2025-2026 Open Enrollment
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Know Where to Go for Answers
Call Team Member Services at 855-432-MIKE (6453), option 2, or submit a ticket through the Knowledge Zone.
Tobacco Fee & Cessation Program
The information below is for Team Members enrolled in a Michaels BCBSTX medical plan. If you are enrolled in the Michaels Kaiser medical plan, please refer to the Tobacco-Free Campus Toolkit for tobacco cessation resources.
Tobacco Fee
If you and/or your spouse or domestic partner have identified as a tobacco user while currently enrolled in Michaels BCBSTX medical plan, you are paying an additional tobacco fee of $30 per person, per paycheck, totaling $780 per person for the current 2024-2025 benefits plan year and the upcoming 2025-2026 benefits plan year. This fee is paid via a payroll deduction from each paycheck.
Participation in the BCBSTX Tobacco Cessation Program will qualify you for the Michaels Tobacco Cessation Incentive, which will waive the tobacco fee, as described below.
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Tobacco Use Status
You will select your tobacco use status when you enroll in your benefits each year. You can only update your tobacco use status during the annual open enrollment period, unless you complete the BCBSTX Tobacco Cessation Program and qualify for the Michaels Tobacco Cessation Incentive.
Michaels Tobacco Cessation Initiative
Michaels would like to reward you for taking steps to improve your health and quit tobacco use throughout the year by waiving your tobacco fee.
How to Have Your Tobacco Fee Waived
- Complete the BCBS Tobacco Cessation Program as described on this page.
- Upon completion of the program, submit a Knowledge Zone ticket to the Benefits Team to have your tobacco fee waived from your payroll deductions moving forward.
- The Benefits Team will then verify your completion of the program with BCBS and update Workday to remove the tobacco fee payroll deduction. It’s that easy!
Note: If medical reasons prevent you from completing the BCBS Tobacco Cessation Program, please contact the Benefits Team at 1-855-432-MIKE (6453) and we will work with you and your physician if you wish to find an alternate way to qualify for the incentive.
In addition to the BCBSTX Tobacco Cessation Program, nicotine patches are covered under the ACA Preventative Drug List for a $0 copay.
BCBSTX Tobacco Cessation Program
Michaels cares about you and your family’s well-being. For all Team Members and covered dependents enrolled in a Michaels BCBSTX medical plan, we are pleased to provide a free Tobacco Cessation Program to help you quit smoking and take steps toward a healthier future.
- The BCBSTX Tobacco Cessation Program is 30 days in length and customized to each member. There is no limit on the number of times the member can complete the program.
- Participation in this program also allows you to qualify for the Michaels Tobacco Cessation Incentive as described above.
More detailed information can be found below and in the Program Overview. To get started, log in to your BCBSTX account.
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Digital Self-Management Program
- Complete weekly online lessons to educate yourself on physical and social consequences of tobacco use, principles of addiction, treatment options, and tobacco-related health statistics.
- Practical action steps: create your own quitting plan to help reduce the potential for relapse prevention.
- Get access numerous calculators, trackers, tools, and educational materials.
Extended Coaching Options
- Telephonic and secured messaging coaching options
- Unlimited access to a coach throughout a program year. Coaches are available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (CT).
Helpful Resources
BCBSTX Member Portal Login
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX)
ADA Accomodations
Accommodation Request Process
Step 1:
- Team Member notifies Manager of request for accommodation.
- Manager partners with HR.
Step 2:
- Supervisor partners with HR through interactive process (live dialogue).
- Team Member will be notified of the decision.
- If Team Member is not going to be accommodated, the supervisor will partner with Legal in addition to HR.
Initiate A Request
Diabetes Management
Partner with Your Primary Care Provider to Better Manage Your DiabetesManaging Your Diabetes
Each year, an estimated 1.5 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed. If you or someone you know is living with diabetes, a primary care provider (PCP) can help manage this condition.
Schedule a visit with your PCP, who will:
- Explain your numbers: blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar level and body mass index.
