Open Enrollment
Monday, October 20 through Friday, November 7
Open enrollment ends on Friday, November 7 at 11:59 p.m. Elections are effective on January 1, 2026 with the first deductions being taken in December 2025 (with the exception of the Flexible Spending Account contributions).
State Health Benefit Plan: Enrollment is strongly encouraged. If you take no action, your existing medical plan election will carry forward to 2026.
Voluntary Benefits: An active election is required.
An annual election is required for the FSA Plan.
Click here to see what's changing for 2026.
Additional Information
Medical - State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP)
Premiums will increase for all medical plan options in 2026, with a weighted average increase of 10%, depending on the selected Plan Option and Tier.
To help medical plan members save more by using Tier 1/Generic prescriptions, the Tier 1 copays will be reduced and the copays for Tiers 2 and 3 will have a slight increase for the HMO and HRA plans.
There are no changes to medical plan benefits or coverage options.
You are not required to complete an active election for medical to carry forward to 2026, but this is a great time to access the SHBP enrollment portal to review your enrollment information and print a Confirmation Statement for your records. If you do not enroll, your medical benefits will carry forward to 2026. This includes any applicable tobacco surcharge.
Voluntary Benefits (Non-Medical)
- Vision: The 2026 vision plan premiums will have an increase of 15%.
- Identity Theft: The 2026 Identity Theft plan has some benefit enhancements, with no change in the employee premiums.
- Healthcare FSA: The Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 2026 maximum contribution will be $3,400.
- Dependent Care FSA: The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 2026 maximum contribution will be $7,500. As a reminder, this account is primarily used for child day care expenses.
Benefits Service Center
Call the Effingham County Schools Benefits Service Center at (844) 249-ECSD (3273) to complete your local benefits enrollment by phone.
The Benefits Specialist will confirm your personal information, review your plan options, and confirm your elections for 2025.
- Monday through Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
State Health Benefit Plan Medical Plan
Adding Dependents to Your Medical Plan?
If you wish to add dependents to your health plan at this time, ADP will contact you by mail and email to request appropriate verification documents. This communication from ADP will include a personalized fax cover sheet with a bar code that must be used when submitting documentation.
Appropriate documentation must be attached to the fax cover page. If you do not receive the request, contact SHBP at (800) 610-1863 to have the request sent to you. Your dependents will not be covered until the documentation is approved.
Sharecare BeWell Information
The BeWell wellness program activities and incentive requirements remain the same for 2026. Unused well-being incentive credits will roll over to 2026, even if you change your medical plan. Sharecare will also continue to administer the wellness program.
There's Still Time to Earn 2025 Well-Being Incentive Credits
Members and covered spouses currently enrolled in Anthem and United Healthcare Plan Options who have not completed the required health actions have until December 2, 2025 to complete your wellness tasks.
If you have questions or need help getting started, visit www.BeWellSHBP.com or contact Sharecare at (888) 616-6411.
Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) for Plan Options
SHBP provides a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) for the following Plan Options: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). SBCs include standard information that help you to understand, evaluate and compare the Plan Options as you make decisions about which Plan Option to choose.
The SBCs are available online at www.shbp.georgia.gov and you may request a paper copy of the SBCs free of charge by calling SHBP Member Services at (800) 610-1863.
Important Plan Reminders
All members must provide SHBP with their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) for themselves and their enrolled dependents upon enrolling in SHBP coverage. The most common type of TIN is a Social Security Number (SSN), but for individuals who are not eligible for a SSN, members may submit an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN). Failure to submit a TIN will result in a loss of coverage and no refund will be issued.
The requirement to provide a SSN or other TIN is a separate process from Dependent Verification. Dependents whose coverage is terminated due to providing an invalid SSN or no SSN are not eligible for coverage even if they passed the Dependent Verification process as they have failed to provide a valid SSN to SHBP.
Members should provide their dependent’s SSN by entering it directly into the SHBP Enrollment Portal at https://myshbpga.adp.com/shbp/ or by calling SHBP Member Services at (800) 610-1863.
Enrollment Instructions
You are strongly encouraged to complete an active enrollment for 2026 medical benefits. You are required to complete an active election for 2026 voluntary benefits, including FSA. You are also encouraged to call or login to confirm or update your life insurance beneficiary(ies).
FSA Participants: You must actively elect to participate in the FSA plan every year by enrolling during Open Enrollment.
Medical (SHBP): Log on to https://myshbpga.adp.com/shbp. You will likely need to reset your password. Be sure to print and retain your SHBP Confirmation Statement once you have completed your medical enrollment for 2026.
Voluntary Benefits (non-medical): Call the Benefits Service Center at (844) 249-3273 or access the Enroll Now link on the home page of this website.
- Telephonic Enrollment: The Effingham County Schools Benefits Service Center is available Monday - Thursday from 8am to 6pm and Friday from 8am to 5pm. You can speak with a trained Benefits Specialist who will answer your benefits questions and complete your enrollment. English and Spanish Benefits Specialists are available to assist you.
- Online Enrollment: Access Enroll Now. Click on “Login” to begin. You will be prompted to enter the email address on file for you and your password. If you cannot remember your password, click on “Forgot your password?” to reset it. Once you have logged in, you will be able to complete your enrollment. You can complete your benefit elections by clicking “Begin Enrollment” and following the prompts.
- You will receive a Confirmation Statement via email following the completion of your enrollment.
Open Enrollment Sessions
Benefit Representatives will be available to assist you with your 2026 benefits enrollment on the following dates and times:
Friday, 10/24
- Ebenezer Middle School: 8am - 11:30am
- Rincon Elementary School: 12:30pm - 4pm
Monday, 10/27
- South Effingham High School: 8am - 11:30am
- South Effingham Middle School: 12:30pm - 4pm
Friday, 10/31
- Effingham High School: 8am - 11:30am
- Effingham Middle School: 12:30pm- 4pm
Monday, 11/3
- Central Office: 8am - 4pm
Resetting Your SHBP Password
How to Reset Your Password
Step 1: Go to www.myshbpga.adp.com and click "Need help signing in?".
Step 2: Enter the requested demographic information.
Step 3: Follow the instructions to answer a series of security questions*.
Step 4: Create a new password and click "Continue."
* Note: If you do not know the answers to the security questions, contact SHBP Member Services at (800) 610-1863 for assistance in resetting your password. You will have three tries in total to answer the security questions before your account is locked and you must begin the process again.
Open Enrollment Checklists
SHBP Open Enrollment Checklist
► Verify all desired dependents are listed on the Confirmation Page and have a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or other Tax Identification Number (TIN).
► Verify your coverage tier: you only, you + spouse, you + child(ren) or you + family.
► Confirm that the Plan Option selected shown on the Confirmation Page is correct.
► Confirm that you answered the Tobacco Surcharge question appropriately.
► Confirm that you have clicked "Finish".
► Print Confirmation Page and save it for your records.
► Look for new medical plan ID cards to be issued by early January.
Voluntary Benefits Open Enrollment Checklist
► Be sure to confirm your email address by phone or online during your enrollment.
► Upon completion of your enrollment, you will receive a voluntary benefits Confirmation Statement via email to the address on record.
► Review your voluntary benefits Confirmation Statement for accuracy and retain it for your records.
► Verify the accuracy of your life insurance beneficiary information.
► Contact the Benefits Service Center if you have any updates or corrections to your voluntary benefits Confirmation Statement.
Note: You may complete enrollment changes multiple times, but the last option confirmed at the close of OE will be your option for 2026 unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event that allows you to make a change.
