Employee Benefits Guide 2027
New medical, dental, and vision coverage through Blue Cross NC starts December 1, 2026. Use this guide to compare your options before you enroll.
How to enroll
- Read this guide and compare the plans.
- Complete the online enrollment form. Every benefits-eligible, full-time employee must complete it, even if you are waiving coverage.
- Watch your email for an eSignature request from HR. Review your election summary and sign it.
You can edit your form responses until the deadline. If you do, HR will send you an updated summary to sign.
Medical: two plans to choose from
The Scrap Exchange pays the full premium for Base Plan employee-only coverage, so it costs you nothing per paycheck.
The Buy-Up Plan costs more but has a lower deductible, lower copays, and a lower out-of-pocket maximum. If you choose it, you pay the difference in premium between the two plans.
Dependents: On either plan, you pay the full added cost of covering a spouse or children.
Comparing the medical plans
The Buy-Up Plan has lower costs when you get care; the Base Plan has the lower premium. Amounts are what you pay for in-network care.
| What you pay | Base Plan | Buy-Up Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible (individual / family) | $3,000 / $6,000 | $2,000 / $4,000 |
| Coinsurance after deductible | 30% | 20% |
| Out-of-pocket maximum (individual / family) | $9,500 / $19,000 | $6,500 / $13,000 |
| Preventive care | $0 | $0 |
| Primary care visit | $55 | $30 |
| Specialist visit | $110 | $60 |
| Urgent care | $110 | $60 |
| Emergency room | $1,500 | $600 |
| Outpatient and inpatient hospital | 30% after deductible | 20% after deductible |
| Prescription deductible | $100 | $50 |
| Prescriptions, tiers 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 | $15 / $35 / $45 / $90 / $200 | $8 / $25 / $60 / $100 / $200 |
This is a summary. Each plan's official Summary of Benefits and Coverage, available from HR, has full details and governs if anything differs.
Medical: your cost per paycheck
Amounts are deducted from each of your 26 biweekly paychecks.
| Coverage level | Base Plan per paycheck |
Base Plan per year |
Buy-Up Plan per paycheck |
Buy-Up Plan per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Only | $0.00 | $0.00 | $56.85 | $1,478.10 |
| Employee + Spouse | $316.06 | $8,217.56 | $429.75 | $11,173.50 |
| Employee + Child(ren) | $268.65 | $6,984.90 | $373.81 | $9,719.06 |
| Employee + Family | $663.72 | $17,256.72 | $839.94 | $21,838.44 |
Dental: Dental Blue
Dental Blue covers preventive care in full, with a $50 deductible and a $1,000 annual maximum per person. You pay the full premium.
| Service | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Deductible (individual / family) | $50 / $150 |
| Preventive: exams, cleanings, X-rays, child sealants | $0 |
| Basic: fillings, simple extractions, root canals, oral surgery, periodontal maintenance | 20% |
| Major: crowns, inlays, bridges, dentures, periodontal surgery | 50% |
| Orthodontia | 50%, up to a $1,000 lifetime maximum |
| Annual maximum benefit | $1,000 per person, with rollover |
| Coverage level | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Only | $14.17 | $368.42 |
| Employee + Spouse | $29.97 | $779.22 |
| Employee + Child(ren) | $35.75 | $929.50 |
| Employee + Family | $53.45 | $1,389.70 |
Vision: Blue Cross NC with EyeMed
Vision coverage uses the EyeMed network and includes a yearly eye exam and lenses for $15 each. You pay the full premium.
| Benefit | What you pay | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Eye exam | $15 copay | Once every 12 months |
| Lenses | $15 copay | Once every 12 months |
| Frames | Covered up to $200 | Once every 24 months |
| Coverage level | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Only | $4.64 | $120.64 |
| Employee + Spouse | $8.81 | $229.06 |
| Employee + Child(ren) | $9.27 | $241.02 |
| Employee + Family | $13.63 | $354.38 |
Which medical plan is right for me?
For most people with routine care, the Base Plan costs less over the year. The Buy-Up Plan mainly pays off if you expect large medical bills, such as a surgery or hospital stay.
These examples compare total yearly cost for employee-only coverage: premiums plus what you pay for care.
| Example year | Base Plan total | Buy-Up Plan total |
|---|---|---|
| Light use: 2 primary care visits | $110 | $1,538.10 |
| Moderate use: 4 primary care visits, 3 specialist visits, 1 urgent care visit | $660 | $1,838.10 |
| Major use: a hospital stay that reaches the out-of-pocket maximum | $9,500 | $7,978.10 |
For family coverage, the Buy-Up Plan costs $4,581.72 more per year in premiums, and its out-of-pocket maximum is $6,000 lower. The Buy-Up Plan saves a family money only if their care costs come close to the maximum.
These examples assume office visit copays apply before you meet the deductible, which is typical. Check each plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage for your situation.
Good to know
The choices you make now last for the full plan year, December 1, 2026 through November 30, 2027.
- Coverage levels: Each plan offers Employee Only, Employee + Spouse, Employee + Child(ren), and Employee + Family.
- Waiving coverage: You can decline medical, dental, or vision. Choose "Waive" on the enrollment form.
- Choosing separately: You can enroll in any combination of medical, dental, and vision, at different coverage levels.
- Changes during the year: You can change your elections mid-year only after a qualifying life event, such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, or losing other coverage. Contact HR right away, because there is a limited window to make changes.
- Questions: Contact HR for help choosing a plan or for each plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage.
Plan details and premiums are from The Scrap Exchange's broker comparison for plans effective December 1, 2026.