- Help provide resources for making healthy food choices (lower carb options).
- Suggest adding exercise to your day. Small steps each day add up. Light walking is a great place to start.
- Offer treatment therapies that can better control your condition
Hyper vs. Hypo in Diabetes
Knowing the Difference
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to understand the difference between hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Because both can cause health problems for people with diabetes, it’s important to keep blood sugar within a healthy range.
Helpful Resources
Introduction to Diabetes
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX)
Candidate Jurisdictional Notice
Grief Counseling Resources
Help for You When You Need it MostNavigating the Loss of a Loved One
At Michaels, you are our number one priority and we are here to help when you need it most. This page provides an overview of the grief counseling resources and services available to full-time Team Members and family members navigating the loss of a loved one.
Filing Claims After a Loss
If you and/or members of your family are experiencing the loss of a loved one, please reach out to a Benefits Partner for assistance in getting a life insurance claim processed with Reliance Matrix.
To begin this process, open a Knowledge Zone ticket with any questions regarding your life claim and a Benefits Partner will contact you about your claim and next steps.
Guidance for Filing Claims with Reliance Matrix
How-To Guides
- Easy Access Claims Filing - Process flow overview for filing claims with Reliance Matrix.
- Filing Claims with Reliance Matrix - Applies to Leave of Absence (LOA), Disability, and Voluntary benefits.
- How to File Claims for Short-Term Disability (STD) & Family Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA)
- How to File Claims for Voluntary Accident, Hospital Indemnity & Critical Illness
- Download the Matrix eServices App
Important Note About Claims for Kaiser Members
Team Members who are enrolled in a Kaiser medical plan must complete an authorization release form in order to file a claim with Reliance Matrix.
- Reliance Matrix will provide you with the authorization release form to sign and return.
- This form is required in order for Reliance Matrix to obtain the required medical certification from your physician.
- Failure to provide the signed authorization release form to Reliance Matrix will result in your claim being denied.
Life & AD&D Insurance
All full-time Team Members, regardless of whether they enroll in a medical or dental plan, will receive Basic Life Insurance at no cost to them. Additionally, Michaels offers Team Members with the opportunity to enroll in Optional Life and Optional Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance. Please reach out to a Benefits Partner by opening a Knowledge Zone ticket for more information regarding these benefits for you and your spouse or domestic partner.
- Employee Life: $25,000
- Employee AD&D: $25,000
- Employee Spouse/Domestic Partner: $2,000
- Employee Child: $1,000
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Updating Your Benefits After Loss
If you experience a qualifying life event such as the loss of a loved one, you will have 30 days following the date of the life event to make changes to your benefit elections, and this change in status must be consistent with the life event.
You will first need to update your dependents in Workday before completing the qualifying life event.
Some documentation may be required with your request: an acceptable form of documentation would be a death certificate that details the date of passing of a loved one.
Changing Your Beneficiaries
Your beneficiaries are managed in Workday. To update your beneficiaries, follow the steps below.
- Log in to Workday.
- In the top left-hand corner, select Menu > Benefits. Then, select Pay > Benefits > Change Benefits.
- This will allow you to launch the “Assign Beneficiaries” task where you can remove or add beneficiaries to your current elections.
Requesting Leave (LOA)
We understand that grief can be difficult for you and your family, and you may require more time away from work to dedicate to your loved ones following a loss.
Consider requesting a Leave of Absence (LOA) if you plan to be away from work for longer than a week. You can request leave if you’re going to be absent from work for more than five (5) consecutive working days due to a personal, medical, or other reason.
Read the Michaels Leave of Absence (LOA) Guide and visit the LOA page for more detailed information about requesting leave. To initiate a request, call Reliance Matrix at 1-888-288-1354.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential resource available for you and your family – even if you’re not enrolled in any Michaels benefit plans.
The EAP includes counseling services for all Michaels Team Members:
- Full-time Team Members are eligible to receive up to three (3) face-to-face or tele-video counseling sessions per issue at no charge.
