HCPSS selects Benefitfocus HR InTouch

Benefitfocus today announced that Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has selected Benefitfocus for online enrollment, benefits management and communication technology. The Maryland school district introduced BENEFITFOCUS® HR InTouch to its 8,200 employees as part of this year's open enrollment. Howard County is located along the Washington-Baltimore corridor, and HCPSS consistently ranks as one of Maryland's top school districts.

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, financial and voluntary benefits from companies like Aetna, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, ING, Delta Dental and Express Scripts. With Benefitfocus HR InTouch, HCPSS employees log in to one location and enroll in all of their benefits, accessing educational videos, plan documents and comparison tools along the way.

HR InTouch integrates with HCPSS' payroll system and supports enrollment for financial benefits like flexible spending accounts and COBRA benefits. HCPSS is using the ING Benefits App and the Aflac App to integrate enrollment for all of their voluntary benefits. On the back end, HR InTouch manages the complexities of HCPSS benefits with a sophisticated rules-driven architecture that determines employee rates and plan eligibility, including eligibility for 20 different grandfathered plans.

"We are excited that Benefitfocus technology is helping to serve the dedicated teachers and administrators of Howard County," said Shawn Jenkins, Benefitfocus President and CEO. "HCPSS shares our goal of providing a better way to manage benefits and engage employees."

In addition to HR InTouch, HCPSS is using Benefitfocus video technology to communicate with its employees during open enrollment and throughout the year. HCPSS also selected the Benefitfocus HR Support Center, which provides telephonic access to a group of HR specialists who are trained to support the specific needs of HCPSS employees.

"HR InTouch seamlessly supports all of our benefits, which is amazing given the complexities of our plan offerings," said Jeeni Griffin, Benefits Manager for HCPSS. "Benefitfocus stands out, not only for their technology, but for their dedication to education and customer service. We want to provide our employees with the best resources available, and we know that when they watch a video in HR InTouch or pick up the phone and call the HR Support Center, that is exactly what they are getting."