As you plan to end your employment with TreeHouse, be sure to review the Exiting Checklist below to help ensure a smooth transition to the next stage of your personal and professional journey.
Are you transitioning to long-term disability (LTD)?
Benefits coverage ends on the day after you exhaust your short-term disability (STD) leave. Once you transition, you are no longer eligible for active benefits. You will be considered in an active status for 401(k) and pension, if eligible, until you officially leave the company. Learn more about the transition here.
Are you transitioning to part-time status?
Some company-provided benefits end on the day you transition to part-time status. Once your new part-time status is effective, you are no longer eligible for Flexible Spending Accounts, Life, and Disability benefits. Medical, dental, and vision benefits continue. You may still be eligible to participate in the 401(k) if you meet the minimum hours threshold. Learn more about the transition in your Summary Plan Description (SPD).
- Discuss plans for your departure with your manager. If possible, assist in transitioning your current responsibilities to other colleagues.
- Make arrangements to return all company property, including laptop computers, mobile devices, and company credit cards.
- Review your options for continuing benefits and complete any necessary action steps.
- If you’re retiring, review your retiree benefits (if eligible) and make your elections.
Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans
If you participate in these plans, you have the option to continue your medical coverage through COBRA. You will pay the full premium cost of these plans, plus an administrative fee, without any subsidy from TreeHouse.
401(k) Plan
When you leave TreeHouse, your eligibility to contribute to the 401(k) plan will end, but contributions will continue for a short period of time to account for any paychecks with eligible earnings that are paid after your last day of employment. You will receive a packet from Empower explaining your distribution options within two to three weeks of leaving TreeHouse. If your vested account balance is over $5,000, you have the option to leave your 401(k) balance in the Plan, or you can receive a distribution of your funds (in whole or in part). See the 401(k) Plan SPD for more information. For additional details, you may contact Empower by calling 1-833-847-4015, or visit MyTreeHouse401k.com for account information and investment/distribution options.
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COBRA – Medical, Dental, and Vision
Your TreeHouse coverage terminates on your last day of employment or the last day of benefit eligible status. COBRA gives you and your covered dependents the opportunity to continue health coverage for up to 18 or up to 36 months, in special circumstances, by paying the premiums at your own expense.
COBRA information will be mailed directly to you by TaxSaver, our COBRA administrator. You can enroll in COBRA coverage up to 60 days after you become ineligible for active benefits, leave or retire from TreeHouse, and you can choose to continue your medical, dental, vision and/or FSA coverage for up to 18/36 months. If you experience a problem with your COBRA coverage with a carrier or need to make a payment, please contact TaxSaver at 1-888-602-6272. View your COBRA rates.
Special Note about Medicare and COBRA:
If you or a covered dependent is eligible for Medicare before your separation, you can elect COBRA coverage as long as you have enrolled in Medicare coverage before your separation date. Be advised that COBRA coverage will pay secondary to Medicare for Parts A and B, and you should consider all your coverage options before enrolling. If you become eligible for Medicare while already enrolled in COBRA, you will lose COBRA eligibility for yourself. If you have dependents enrolled in COBRA, they can continue their coverage even if you lose your eligibility. Please contact a Medicare representative for more information about Medicare and COBRA.
Disability Insurance
Both your short-term and long-term disability coverage will end the day your employment with TreeHouse ends or on the last day of your benefit eligible status. You may not convert or take these coverages with you when you are no longer eligible or leave the company.
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan
If you have a balance in the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (EDCP), leaving TreeHouse triggers payment (through TreeHouse payroll) according to your previously-determined distribution elections, unless plan provisions supersede them. Please contact Empower with any questions by calling 1-833-847-4015 or logging on to your Empower account at MyTreeHouse401k.com. Learn more.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
FSA participation rules change on your last day of employment or when you transition to part-time status.
- Health Care FSA: You may continue to submit claims for Health Care FSA expenses incurred up to your last day of employment. If you wish to submit claims for dates of service after your last day of employment, you may elect to continue participation in the Health Care FSA through COBRA. Claims must be filed by April 30th of the following year.
- Dependent Care FSA: You may continue to submit claims for eligible Dependent Care FSA expenses you have incurred until the earlier of the date your Dependent Care FSA balance is exhausted or until April 30th of the following year.
TaxSaver is the FSA claims administrator and they can be reached at 1-800-328-4337 for additional information on how to submit claims or your claims submission deadline. You can also visit taxsaverplan.com to learn more. Mail your claim forms and applicable documentation directly to TaxSaver.