- Part-time Team Members are not eligible for face-to-face counseling sessions but are eligible to receive confidential counseling by phone at any time.
There are three ways for you to find more information and access EAP resources:
- Visit the EAP page.
- Log in to the Resources for Living member portal with the username Michaels and password 8002835645.
- Call 1-800-283-5645 (TTY 711).
Supportiv
Supportiv is an online tool that lets you talk through any mental health, emotional, or social struggles in small group chats with people who can relate. Discussions are anonymous and are guided and safeguarded in real time by professional facilitators. Supportiv is anonymous and available 24/7.
Visit the Supportiv page for program information, resources, and on-demand webinars.
Michaels CARES
Michaels CARES is a 501(c)(3) charity that helps Michaels Team Members, including by providing financial assistance in the event of the death of a Team Member or eligible family member(s).
To request assistance, make sure you meet the requirements below and then complete the application.
Here’s a quick checklist to follow when you apply:
- Application must be completed in its entirety.
- Sponsor must sign the application (sponsors are a critical part of our process).
- Supporting documents are attached – more is better.
Have questions? Read the Michaels CARES FAQs and visit the Michaels CARES page for more information regarding this benefit.
PerkSpot Wellness
PerkSpot Wellness offers various discounts on emotional wellness services that support your mental health, offering deals on therapy, meditation, yoga, and more. Perkspot partners with reputable online counseling services like BetterHelp and Talkspace.
Visit michaels.perkspot.com to access these resources and find additional information about this benefit in the PerkSpot section of the Benefit Extras & Discounts page.
COBRA
Death is a qualifying life event. If you or your spouse/domestic partner are covered on Michaels medical, dental, vision, and/or flexible spending account (FSA), you will receive a COBRA notice that allows your continued participation in a Michaels medical program for up to 18 months.
You will receive the COBRA notice in the mail that details your coverage options from Taben, our COBRA administrator.
For more information, please reach out to the Taben Group at 800-675-7341.
If you would like an electronic copy of the CORBA notice, please reach out to Team Member Services by opening a Knowledge Zone ticket.
FSA & HSA Open Enrollment
Guidance for Electing FSA & HSA Contributions for the 2025 Calendar YearWhat you’ll find on this page:
- What you need to know about 2025 FSA and HSA enrollment
- Your election options
- Maximum contribution limits
- What happens to unused funds from 2024
- How to make your elections in Workday
- Resources and guides, including FAQs
FSA & HSA Open Enrollment Period:
Final Week!
Coverage Period:
Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2025
FSA & HSA Open Enrollment for 2025
What You Need to Know
Michaels offers you the opportunity to make pre-tax contributions to FSAs that you can use to pay for eligible medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and child care expenses. When you choose to contribute to these accounts, you reduce your taxable income allowing you to pocket more of your earnings.
If you wish to participate in a flexible spending account (FSA) and/or a health savings account (HSA) for the 2025 calendar year, you must enroll and make your contribution elections in Workday during the enrollment period for FSAs and HSAs.
The IRS requires an active enrollment to participate in FSAs and HSAs. The contributions that you elect will cover the 12-month period of Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025.
Below you will find information about what you can elect, the maximum contribution limits, and the steps you must take to complete your FSA and/or HSA enrollment for 2025.
Election Options
Toggle open any of the following that apply to you to determine your election options for 2025.
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PPO Medical Plan Participant
If you’re enrolled in a Michaels PPO medical plan, you can elect to contribute to:
Choice HSA Medical Plan Participant
If you’re enrolled in the Michaels Choice HSA medical plan, you can elect to contribute to:
As a Choice HSA plan participant, you are eligible to contribute to the HSA each year. Because you have an HSA available, the IRS restricts your ability to participate in the full purpose Health Care FSA (HCFSA) and will only permit you to contribute to the Limited Purpose FSA (LPFSA), which reimburses certain dental and vision expenses. You can participate in the Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) with no restrictions.
To ensure that you get the most out of your contributions, you may find it financially advantageous to contribute to the HSA rather than an FSA.
