network coverage.
- Many services require only a copay.
- Comes with an employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to use toward eligible medical and prescription drug expenses.
- You can also enroll in a Health Care FSA.
- Exclusive Provider Organization Plan (EPO Plan)
- Offers coverage with in-network providers only —in an emergency you can seek care outside of the network.
- Most services require only a copay
- Has a lower deductible than the PPO Plan with HRA or the High Deductible Plan with HSA. You pay a copay for most services.
- You can also enroll in a Health Care FSA to cover your portion of Medical, Dental and Vision expenses.
- High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account Plan (HSA Plan)
- Offers both in- and out-of-network coverage.
- Many services require you to meet your deductible before the plan begins to pay toward services.
- Comes with an employer-funded Health Savings Account (HSA) to use toward eligible health care expenses.
- You can also save pre-tax dollars to the HSA, and pay for future health care expenses tax-free. Any contributions are yours to keep.
See a more detailed comparison of the medical plans in the Medical Plan Comparisons expandable section below.
| Medical Plans | Surest Copay Only | PPO Plan with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA Plan) | High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA Plan) | Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO Plan) |
| Calendar Year Deductible | ||||
| Individual | $0 | $2,250 | $2,250 | $750 |
| Enrolled dependents | $0 | $4,500 | $4,500 | $1,500 |
| T-Mobile Account Funding (coverage on Jan 1) | ||||
| Individual | N/A | $500* | $500** | N/A |
| Enrolled dependents | N/A | $1,000* | $1,000** | N/A |
| T-Mobile Account Funding (coverage Feb 1 or after) | ||||
| Individual | N/A | $41.66/month* | $19.23/pay period** | N/A |
| Enrolled dependents | N/A | $83.33/month* | $38.46/pay period*** | N/A |
| Out-of-Pocket Max (includes the deductibles) | ||||
| Individual | $6,500 | $4,250 | $4,250 | $3,750 |
| Enrolled dependents | $13,000 | $8,500 | $8,500*** | $7,500 |
| Coinsurance (starts after deductible is met) | N/A | 80% in-network, 60% out-of-network up to R&C | 80% in-network, 60% out-of-network up to R&C | 80% in-network only, NO coverage out-of-network |
| Office Visits | ||||
| Preventive | FREE | FREE | FREE | FREE |
| In-person primary care physician (or a virtual care physician, if available) | $25-$130 | $35 | Deductible + coinsurance | $20 |
| 24/7 virtual medical care with a designated provider in the following networks:
Premera Blue Cross enrollees: Doctor on Demand and 98point6 UHC enrollees: Teladoc, Optum Virtual Care, Walmart Health Virtual Care, Amwell, Doctor on Demand Surest enrollees: Amwell, Doctor on Demand, Alma, Talkspace |
FREE | FREE | Deductible + coinsurance | FREE |
| In-person specialist | $25-$130 | $50 | Deductible + coinsurance | $30 |
| In-person behavioral health visit with a licensed therapist | $25-$130 | $35 (in or out of network) | Deductible + coinsurance | $20 |
| Virtual behavioral health care with licensed psychiatrists or therapists in the following networks:
Premera Blue Cross enrollees: Doctor on Demand and Talkspace UHC enrollees: Amwell, Doctor on Demand and Talkspace |
$0-$130 | $35 | Deductible + coinsurance | $20 |
| Emergency room | $600 copay | $200 copay, then 80% after deductible (copay waived if admitted) | 80% after deductible | $200 copay, then 80% after deductible (copay waived if admitted) |
To view cost estimate comparisons for how much you might spend out of pocket for certain services under each plan, click here.
*Entire T-Mobile funding is available first day of coverage. Any balance rolls over to the next year, up to $6,000 as long as you remain in the plan.
**T-Mobile contributions are prorated and funded by the Friday following each pay date. Any funds in your HSA are yours to keep, even if you leave T-Mobile.
*** The High Deductible Health Plan with HSA Plan features a true family deductible. The family deductible is two times the individual deductible and requires that the entire family deductible is met before paying 80% of covered charges. Please note that the out-of-pocket maximum works the same way.
| Prescription Plans | Surest Copay Only | PPO Plan with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA Plan) | High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA Plan) | Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO Plan) |
| Prescription Drugs | ||||
| Tier 1 (30 days) | $10 copay | 10% ($5 copay min.-$20 copay max.) | Plan pays 80% after deductible | $10 copay |
| Tier 2 (30 days) | $75 copay | 20% ($25 copay min.-$55 copay max.) | Plan pays 80% after deductible | $35 copay |
| Tier 3 (30 days) | $200 copay | 30% ($45 copay min.-$80 copay max.) | Plan pays 80% after deductible | $60 copay |
| Mail Order/Retail (90 days) | 2x monthly rate | 2x monthly rate | Plan pays 80% after deductible | 2x monthly rate |
| Preventive Medications | Subject to normal copay | Many are free | Many are free | Subject to normal copay |
| Weight loss Medications (anti-obesity and anorexiants) | $55 copay max | $55 copay max | Plan pays 80% after deductible | $55 copay max |
| Preventive Prescription Drugs* | ||||
| Tier 1 (30 days) | $10 | FREE | FREE | $10 |
| Tier 2 (30 days) | $75 | FREE | FREE | $35 |
| Tier 3 (30 days) | $200 | FREE | FREE | $60 |
| Mail Order/Retail (90 days) | Copay x 2 | FREE | FREE | Copay x 2 |
| Lifetime Maximum | n/a | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
*The other differences are that in the HRA and HSA Plans, a robust list of preventive medications are FREE. You can review the covered preventive prescriptions and others, as well as costs at info.caremark.com/oe/t-mobile.
For all our plans except the Surest Copay Only Plan, you'll also need to choose between Premera Blue Cross or UnitedHealthcare. There is no difference in what the plans cover– the big thing to pay attention to is whether the doctors you care about are in-network with Premera Blue Cross or UnitedHealthcare. After that, the differences are small. Check out the chart below to understand more about how the plans vary and visit the insurance company websites to find out if your doctor is in-network.
| Surest UnitedHealthcare | Premera Blue Cross | UnitedHealthcare | |
| Network | Locate an In-Network Surest Medical Provider | Locate an In-Network Premera Blue Cross Medical or Behavioral Health Provider | Locate an In-Network UHC Medical Provider |
| Locate an In-Network Surest Behavioral Health Provider | Locate an In-Network UHC Behavioral Health Provider |
Detailed plan summaries
| Surest Coverage summary | HRA Coverage Summary | EPO Coverage Summary | HSA Coverage Summary |
| Surest | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | Premera Blue Cross | Premera Blue Cross In Network | Premera Blue Cross |
| N/A | UnitedHealthcare | UnitedHealthcare In Network | UnitedHealthcare |
| N/A | Premera Blue Cross Out of Area | N/A | Premera Blue Cross Out of Area |
| N/A | UnitedHealthcare Out of Area | N/A | UnitedHealthcare Out of Area |
Available if you select the High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account Plan.
An HSA offers triple tax savings!
- Payroll contributions to your HSA are tax-free and company contributions are non-taxable
- Any earnings on your HSA are not taxed
- HSA money used to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses are tax-free
With an HSA you cannot:
- Have a full purpose Health Care FSA (including through your spouse)
- Have disqualifying coverage (such as coverage through your spouse that isn't a high deductible health plan)
- Be enrolled in Medicare
- Use your HSA for non-IRS tax dependents (like a domestic partner)
Helpful HSA information to review
T-Mobile covers the majority of the cost to provide medical coverage to keep employees’ cost increases as low as possible. T-Mobile contributes the same amount toward all plans, based on coverage tier.
The amount you Costs pay for medical coverage out of each per-paycheck (your bi-weekly costs) are determined based on two components:
- Medical Plan and Insurance Company
- Working Partner Premium (WPP)
- The medical plan you choose and the coverage level are the primary determinants for your bi-weekly costs.
The medical plan you choose and the coverage level are the primary determinants for your bi-weekly costs.
Unless you choose the Surest Copay Only Plan, the insurance company you choose (Premera or UnitedHealthcare will also set your bi-weekly costs.
In some states one insurance company may have been able to negotiate deeper provider discounts than their competitor, directly impacting claims costs. T-Mobile passes along the savings to employees for the insurance company who has negotiated the biggest discounts, resulting in lower costs per-paycheck. The Plan coverage is the same, regardless of which insurance company is selected. You have the choice to decide which insurance company is best for you.
2026 Health Plan Costs:
| Coverage Election |
Surest Copay Only Plan | PPO Plan with Health Reimbursement Account |
Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan |
High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA) |
||||||
| Employee | $10.25 | $48.62-$91 | $98.57-$147 | $41.50-$83 | ||||||
| Employee + Spouse | $36 | $112.75-$198 | $212.65-$310 | $98.50-$182 | ||||||
| Employee + Children | $26 | $96.31-$173 | $184.97-$272 | $83.78-$159 | ||||||
| Employee + Family | $42 | $150.94-$278 | $306.94-$453 | $127.97-$252 | ||||||
| Additional Working Partner Premium | $46.15 | $46.15 | $46.15 | $46.15 | ||||||
For your specific rate and plan options, please log on to the Enrollment Site.
Working Partner Premium Applies:
- When you enroll your spouse/domestic partner in a T-Mobile medical plan and they have medical coverage available through their employer and they've waived that medical coverage.
Does Not Apply:
- If your spouse/domestic partner enrolls in their available employer medical plan and you also enroll them in medical at T-Mobile, the WPP will not apply because their employer plan will be primary coverage.
- If your spouse/domestic partner is also an employee of T-Mobile and you choose to enroll them under your plan instead of separately, the WPP will not apply.
- If your spouse/domestic partner isn't eligible for medical coverage through their employer, the WPP will not apply. If your spouse/domestic partner is unemployed and has no employer medical plan available, the WPP will not apply.
- If your spouse/domestic partner is currently eligible for or enrolled under COBRA, the WPP will not apply.
- If you do not enroll your spouse/domestic partner on your medical plan, the WPP will not apply. You can enroll them under other benefits like dental, vision, or life insurance, and the WPP will not apply.
- If your spouse/domestic partner is eligible for Medicare, that eligibility does not require you to pay the WPP. The WPP will not apply because Medicare isn't an employer health plan.
Prescription Drug Coverage for all our medical plans is administered by CVS Caremark. Your prescription benefit information is included on your medical plan ID card with UnitedHealthcare, Surest, or Premera Blue Cross. Simply present your medical plan ID card at the pharmacy when filling your medication. With CVS Caremark, you have access to the following:
- Nationwide network of pharmacies (including CVS, Rite Aid, Kroger, Walmart, Costco, Publix, Walgreens, Bartell and more)
- Retail and Mail order options for 90-day supplies
- Specialty medications through CVS Specialty Pharmacy
- $0 cost Specialty drugs through PrudentRx (for Surest Copay Only, PPO with HRA and EPO Plan enrollees)
To learn more about the plans and coverage, view covered medications and costs, find network pharmacies and much more, visit the CVS Caremark pre-member site at T-Mobile Inc. Annual Enrollment (caremark.com).
Premera Blue Cross (PPO Plan with HRA, High Deductible Health Plan with HSA and EPO Plans)
Locate an In-Network Premera Blue Cross Medical or Behavioral Health Provider
Existing Premera Blue Cross Members: www.premera.com/t-mobile
Toll Free: (866) 358-2300
Group #4022154
Hours: M-F 5 a.m. – 8 p.m. PST
Premera mobile app is available in the Apple App or Google Play Store
For Premera Blue Cross Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) funding or spending card inquiries contact customer service at (866) 358-2300.
Surest Copay Only Plan
To learn more about the Surest Copay Only Plan go to https://surest.care/T-mobile and use the applicable access code found directly under “Start Your Search”
Locate an In-Network Surest Medical Provider
Locate an In-Network Surest Behavioral Health Provider
Existing Surest Copay Only Plan Members:
Locate an In-Network UHC Medical Provider and use access code tmobile2026
Locate an In-Network UHC Behavioral Health Provider and use access code tmobile2026
benefits.surest.com and use access code tmobile2026
Toll Free: (844) 530-0323
Group #78800721
Hours: M-F 4 a.m. – 7 p.m. PST
Surest mobile app available in the Apple App or Google Play Store
UnitedHealthcare (PPO Plan with HRA, High Deductible Health Plan with HSA and EPO Plans)
Locate an In-Network UHC Medical Provider
Locate an In-Network UHC Behavioral Health Provider
Existing UHC Members: www.myuhc.com
Toll Free: (877) 259-1527
Group #222244
Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. PST
UnitedHealthcare mobile app available in the Apple App or Google Play Store
For UHC Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) spending card inquiries (including card replacements) contact Optum Bank at (866) 755-2648.
For UHC Health Savings Account (HSA) funding or spending card inquiries contact Optum Bank at (800) 791-9361.
CVS Caremark
Review covered prescriptions and costs
Existing CVS Caremark Members: www.caremark.com
Toll Free: (844) 757-0417
Hours: 24/7—365 days a year
BIN: 004336
PCN: ADV
Rx Group: RX21CF
CVS Caremark mobile app available in the Apple App or Google Play Store
LGBTQ Guide 2026
HERE'S WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
At T-Mobile, we PRIDE ourselves in creating an inclusive culture where everyone can feel like they belong and are treated equitably and with respect. We know that leveraging the depth and breadth of our backgrounds and experiences helps us drive innovation and our amazing, unique T-Mobile culture. We truly are stronger together.
As such, we are a proud supporter of the lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, queer and other (LGBTQ+) community. Our benefits are just one example of our commitment to foster inclusivity by providing access to exceptional care, that helps us each prosper and reach our full potential.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
You must enroll in a medical plan at hire or during Open Enrollment to use medical and Rx coverage. Our medical plans include surgical gender affirmation services and medical and prescription treatment, which are treated the same as other covered medical services under the healthcare plans. Employees, spouses/domestic partners, and dependents enrolled in a T-Mobile medical plan are eligible, if they meet the medical necessity criteria for the covered services as outlined in the medical policies and/or Summary Plan Description. Contact Premera Blue Cross, Surest or United Healthcare for the medical policies that outline the covered services.
PPO Plan with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA Plan)
In-Network: The plan pays 80% once you meet your deductible, $35 copayment for primary care provider (PCP) office visits and mental health visits, $50 copayment for specialist office visits, Copayments apply for covered prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan.
