Voluntary Benefits Program

Effective January 1, 2015, the Mercer Voluntary Benefits Program will no longer be offered to Sears Holdings associates. If you are paying via payroll deduction, the last payroll deduction you will have for your policy (or policies) under the Mercer Voluntary Benefits Program will be taken from your last paycheck in December of 2014. If you are paying by direct bill from Mercer, your last bill will be sent in November.

Please note the following regarding continuation of your coverage:

Auto, Home, LTC, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance Policies: These policies will transition to a home billing method direct with your carrier. Each carrier will contact you independently about specific payment methods. If you participate in the Auto or Homeowners program you will continue to receive the payroll discount through the end of your current policy period. Those individuals being direct billed by Mercer will transition to direct billing via the carrier as well for these coverages as noted above. Individuals being billed by the carrier presently will see no change in the billing process.

Legal and Vision Insurance: Your current coverage will terminate as of December 31, 2014. No continuation options exist for either policy whether you are presently on payroll deduction or being direct billed at home.

Prior to January 1, 2015, please contact the Mercer customer service team if you have any questions or concerns at 1-800-845-6270 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

Full-time associates are eligible for a new vision plan as of January 1, 2015. Eligible associates will enroll in this new vision plan during annual enrollment or during their newly eligible enrollment.

New Hires

New associates have the opportunity to apply for coverage or enroll in the following voluntary benefits options within 60 days from their date of hire:

Vision Insurance (Basic Vision Plan and Premiere Vision Plan)
Legal Services Plan

Other voluntary benefits options available throughout the year:

Identity Theft Protection
Choice Auto and Home Insurance
Pet Insurance
Long-term Care Insurance (Coverage may be elected after the 60-day period; however, full medical underwriting will then be required.)

Notes: Certain voluntary benefits options may not be available to all associates, depending on their work location. The PersonalPlans® Voluntary Benefits program is unrelated to the benefits offered by Sears Holdings.

Programs

Identity Theft Protection

This comprehensive service offers associates a proactive identity theft defense and provides complete fraud resolution services when they become a victim of identity theft. Recent enhancements include: reduction of junk mail, stopping pre-approved credit and insurance offers, ending telemarketing calls, SNAPD® Identity Monitoring – credit applications, mortgage/auto loans, utilities, payday loans / peer-to-peer lending, catching synthetic identity fraud, and $25,000 in financial protection.

Associates can enroll in this coverage at any time.

Choice Auto and Home Insurance

Associates can select insurance for your home or apartment, automobile, boat, motorcycle, snowmobile, and/or other recreational vehicles. Rates are highly competitive with four carriers to choose from and multiple discounts available. Associates may apply for coverage in the Choice Auto and Home program at any time.

Notes:Automotive and Homeowners coverage in PR and Homeowners coverage in FL is not available through this program. Also, home insurance is not part of MetLife Auto & Home’s benefit offering in CA and MA.

Pet Insurance

This insurance covers many of the veterinary medical services your pets may need, including diagnostic tests, prescriptions, surgery and more. Many types of pets are covered, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles and exotic pets. You may enroll in veterinary pet insurance at any time.

Note: Pet coverage is not available in PR.

Long-term Care Insurance

Long-term Care Insurance provides coverage for care outside of a hospital, such as nursing home care, adult day care, and help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating. Long-term care services may be at your home, a nursing home or an assisted living facility. Note: Long-term Care Insurance is available to new full-time associates within 60 days of the date of hire. (Coverage may be elected after the 60-day period; however, full medical underwriting will then be required.)

Contact Information

If you have any questions about your current 2014 voluntary benefits through PersonalPlans®, contact the plan administrator, Mercer Voluntary Benefits, toll-free at 1-800-845-6270. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. You can also access the voluntary benefits website at http://www.voluntarybenefits-shc.com for more information.