Employee Benefits
25-26 Benefits Enrollment Information
(Plan Year from 09/01/25 - 08/31/26)
In-person open enrollment is May 12-16, 2025 for returning staff. New employees will enroll within 30 days of employment.
More Information
- Medical
- Health Clinics
- Pharmacy
- Dental
- Vision
- Employee Assistance Program
- Voluntary Insurance Products
- Group Life and Long-Term Disability
- Retirement Benefits
- Leaves of Absence
Medical
Medical and Pharmacy: MedBen - (800) 686-8425
Email: medben@medben.com
If you receive a new ID card, please provide to your doctors and pharmacist.
Health Clinics
Health Clinics: CareATC manages the Care4Us health clinics for employees and their dependents who are covered under the medical plan. All services received at the clinics, including prescriptions, are at no cost to the member. There are two convenient locations: Bartlett and Collierville.
Pharmacy
Clinic Pharmacy: (901) 625-DRUG(3784); www.care4uspharmacy.com
Care4Us Pharmacy is the exclusive option for covered MedBen Health Plan members and their families. The pharmacy focuses on generics and preferred brand medications with zero to lower copay options to keep out-of-pocket costs low. Your LIME ACCESS Prescription Benefit Card unlocks seamless savings applied at the pharmacy counter and speedy pickup service. FREE shipping with our convenient low-cost home delivery.
Dental
Dental: Delta Dental – (800) 223-3104
Delta Dental continues to provide Dental benefits to LSS members. Delta Dental offers two plans with a large network of providers. Please see below information on both plans.
Vision
Vision: Davis Vision – (800) 999-5431
Davis Vision continues to provide Vision benefits to LSS members. Davis Vision offers a large network of providers including Sam’s Club and Walmart. Davis Vision offers low copays on eye exams and excellent discounts on premier options such as transition lenses and no line bifocals.
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Assistance Program: CONCERN EAP – (800) 445‐5011
The services of CONCERN are paid by the district. There is no cost to you or your dependents if services are used. CONCERN is a completely confidential employee assistance program that can assist employees through a crisis or to help manage common problems that anyone can experience.
WHAT DOES CONCERN COST?
There is no cost to you. However, if you and your counselor decide specialized help is necessary, a referral will be made and you will be responsible for anything your insurance doesn’t cover.
HOW DOES CONCERN WORK?
Simply call 901-458-4000 or 800-445-5011 to make an appointment. Your counselor will remain available to you until you feel the difficulties are under control, or your counselor can help you find specialized help if necessary.
HOW CONFIDENTIAL IS THE SERVICE?
CONCERN complies with all state and federal laws regarding confidentiality. No one will know of your participation unless you reveal it or give your counselor permission to speak with someone.
WHEN CAN I USE CONCERN?
Anytime. We recommend contacting CONCERN as soon as you can to begin working toward a solution right away.
Voluntary Insurance Products
Voluntary Benefits: American Fidelity – (800) 465-2129 (FSA); (800) 662-1113 (other products); americanfidelity.com
American Fidelity provides a number of voluntary products including the Flexible Spending and Dependent Childcare benefits, Cancer, Critical Illness and Accident benefits, and Short-Term Disability.
Accident Policy Information
American Fidelity's Accident only insurance policy provides you a solution for those unforeseen accidents that life sometimes delivers. It is designed to help pay for the unexpected medical expenses an individual may incur for the treatment of covered injuries received in an accident.
Cancer Policy (Basic & Enhanced) Information / Cancer Policy (Enhanced Plus) Information
American Fidelity's Cancer insurance can help offer financial protection so you can focus your attention on fighting cancer. These plans can help assist with out-of-pocket costs often associated with a cancer diagnosis.
- Receive a benefit for visiting your doctor annually for a cancer screening test (Mammogram, Pap, and PSA).
- You can take the benefit if you leave or retire.
Critical Illness Policy Information
American Fidelity's Critical Illness insurance can be the solution that helps you and your family focus on recovery from a critical illness such as a heart attack or stroke, and may help you with paying bills. In addition, it can assist with the expenses that may not be covered by standard medical insurance.
Short-Term Disability Policy Information
American Fidelity pays you 60% of your monthly salary if you have to be out of work for a covered accident, sickness and even maternity for the 6 or 8 weeks while under a doctor's care. Please ask an American Fidelity Representative for details and exclusions.
- Affordable premiums.
- Pays benefit directly to you.
- Claims can be filed online or with the American Fidelity app.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) & Dependent Daycare Information
A Health FSA can save you money by allowing you to set aside part of your pay, on a pre-tax basis, to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses such as co-payments, medical deductibles, prescriptions, and much more. Expenses incurred by you, your spouse, and other qualifying individuals are eligible. A flex debit card allows you to use Flex funds at the time of service, giving you direct access to your FSA funds and helping you avoid waiting on reimbursement checks!
- The maximum amount you may set aside is $3,300 for 2025.
- Funds are immediately available on September 1st.
- Save your receipts, as you may be asked to "verify" your purchase.
- There is no carry-over of unused funds to the next plan year. For that reason, please be conservative when selecting an annual benefit, so you don't lose unused funds.
- Employees and/or their dependents do not have to be enrolled in the medical insurance plan to take advantage of the benefits under the flexible spending plan. To submit a claim, please log in to your account below. See below for plan details.