Out-of-Network: Once you meet the deductible, the plan pays 60% of allowed charges. Amounts above the allowed charges are the member’s responsibility. Out of network prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan are not covered
Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan
In-Network: The plan pays 80% once you meet your deductible. $20 copayment for primary care provider (PCP) office visits and mental health visits, $30 copayment for specialist office visits, Copayments apply for covered prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan
Out-of-Network: There is no out-of-network coverage on the EPO plan except for emergencies and hair removal. Out-of-network emergencies and hair removal services are covered at the in-network benefit level. For all other out-of-network services, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost. Out of network prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan or any other non-network provider are not covered
High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA Plan)
In-Network: The plan pays 80% once you meet your deductible. The plan pays 80% once you meet your deductible for covered prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan
Out-of-Network: Once you meet the deductible, the plan pays 60% of allowed charges. Amounts above the allowed charges are the member’s responsibility. Out of network prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan are not covered.
Surest Copay Only Plan
In-Network: No deductible. Copayments ranging from $15-$2,750 apply depending on the type of service including primary care provider (PCP) office visits, mental health visits, inpatient or outpatient services, etc. Copayments apply for covered prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan.
Out-of-Network: There is no out-of-network coverage on the Surest Copay Only Plan except for emergencies and hair removal. Out-of-network emergencies and hair removal services are covered at the in-network benefits level. For all other out-of-network services, you will be responsible for 100% of the cost. Out of network prescription drugs obtained through the CVS Caremark prescription drug plan or any other non-network provider are not covered
We encourage you to use an in-network provider to help protect yourself against high, unexpected, out-of-pocket costs while receiving the highest level of coverage. Many gender affirmation surgery doctors are out-of-network. In those cases, the PPO with HRA and High Deductible Health Plan with HSA medical plans would pay at the out-of-network benefit level up to the allowable amount.
When you use an out-of-network provider, you are responsible for the difference between the allowed charge and the provider’s billed amount—this is referred to as balance billing. Out-of-network providers may require up-front payment for their services. Refer to the Summary Plan Description for full details regarding the cost share (including the in-network and out-of-network deductible and out of pocket limits) for each Plan.
MEDICAL CARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS
What is Covered?
At T-Mobile, it’s important that every covered member has access to not only standard covered services but also expansive, common care/procedures necessary for our LGBTQ+ members to live authentically in their true gender identity. Examples of covered services include, but are not limited to, the following when medical necessity and plan requirements are met. A pre-approval (prior authorization) is strongly recommended for most of the procedures, and your plan’s cost-sharing as outlined above applies. Letters of recommendation from mental health professionals may be required for certain services.
Preventive care services, screenings and treatment:
Prevention and treatment for HIV/AIDs. Coverage for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Virtual primary care:
On demand virtual appointments for primary and urgent care, behavioral health care and physical therapy.
Healthcare for transgender and gender diverse individuals. T-Mobile’s medical plan offers gender affirming care, including:
Prescription drug coverage including hormone replacement therapies. Coverage for medical visits and laboratory services. Coverage for reconstructive surgical procedures related to gender affirmation, including but not limited to:
Breast/Chest:
Mastectomy, Nipple reconstruction, Breast augmentation, Rib excision.
Genital:
Scrotoplasty, Penectomy, Vulvectomy, Orchiectomy, Vaginectomy, Clitoroplasty, Labiaplasty, Phalloplasty, Vaginoplasty, Metoidioplasty.
General surgical procedures:
Chin augmentation, Laryngoplasty, Liposuction, Tracheal shave, Hair removal, Facial bone reduction, Rhinoplasty, Face lift, Lip reduction, Blepharoplasty, Other services such as scar revision, nipple tattooing and voice therapy.
Travel and Lodging Benefit – Reimbursement up to a lifetime maximum benefit of $10,000 per Covered Person for all eligible transportation and lodging expenses for care needed that’s not available within a certain radius of you or your dependent’s home address. This includes gender affirming surgery. For specific details regarding all covered services and requirements, refer to the medical policies that can be obtained by contacting Premera Blue Cross, Surest or United Healthcare.
Pre-approval (prior authorization) process
Pre-approval (prior authorization) is required for most gender affirming surgeries. The assessment determines whether proposed services meet the clinical requirements for medical necessity, appropriateness, level of care, and/ or effectiveness under the provisions of the applicable benefit plan. In-network (INN) providers are required to manage prior authorizations for you. Providers who are not in-network (OON) may submit the prior authorization on your behalf but are not required to do so. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure any prior authorizations are in place when seeing an out-of-network (OON) provider.
For gender-affirming services, the prior authorization should include information such as, but not limited to, the following: The surgical procedure(s) for which coverage is being requested. The date the procedure will be performed if known. Information supporting the medical necessity criteria outlined in the medical policy has been met, based on the surgery being requested.
For Premera Blue Cross, your physician can:
Submit prior authorization online through Availity or fax to 800–843–1114.
For Surest your physician can:
Submit prior authorization online through the UnitedHealthcare provider portal or by calling the pre-certification number 877–237–0006.
For United Healthcare, your physician can:
Contact United Healthcare Clinical Services at 800–638–7204 or your provider can use the Prior Authorization and Notification tool in the United Healthcare Provider Portal. If your provider doesn’t have access to the tool, they should call Provider Services at the number on the back of the member’s ID card and submit a request by phone.
Claims Reimbursement Process
When you use an in-network provider, the provider will automatically submit your claims electronically to Premera Blue Cross, Surest or United Healthcare. If you use an out-of-network provider, there may be instances where you will need to submit your own claim forms to Premera Blue Cross or United Healthcare. Full instructions for filing your claims for reimbursement can be found in the Summary Plan Description.
If you are using coordination of benefits (that’s where you use another health plan as your primary coverage and your T-Mobile Plan as secondary coverage), you will need to provide either an explanation of benefits (EOB) statement or a denial from your primary health insurance company if they don’t cover gender-affirming services.
Appeals Process
If Your Claim is Denied: If a claim for Benefits is denied in part or in whole, you may file a formal appeal with Premera Blue Cross, Surest or United Healthcare. Information regarding the process and documentation necessary for filing an appeal, can be found in the Summary Plan Description.
Fertility, Maternity Support Services including Pregnancy & Post-Partum Support, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance and Doula Reimbursement
Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance
T-Mobile offers up to $30,000 per child in adoption and surrogacy assistance for eligible employees. Because, well, family matters. T-Mobile offers regular full and part-time employees Adoption and/or Surrogacy reimbursement. Employees become eligible to participate on the first of the month following 30 days of employment. Adoption & Surrogacy benefits up to $30,000 per child. Expenses can be reimbursed as they are incurred so long as the request is submitted within 12 months of the date the expense was incurred
Doula Reimbursement
Under the doula reimbursement benefit, you have the option to use doulas, who are trained professionals that provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers before, during, and shortly after childbirth. Their presence can significantly enhance the birthing experience by offering comfort measures, advocacy, and reassurance. Doula services include: Emotional Support: Providing continuous reassurance, encouragement, and a calming presence Physical Support: Assisting with comfort measures such as breathing techniques, positioning, and massage during labor. Informational Support: Offering evidence-based information to help parents make informed decisions about their care. Advocacy: Helping parents communicate their preferences and needs to the medical team. Postpartum Support: Assisting with breastfeeding, newborn care, and emotional adjustment after birth. As part of T-Mobile’s continued commitment to supporting the overall well-being of our expectant parents, T-Mobile offers reimbursement of up to $2,000 per birth for doula care. Note: Surrogacy and Doula benefits are not excluded from taxable income under IRS regulations. Any Surrogacy Assistance or Doula reimbursement paid to employees may be subject to State, Federal, Social Security, Medicare and federal unemployment taxes at time
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What procedures are excluded under this benefit?
A: Requests for procedures that are not specifically listed in the current version of the Gender Affirmation Surgery medical policy and/or the Summary Plan Description will be reviewed for medical necessity based on clinical information sent by your provider during the pre-approval process.
Q: Does my plan cover gender-affirming treatment for children?
A: Yes, the plan will cover non-surgical medical treatment where it is legal, such as mental health care or puberty blockers, for minors seeking gender affirming services. The minimum age requirement for gender affirming female-to-male and female-to-non-binary mastectomy or breast reduction is 17. For all other surgical interventions, the minimum age requirement is 18. For specific details regarding medical necessity requirements for surgical interventions, refer to the medical policies that can be obtained by contacting Premera Blue Cross, Surest or United Healthcare.
Q: Can I receive services outside of the United States?
A: The only services covered outside of the U.S. are for those services that are due to an emergency or illness and where immediate care is necessary. This is true for all types of medical care, not specific to Gender Affirming procedures.
Q: Is hormone therapy covered?
A: Yes, hormone therapy is covered subject to the plan’s pharmacy benefit administered by CVS Caremark. Hormones are covered, however not all brands and styles may be eligible under the plan. Please contact CVS for hormone-specific coverage information.
The medical plans may cover two types of hormones that are administered in a provider’s office, provided the medical necessity criteria has been met: Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs, which are used to suppress puberty in adolescents. Testosterone formulations other than gels.
Note: Please review the Summary Plan Description and/or medical policy for the complete criteria.
Q: Does T-Mobile offer any leave of absence (LOA) and/or paid leave for gender-affirming care?
A: Employees may be eligible for a leave of absence that may be paid or unpaid if they or a family member is unable to work related to receiving a gender-affirming procedure. For more information regarding the types of leave available visit the Leave of Absence content on T-Nation or contact Broadspire 24/7 at:
Toll Free: 1–877–222–8705
Fax: 859–550–2744
CONTACTS
Medical Plans
Premera Blue Cross
Our T-Mobile Customer Service team is available to provide specialized assistance with gender affirmation benefits at (866) 358–2300. Our Personal Health Support team can support your clinical needs on your care journey.
Existing Premera Blue Cross Members:
www.premera.com/t-mobile
Group #4022154
Hours: M-F 5 a.m. – 8 p.m. Pacific
United Healthcare
Gender Identity Support Team: 800–326–9166
A dedicated team is in place to assist members with their gender affirmation benefits, claims, provider search, behavioral questions and more. The team has received enhanced training and has a focused understanding of the gender affirmation medical policy and specific benefit offerings.
Existing United Healthcare Members:
myUnitedHealthcare.com
Toll Free: (877) 259–1527
Group #222244
Hours: M-F 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Pacific
Surest
Gender Identity Support Team: 866-683-6440
Our Surest Clinical Advocacy team is armed with knowledge about your plan and clinical insight with gender affirmation benefits to help you get answers and the care you need.
Existing Surest Copay Only Plan Members:
Toll Free: (844) 530-0323
Group #78800721
Hours: M-F 4 a.m. – 7 p.m. PST
Surest mobile app available in the Apple App or Google Play store.
Livongo for Diabetes: New Health Benefit at No Cost that Makes Living with Diabetes Easier
Who can join:
The program is offered at no cost to employees and covered dependents with diabetes who are enrolled in T-Mobile’s HRA, HSA or EPO plan.
What you get:
- Connected Meter that automatically uploads your blood glucose readings to your secure online account and provides real-time personalized tips.
- Support from Coaches When You Need It. Communicate with a coach anytime about diabetes questions on nutrition or lifestyle changes.
- Unlimited Strips at No Cost to You. When you are about to run out, we ship more supplies, right to your door.
Enroll today: join.livongo.com/T-MOBILE/now
MY HEALTH
Medical Plans
Q. What medical coverage options do I have as a T-Mobile employee?
A. T-Mobile offers four medical plans:
- PPO Plan with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
- High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan
- Surest Copay Only Plan
Employees living in Hawaii have two plans available to them:
- HMSA Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan
- HMSA Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan
Q. Do all medical plans have a deductible?
A. The PPO Plan with HRA, High Deductible Health Plan with HSA and EPO Plan contains a deductible that may apply to some or all services. The Surest Copay Only Plan does not require a deductible to be met for any services.
Q. What expenses apply to my annual deductible?
A. Any amount you pay for eligible medical and prescription drug expenses before your T-Mobile health plan begins to share in the cost of covered services. Copayments; Expenses over the Allowed Amount (Premera) / Eligible Charge Expense (UHC); and/or Expenses associated with non-covered services do not apply to the deductible.
Q. Are any expenses covered before the annual deductible has been met?
A. For all plans, preventive services are covered at 100%. For the PPO (HRA) and EPO Plans, Lab and X- Ray/Imaging services are covered at the coinsurance level without having to meet the deductible first, as well as any services that require a co-payment.
Q. What costs apply to my annual out-of-pocket maximum?
A. Covered medical and pharmacy expenses you pay out of pocket associated with a deductible, co- insurance, or co-pay, – not reimbursed to you by your insurance carrier or other program such as a pharma sponsored coupon.
Q. What types of dependents are eligible to be enrolled in T-Mobile coverage?
A. You may enroll the following eligible dependents on your T-Mobile plan:
- Your legal spouse, as recognized by the federal government.
o Ex-spouses do not qualify, even if you’re required to provide coverage by court order.
- Your domestic partner or common law spouse who meet the following criteria:
o Both you and your partner are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract
o Both you and your partner are in a committed relationship with each other
o You and your partner are not blood related
o Both you and your partner share the same primary residence
o You and your partner are not married to, or a domestic partner of, another person
- You may enroll your dependent child who is under age 26 and is one of the following:
o Your biological child
o Your stepchild
o Your domestic partner’s child
o Your legally adopted child
o A child for whom you are the court-appointed legal guardian
The following relationships do not qualify as eligible dependents: parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, or nephews.
Q. Am I allowed to cover my child over age 26?
A. You may enroll a dependent child over age 26 if they meet the following criteria:
- They are incapable of self-support due to mental or physical disability and became disabled prior to age 26
- They rely on you for primary financial support and maintenance
Q. What is needed to ensure my disabled child, who is turning age 26, continues to be covered under my T-Mobile health plan with UHC/Premera?
A. Contact the medical plan vendor you are enrolled with and request a Disabled Dependent Certification form. UHC enrollees call (877) 259-1527 to request the form. Premera enrollees call (866) 358-2300 to request the form. Surest enrollees call (844) 530-0323 to request the form. The application can be reviewed up to six months (two months for Premera enrollees) prior to your disabled child’s 26th birthday but needs to be received no later than 31 days following their 26th birthday. A portion of the form will be completed by you and a portion of the form will be completed by your child’s physician. Once the form is filled out, it needs to be sent back to Surest/UHC/Premera along with supporting documentation for a clinical review. The clinical review process typically takes 30-business days once all the required information is submitted. You will be notified by Surest/UHC/Premera of their decision via letter (US Mail). Depending on the nature of your child’s disability, reverification may be needed every 1-3 years.
