My Secure Advantage® (MSA)
Through your Baystate Health-paid benefit, My Secure Advantage® (MSA), you’ve got what you need to live a financially healthier life.
Your benefit includes 365 days of confidential, unbiased money coaching EVERY year at NO COST to you!. Think of a Money Coach as a mentor for your money. Whether you're digging out, getting by, or saving big, talk with a Money Coach to get started. No hidden agendas or sales gimmicks. Their only job is to help you reach your goals.
Start by taking the online financial assessment. You’ll receive a personalized action plan that will pinpoint your goals and lay out your next steps toward achieving them. Then partner with a Money Coach for guidance, accountability and support along the way.
Get Started Now
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Frequently Asked Questions
What will the program do for me?
Whether you’re new to managing your money or you’ve got a handle on your finances, make sure you’re on the right track with the guidance and accountability of a Money Coach. MSA's purpose is to help you overcome financial challenges and accomplish financial goals. Build a strong and secure financial future, increase wealth, as you lower debts, improve credit and decrease financial stress.
What is a Money Coach?
A Money Coach assists and guides with the end goal of teaching you new habits in order to resolve your financial challenges and achieve your goals. They are salaried employees that provide financial guidance, yet they do not receive transaction-based compensation. Their sole focus is helping people improve their financial lives through one-on-one, confidential and unbiased coaching relationships.
When is my Money Coach available to talk and how long are consultations?
Your coach is available Monday through Friday from 9:00am - 11:00pm EST. Consultations are typically thirty minutes in length. Time between consultations varies by individual.
What topics can my Money Coach help me with?
- Debt & Credit
- Spending & Saving
- Student Loans
- Taxes
- Getting Married
- Large Purchases
- Home Buying
- Estate Planning
- Retirement Savings
- Investing
- Planning for College
- Maternity Leave
- Divorce
- Loss of a Loved One
- Caring for Parents
- And More!
Can my spouse/partner join me during consultations?
Of course--and it's even recommended! Not in the same location? No problem. Your coach can teleconference your spouse/partner into the call.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes, we do not sell or share your information with third parties and use of the program is kept confidential as well.
What experience does a Money Coach have?
MSA staff have an average of twenty-two years of relevant professional experience and multiple certifications from the financial services industry. Certifications include but are not limited to:
Certified Tax Coach™
CFP® Certified Financial Planner™ Professional
CHFC Chartered Financial Consultant®
AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor®)
CCFS™ (Certified College Funding Specialist™)
CCRS™ (Certified Credit Repair Specialist™)
CDFA™ (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®)
CMPS® (Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist)
CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
CSA (Certified Senior Advisor®)
FRS™ (Fraud Resolution Specialist™)
Employee Contributions
You can elect to make pre-tax and after-tax contributions up to $22,500 for calendar year 2023 ($30,000 if age 50+) with several investment options available. For more information, visit The Hub/Benefits/Retirement Plans
Employer Contributions
The 100% employer-paid defined contribution plan has contributions ranging from 3-5% of gross earnings based on years of service. You are eligible for a contribution in any calendar year in which you work 1,000 hours or more. To be vested you must work at least three calendar years of 1,000 hours. In addition, Baystate provides a 50% match on the first 4% of your contributions.
Retirement Planning Consultations
Through My Secure Advantage: You have access to tools and resources to help you feel more confident about your financial future. You can work one-on-one with an MSA Money Coach who is a Retirement Specialist who will help you identify sources of retirement income, consider the risks and determine how you might address them in order to stay on track. You will learn how to:
- Create a personalized vision of retirement
- Learn how to protect your assets, credit and future
- Understand the basics of investing
- Determine retirement goals vs. life goals
- Explore solutions to address shortfalls
- Balance living for today vs. saving for tomorrow
MSA Money Coaches who assist in retirement planning hold either certification designation; CFP® Certified Financial Planner™ Professional or a CHFC Chartered Financial Consultant®
For more information or to set up a meeting with an MSA Money Coach, visit the Financial Planning and Coaching page above.
Legal Services
At no cost to you, you can speak directly to an attorney whenever you have questions about legal matters such as divorce, custody, adoption, real estate, debt and bankruptcy, landlord/tenant issues, civil and criminal actions and more. Your benefit allows for a free 60-mintue phone or in-person consultation, per separate legal matter per year. For services needed beyond 60 minutes or if you require representation, you will be referred to qualified attorneys who offer all Baystate team members a 25% reduction in their customary legal fees.
Call WorkLife and EAP Support at 800-888-6332 – 24/7/365. Or Visit the website MagellanAscend.com to get started on your own:
- Create an account to have full access to these confidential resources.
- Select the blue FindMyCompany/LogIn – upper right
- Select the tab Log In
- Next to “Don’t have an account?” select “Sign up”
- Complete account registration form
- Select Get Started
Legal Insurance
You're more likely to need legal services than to be hospitalized. Yet, while most people have medical insurance, they have no safety net to handle legal events in their life. With MetLaw®, you can obtain services from attorneys in much the same way as you do from the doctors who participate in your medical plan.