A Dependent Day Care FSA allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to reimburse yourself for incurred eligible dependent care expenses. You may allocate up to $5,000 per plan year for reimbursement of dependent day care services ($2,500 if you are married and file a separate tax return).
If you are interested in any of the benefits described above, your American Fidelity representative will be able to assist you.
Once enrolled, please visit www.americanfidelity.com to view benefits and download claim forms, or call 800-662-1113. To submit a claim, please log in to your account below.
Group Life and Long-Term Disability
Life and Long‐Term Disability: Standard Insurance Company – (800) 348-3226
All LSS employees are provided a group life insurance benefit of 2 times their annual earnings up to $300,000. The District pays 100% of this cost. Employees are able to add additional life insurance on themselves, their spouse and dependent children, although late entrant rules apply. Employees pay 100% of the competitive premium rates for voluntary group life insurance.
For Long-Term Disability, Standard pays eligible claimants 60% of their pre-disability earnings up to a maximum period of 5 years. Late entrant rules apply. Please see plan documents listed below for detail on benefits.
Please contact the human resources department if you need to file a claim.
Standard Life Insurance Plan Document
Standard Long-Term Disability Plan Document
Change of Beneficiary Form for Standard Life Insurance
Life Insurance: Texas Life Insurance Company – (800) 283-9233
This life insurance option is voluntary, and allows you to take your benefit with you with you change jobs or retire. You can insure yourself, spouse, children, and grandchildren. You can qualify by answering just three questions - no exams.
Retirement Benefits
The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), provides lifetime retirement, survivor and disability benefits for teachers and their beneficiaries.
The State of Tennessee 401(k) plan lets you take control of your retirement by investing in fund options of your choice. Free retirement planning services are available to you from Empower Retirement. This plan is mandatory for all classified employees, but available to all employees to voluntarily contribute.
Retirement Information for Teachers and Certified Employees
Retirement Information for Classified Employees [401(k) only]
Legacy TCRS Plan (for teachers hired before July 1, 2014)
Full-time K-12 Public School Teachers hired prior to July 1, 2014 are members of the Legacy Plan for Teachers (“Legacy Plan”) as a condition of employment.
- Teachers make a contribution of 5% of their salary to TCRS.
- TCRS provides a lifetime monthly benefit at retirement once eligibility has been met.
- Teachers participate in the State 401(k) plan on a voluntary basis.
|
Contributions to the Legacy Plan (for 25-26) |
|||
|
Employer |
Member (Employee) |
TOTAL |
|
|
TCRS |
5.77%* |
5% |
10.77% |
*Employer contributions to TCRS are non-refundable.
Hybrid TCRS Plan (for teachers hired on or after July 1, 2014)
Full-time K-12 Public School Teachers hired on or after July 1, 2014 are members of the Hybrid Retirement Plan for State Employees and Teachers (“Hybrid Plan”) as a condition of employment.
- Teachers make a contribution of 5% of their salary to TCRS and are automatically enrolled in a 2% contribution to the State 401(k) plan (unless you opt-out).
- At retirement, a lifetime monthly benefit is provided, along with earnings from a 401(k).
|
Contributions to the Hybrid Plan |
|||
|
Employer |
Member (Employee) |
TOTAL |
|
|
TCRS |
4%* |
5% |
9% |
|
401(k) |
5% |
2%† |
7% |
|
TOTAL |
9% |
7% |
16% |
*Employer contributions to TCRS are not refundable.
†Represents the auto-enrollment percentage, if the employee does not opt-out in the 90 day window.
New Employee Orientation Video for Hybrid Plan Teachers
Classified 401(k) Plan (for classified employees hired after January 1, 2015)
Full-time classified employees hired on or after January 1, 2015 are required to participate in the State of Tennessee 401(k) plan as a condition of employment.
- Employees make a contribution of 5% of their salary to the State 401(k).
- The amount a member has available in retirement is based on contributions, plus accumulated earnings (if any), to the member’s account.
|
Contributions to the State 401(k) Plan |
|||
|
Employer |
Member (Employee) |
TOTAL |
|
|
401(k) |
5% |
5% |
10% |
Retirement Information for Classified Employees [401(k) only]
State of TN 401(k)
The 401(k) plan lets you take control of your retirement by investing in fund options of your choice. Free retirement planning services are available to you from Empower Retirement. By participating in your traditional 401(k), you can save and invest additional money for retirement and/or reduce the amount of current state and federal income tax you pay each year. Your State of Tennessee 401(k) Plan can be an excellent tool to help make your future more secure.
The Program also offers a Roth contribution option, which allows you to contribute on an after-tax basis. This may be an attractive feature if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket during your retirement. The “qualified” distributions of Roth contributions and any earnings from the 401(k) account are generally tax-free if they satisfy the five-year minimum deposit restriction.
This plan is available to all full-time employees, and some part-time employees, to voluntarily contribute.
457(b)
Unlike the 403(b) and 401(k) plans, the 10% federal early withdrawal tax penalty for withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 does not apply, except on amounts rolled into the plan from non-457(b) plans. This is a good option for employees who might retire early and would like access to their retirement savings prior to age 59 1/2.
Reach out to the Human Resources Department if you are interested in participating in a 457(b) plan.
Leaves of Absence
Leaves of Absence: Contact Human Resources to request a leave of absence, including a leave covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You can access the Leave of Absence (LOA) Procedures in the Staff Portal.
 |
Human Resources Department – (901) 867-5412 |
Contact the Human Resources Department with any questions or concerns about employee benefits.