Q. My child is turning age 26 next year. Should I remove them from my benefits during Open Enrollment?
A. Your child can remain enrolled until the end of their birthday month when they turn 26 and they will be automatically removed from your coverage at that time. You will receive a notice about their removal that will include the option to continue their coverage via COBRA for up to 36 months by paying the full cost of monthly coverage. If your child turns age 26 early in the calendar year you may want to consider signing them up for alternate coverage on the public exchange or through their employer that would go into effect on January 1 instead of waiting until they age out. Things to consider include cost of that alternate coverage, paying towards only one deductible in the year instead of starting on T-Mobile’s plan and then restarting the deductible with a new insurer, and more.
Q. How can I make my open enrollment elections without knowing the details of my partner's open enrollment, since the timeframes do not align?
A. T-Mobile's Open Enrollment is in October every year and a two-week enrollment window is our normal enrollment period length. We understand it may not align with annual enrollment timeframes for other companies. We recommend that you make your elections now with the information available to you and know that you may change your elections after reviewing your partner's open enrollment options, should you choose. You may cancel or change your elections during your partner's open enrollment by calling the Benefits Center at (855) 866-2367 as long as you do so prior to the end of the year.
Q. What is the Working Partner Premium (WPP)?
A. The Working Partner Premium (WPP) applies when you enroll your spouse/domestic partner on a T- Mobile medical plan and they have medical coverage available through their employer and they’ve waived that medical coverage.
- If your spouse/domestic partner enrolls in their available employer medical plan and you also enroll them in medical at T-Mobile, the WPP will not apply because their employer plan will be primary coverage.
- If your spouse/domestic partner is also an employee of T-Mobile and you choose to enroll them under your plan instead of separately, the WPP will not apply.
- If your spouse/domestic partner isn’t eligible for medical coverage through their employer, the WPP will not apply.
- If your spouse/domestic partner is unemployed and has no employer medical plan available, the WPP will not apply.
- If your spouse/domestic partner is currently eligible for or enrolled under COBRA, the WPP will not apply.
- If you do not enroll your spouse/domestic partner on your medical plan, the WPP will not apply. You can enroll them under other benefits like dental, vision, or life insurance, and the WPP will not apply.
- If your spouse/domestic partner is eligible for Medicare, that eligibility does not require you to pay the WPP. The WPP will not apply because Medicare isn’t an employer health plan.
PPO Plan with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
Q. What is an HRA?
A. The PPO Plan with HRA is a PPO plan that offers both in- and out-of-network coverage. Many services only require a copay; for other services T-Mobile provides you with an employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account to use toward out-of-pocket expenses. Once you have spent all the funds in the account you are responsible for paying future out-of-pocket expenses, including any remaining deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.
Q. Can I contribute my own funds to the HRA?
A. The HRA is an employer-funded account, so employees cannot contribute their own dollars. However, HRA Participants can also enroll in a Health Care FSA to cover out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses.
Q. How much does T-Mobile fund to my HRA?
A. T-Mobile funds $500 for individual coverage and $1,000 for individual + enrolled dependents for all coverage effective Jan. 1. Even better…the funds are available on an HRA Debit Card on your first day of coverage. For coverage beginning on or after Jan. 1, participants will receive a monthly proration of the employer contributions equal to $41.66 per month for Employee only coverage or $83.33 per month for all other coverages. See Auto Rollover below for the information regarding how the HRA funds are used.
Q. How much do I pay for preventive services?
A. Preventive care is free! T-Mobile pays 100% of your service.
Q. How much is it going to cost me to see a doctor on the HRA Plan?
A. All office visits and prescription medications only have a copayment for services, keeping your out-of- pocket costs for these standard services more affordable. Please see the Plan Comparison Chart located on the Medical/Prescription page for more details on copay and prescription costs. However, for other services you have an annual deductible of $2,250/individual or $4,500/individual + enrolled dependents. Once you meet your deductible, the plan pays 80% of services until you meet your maximum out-of-pocket expense.
Q. What is the most I will pay out of pocket should I have a major service?
A. Although the HRA Plan is a high-deductible plan, there is a limit to how much participants will pay out of pocket for covered services. The out-of-pocket maximum is $4,250 for individual coverage and $8,500 for individual + enrolled dependents. Don’t forget, this out-of-pocket maximum includes your deductible, and T-Mobile funds your HRA to help cover these expenses.
Q. Do I have to stay in network for coverage?
A. The HRA Plan allows you to see both in- and out-of-network providers. However, to get the most for your money you should stay in network.
Q. How does my HRA work?
A. For UHC members, an HRA debit card will be issued to you that enables you to swipe your debit card at your provider’s office or at the pharmacy to use available HRA funds. You will have the option to turn this feature off by logging on to your UnitedHealthcare member site at myuhc.com. If you do not use your HRA debit card, the funds will automatically be deducted from your HRA first and applied to the claims as they are received and processed by UnitedHealthcare until the funds are exhausted. You won’t pay anything as long as you have funds available in your HRA.
For Premera Blue Cross members, an HRA debit card will be issued to you that enables you to swipe your debit card at your provider’s office or at the pharmacy to use available HRA funds. If you don’t use your HRA debit card at time of service, you can still use your debit card to pay the bill you receive from your provider. Or, if you pay out of pocket at the time of service, you can get reimbursed for HRA funds by submitting a manual reimbursement form, which can be found when you log in to premera.com. HRA funds can only be used for eligible medical and prescription drug expenses. Refer to the Summary Plan Description for eligible expenses.
Q. Do I have to use my HRA funds by the end of the plan year?
A. No, your HRA dollars will carry over to the next plan year, provided you remain enrolled in the HRA Plan.
Q. Is there a limit for how much I can carry over in my HRA?
A. Yes, employees can carry over up to $6,000 in employer contributions each year, provided they remain enrolled in the plan.
Q. Do I need to take any action to carry over the funds in my HRA to the new year?
A. No, the HRA carry over will automatically occur and be added to your new year’s HRA funding (if you change medical plan providers, these will be coordinated between the former and current medical plan providers and automatically added). The carry over HRA funds will appear in your account in the first week of April, to allow time for the claims incurred in the prior year, that may come in after the new year, to be processed. If you need access to those carry over HRA funds sooner than April, you may contact the Health Pros to assist you.
Q. If I have expenses to submit for reimbursement from my HRA for a prior year, what do I need to do?
A. The deadline for submitting your prior year’s expenses is 365 days following the end of the plan year in which the expenses were incurred. To request HRA reimbursement, you must submit a claim manually:
- For UHC members: Sign into your secure account on myuhc.com and access “Manage Your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)" under the quick links to submit an online claim or download the HRA claim form to submit via mail or fax.
- For Premera Blue Cross members: Sign into your secure account on premera.com/T-Mobile
Q. What happens to my HRA Funds should I change plans or leave T-Mobile?
A. The HRA is not portable. This means that if you change medical plans or terminate your coverage you are unable to take the funds with you. But should you continue coverage (including COBRA) your HRA funds will carry forward each plan year. However, it is recommended that you keep all receipts in case of an IRS audit.
High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account (HSA)
Q. What is an HSA?
A. A Health Savings Account is a tax-advantage medical savings account paired with a high deductible medical plan. The HSA plan offers both in- and out-of-network coverage. To help offset expenses, T- Mobile contributes tax-free funds to the HSA and you can too! Any contributions are yours to keep. Participants must pay for all services until the deductible is met (e.g. prescriptions, physician services, etc.). Once the deductible is met the medical plan will help pay for a portion of services. HSA has a true family deductible, meaning that if you cover dependents, you must meet the entire family deductible before the plan will provide coverage for any member.
Q. Who can participate in an HSA Plan?
A. You can participate in the HSA Plan provided you or your spouse do not have a Health Care FSA (limited purpose Health Care FSAs are okay); you are not enrolled in another medical plan that is not a high deductible plan; are not enrolled in Medicare; are not someone else’s tax dependent; or using your HSA for a non-IRS tax dependent (like a domestic partner). If you turn age 65 and decline Medicare coverage you will be eligible to participate in an HSA plan.
Q. What is the benefit of enrolling in the HSA Plan?
A. The HSA account is completely portable, meaning that the funds in your account are yours to keep regardless of whether you stay at T-Mobile or stay enrolled in the plan. Additionally, the HSA Plan offers a triple tax-savings advantage. This means your HSA payroll contributions are tax free; any earnings on your HSA are tax free; and HSA money used to pay for eligible expenses is also tax free. HSA accounts are a great way to save money for health care expenses later in life, like retirement. Unused HSA funds never expire and there is no time limit to reimburse yourself for eligible expenses incurred after your account is established.
Q. How much does T-Mobile fund to my HSA?
A. T-Mobile funds $500 for individual coverage and $1,000 for individual + enrolled dependents for all coverage effective Jan. 1. For coverage beginning on or after Jan. 1, T-Mobile will fund $19.23 per pay period for individual coverage and $38.46 per pay period for individual + enrolled dependents. Please note: T-Mobile funds on a prorated basis each pay date, so T-Mobile’s annual contribution to your HSA will not be available right away. If you turn age 65 and decline Medicare coverage you will be eligible to receive T-Mobile contributions into an HSA fund.
Q. How much do I pay for preventive services?
A. Preventive care is free! T-Mobile pays 100% of your service.
Q. How much is it going to cost me to see a doctor on the HSA Plan?
A. The HSA Plan is a true high deductible plan. This means that you will pay for all services (except preventive services) and prescription costs until you meet your annual deductible ($2,250/individual or $4,500/individual + enrolled dependents). Once you meet your deductible, the plan pays 80% of services until you meet your maximum out-of-pocket expense. Note: If you have dependents enrolled on the plan you must meet the full family deductible before the plan will cover services for an individual.
Q. What is the most I will pay out of pocket should I have a major service?
A. Although the HSA Plan is a high-deductible plan, there is a limit to how much participants will pay out of pocket for covered services. The out-of-pocket maximum is $4,250 for individual coverage and $8,500 for individual + enrolled dependents. Unique about the HSA Plan, you must meet the $8,500 out-of-pocket maximum if you have any dependents enrolled on your plan, even if only one member is using the coverage. Don’t forget, this out-of-pocket maximum includes your deductible and T- Mobile funds your HSA to help cover some of these expenses.
Q. Do I have to stay in network for coverage?
A. The HSA Plan allows you to see both in- and out-of-network providers. However, to get the most for your money you should stay in network.
Q. Can I participate in a Health Care FSA if I am enrolled in the HSA Plan?
A. Due to IRS guidelines you are unable to participate in a Health Care FSA if you are currently participating in an HSA Plan. Exception: If you are enrolled in the HSA plan for the new plan year and had a Health Care FSA in the prior plan year that wasn’t exhausted, you will be enrolled in a limited-purpose FSA for the new plan year for up to $550 of your leftover FSA funds from the prior year. The limited-purpose FSA can be used to cover dental and vision expenses only.
Q. Can I use my HSA Funds to pay for dental and vision expenses?
A. Yes, HSA funds can be used to cover out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses.
Q. What happens to my HSA Funds should I change plans or leave T-Mobile?
A. The HSA is 100% portable! This means should you change medical plans or terminate your coverage you can take all your funds with you and keep them, even into retirement.
Q. Where can I get information on how to invest my HSA dollars?
A. If you are enrolled in the UHC HSA plan managed by Optum Bank, you can view the requirements by logging into myuhc.com or call (877) 259-1527. For the Premera Blue Cross HSA plan managed by Optum Financial, you can view the requirements by logging into premera.com/T-Mobile or call (866) 358-2300.
Exclusive Provider Organization Plan (EPO)
Q. What is an EPO?
A. EPO is a plan that only provides coverage with in-network providers and has a lower deductible than the HRA or HSA plan. You pay a copay for most services. And don’t worry — in an emergency you can seek care outside of the network.
Q. If I pick this medical plan option, is there anything important I should consider?
A. Since this plan only covers services from in-network providers you should make sure that your provider is in-network before you use services (except in an emergency) so you’re not surprised with a denied claim after receiving care. To find out whether your provider is in-network:
- UnitedHealthcare EPO participants: Call UnitedHealthcare Member Services at (877) 259-1527 or view the online provider directory at myuhc.com, choosing the “UnitedHealthcare Choice” network. Your group number is 222244.
- Premera Blue Cross EPO participants: Call Premera Blue Cross Member Services at (866) 358-2300 or view the online provider directory at premera.com/T-Mobile Your group number is 4022154.
Surest Copay Only Plan
Q. What is the Surest Copay Only Plan?
A. Surest is a no-deductible health plan where you can see prices before making an appointment. For office visits and many procedures — from having an MRI to having a baby — you see one copay price. By grouping these services together — combining the labs and x-rays that go along with a medical procedure or test into one copay — we’re trying to make it easier for members to know what they’ll pay in advance. You can compare and plan ahead. Even better, copays are lower for providers evaluated as higher-value options, based on quality, efficiency, and overall effectiveness of care. The Surest plan requires you to access care through an in-network provider.
Q. What’s included in the copay?
A. Copays are specific dollar amounts you pay for using routine services, like a doctor’s visit. The copay for an office visit includes standard labs and x-rays. A surgery copay includes surgeon, anesthesiologist, and facility fees.
Q. What is the most I’ll pay out of pocket, should I have a major service?
A. Major services will require a copay, that will group many services together including procedures, labs, x-rays and tests into the single copay. Copays for major services will vary, depending on which provider you choose.
Q. Is there an out-of-pocket maximum? What applies?
A. Yes. There is an out-of-pocket limit, or the most money you’ll pay in a given year for health care benefits your plan covers. The out-of-pocket maximum is $6,500 for individual coverage and $13,000 for individual + enrolled dependents. Visit Join.Surest.com or http://www.t-mobilebenefits.comfor more details. All copays count toward the out-of-pocket limit, from office visits to surgery.
Q. How much do I pay for preventive care?
A. Preventive care is free! T-Mobile pays 100% of your service.
Q. Do I have to stay in network?
A. Yes. This plan only covers services from in-network providers. And don’t worry — in an emergency you can seek care outside of the network.
Q. Is my doctor in-network?
A. The Surest Plan contains a network that includes groups of hospitals, doctors, labs, specialists, and pharmacists who are part of UnitedHealthcare’s broadest network. To confirm your provider is part of the network, go to Join.Surest.com. Make sure that your provider is in-network before you use services (except in an emergency), so you’re not surprised with a denied claim after receiving care.
Q. Do I have coverage for emergencies?
A. YES! If you go to the emergency room, you pay the emergency room copay.
Q. What if I need emergency surgery?
A. If you need emergency surgery and/or need to be admitted to the hospital, the emergency room copay is waived, and you will be responsible for the inpatient hospital emergency admit copay.