Health Savings Account (HSA)
You own the Health Savings Account (HSA), so the account is in your name and is portable. The account and the entire balance goes with you, including the contributions made by TreeHouse. You can continue to withdraw funds for eligible expenses from your HSA after leaving TreeHouse or retiring. However, you cannot continue to contribute to the HSA unless you are enrolled in a qualified HSA-compatible plan. Any monthly maintenance fees previously covered by TreeHouse will begin being charged to you at the time of separation. The single sign-on feature with Empower will end. For any questions regarding your account, you can contact Optum Bank at 1-866-234-8913 or visit optumbank.com.
Life Insurance
Life insurance coverage terminates on your last day of employment or when you transition to part-time status. You may be able to convert or port your Basic Life, Supplemental Life, and Dependent Life plans to a personal policy at your own expense. This request must be received by MetLife within 31 days from the coverage termination date. Requests received more than 31 days after your group coverage terminates will be denied. Contact MetLife at 1-800-638-2242 to learn more.
Paycheck
Deductions from your final paycheck will include (if applicable), your healthcare plan contributions, special deductions (e.g., garnishments, Dependent Care FSA, supplemental life insurance), 401(k) plan contributions and any other expenses owed to TreeHouse. Any earned but unused vacation time will typically be paid out on the last check containing regular pay.
Pension Plan Participants
If you are eligible and vested in a TreeHouse pension plan, you are eligible for a pension at the time of your retirement. The earliest payment date will depend on your age and service at the time you leave TreeHouse, as well as the overall provisions of the plan.
You may request a pension estimate at any time. To start your pension benefits, request a retirement package from the TreeHouse Foods Pension Center no less than 30 days and no more than 90 days in advance of your retirement date.
To learn more, contact the TreeHouse Foods Pension Center at 1-866-212-5051, or visit ypr.aon.com/treehouse. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central time.
Repayments
If you have received funds from the company for tuition reimbursement, relocation, or sign-on bonuses, you may be required to repay the company. Please work with your HR manager to arrange repayment if necessary.
Rx Savings Solutions
Your TreeHouse prescription drug savings option terminates on your last day of employment or the last day of benefit eligible status. This means you will no longer be able to participate in the Rx Savings Solutions program.
Workday
When you leave or retire from TreeHouse, you will continue to have access to Workday for 15 months from your termination date. Please be sure to log into Workday and update your personal information (such as your home mailing address, phone number, and email) before you leave. It also is a good idea to print copies of your previous pay slips for your records.
To change your address after your 15-month access period or for assistance in receiving W-2s, please contact THFPayroll@treehousefoods.com.
If you’re retiring from TreeHouse, it’s important to consider your future health care needs and your benefit options — through both Medicare and TreeHouse.
TreeHouse understands that your health needs don’t end once you retire. In many ways, your health becomes a more important part of your everyday life. If you are eligible for the retiree health plan, you will receive a retiree health packet in the mail. The TreeHouse Foods Retiree Service Center is available to assist you with determining your eligibility for retiree health benefits.
Please note that if you waive retiree benefits through TreeHouse, you cannot re-enroll in retiree benefits at a later date.
To enroll in retiree health benefits, you must complete and return the forms mailed to you in the retiree health packet.
Speak to a representative at the Retiree Service Center by calling 1-888-602-6272 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Central time.
If you are eligible for Medicare, here’s some information to help you understand the benefits available to you and when to enroll.
Your Medicare benefits are divided into three parts:
- PART A covers inpatient hospital services.
In addition to inpatient hospital services, Part A covers care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or hospice. Note that it does not cover outpatient Emergency Room visits. You're eligible to sign up for Part A during the seven-month Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which begins three months before you turn 65 and continues until the last day of the third month after your 65th birthday. It is essential that you sign up during the IEP or you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty. For the majority of people who sign up on time, Part A is premium free. - PART B covers doctor visits and preventive care.
There are specific timing requirements involved in signing up for Medicare Part B. If you delay past these specific enrollment timelines, you will pay a higher monthly premium. You can sign up for Part B within your first eligible IEP without paying higher monthly premiums. You also will have the opportunity to enroll in Part B during the eight-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) after your TreeHouse health benefits end without paying a late penalty. - PART D covers prescription drug costs through a private insurance plan approved by Medicare.
The Medicare Supplement medical plan offered to you provides coverage that can take the place of Medicare Part D. Keep in mind: If you don't enroll in Part D during the IEP or within exactly 63 days after your employer-provided drug benefits end, you will have to pay a penalty, and drug benefits may be delayed, causing you to have to pay retail cost for expensive prescriptions.
Visit www.medicare.gov for more information.