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| VISION |
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| Eligibility
& Enrollment |
Eligibility
If you are an active associate scheduled to work at least 20
hours per week, you may participate in the vision care plan on the first
of the month immediately following your date of hire.
Eligible Dependents
If your dependents are eligible for a Valassis-sponsored medical plan,
they are automatically eligible for coverage under the EyeMed vision
plan. You will need to enroll them in the plan separately, however.
Enrollment
Vision care coverage begins the first of the month following your hire
date (or eligibility date), as long as you have enrolled within 31 days
of your eligibility date.
Cost
The vision plan is a voluntary plan, meaning associates pay the full
cost of the benefit. Some products (e.g., contact lenses or certain
eyeglass lens options) require a copay or are available for you to purchase
at a discount.
The amount you pay for coverage depends on the plan you choose and
who is covered (you, you and one dependent, or you and two or more dependents),
as well as your full or part-time status.
Information about your share of the cost, which you make through payroll
deductions, is available during open enrollment or from your Human Resources
representative. See 2009 Benefit Cost Sheet.
Before-tax Contributions
Valassis offers certain tax-savings opportunities available under
current federal law. As a result, in accordance with Section 125 of
the Internal Revenue Code, contributions to your medical plans (and
health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts) are made
with before-tax dollars, except for non-IRS qualified domestic partners.
This means that you make your contributions before federal income, Social
Security and, in most cases, state income taxes are withheld. As a result,
your taxable income is lower, so you pay less in taxes.
Because of these tax advantages, you may change your elections only
during open enrollment each fall, unless you have a qualified change
in status.
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