Q. What if I would like more information on how the plan works?
A. Schedule a 15 minute 1:1 consultation with a Surest expert to get all your questions answered.
Other Healthcare Coverage
Q. Is there any coverage under any of the medical plans for infertility or family building?
A. Refer to the Family Building Benefits and Support section in this Q&A for more information.
Q. Are there any programs available under any of the plans for diabetes support?
A. All employees and their family members who qualify, have access to a no-cost program called Livongo by Teladoc. With Livongo by Teladoc, enrollees receive a free blood glucose meter, diabetic supplies and real-time coaching support when you need it. For more information regarding the program, click here.
Coordination of Benefits
Q. How does the T-Mobile Plan pay for benefits if I am covered by more than one Plan?
A. Coordination of Benefits (COB) applies to you if you are covered by more than one health benefits plan. For further information regarding when COB applies, determination of the order of benefit payments, etc., refer to the Coordination of Benefits section in the Summary Plan Description.
Q. How does the coordination of benefits work if I’m enrolled in the T-Mobile Medical Plan and eligible for Medicare (but may or may not be enrolled in Medicare)?
A. Refer to the “What Is Different When You Qualify for Medicare?” I section of the Summary Plan Description for detailed information regarding when the T-Mobile Plan may be secondary to Medicare and how the T-Mobile Plan determines the amounts payable under the Plan.
HMSA Plans (only available to employees living in Hawaii)
Q. What plans are available to employees living in Hawaii?
A. Hawaii employees have a choice between two plans: HMSA Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan, covering in-network care only with no out-of-network benefit; HMSA Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan covering both in- and out-of-network care. For more details call HMSA at 1- 800-776-4672 or log on to hmsa.com.
Prescription
Q. What prescription drug coverage is available?
A. Employees enrolled in the Surest Copay Only Plan, the PPO Plan with HRA, the High Deductible Health Plan with HSA or EPO medical plan will have prescription drug coverage through CVS Caremark. Register at Caremark.com or call CVS Caremark customer service at (844) 757-0417, to see plan information, check drug cost and coverage, find personalized drug savings opportunities and more.
Q. What is the PrudentRx program that provides a $0 copay for Specialty Medications?
A. CVS Caremark partners with PrudentRx to reduce specialty costs through an innovative copay plan design strategy. This program is available to employees enrolled in the Surest Copay Only Plan, the PPO Plan with HRA or EPO Plans only, not available to those enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan with HSA Plan due to IRS regulations.
PrudentRx will work with you and the drug manufacturer to get copay card assistance when available and will assist you when copay cards need renewal. Even if your specialty medication has no copay card, your out-of-pocket cost will be $0 as long as you are enrolled in the PrudentRx program. If you are taking a specialty medication that qualifies under this program, there is nothing you need to do to enroll. PrudentRx will contact you as soon as the medication if filled, to complete your enrollment. To learn more about the prescriptions that qualify or more information, click here.
Dental
Q. What should I know about the T-Mobile dental plan?
A. Delta Dental of Washington administers this benefit for T-Mobile, but it is a nationwide network (not just in Washington), and we offer the choice of two dental plans: the PPO Network Dental Plan and the Open Network Dental Plan.
- PPO Network Dental Plan: In order for dental services to be covered under this plan, you will need to receive care from a Delta Dental PPO dentist. Dental participants will not have coverage when seeking care outside of the PPO network. Your dentist will file claims directly with Delta Dental and your claim will be processed at the agreed-upon Delta Dental rate. The bi-weekly cost to you is lower with this option. To find a PPO dentist, contact Delta Dental directly at 1-800-238-3107 or online at deltadentalwa.com/mysmile under Delta Dental PPO. Your group number is 09037.
- Open Network Dental Plan: This option allows you to see any dentist you want – you aren’t limited by a network. You may have to file your own claims and reimburse your dentist directly. You may also be charged a higher rate for services. The bi-weekly cost to you is higher with this option. Your group number is #09034.
Q. How do I provide proof of coverage to my dentist?
A. Please see the instructions below:
- PPO Network Dental Plan: When you visit your dentist tell them that you are covered by Delta Dental and provide your Social Security Number to verify coverage. Physical ID cards are not issued by Delta Dental. Members may download a digital dental ID card at deltadentalwa.com/mysmile.
- Open Network Dental Plan: Physical ID cards are not issued by Delta Dental. Members may
download a digital dental ID card at deltadentalwa.com/mysmile.
Vision
Q. What should I know about the T-Mobile vision plan?
A. Vision Service Plan (VSP) administers this benefit for T-Mobile. To find a VSP provider, contact VSP directly at 1-800-877-7195 or online at vsp.com. Your group number is 12122822.
Q. How do I provide proof of coverage to my eye doctor?
A. You will not receive an insurance card. When you visit your provider, tell them that you are covered by VSP and provide the last 4 digits of the primary subscriber’s Social Security Number to verify coverage.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) – General
Q. How do I enroll in the Flexible Spending Account?
A. As a new hire or employee with a qualifying life event, click here to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or make changes.
Q. Do my elections carry over year after year?
A. No. You must actively re-enroll for each new plan year during the annual enrollment period.
Q. Can I enroll in or make changes to my Flexible Spending Account throughout the year?
A. FSA elections are binding for the length of the plan year and cannot be revoked or changed unless you have a qualifying life event. For additional information about qualifying life events, click here.
Q. How do I submit an FSA claim for payment?
A. Claims can be submitted through Your Spending Account, which can be accessed here. You can also submit claims through the Smart-Choice Mobile App, available in the Apple and Google Play Store.
Q. What happens if I am unable to provide supporting documentation following a Health Care or Dependent Care FSA claim?
A. Should you receive a request from our FSA vendor to provide supporting documentation and are unable to comply with this request, the value claim will be placed into an overpayment. The value of the overpayment will be considered taxable and reported on your W2, if it is not resolved before the claim submission deadline.
Q. What happens if my claim(s) is placed into overpayment?
A. If you have a claim placed into overpayment, you have a couple of options to resolve the overpayment. First option is to appeal the claim denial and provide the necessary supporting documentation. The claim will go back to the MyChoice Account team for review and a final decision will be provided. The second option is to submit new claim(s) via the online portal. If the claim(s) is approved, the amount will go towards clearing the overpayment amount. Please note that your Healthcare Flexible Spending Account card will be turned off until the overpayment is resolved.
Q. What is the deadline to submit claims for either Health Care or Dependent Care FSA?
A. Participants have up to April 30th of the following plan year to submit claims for expenses incurred during the plan year.
Q. What will happen if I exceed the calendar year maximum?
A. Contributions that exceed the maximum may be considered taxable income when you file your income taxes. For more information, please consult your tax advisor.
Health Care FSA
Q. Am I allowed to contribute to the Health Care FSA and one of T-Mobile’s High Deductible Medical Plans?
A. Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) Plan participants can also contribute to a Health Care FSA to cover out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses. Employees participating in a Health Savings Account (HSA) are not able to contribute to a Health Care FSA; nor can their spouse be contributing to a Health Care FSA.
Q. What expenses are eligible for reimbursement on the Health Care FSA?
A. Review the Healthcare Expense List under Quick Links on the Healthcare FSA page here.
Q. Is the IRS annual limit per participant or per household?
A. The Healthcare FSA annual limit is per participant. For example, if a married couple or domestic partners are each eligible for Health Care FSA through their employers, they may each elect up to the annual limit.
Q. What happens if I am currently participating in the Healthcare FSA and I still have a balance at the end of the plan year?
A. Based on IRS regulations, T-Mobile elected to allow employees can carry forward up to $680 in unused balances; amounts above $680 are forfeited. This balance will carry forward until you no longer are eligible for FSA, exhaust your funds, or leave T-Mobile. The $680 carry-forward amount is in addition to any elections you make for the new plan year.
Dependent Care FSA
Q. How do I determine what my Dependent Care FSA contribution should be?
A. If you are enrolling during Annual Enrollment: Enrollment in the Dependent Care FSA is on a Plan Year basis (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31), so you need to calculate your eligible childcare expenses for this 12- month period. Note to Childcare Subsidy Participants: Combined, the Dependent Care FSA and the Childcare Subsidy programs should not be more than what you are actually paying (or expect to pay) for Childcare for the Benefit Plan Year. Per IRS regulations, both plans are a “use it or lose it” account. Additionally, the combined annual total of both programs cannot be more than $7,500.
Q. What are eligible childcare expenses?
A. In addition to day care expenses which allow you and your spouse (if applicable) to work, other expenses that are eligible under the plan are:
- Tuition that is considered daycare expenses up to kindergarten
- Summer camp (but not expenses for overnight stays)
Q. Who are eligible childcare providers?
A. Eligible childcare providers include:
- Private sitters
- Licensed daycare centers
- An in-home provider, as long as the care provider is not your spouse, the child’s guardian or parent, your child under 19 and/or someone you claim as a dependent for tax purposes
Q. What is the definition of a Qualified Child under the Dependent Care FSA?
A. Eligible dependents include Children under age 13 whom you claim as dependents for tax purposes, or your Spouse or other dependent who is physically or mentally unable to care for themselves. You may also claim expenses for the care of an elderly parent who spends at least eight hours a day in your home and whom you can claim as a dependent.
Q. Can I change my Dependent Care FSA election amount outside of Open Enrollment (mid-plan year)?
A. The IRS requires that changes to your FSA Dependent Care contribution amount be consistent with a qualifying life event (such as marriage, divorce, birth, etc.). Should you experience a mid-year qualifying life event, you may change your own payroll contribution amount for your Dependent Care FSA. However, your Childcare Subsidy amount will be set at the time of enrollment and will remain consistent throughout the term of the plan year. Visit the Qualifying Event table in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for a detailed account of Special Qualifying Events and their impact on the Dependent Care FSA.
Q. What happens if I have money left in my Dependent Care Account at the end of the plan year?
A. This is a "use it or lose it" plan. Any money left in your account after the plan year is lost; this is an IRS regulation and not a rule the company can change. T-Mobile participants have up to April 30th of the following plan year to submit claims for expenses incurred during the plan year.
Q. Can I submit Dependent Care FSA claims while on a Leave of Absence?
A. The IRS does not allow Dependent Care FSA participants to claim expenses during a Leave of Absence. Therefore, if you are enrolled in a Dependent Care FSA, the account will be suspended while on leave. Upon return from Leave of Absence, your Dependent Care FSA annual contribution will be reinstated, and you will pay catch-up contributions from each paycheck.
Q. What else do I need to know about Dependent Care FSA? (Important IRS Rules)
A. If you have not participated in an FSA plan before, there are some IRS rules you need to understand. Once you're in, you're in for the plan year! In other words, you can't change your election. This is an IRS regulation and not something the company can change. In certain situations, you may make a mid-year change (such as an increase or decrease your contributions or withdraw from the plan) if you experience a Special Qualifying Event. Visit the Qualifying Event table in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for a detailed account of Special Qualifying Events and their impact on the Dependent Care FSA. Should you experience a mid-year qualifying life event, you may change your own payroll contribution amount for your Dependent Care FSA Account. Your Childcare Subsidy amount will be set at the time of enrollment and will remain consistent throughout the term of the plan year.
Dependent Eligibility & Verification
Q. Why does T-Mobile have a Dependent Verification Process?
A. T-Mobile is proud of the benefits we offer and keeping costs down helps maintain a competitive healthcare plan for all employees. Unfortunately, we can’t cover everyone. Medical benefits are very costly and covering people who are not eligible dependents raises the cost for our health plans, which directly influences the cost that all employees and T-Mobile pay for coverage.
Q. What is the Reverification process?
A. Reverification is required for dependents whose eligibility may change over time, like when a relationship ends – spouses, domestic partners, children of a domestic partner, or stepchildren. Every 3 years employees will need to validate that their dependent remains eligible. Note: it is still expected that employees will proactively remove a dependent when they become ineligible. This process is intended to identify anyone missed. The reverification process is a streamlined version of the current process. Employees will not need to provide government documents because they were already provided in the past (such as birth or marriage certificates). They will only need to provide a copy of their taxes or proof of joint ownership to confirm current status.
Q. Are there any dependent types who won’t be required to go through Reverification?
A. Any child (adopted, biological) previously verified will not be required to reverify because eligibility status doesn’t change over time. Note: Separate existing process removes dependents at age 26. No special dependent verification process applies. In any given year a spouse, domestic partner, child of a domestic partner, or stepchild won’t have to reverify if their prior verification/reverification occurred more recently than 3 years ago. Note: frequency of reverification could change in the future.
Q. How and when will I know if my dependent requires verification or reverification to be enrolled?
A. Full verification is required in the follow circumstances:
- First time enrollment of the dependent.
- Annual Enrollment if a new dependent was added.
After completing your initial Open Enrollment, you can immediately upload the required documents in the benefits portal. Verification of your documents can take up to 5 days.
Reverification occurs on a three-year cycle from the dependent’s original full verification.
Q. What types of dependents are eligible to be enrolled in T-Mobile coverage?
A. You may enroll the following eligible dependents on your T-Mobile plan:
- Your legal spouse, as recognized by the federal government.
o Ex-spouses do not qualify, even if you’re required to provide coverage by court order.
- Your domestic partner or common law spouse who meet the following criteria:
o Both you and your partner are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent
to contract
o Both you and your partner are in a committed relationship with each other
o You and your partner are not blood related
o Both you and your partner share the same primary residence
o You and your partner are not married to, or a domestic partner of, another person
- The following relationships do not qualify as an eligible domestic partner
o Your sibling, parent, or other relative
o Your roommate
o Your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/partner/spouse who no longer meets the criteria listed above
- You may enroll your dependent child who is under age 26 and is one of the following:
o Your biological child
o Your stepchild
o Your domestic partner’s child
o Your legally adopted child
o A child for whom you are the court-appointed legal guardian
- Children age 26 and over will be included as disabled dependents regardless of age if they meet both the following conditions:
o Your child is mentally or physically incapacitated prior to their 26th
birthday
o Your child is not capable of self-support
-The following relationships do not qualify as an eligible child (this list is not inclusive):
o Your grandchild (unless you are the child’s court-appointed legal guardian)
o A relative who is a minor and living with you (unless you are the child’s court appointed
legal guardian)
o A child for whom you have been granted temporary custody
o Your foster child (unless you are the child’s court-appointed legal guardian)
Q. What is needed to ensure my disabled child, who is turning age 26, continues to be covered under my T-Mobile health plan with UHC/Premera?