Kaiser HRA Medical Plan Participant
If you’re enrolled in the Kaiser HRA medical plan, you can elect to contribute to:
Not Enrolled in a Michaels Medical Plan
If you are not enrolled in a Michaels medical plan but you are benefits-eligible, you can elect to contribute to:
On Leave of Absence (LOA)
If you are or will be on Leave of Absence (LOA) during the FSA and HSA open enrollment period, you can still enroll and make your elections in Workday.
New to Michaels
Hired Nov. 1 or Earlier: During your new hire enrollment, you can enroll in an FSA and/or HSA to cover the rest of 2024. Upon completion, you will be assigned a task to set up your FSA and/or HSA elections for 2025.
Hired Nov. 2 – Dec. 31: You must make your FSA and/or HSA elections during your new hire enrollment, and your benefits will be effective starting in 2025.
What happens if I don't make my elections for 2025?
For FSA participants, if you do not complete enrollment or make your 2025 FSA elections during this open enrollment period, your contributions will be zero beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and you will be unable to make any changes to your enrollment status or your 2025 contribution elections unless you have experienced a qualifying life event.
For HSA participants, if you enroll but do not elect to contribute to your 2025 HSA, you will still receive the Michaels contribution. You can make changes to your HSA contribution at any time by submitting a HSA contribution benefit change.
Contribution Limits & Unused Funds
Each year, the IRS issues maximum contribution limits for FSAs and HSAs. For 2025, those limits are outlined below.
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Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
FSA Employee Contributions
Standard Health Care FSA (HCFSA)
- Minimum: $100
- Maximum: Up to $3,300*
Limited Purpose FSA (LPFSA)
- Minimum: $100
- Maximum: Up to $3,300*
Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA)
- Minimum: $100
- Maximum: Up to $5,000
*The projected contribution limit for 2025 was $3,200 but was finalized by the IRS to be $3,300. If you elected to contribute 80% or more of the projected maximum amount, you will be given the opportunity to increase your contribution.
What Happens to Unused FSA Funds
- New for 2025! You will be able to roll over up to $640 unused 2024 FSA funds (a minimum of $25) into your 2025 FSA.
- Rolled over funds from your 2024 FSA must be used by Dec. 31, 2025; otherwise, they will be forfeited.
- You will have until March 31, 2025 to request claims for reimbursement for FSA-eligible expenses incurred in 2024. After this date, any unused 2024 FSA funds over $640 will be forfeited.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
HSA Employer & Employee Contributions |
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| Individual Coverage | ||
| Maximum Contribution Limit1 | How Much Michaels Contributes2 | How Much You Can Contribute3 |
|
$3,650 in 2024 $4,300 in 2025 |
$500 per year ($19.23 biweekly) |
Up to $3,150 in 2024 Up to $3,800 in 2025 |
| Family Coverage | ||
| Maximum Contribution Limit1 | How Much Michaels Contributes2 | How Much You Can Contribute3 |
|
$7,300 in 2024 $8,550 in 2025 |
$1,000 per year ($38.46 biweekly) |
Up to $6,300 in 2024 Up to $7,550 in 2025 |
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1The HSA maximum contribution limits are set each year by the IRS and include both employee and employer contributions.
2Michaels HSA contributions are made over 26 pay periods, are prorated based on your benefits start date, and are deposited biweekly per paycheck. 3If you are age 55 or older, you may contribute an extra $1,000 per year to your HSA. |
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What Happens to Unused HSA Funds
Any unused funds from your 2024 HSA will automatically roll over into your 2025 HSA.
As a reminder, this enrollment period is only for FSA and HSA participation during the 2025 calendar year: no other benefit elections will be accepted unless you have experienced a qualifying life event.
Make Your Elections
Log in to Workday
Resources & Guides
Overview Presentation
Download or Print the Overview Presentation
Get Support
For assistance, contact Team Member Services at 855-432-MIKE (6453) and select option 2, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. You can also open a Knowledge Zone support ticket.