A. Contact the medical plan vendor you are enrolled with and request a Disabled Dependent Certification form. UHC enrollees call (877) 259-1527 to request the form. Premera enrollees call (866) 358-2300 to request the form. Surest enrollees call (844) 530-0323 to request the form. The application can be reviewed up to six months (two months for Premera enrollees) prior to your disabled child’s 26th birthday but needs to be received no later than 31 days following their 26th birthday. A portion of the form will be completed by you and a portion of the form will be completed by your child’s physician. Once the form is filled out, it needs to be sent back to Surest/UHC/Premera along with supporting documentation for a clinical review. The clinical review process typically takes 30 business days once all the required information is submitted. You will be notified by Surest/UHC/Premera of their decision via letter (US Mail). Depending on the nature of your child’s disability, reverification may be needed every 1-3 years.
Q. I have a court order to provide medical benefits for my child. Can I enroll them based on the court order, and do I need to complete the Dependent Verification process?
A. Children who are enrolled on T-Mobile’s health plan per a qualified Child Support Order or National Medical Support Notice may remain enrolled on the employee’s health plan. T-Mobile will typically receive qualified Child Support Orders or National Medical Support Notices directly from the State or local department issuing the order and will enroll the dependent as legally required. Dependent Verification is not required since T-Mobile is legally obligated to comply.
Examples of court orders that would not qualify a dependent include, but are not limited to:
- Divorce Decrees
- Child support agreements between the employee and ex-spouse
Q. I have a court order to provide medical benefits for my ex-spouse. Can I enroll them based on the court order?
A. An ex-spouse is not an eligible dependent under any circumstance and may not be enrolled on T-Mobile’s health plan. The court order requires you pay for coverage, but it cannot be as a dependent through the T-Mobile plan.
Q. What will happen if I do not verify my dependent as requested?
A. Your dependent will not be eligible to remain enrolled in the T-Mobile plan and will be removed from coverage. They will not be eligible for COBRA.
Q. Will an ineligible dependent be able to continue their coverage through COBRA?
A. If your dependent was never eligible for coverage, they are not eligible to enroll in COBRA. If the dependent is no longer eligible because of a recent “qualifying event” such as divorce, they may be eligible for continuation of coverage under COBRA if notice of their COBRA-qualifying event is provided to T-Mobile within 60 days of the event occurring.
Q. Can I re-add my ineligible dependent to coverage in the future?
A. You can only re-add your dependent to coverage in the future if at that time they meet the eligibility requirements. When you re-add your dependent, you will be required to go through the Dependent Verification process again to ensure eligibility.
Q. What if I disagree with the decision my dependent is not eligible?
A. There is a formal appeal process in place to give you the opportunity to maintain coverage. Your Final Termination Notice will include information about that process and what will be necessary to support overturning the decision. You can also call the Benefits Center prior to receiving your notice if you’d like to understand the appeals process in advance.
Q. Can exceptions be granted to allow an ineligible dependent to stay covered?
A. No. Only dependents eligible for coverage according to the plan’s eligibility rules can remain covered.
Q. How do I find a new insurance option for my ineligible dependent?
A. The Compass Health Pro team can help you understand options available and connect you to resources in your state. Call or email them at mailto:TMUSHealthPro@compassphs.com and 855-496-0071 if you’d like help navigating this process.
Some examples of the options they will share include:
- Public exchanges: Under the Affordable Care Act you can purchase an individual policy through the insurance exchange run by either your state or the federal government. Most exchanges also include information about how an individual can qualify for reduced costs or government-sponsored programs like Medicaid.
- Medicare/Medicaid: may apply depending on your circumstances
- Private Insurance Broker: worth exploring if public exchanges don’t meet your needs
- Other employer insurance: if employed, your ineligible dependent may have their own insurance option available.
Q. What types of documents do I need to provide to verify my dependent?
A. Check out Dependent Verification and Reverification documents located on the www.t-mobilebenefits.com/login.
Q. What methods do I have to submit my paperwork?
A.
- Best option! Secure Online Upload: www.t-mobilebenefits.com/login
- Email: dv@businessolver.com
Q. The documentation required contains sensitive data. How do you to protect my information?
A. Protecting personal information is a priority to T-Mobile and T-Mobile’s dependent verification vendor partner, Businessolver. Businessolver takes the security of your documents and information seriously and they either meet or exceed T-Mobile’s security requirements of their vendors. You can find information on the dependent verification portal (t-mobilebenefits.com/login) such as their security and privacy policy for more information.
Q. Where do I go if I have questions or am having trouble getting the required documents?
A. Contact the Dependent Verification team at the Benefits Center at (855) TMO-BENS (855-866-2367), hours are Monday through Friday, 5 a.m.- 5 p.m. Pacific. They are able to answer any questions you have and provide any options available to you.
MY FUTURE
401(k)
Q. What is a 401(k) plan?
A. A 401(k) plan is a type of retirement plan that allows you to save and invest for your own retirement. If you elect to participate T-Mobile will deduct a certain amount of money from your paycheck. You can choose to contribute on a pretax basis, Roth and After-Tax. Your 401(k) money is kept for you in an account at Fidelity Investments and is invested according to the investment option(s) that you select.
Q. How much can I contribute?
A. You can make an election for your regular pay that is up to 75% of your eligible wages, in 1% increments. You can also make a separate election for any bonus pay that you might receive, up to 85% of eligible bonus wages, also in 1% increments. Please see the plan document for details on what types of pay your bonus election will apply to. Your total contribution is subject to the IRS maximum contribution limit for each year. If you will be at least age 50 in the current plan year you can also contribute additional catch-up contributions, which are determined by the IRS each year. A separate election for catch-up contributions is not required.
Q. What is the company match?
A. T-Mobile will start matching your pre-tax and Roth contributions after you have worked for the company for one year. Your contributions will be matched $1 for each $1 you contribute up to 3% of your pay, and 50 cents for every $1 on the next 2% of your pay you contribute. To maximize the employer match you will need to contribute at least 5% out of each paycheck. Employer match dollars are immediately vested upon receipt, so are yours to keep without requiring additional service. After-Tax contributions are not eligible for the employer match.
Q. How do I enroll?
A. You can make changes to your 401(k) plan elections at any time of the year online at netbenefits.com or by calling Fidelity at 800-491-1014.
- New employees: Fidelity will send you enrollment communications. You can enroll at any time. Your deductions will typically start 1 to 2 paychecks after you enroll.
- Current employees: If you are not currently participating in the 401(k) plan, sign up by contacting Fidelity.
MY LIFE
Family Building Benefits & Support (Fertility, Maternity Services including Pregnancy & Post-Partum Support, Adoption, & Surrogacy Assistance, and Doula Reimbursement)
Q. Is there any coverage under any of the plans for infertility?
A. Family building benefits for infertility are available through Progyny for employees and spouses or domestic partners enrolled in a T-Mobile medical plan. The Progyny benefit includes comprehensive treatment coverage leveraging the latest technologies and treatments, access to high-quality care through a premier network of fertility specialists, and personalized emotional support and guidance from a dedicated Patient Care Advocate (PCA). Progyny fertility specialists focus on clinical outcomes and finding the most effective course of treatment for your needs right from the start, eliminating unnecessary barriers
for building a family. To learn more about the Progyny benefit, review the Fertility Benefits Member Guide.
Q. Does T-Mobile offer any Maternity Support Services?
A. Progyny’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Program ensures you are supported every step of the way during your pregnancy journey through one-on-one support from a dedicated Pregnancy and Postpartum Coach (PPC) and you’ll get to unlock access to exclusive resources that empower you with knowledge and confidence for the many milestones to come. Visit the Fertility Benefits and Support (Fertility, Maternity
Services including Pregnancy & Post-Partum Support, Adoption, & Surrogacy Assistance, and Doula Reimbursement) information at www.t-mobilebenefits.com.
Q. Does T-Mobile offer any Adoption & Surrogacy benefits?
A. Through Progyny, all employees are eligible for an Adoption and Surrogacy reimbursement benefit on the first of the month following 30 days of employment. To learn more about the Progyny benefit, review the Fertility Benefits Member Guide.
Q. When do I get reimbursed for Adoption & Surrogacy expenses?
A. Expenses can be reimbursed as they are incurred so long as the request is submitted within 12 months of the date the expense was incurred.
Q. How do I request reimbursement for Adoption & Surrogacy expenses?
A. To get started, review the Adoption and Surrogacy Overview on the Family Building Benefits site at www.t-mobilebenefits.com. Then contact your dedicated Progyny Patient Care Advocate (PCA) at (833)281-0076 to get set up. Make sure to submit your application for reimbursement within 12 months of the date the expense is incurred.
Q. What is the Doula Reimbursement Benefit?
A. As part of T-Mobile’s continued commitment in supporting the overall well-being of our expectant parents, T-Mobile offers reimbursement of up to $2,000 per birth for doula care to expectant parents who use doulas to provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers before, during, and shortly after childbirth. For more information, including the program requirements and instructions for reimbursement, visit the Doula Support Overview information on the Family Building Benefits site at www.t-mobilebenefits.com.
Childcare Subsidy (Free Money for Childcare)
Q. I hear T-Mobile offers free money for daycare. Is that true?
A. That is correct. T-Mobile does offer FREE money for daycare. This program is often referred to as Childcare Subsidy. Employees who have a household income of $99,000 or less are eligible to receive up to $3,000 per year funded to a Dependent Care FSA. Participation in the Dependent Care FSA is not required to be eligible for this benefit. However, participants must re-enroll each plan year.
Q. Who's eligible for the Childcare Subsidy program?
A. To be eligible to receive the Childcare Subsidy, you must:
- Be a current T-Mobile USA benefit-eligible employee
- Have an annual base pay of $99,000 or less
- Have eligible childcare costs
- Be working or attending school and, if applicable, have a spouse or domestic partner working or attending school
- If your annual base pay is less than $63,000 per year, you would be eligible for $250 a month
- If your annual base pay is between $63,000.01 - $99,000 per year, you would be eligible for $175 a month
- The Childcare Subsidy benefit amount is designed and intended to be a per-household/family benefit, therefore:
o If your Spouse or Domestic Partner is also a T-Mobile benefit-eligible employee, only one of you should enroll for the Childcare program. It is entirely up to you which one of you elects to enroll
o If you have one or more children, the benefit is the same per household/family.
Q. How do I enroll for the Childcare Subsidy?
A. Employees can enroll online as a new hire, during Open Enrollment, or if you experience a qualified life event such as the birth of a child, marriage or dependent eligibility change.
Q. Do I need to contribute my own dollars into a Dependent Care FSA in order to participate in the Childcare Subsidy program?
A. You are not required to contribute your own money to the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) in order to receive the Childcare Subsidy – this really is FREE MONEY to help with your childcare bills. If you are eligible, all you need to do is sign up. If you wish to contribute your own money to the FSA, in addition to the subsidy, that is still an option and will result in a greater tax advantage – however it is not required.
Q. Do I have to re-enroll in the Childcare Subsidy Program every year?
A. Yes, in order to participate in the Childcare Subsidy Program, you must re-enroll each year during Open Enrollment.
Q. Who are eligible childcare providers?
A. Eligible childcare providers include:
- Private sitters
- Licensed daycare centers
- An in-home provider, as long as the care provider is not your spouse, the child’s guardian or parent, your child under 19 and/or someone you claim as a dependent for tax purposes.
Q. What is the definition of a Qualified Child under the Childcare Subsidy benefit?
A. Eligible dependents include Children under age 13 whom you claim as dependents for tax purposes. Disabled children aged 13 through 25 may be eligible for extended coverage, please contact the Benefits Center for additional information.
Q. Do I need to provide any information about my dependent when I enroll?
A. Yes, when you enroll in the Childcare Subsidy benefit, you will be required to enter dependent information, the same as when you enroll dependents in Medical, Dental, Vision or Voluntary Life Insurance benefit plans. If your child is already covered under one of these other benefits, you’ll be able to select them from the drop-down menu and no other information will be needed.
Q. Is elder care included in the Childcare Subsidy program?
A. Elder care may be covered through T-Mobile's Dependent Care FSA. However, we are not offering a subsidy for these services at this time. To review eligible beneficiaries, providers and benefits for the Dependent Care FSA plan, go to www.t-mobilebenefits.com/login and follow the navigation to your MyChoice Account.
Q. Will I continue to receive Childcare Subsidy funding if I’m on Leave of Absence?
A. You will continue to receive Childcare Subsidy funding while on Leave of Absence. However, you cannot claim Childcare Subsidy expenses for services incurred during your Leave of Absence.
Q. Can I enroll in the Childcare Subsidy program at any time during the year?
A. The Childcare Subsidy program is available during our open enrollment period, during your initial eligibility as a new hire, within 31 days of an eligible qualified life event (such as marriage, change of daycare providers, etc.) or within 60 days of a birth or adoption. Outside of these events, employees can call The Benefits Center to enroll, and coverage will be effective prospectively.
Q. Will the employer portion of the Childcare Subsidy benefit be reported on my W2 at the end of the tax year?
A. Any Childcare Subsidy funded to your account will be reported in box #10 on your W2 statement at the end of the year, regardless of if those funds were claimed against.
Life Insurance
Q. Can I pay for supplemental Life Insurance in addition to the Company Paid benefit?
A. Yes, T-Mobile offers employee, spouse/partner and child(ren) voluntary life insurance. Employees can elect these benefits separately and deductions are taken on a post-tax basis.
Q. Can I pay for supplemental - Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance in addition to the Company Paid benefit?
A. Yes, T-Mobile offers employee or employee and family voluntary AD&D insurance. Employees can elect these benefits separately and deductions are taken on a post-tax basis.
Q. Do I need to complete a medical questionnaire if I elect to enroll in Voluntary Life Insurance?
A. Employees are required to complete an online Evidence of Insurability (EOI) form following certain voluntary life insurance elections.
- Employee Voluntary Life Insurance - if you are newly eligible or have a qualifying event, you can elect up to the lesser of 3 x your annual earnings or $750,000 without EOI; You may enroll or increase your coverage by one level at annual enrollment up to $750,000 without EOI.
- Spousal/Partner Life Insurance – if you are newly eligible, have a qualifying event or during annual enrollment, you can elect up to $50,000 without EOI.
- Child(ren) Life Insurance – EOI is never required.
Q. What is Group Term Life (GTL) on my pay statement?
A. GTL is the value of employer provided group term life insurance in excess of $50,000. This amount can be considered taxable income by the IRS and will be reported in box 12 of your W-2. The tax calculation is based on your coverage amount, age, and IRS tax table. You cannot opt out of GTL enrollment.
Q. Is there any option to withdraw cash from my company paid and/or voluntary life insurance?
A. The quick answer is no. T-Mobile offers Group Term Life Insurance, which does not have a cash value and will only pay at time of death or for a terminal illness in some situations. Only Whole Life Insurance Policies may offer some type of cash benefit. Should you leave T-Mobile, you will have the option to convert your life coverage(s) to an Individual Whole Life policy that would have a cash value. Note - the conversion policy rates differ from T-Mobile Group Term Life rates.
Q. What’s the group policy number for our life policy and who do we call for more information?
A. Our Group Life policy number is 402610. For more information about coverage amounts or premium costs, you may call the T-Mobile Benefits Center at 855-866-2367.
Disability Insurance
Q. How do I know if I am eligible for short term or long-term disability for my current illness?
A. Short Term Disability: Contact Broadspire at 1-877-222-8705 for more information. Long Term Disability: Contact the Hartford at 1-855-899-2973 for more information.
Q. What are Disability benefits?
A. Short- and Long-Term Disability benefits provide eligible employees with income protection in the event of a disability. You are eligible for short- and long-term disability, at no cost to you, on the first of the month coinciding with or following 180 days of continuous active employment.
- Short Term Disability - After a one-week unpaid waiting period, short term disability benefits will replace up to 85% of your pay* for up to 26 weeks for a new claim with a date of disability January 1, 2025 or after.
- Long Term Disability - After a 26-week waiting period, you may be eligible for Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits. Company provided LTD covers 50% of your regular monthly rate of pay*. For added protection, additional LTD coverage is available. Buy up options of 60% or 66 2/3% can be selected during the benefits enrollment period. Any increase in your coverage will require the completion of a health questionnaire.
*For employees who are eligible for sales incentives, the benefit amount for T-Mobile paid leave plans (STD, LTD, Maternity, Bonding, PFL, and Military) is determined by the base pay listed in Workday plus annual target incentive pay. Target incentive pay only applies to incentive-eligible employees with a career band designated as SL, Customer and Frontline Experience Roles in T-Mobile for Business, and Customer Experience Center employees with a monthly incentive plan (i.e., not an annual corporate bonus plan). For more information about target incentives, leave and pay, employees should refer to their incentive compensation plan, the Benefits summary plan description or program documents.
Tuition Assistance
Q. How much tuition assistance do I get?
A. Following 90 days of employment, full-time employees are eligible for the IRS maximum non-taxable benefit of $5,250 per calendar year and part-time employees are eligible for $2,500 per calendar year.
Q. Where can I get more information about T-Mobile's tuition assistance benefit?
A. Start by reviewing the tuition assistance guidelines available at www.t-mobilebenefits.com. You can also log onto the EdAssist portal for even more information about the benefit, get free education coaching, and eligible employees can initiate an application. EdAssist is also available by telephone between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday at 877-276-7115.
LiveMagenta
Q. What is LiveMagenta?
A. LiveMagenta is your one-stop for all things wellbeing, including support for emotional health, financial health, physical health, social health, and work health. Benefits include 24/7/365 telephonic access with a LiveMagenta life coach, 10 no-cost counseling sessions per topic each year, live and on-demand mindfulness sessions, unlimited money coaching and so much more!
Q. Who is eligible for LiveMagenta?
A. LiveMagenta is available to all employees and their family members (spouse, partner, children) on your first day of employment. You do not need to be enrolled in a T-Mobile medical plan to qualify for LiveMagenta benefits.
Q. How do I learn more about LiveMagenta?
A. Details about LiveMagenta can be found at LiveMagenta. You can also call a LiveMagenta life coach 24/7/365 at (855)-780-5958 to speak with a confidential master’s level trained clinician who can help you find support for big stuff, like losing a loved one, or even the fun stuff, like assistance making dinner reservations. Think of LiveMagenta life coaches as your “phone-a-friend” who can assess your immediate needs and determine the best resources to support you. Better yet, join your coworkers in positive, healthy conversations in the LiveMagenta Viva Engage Community.
MY EXTRAS
Added Benefits® Voluntary Programs
Q. What are Added Benefits® Voluntary Programs?
A. We offer nine Voluntary Programs through the T-Mobile Added Benefits® site, including critical illness, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, pet insurance, legal plan, auto/home insurance, long-term care + life insurance, fitness and identity protection. We refer to them separately because T-Mobile does not contribute towards these plans but makes them available for you to participate in at group- discounted rates.
Q. Does T-Mobile contribute towards the cost of the Added Benefits® Voluntary Programs?
A. No, T-Mobile does not contribute towards the cost of these benefits, but since you’re accessing them via T-Mobile you do get to take advantage of group-discounted rates. All deductions are taken on a post-tax basis.
Q. How can I pay for my Added Benefits® Voluntary Programs?
A. You can pay for these plans through payroll deduction on a bi-weekly basis. Some plans you can also pay for directly with the carrier, like auto/home insurance and fitness.
Q. When can I enroll in Added Benefits® Voluntary Programs?
A. You can only enroll for critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity and the legal plan at hire or during annual enrollment. But you can enroll at any time for pet insurance, identity protection, fitness and auto/home insurance. The Long-term care + life insurance offering will be announced separately.
Q. Where do I go to find out more about the Voluntary Benefits?
A. Call 1-855-845-0543 or click here to find out more or go to the Added Benefits site to enroll.
Common Questions
Do I have coverage for emergencies?
YES! If you go to the emergency room, you pay the emergency room copay.
What if I need emergency surgery?
If you need emergency surgery and/or need to be admitted to the hospital, the emergency room copay is waived, and you will be responsible for the inpatient hospital emergency admit copay.
What’s included in a copay?
Copays are specific dollar amounts you pay for using routine services, like a doctor’s visit. The copay for an office visit includes standard labs and X-rays. A surgery copay includes surgeon, anesthesiologist, and facility fees.
Do I have coverage during international travel?
You have emergency medical coverage outside the United States, as well as limited access to virtual services. Any emergency care received overseas is a cost to you, and you’ll need to submit a claim for reimbursement upon returning to the U.S.
What’s covered under the Surest plan?
With the Surest plan, you get what you’d expect from a health plan, only with price visibility to check and compare costs and options. Plus, lower costs are an indication of higher-value care.
How does the Surest plan work?
For office visits and many procedures—from having an MRI to having a baby—you see one price. By grouping these services together—combining the labs and X-rays that go along with a medical procedure or test into one price—we’re trying to make it easier for our members to know what they’ll pay in advance.
Does Surest cover dental and vision?
When there is an underlying medical condition, dental and vision are covered. For routine care, services are offered through a separate plan. Reach out to your benefits team for more information.
Is there an out-of-pocket limit? What applies?
Yes. There is an out-of-pocket limit, or the most money you’ll pay in a given year for health care benefits your plan covers. Visit Join.Surest.com or your benefit site for details. All copays count toward the out-of-pocket limit, from office visits to surgery. Paycheck deductions (premiums) and most out-of-network expenses don’t count toward in-network out-of-pocket limits.
Is my doctor in-network?
Your network is a group of hospitals, doctors, labs, specialists, and pharmacists who have a partnership (and contract) with your health insurance company to be part of your plan. Your doctor is likely in-network—we access the national UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus and Optum Behavioral Health networks—but you should confirm at Join.Surest.com.
What should I do if my doctor doesn’t recognize Surest?
Not all network providers know our plan by name, so it can be helpful to share the following: We access the national UnitedHealthcare and Optum Behavioral Health networks. Plus, your Surest ID card has all the information your doctor needs.
Can I speak with someone live for specific questions about the Surest plan?
Yes. You can schedule a 15-minute call with a Surest expert to get help finding copays for office visits, treatments, or medications, ask about coverage, and more. Set up a consultation here.
Where can I go to check costs and coverage?
Prospective members can look up costs and coverage on https://surest.care/T-mobile or schedule a 15-minute consultation with a Surest expert at this link.
* Network varies in some states. See https://surest.care/T-mobile or your plan details for information.
The above answers are an overview for illustrative purposes only and are not a contract. The answers in no way change or affect the policy issued.
Administrative services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or its affiliates. B2C_24-AI-1076651_1024
What is an HSA?
An HSA is a tax-advantaged account T-Mobile participants can use to pay for qualified medical expenses they or their tax eligible dependents incur, while covered under a high deductible health plan. HSA contributions:
▪ Are tax deductible (and employer contributions are not taxable).
▪ Remain in your account until you use them (and interest and earnings are tax free);
▪ Are portable after employment; and
▪ Can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses tax-free or for non-health expenses on a taxable basis.
The Rules
Eligibility to participate in the Health Savings Account is described in the T-Mobile USA, Inc. Employee Benefit Plan. You must be covered under Health Savings Account (HSA) Plan, which is a high deductible health plan. In addition, you:
▪ Must not be covered by other health coverage except for those approved by the IRS;
▪ Must not participate in a full health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA);
▪ Must not be enrolled in Medicare; and
▪ Cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.
Contributions
Contributions to your HSA can be made by you, by T-Mobile USA, Inc. or by any other individual. All funds contributed to your HSA are owned and controlled by you, subject to any reasonable administrative restrictions imposed by the trustee.
Contributions can be made to your HSA beginning on the first day of the month you are enrolled in the Health Savings Account Plan until the date on which you file taxes for that year, subject to the contribution limit for the tax year. NOTE: If coverage under a qualified high deductible health plan terminates, no further contributions may be made to the HSA. The maximum limits set by federal regulations may be found on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
If you enroll in your HSA during the year (not on January 1) you will still be allowed to contribute the maximum amount set by federal regulations. However, you must remain enrolled in a high deductible health plan until the end of the 12th month from your initial enrollment or your contributions will be taxable and subject to an additional tax of 10%. NOTE: Amounts that exceed the contribution maximum are not tax-deductible and will be subject to an excise tax unless withdrawn as an "excess contribution" prior to April 15th of the following year.
T-Mobile USA, Inc. will contribute $500 or $1,000 to your HSA for the Plan year depending on your coverage tier.
*Annual maximum contribution amount is employer and employee contributions combined.
**T-Mobile's funding is pro-rated per pay period (26 times a year)
Additional Information about HSAs
Once you enroll in the HSA Plan with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) administered by Optum Bank or Premera Blue Cross administered by Optum Financial, you may be asked to provide additional information to open your HSA account. This is a requirement under federal law as part of the USA PATRIOT Act. If you have to provide additional information, you will be notified by UHC or Premera Blue Cross and given a specific deadline to respond. If you do not provide the requested information by the deadline, your account will not be opened. If that happens:
▪ You won’t have an HSA to use for your out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
▪ The HSA contributions that were withheld from your pay will be returned to you as taxable income, and HSA contributions will stop.
▪ Any T-Mobile employer HSA contributions that were scheduled to be made will be forfeited.
However, if at some point in the future you successfully open your HSA account, you can elect to restart HSA contributions at that time. Contributions will only be made on a prospective basis.
Reimbursable Expenses
The HSA funds will be available for medical plan out-of-pocket costs (including Annual Deductible and Coinsurance) for you, your spouse and any dependents you claim on your tax return.
You may also use your HSA funds to pay for anything other than medical expenses, however if you do so, those funds will be subject to income tax and a 20% additional tax unless an exception applies (i.e., your death, your disability, or your attainment of age 65). In general, you may not use your HSA to pay for other health insurance without incurring a tax, but you will not be subject to tax if you pay for long-term care insurance, COBRA premiums, Medicare premiums or premiums for health coverage while you are unemployed.
A complete description of, and a definitive and current list of what constitutes eligible medical expenses, is available in IRS Publication 502.
Account Ownership and Rollover
If your employment terminates, you continue to own and control the funds in your HSA, whether or not you elect COBRA coverage for the accompanying high deductible health plan, as described in the Summary Plan Document. If you elect COBRA, the HSA funds will be available to assist you in paying your out-of-pocket costs under the medical plan and COBRA premiums while COBRA coverage is in effect.
If you choose to rollover the HSA funds from one account to another eligible account, you must do so within 60 days from the date that HSA funds are distributed to you to avoid paying taxes on the funds. You also have the option to consolidate funds through a trustee-to-trustee transfer process.
IMPORTANT
Be sure to keep your receipts and medical records to help you demonstrate that you used your HSA to pay qualified health expenses. Otherwise, you might be subject income tax on those HSA distributions and possibly a penalty. T-Mobile USA, Inc., UnitedHealthcare and Premera Blue Cross will not verify that distributions from your HSA are qualified health expenses.
Consult a tax advisor to determine how your HSA affects your unique tax situation. T-Mobile USA, Inc. and the claims administrators are not responsible or liable if you incur taxes or penalties by using HSA funds to pay anything other than qualified health expenses.
Q: Do I lose my HSA eligibility at age 65?
- No. Turning 65 does not, in and of itself, disqualify you from remaining HSA-eligible. You can open and contribute to an HSA as long as you meet the following eligibility requirements:
▪ You’re covered on an HSA-qualified medical plan.
▪ You’re not someone’s tax dependent.
▪ You don’t have any conflicting coverage (including enrollment in Medicare).
Q. Am I automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A at age 65?
- Typically, no. You’re enrolled in Part A automatically only if you are 65 or older and receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits. You’re enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically if you’re collecting Social Security disability benefits or are diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Otherwise, you must sign up to receive coverage through Medicare.
Q. If I postpone signing up for Medicare now, can I enroll later?
- Yes, if you retire after age 65 and you have been covered by T-Mobile or your spouse’s medical plan while employed, you have a special enrollment window in which to enroll in Medicare without any penalties. There is also an annual enrollment period, but if you are beyond the special enrollment period there may be a penalty and higher monthly premiums for your Medicare coverage.
Q. If I enroll in Medicare, does that impact my HSA eligibility?
- Yes. You can’t make contributions to your HSA for any months after you enroll in any part of Medicare, even if you’re also covered on an HSA qualifying plan. If you are enrolled in Medicare and continue to receive and/or contribute funds to your HSA, you may face IRS penalties.
If you choose to defer Medicare enrollment, please be aware your Medicare coverage effective date will be retroactive up to six months before signing up, but not beyond your initial month of eligibility (that is, your 65th birthday). Please consult with your financial advisor.
Example: If your 65th birthday is May 6 and you enroll in Medicare immediately, your effective date of Medicare coverage is May 1. You can make contributions for the months of January, February, March and April at any point up to the date that you file your personal income tax returns for that year, even though you may not be HSA-eligible at the time that you make your retroactive contribution for those months.
Q. If my spouse and I are enrolled in T-Mobile’s HSA plan and I enroll in Medicare, can he/she continue my HSA?
- No. Since HSA accounts are tied to the subscriber, they would not be able to continue the T-Mobile HSA. If you (the employee) are no longer HSA-eligible, your spouse would not be able to contribute to your T-Mobile HSA or receive contributions from you without incurring penalties from the IRS. Please consult with your financial advisor as your spouse may be eligible to open their own HSA account with their preferred financial institution.
Q. I’m no longer HSA-eligible. Can I make income tax-free distributions for qualified medical expenses?
- Yes. HSA eligibility relates to your ability to make contributions. Once you open an HSA, you can make income tax-free distributions for qualified medical expenses for the rest of your life, as long as you still have a balance in your account.
Q. Which expenses can I reimburse from my HSA once I’m enrolled in Medicare?
- You can reimburse all qualified medical out-of-pocket expenses, income tax-free. The current list of IRS qualified expenses is available here.
Q. Where do I go to find out more about Medicare eligibility and HSA?
- Please check out the following resources:
▪ Alight Health Pros: TMUSHealthPro@alight.com
▪ Medicare: http://www.medicare.gov/
▪ Social Security Administration: www.ssa.gov
▪ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid: www.cms.gov
▪ AARP: www.aarp.org
Q. Are there any dependent types who won’t be required to go through Reverification?
A. Any child (adopted, biological) previously verified will not be required to reverify because eligibility status doesn’t change over time. Note: Separate existing process removes dependents at age 26. No special dependent verification process applies. In any given year a spouse, domestic partner, child of a domestic partner, or stepchild won’t have to reverify if their prior verification/reverification occurred more recently than 3 years ago. Note: frequency of reverification could change in the future.
Q. How and when will I know if my dependent requires verification or reverification to be enrolled?
A. Full verification is required in the follow circumstances: First time enrollment of the dependent. Annual Enrollment if a new dependent was added. After AE closes and elections for the new year are finalized the Dependent Verification process will begin. Communications will start to employees typically at the end of October for any newly added dependents requiring full verification. Reverification occurs on a three-year cycle from the dependent’s original full verification.
Q. What is needed to ensure my disabled child, who is turning age 26, continues to be under my T-Mobile health plan with UHC/Premera T-Mobile health plan with UHC/Premera?
A. Contact the medical plan vendor you are enrolled with and request a Disabled Dependent Certification form. UHC enrollees call (877) 259-1527 to request the form. Premera enrollees call (866) 358-2300 to request the form. Surest enrollees call 866-683-6440 to request the form. The application can be reviewed up to six months (two months for Premera enrollees) prior to your disabled child’s 26th birthday but needs to be received no later than 31 days following their 26th birthday. A portion of the form will be completed by you and a portion of the form will be completed by your child’s physician. Once the form is filled out, it needs to be sent back to Surest/UHC/Premera along with supporting documentation for a clinical review. The clinical review process typically takes 30 business days once all the required information is submitted. You will be notified by Surest/UHC/Premera of their decision via letter (US Mail). Depending on the nature of your child’s disability, reverification may be needed every 1-3 years.
Q. I have a court order to provide medical benefits for my child. Can I enroll them based on the court order, and do I need to complete the Dependent Verification process?
A. Children who are enrolled on T-Mobile’s health plan per a qualified Child Support Order or National Medical Support Notice may remain enrolled on the employee’s health plan. T-Mobile will typically receive qualified Child Support Orders or National Medical Support Notices directly from the State or local department issuing the order and will enroll the dependent as legally required. Dependent Verification is not required since T-Mobile is legally obligated to comply. Examples of court orders that would not qualify a dependent include, but are not limited to: Divorce Decrees, child support agreements between the employee and ex-spouse.
Q. I have a court order to provide medical benefits for my ex-spouse. Can I enroll them based on the court order?
A. An ex-spouse is not an eligible dependent under any circumstance and may not be enrolled on T-Mobile’s health plan. The court order requires you pay for coverage, but it cannot be as a dependent through the T-Mobile plan.
Q. What will happen if I do not verify my dependent as requested?
A. Your dependent will not be eligible to remain enrolled in the T-Mobile plan and will be removed from coverage. They will not be eligible for COBRA.
Q. Will an ineligible dependent be able to continue their coverage through COBRA?
A. If your dependent was never eligible for coverage, they are not eligible to enroll in COBRA. If the dependent is no longer eligible because of a recent “qualifying event” such as divorce, they may be eligible for continuation of coverage under COBRA if notice of their COBRA-qualifying event is provided to T-Mobile within 60 days of the event occurring.
Q. Can I re-add my ineligible dependent to coverage in the future?
A. You can only re-add your dependent to coverage in the future if at that time they meet the eligibility requirements. When you re-add your dependent, you will be required to go through the Dependent Verification process again to ensure eligibility.
Q. What if I disagree with the decision my dependent is not eligible?
A. There is a formal appeal process in place to give you the opportunity to maintain coverage. Your Final Termination Notice will include information about that process and what will be necessary to support overturning the decision. You can also call the Benefits Center prior to receiving your notice if you’d like to understand the appeals process in advance.
Q. Can exceptions be granted to allow an ineligible dependent to stay covered?
A. No. Only dependents eligible for coverage according to the plan’s eligibility rules can remain covered.
Q. How do I find a new insurance option for my ineligible dependent?
A. The Health Pro team can help you understand options available and connect you to resources in your state. Call or email them at mailto: TMUSHealthPro@alight.com and 855-496-0071 if you’d like help navigating this process. Some examples of the options they will share include: Public exchanges: Under the Affordable Care Act you can purchase an individual policy through the insurance exchange run by either your state or the federal government. Most exchanges also include information about how an individual can qualify for reduced costs or government-sponsored programs like Medicaid. Medicare/Medicaid: may apply depending on your circumstances. Private Insurance Broker: worth exploring if public exchanges don’t meet your needs. Other employer insurance: if employed, your ineligible dependent may have their own insurance option available.
Q. The documentation required contains sensitive data. How do you to protect my information?
A. Protecting personal information is a priority to T-Mobile and T-Mobile’s dependent verification vendor partner, Alight Solutions. Alight takes the security of your documents and information seriously and they either meet or exceed T-Mobile’s security requirements of their vendors. You can find information on the dependent verification portal (tmobilebenefits.com) such as their security and privacy policy for more information.
Schwab HSBA User Guide
Investing with your HSA
Your Optum Bank health savings account (HSA) is a smart long-term investment vehicle that can play an important role in your overall wealth and retirement strategy. Investing your HSA dollars has many potential tax benefits and complements a traditional 401(k) or IRA as an additional way to save for long-term health care needs and financial goals. With an HSA, withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are income tax-free, all contributions are income tax-free and any interest earnings and investment growth from deposits are income tax-free, too. Once your HSA reaches a certain designated balance, you may choose to invest a portion of your HSA dollars. One of these investment options is a Schwab Health Savings Brokerage Account (HSBA).
Additional features include access the Schwab portal with single-sign-on from optumbank.com, direct money movement to the HSBA (meaning the funds will be retained in a cash account at Schwab until any trades are directed), view your HSBA balance on optumbank.com (along with any other health accounts you may have, to get a full snapshot of your health savings and spending).
Why invest your HSA dollars?
- Save for long-term health care needs and financial goals
- Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are income tax-free
- All contributions to an HSA are income tax free
- Interest earnings and investment growth from deposits are income tax-free
Are you a new investor? Follow these steps to get started
- To open an HSBA, you must first set up your Mutual Fund Investment Account and make mutual fund elections. You must select at least one mutual fund to complete your investor enrollment. You will see a message on your optumbank.com account dashboard when you have met the minimum investment threshold. Select “Start Now” to begin the process. Or, on the Investment dropdown menu, select “Set Up My Investments.”
- To set up your investments, choose “HSA Mutual Funds” and select “Enroll.” Note that other investment options may not be available or visible to you.
- Review the terms and conditions of the Electronic Consent Agreement and Trade Confirmation Waiver. Check each box to indicate that you have read the documents, and then select “I Agree.”
- Choose one or multiple funds you would like to invest in. Enter a number next to each fund to indicate the election percentage. Once it totals 100%, select “Continue.” You will need to elect at least one fund to activate your investment account but you are not required to invest the fund(s) if you are only interested in the HSBA.
- After reviewing and confirming your choices, select “Submit elections.”
- You are now on the transfer funds page. You are not required to invest in the mutual funds you selected. To open your HSBA, select “Schwab Brokerage YOUR INVESTMENTS YOUR WAY”. Then select “Enroll with Schwab” to be redirected to the Schwab site.
- A notification that you will be redirected to the Schwab site will display. Select “Yes, Continue”, and then “Continue” to proceed to set up your Schwab account.
- You will then be redirected to the Schwab HSBA site. Follow the instructions to begin setting up your account.
Are you an existing Mutual Fund investor? Follow these steps to add an HSBA
- To add a HSBA, look for the message “You’re eligible to enroll in more investment options!” on your optumbank.com account dashboard. Select “Learn more” to begin the process. Or, on the Investment dropdown menu, select “Transfer Funds.” When you select the option to move money from the HSA to investments, you will see an option for HSBA listed on the page. Selecting this option takes you to the Investment Options page where you can access HSBA enrollment.
2. On the Investment Options page, select “Enroll” for the Schwab HSBA. Proceed with step 7 in the section above to complete your enrollment.
Once signed in to optumbank.com, you’ll see a summary of all your HSA information. Your HSBA balance is displayed on the Investment dashboard. The HSBA balance is comprised of a “Cash + Invested” total amount as of close of the previous market day.
Transacting with your HSBA
Once your HSBA is set up, research and choose the options that can help make your money work for you.
Savvy trading
• Choose from thousands of investments options
• Search for the right investments for your portfolio using premium tools and research resources
• Place trade orders on your own or with assistance from Schwab
Money movement
• On optumbank.com you can:
– Transfer funds to and from your Optum Bank HSA and the HSBA cash account
– View a summary of your HSA and HSBA balances
– Manage HSA activity and preferences
– Note that you can only transfer from HSA cash to your HSBA
– Once funds are transferred to your HSBA cash account, you may invest those funds on the Schwab site, and:
– Purchase investments (using cash balance)
– See HSBA transaction details
– Track HSBA investment performance
Transferring investments ‘in-kind’
Optum Bank does not offer an option to transfer your investments ‘in-kind.’ Your HSA investments must first be liquidated to cash (sold) and transferred back to your Optum HSA in order for us to transfer your balance to a new provider. To complete this you can: Liquidate your investments online and then resubmit the transfer form after funds have been moved from investments to cash. If you have recurring transfers to investments enabled, you will need to inactivate this feature so that the funds you are transferring to cash do not transfer back to investments.
Have questions? We’re here to help. Please visit optumbank.com or call the phone number listed on the back of your debit card.
Investments are not FDIC insured, are not bank issued or guaranteed by Optum Financial or its subsidiaries, including Optum Bank, and are subject to risk including fluctuations in value and the possible loss of the principal amount invested.
Make your money go farther with an HSA Investment Account
An HSA Investment Account provides the perfect solution. A self-directed HSA Investment Account is available to you once your HSA balance reaches $1,000 plus the amount you want to invest. Investment accounts link directly to your HSA for easy movement of funds back and forth. Through your HSA Investment Account, you will have access to a wide range of fund choices, designed to suit your individual needs and financial goals, managed by some of the most well-respected names in financial services such as Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, BlackRock, PIMCO and more.
Your money is your money — let’s make it grow
Currently, there is no other financial tool under the tax code that offers the same benefits as an HSA.
From the start, contributions made to your HSA, either by you or your employer, have been made on a pre-tax or tax-deductible basis and placed in an interest-bearing cash account. When you need to use funds for qualified health expenses, you can withdraw HSA funds on an income tax-free basis. Your interest earnings are generally taxed. And when you choose to invest your funds, earnings from those investments are not taxed.
The triple benefits of pre-tax payroll contributions, income tax-free earnings on interest and investments, and income tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses can really start adding up.
Investments made easy
• Easy online program enrollment
• Best-in-class investment choices
• No-load funds
• Distinguished fund providers
• Multiple asset classes represented
• Low-expense ratios
• No trade fees
• Market research tools
• HSA asset allocation planner
• Simple to buy/sell/realign portfolios
• Automatic investment options
• Income tax-free investment growth
• Online and mobile access
To take advantage of potential income tax-free investment growth, open an HSA Investment Account.
HSA Investment Account features and benefits
An HSA Investment Account is simple to open and manage — you can set up an account in minutes. Because your HSA Investment Account is linked to your HSA cash account, you can easily liquidate any investment, in part or in full, to pay for health care expenses. There are no trade fees associated with your self-directed HSA Investment Account.
Put your HSA to work for you
The earlier you chose to begin investing, the more your account can potentially grow. Even if you make regular withdrawals for qualified medical expenses, you can still build a nest egg for the future.
It’s time to take your HSA to the next level
Ready to get started? Investments are at your fingertips.
We’ve made opening and managing your HSA Investment Account easy.
| Once you have reached the $1,000 minimum enrollment amount: | You have not met the $1,000 minimum but you can pre-enroll: |
| Sign in to your account at premera.com and click the “Personal Funding Account” link, then select Start now in the Investments section. | |
Enrollment• Enter the amount you would like to invest
|
Pre-enrollment• Enter the amount you would like to keep in your HSA Cash account
When you reach the minimum amount of $1,000, your money will be automatically applied to the funds you selected.
|
Enjoy the simplicity of auto-investments
Our Automatic Investments tool allows you to set your investment preferences to have future contributions automatically invested, according to your instructions. Not only does automatic investing give you one less thing to worry about, it ensures that you are regularly tending to your financial well-being.
1. In your online account, click the “Investments” link, then the “Manage Automatic Investments” link from the drop-down menu on the HSA investments page.
2. Click the “Setup Automatic Investment” button.
• Enter the amount that you would like to keep as the cash portion of your HSA. This specified cash amount will not be invested (minimum $1,000). Anytime your HSA cash balance exceeds the amount you have elected to maintain in your account by $50 or more, the excess is automatically invested.
• Follow screen prompts to select your Automatic Investment allocations.
• You may also choose to add additional funds to your Automatic Investments by clicking “Select Additional Funds” and following screen prompts to add funds.
Need to make a change? Return to the “Manage Automatic Investments” section to change your settings at any time.
Frequently asked questions
What is an HSA Investment Account and how do I set one up?
An HSA Investment Account allows you to invest your HSA balance in a wide range of fund choices, giving you the potential to grow your account. Once your HSA reaches $1,000, plus the amount your want to invest, you may open your HSA Investment Account online or within the mobile app. Simply sign in to your account at premera.com and click on the “Personal Funding Account” link in your online account, then select “Investments.”
What is an HSA cash account?
The HSA cash account is where your HSA contributions are placed by default. Your HSA cash account is eligible for FDIC insurance protection in accordance with applicable law. HSA investments are not bank-issued or guaranteed, and are subject to investment risks, including fluctuations in value and possible loss of principal amount invested.
What if I have a major medical expense and most of my HSA funds are invested?
Should you need to access invested funds for qualified health care expenses, simply sign in to your account online and click on the “Investments” link. Once there, you may initiate the sale of shares, which will be deposited back into your HSA cash account. Investment transactions may take up to three days to process and post. There is no fee for selling shares.
What investment options are available to maximize my HSA savings?
There are dozens of funds you may select in your investment account, with offerings across a variety of recognized fund classes. Additionally, you may choose to set up Automatic Investment, which automatically invests your HSA funds according to your preferences.
Are there investment fees tied to my trading activity?
There is no fee associated with your HSA Investment Account.
Brought to you by LiveMagenta, My Secure Advantage (MSA) is a comprehensive financial wellness benefit provided to you and your family by T-Mobile. You have year-round access to unbiased, personalized coaching from a team of experienced, credentialed professionals, who can speak to retirement planning considerations at every age and just about any other financial topic that may be top of mind for you. Other key points include:
- Conversations with a Money Coach, and all shared details about your finances, are always kept confidential.
- Coaches have nothing to sell. Their only job is to help improve your financial life and empower you to reach your goals.
- Coaches provide expert guidance in ongoing 30-minute sessions over the phone, Monday -Friday, 6am - 8pm PT.
Schedule an appointment today and take control of your financial future!
Online: Visit livemagenta.mysecureadvantage.com and Click Schedule Appointment and Select Topic Retire Comfortably
By Phone: Call 888-724-2326 (M – F, 6am – 5pm PT) Ask to schedule an appointment with a Retirement Specialist
Early Career (Early 20s – Late 20s) Establishing Your Financial Foundation
When should you start retirement planning?
The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow. One of the most powerful principles of wealth creation is the power of compounding. Essentially, this is the increased value of an asset resulting from re-investing earned interest and dividends over time. Knowing this, the most important decision that you can make in your 20s is to start saving now.
Identify and prioritize your financial goals.
What do you imagine for your future? Whatever it may be, defining specific financial aims will make them much more likely to happen. Remember, these don’t have to be set in stone. In fact, you’ll likely revise them throughout your life. Categorize each one as short-, mid- or long-term, then prioritize each as being critical, a need, or a want. Just getting started is a big step in the right direction.
Establish an emergency fund:
Having at least $1,000 set aside for unexpected expenses, regardless of your financial position, is extremely important. Start building an emergency fund – roughly equal to 3-6 months’ worth of must-pay expenses.
Pay yourself first:
While saving as much as you can comfortably set aside may make logical sense, it isn’t always easy to do. Self-control and delayed gratification are not skills most of us are born with, so force the issue and pay your future self first. Set up automatic payroll deductions that deposit directly to savings, investment and/or retirement accounts. Your instinct to save will get stronger as you do it.
Create and stick to a workable budget:
Funding goals begins with managing your day-to-day expenses and planning ahead to cover those that may not occur every month. Analyze and track your spending to figure out where your money is going. Rank essential recurring costs over optional ones. If you decide to make some cuts to your monthly spending, it’s important to follow through and allocate these funds toward paying off debt or bolstering savings to achieve your short and long-term financial aspirations.
Avoid or limit debt:
Think carefully before incurring any type of debt. Whether it is an auto loan, mortgage or a credit card, make sure you are living within your means. If you ultimately decide to take on debt, work on your budget to be sure the payments are affordable given your income.
Understand your retirement savings options:
Learn how the tax-advantaged savings accounts provided by your employer work; know the difference between pre-tax and Roth alternatives. If your plan has an ‘auto-increase’ feature, you may want to sign up to automatically increase your contributions as your income rises. If your employer fully or partially matches your contributions, try to contribute enough to get the full match — otherwise, you are leaving free money on the table. If you change jobs, think about the long-term, and resist the temptation to cash-out retirement accounts.
Take advantage of all of your employer-provided benefits.
In addition to your company match for retirement accounts, consider working towards maximizing your annual contributions to other tax-advantaged offerings at work, including a Health Savings Account (HSA), if available to you. Additionally, you may want to learn more about your company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) and Employee Stock Grants.
Build a strong credit profile.
Having good credit can open many doors for you down the road, such as qualifying for the lowest interest rates on a new car loan or a future mortgage on your first home. The earlier you start building credit the better. One way to do this is to open a credit card and use it to pay for essentials (like gas or food). Then - and this is important - by making timely payments for the full balance due each month, you will demonstrate an on-time payment history and will have only purchased need-to-have items that you would have bought anyway.
Mid-Career (Early 30s - Mid 40s) Balancing Financial Priorities
Make the most of your cash.
Understand what you’re really spending each month. Create a realistic, systematic plan to save for shorter-term aims, such as vacations, home maintenance and taxes, plus longer-term goals like funding your kids’ college education. Resist the urge to cut back on retirement savings to meet other expenses or accommodate other priorities.
Strategize your debt.
Before you borrow, carefully analyze the impact that major purchases may have on your cash flow. If you have debt, the strategies you put in place now can shape how quickly you can pay it off. It’s critical to get as much of this debt behind you as possible at this stage in life, but don’t neglect to invest while paying down debt. The rewards of investing can be substantial the earlier you begin.
If you have a mortgage, consider your long-term plan.
Do you want to have a mortgage after you retire? Paying it off beforehand could make sense from a budgetary standpoint. Refinancing may also be an option in some situations, though it’s important to understand the consequences.
Maximize your company-sponsored retirement account, the T-Mobile 401(k) Savings Plan.
If you want to save beyond the maximum annual salary deferral contribution, T-Mobile’s Plan allows for ‘after-tax’ contributions. The plan allows Roth In Plan Conversions. Additionally, you may want to investigate and participate in your company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) and Employee Stock Grants, if you aren’t already doing so.
Don’t overlook Health Savings Accounts, if you’re eligible.
HSAs offer a triple tax benefit: a tax deduction on the contributions, tax-free investment growth and tax-free withdrawals when used to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. This can also be one of the best retirement accounts available, provided you contribute to it annually and pay your medical expenses out of pocket, allowing your contributions to be invested with the potential to grow tax-free.
Understand the importance of tax diversification.
Unlike traditional 401(k)s that allow pre-tax contributions but have taxable withdrawals, a Roth 401(k) allows you to contribute after-tax funds and then make tax-free withdrawals as a retiree. Look at the balance between traditional (pre-tax) and Roth (after-tax), and traditional after-tax in your retirement accounts, factoring in your current income and time until retirement. In general, Roth 401(k) rules allow you to make “qualified” (or penalty-free) withdrawals of both contributions and gains after age 59 1/2, as long as your first contribution to your account was at least five tax years earlier.
Save outside of your company-sponsored retirement accounts.
Once you reach your maximum annual contribution limits for tax-advantaged options through your company, identify other ways to save, such as making after-tax contributions, contributing to a Traditional or Roth IRA, participating in an employee stock purchase plan or funding a taxable brokerage account.
Develop an investment plan.
Explore the types of investments and diversification strategies that will work best to achieve your objectives. Annually, review your investments and allocations to ensure they remain aligned with your objectives and risk tolerance. If your asset allocation has shifted, evaluate rebalancing. Seek professional investment advice if you need it.
Plan for the unexpected with insurance.
If anyone depends on your income, make sure you have an adequate amount of life insurance in place. Disability insurance can protect at least some of your income if you can’t work for an extended period because of an illness or injury. If your company provides life and/or disability insurance, assess if it makes sense for you to supplement these coverage amounts.
Create an estate plan.
Documents like a will, healthcare directive, as well as healthcare and financial powers of attorney can protect you, your family, and your possessions. If you have minor children, an estate plan is crucial because it allows you to name the kids’ guardian in the event of your death.
Designate beneficiaries on retirement accounts, annuities, and life insurance policies. Beneficiary designations may supersede instructions in your will or trust, so be sure they are kept up to date.
Late Career (Mid 40s - Mid 50s) Getting Real About Retirement
Verify that you are on track to reach your retirement goals.
After a decade (or maybe two) of saving for retirement, it’s a good time to plug in the amount that you’ve accumulated into an online calculator to get a rough estimate of what it might grow to by the time you plan to retire.
Make the most of employer savings options.
If your retirement nest egg isn’t projected to be quite big enough, think about making “catch-up” contributions, allowed when you’re 50 or older. If offered, also look into Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). HSA funds roll over from year to year. If you can pay for medical expenses without tapping into your account, you can save the money in your HSA to use in the future, even if you leave the company or retire. You may want to explore and participate in your company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) and Employee Stock Grants, if eligible. If you’re already funding employer-provided savings accounts to the max, you might want to look into opening an individual retirement account or IRA. You can also open a taxable account with an investment management company or brokerage firm.
Save outside of retirement accounts.
There are a wide range of investment choices available such as individual stocks and bonds, actively managed mutual funds, index funds and exchange-traded funds that may make sense. Although these investments may not reduce your income tax for the current year and you might have to pay capital gains tax if you sell the investments for a profit, you likely will have significantly more flexibility. Keep in mind, you don’t have to wait until you’re making the maximum annual allowable contribution to your retirement plans (or other tax-advantaged accounts) before you start investing in taxable accounts. Determine whether your overall financial plan could be aided by investing for medium or long-term goals that aren’t retirement related.
Consolidate your investments.
If you started investing in multiple accounts in your 20s, your portfolio may include 401(k) accounts with a few employers, a Roth IRA that you started right out of college and some online investments you built up over the years. Think about consolidating those investments. Pooling them in one place may make it easier to see the role each investment plays in achieving your financial goals. It may also help you avoid redundancies and manage your overall risk.
Get real about retirement – create a realistic budget.
As you approach 50, it’s probably time to become more realistic about when you want to retire, how much income you’ll need, and what your current retirement savings are projected to be once you reach retirement age.
Estimate retirement income.
Identify sources of income in retirement including Social Security, retirement savings, pensions, investments, etc.
Forgotten funds.
Could there be untracked pensions and/or retirement benefits from any of your previous employer(s)? If eligible for a pension, evaluate and select the optimal payout option.
Analyze expenses.
Bucket your expenses into ‘essential’ and ‘discretionary’ categories to determine how much flexibility you have to reduce costs if circumstances change.
- Don’t forget planned large expenditures as well as unforeseen large expenses.
- Healthcare and long-term care costs are especially important to accurately budget for. With increased age come increased costs associated with healthcare. Most people become eligible for Medicare at age 65.
- If you are planning to retire before 65, having a plan to get health insurance is vital to a successful retirement.
Where will you live in retirement?
Whether staying in your current home or moving, have you thought through how to prepare financially? If you intend to stay in your home, do you have a plan to pay off your mortgage by (or early in) retirement
Understand the risks.
Compare your expected income to your projected expenses to see if you are on track to cover all of your expenses in retirement.
Pre-Retiree (Mid 50s - Mid 60s) Preparing for Financial Independence
Create a timeline to retirement.
Think about things like major purchases or gifts, such as a vacation property or funding grandchildren’s education savings. It’s important to have a backup plan in case you leave the workforce earlier than expected due to illness or layoff.
Where will you live?
Your monthly housing expense could be one of the largest in your budget, or you might have the peace of mind of having a relatively low monthly expense if you paid off a mortgage or moved to a smaller home with lower costs. Part of your decision about your retirement date might hinge on your housing plans. If you are renting, be sure to plan for annual increases, and if you own a home, plan for expenses such as property taxes, insurance, upkeep and maintenance.
Need to save more?
Whether you plan to retire early, late, or never, having an adequate amount of money saved can make all the difference. Your focus should be on building out or catching up, if necessary. If you’re between 55 and 64 years old, you still have time to boost your retirement savings. Health Savings Account (HSA) ‘catch up’ contributions are allowed for those 55 and older. Depending on your retirement goals, you might need to be saving more of your income in your 60s. Retirement savings plan contribution limits could mean you need to save extra in taxable accounts like a brokerage account. How aggressively you need to save also depends on what other sources of retirement income you reasonably expect.
If you’ve saved enough, consider leaving your nest egg alone.
After age 59 ½ you can begin to make penalty-free withdrawals from your traditional retirement plans and IRAs. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. The longer you leave your retirement accounts untouched (up to age 72, when you must begin to take required minimum distributions from some of them), the more savings you will likely have for later.
Estimate your long-term care needs.
If you’re still in good health and eligible for coverage, think about shopping for a long-term care (LTC) policy. If you already have coverage in place, review your policy to ensure it still meets your needs. Alternatives to LTC insurance could include tapping into ‘living benefits’ on a life insurance policy or purchasing a combination LTC/ life insurance policy.
HSAs & Medicare (FAQs)
If you have one, you can no longer contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) when you sign up for Medicare. Also, when you enroll in Medicare, Part A will be effective retroactively 6 months or to age 65, whichever is shorter. Any HSA contributions made in this retroactive period will be taxable. You can still use your HSA funds if you have Medicare coverage. You may withdraw funds from your HSA at any time, regardless of whether you are eligible to contribute to your HSA. Once you reach age 65, you have more ways to use your HSA funds. For example, you may use your tax-free and penalty-free funds for qualified healthcare expenses as well as to pay for Medicare Parts A, B, and D premiums and Medicare Advantage premiums. Reaching 65 also enables you to use your HSA funds for non-qualified healthcare expenses with no penalties. Once you turn 65, you can withdraw your HSA funds even for non-qualified expenses, but you will be subject to taxes at your ordinary income tax rate.
Reorient your investment plan.
Create a plan to examine and possibly reallocate your investments between now and retirement. Consider an investment strategy for generating necessary retirement income while allowing your assets the potential to grow after you retire.
Plan for Social Security. (Social Security Tool)
Social Security benefits will be based on your 35 highest years of earnings, so they may rise if you continue working. Your benefits will also vary depending on when you start collecting them. You can take benefits as early as age 62, although they will be permanently reduced from what you’ll receive if you wait until your ‘full’ retirement age (currently 66-67 for anyone born after 1943). You can also delay receiving Social Security up to age 70, in return for a larger benefit.
Tax bracket planning.
Determine a safe withdrawal rate. How much can you take from your nest egg each year and expect it to last? Factors such as age, health and other sources of retirement income (e.g. Social Security, annuities, deferred compensation and taxable investments) could justify lower or higher withdrawal rates. Prepare for the tax impact of taking distributions from 401(k)s, IRAs and other sources, including employer pension plans.
Review wills, trusts and beneficiary designations.
Retirement planning should include a full review of your estate plan with your attorney. Make sure your documents – including beneficiary designations for insurance and retirement accounts – are current, taking into account life events, such as birth or adoption of a child or grandchild, marriage or divorce (your own or a family member’s), or loss of a loved one. As you plan for the changes in your life that naturally occur as you grow older, make certain that your estate plan covers any contingencies that could arise. A complimentary resource available through The Hartford to assist with will creation or will editing can be found here.