MetLaw provides access to a network of participating attorneys for help with a wide range of legal issues, including:
- Wills and Estate Planning
- Family Law (Name Change, Adoption)
- Consumer Protection (Auto Repair, Consumer Fraud)
- Juvenile Court Matters (Includes Criminal Matters)
- Debt and Identity Theft Matters (Bankruptcy, Tax Audits)
- Home and Real Estate Matters (Purchase or Sale of a Home, Security Deposits)
- And more
To learn more and enroll in Legal Insurance:
As a new hire, you can enroll within 31 days of your benefits eligible date. Outside of your new hire enrollment period, enrollment is limited to Benefits Open Enrollment only, which occurs each year in the Oct-Nov timeframe. Legal insurance is a part of the BenefitsPlus program. Learn more on The Hub>Benefits>Health Insurance and Financial Protections>Benefits Plus
$200 Wellness Reimbursement
Receive $200 cash back when you purchase a variety of wellness activities or products including; gym memberships, wellness and fitness classes- live and online and will cover the purchase of fitness equipment, golf and ski tickets or CSA farm shares. This benefit is available to employees enrolled in a BH-HNE medical plan. For the quickest and simplest reimbursement process, login to your HNE portal at https://healthnewengland.org/baystate and to view additional forms for Baystate Health members.
Massage Reimbursement
This massage reimbursement is a medical benefit, and part of the health plan for BH-HNE plan members. Therefore, massage visits submitted for reimbursement will count toward the running total of money you've paid towards your out-of-pocket max for all covered services. If you are enrolled in the HSA (high deductible) plan, your massage visits will apply towards your deductible and reimbursement will occur only after your deductible has been met. This benefit covers up to two, 60-minute massage therapy visits per calendar year for BH-HNE plan members. For the quickest and simplest reimbursement process, login to your HNE portal at https://healthnewengland.org/baystate and to view additional forms for Baystate Health members.
Personal/Vacation Cash-in Program
Some Baystate locations allow you to cash-in a portion of your Personal/Vacation time each year in December. For more information, visit The Hub/HR/Paid Time Off.
Educational Assistance
Receive reimbursement for expenses incurred as part of an approved course of study at an accredited college, university, or technical school, up to $2,500 per year. For more information, review the Human Resource Policy BH-HR-705.
Home Buying Assistance
Through the Mark R. Tolosky Baystate Neighbors Program employees can receive up to $7,500 in forgivable loans for a first-time home purchase in Springfield, Greenfield and Ware. For information, visit The Hub/My Baystate/Home Buying Assistance Program.
Adoption Assistance
Receive up to $3,000 per adopted child with a yearly limit of two adopted children or $6,000 in adoption benefit. For more information, review the The Hub/Policies/Human Resource Policy BH-HR-300.
Short Term Disability Insurance
Provides income replacement for periods of extended illnesses and injuries that do not extend long enough to qualify for Long Term Disability. Baystate covers 60% of your base salary up to a maximum of $7,500 per week at no cost to you. Supplemental buy-ups are available during Open Enrollment .Depending on your income level, you may also be eligible for additional income replacement under Paid Medical Leave and therefore may not need to enroll in this additional STD benefit. For more information, visit The Hub/Benefits/Short Term Disability.
Group Long Term Disability Insurance
Provides income if you become ill or injured off the job and cannot work for 90 days or more. Baystate covers 50% of your base salary at no cost to you. (Part-time employees pay the full cost of coverage). For more information, visit The Hub/Benefits/Long Term Disability
Group Term Life Insurance
Baystate covers at least one times salary for full-time employee and 50% of salary for part-time employees. Amounts over $500,000 require medical underwriting. For more information visit, The Hub/Benefits/Life Insurance
Additional Benefits Available for Purchase- BenefitsPlus
These additional benefits are available to support the financial health of you and your family. They are offered to you at group discounted rates and are payable through payroll deduction. Many of these benefits are also available to part-time and per diem team members. Watch this quickBenefitsPlus video overview.
You can purchase these benefits ANY TIME during the year:
Auto Insurance
Find comprehensive policies that cover theft, collision, bodily injury and more. Learn more on The Hub>Benefits>Health Insurance and Financial Protections>Benefits Plus
Home Insurance
Available for both home owners and renters. Learn more on The Hub>Benefits>Health Insurance and Financial Protections>Benefits Plus
Pet Products
- Nationwide Pet Insurance- Reimburses you for treatments, surgeries, lab fees x-rays and more. You can use veterinarians of your choice.
- PETplus Wholesale Pricing through Pet Assure – Purchase pet prescriptions, preventatives, specialty food and other supplies at below-retail prices.
Learn more on The Hub>Benefits>Health Insurance and Financial Protections>Benefits Plus
Health Savings Account
Contribute pre-tax dollars to a health savings account if you enroll in the HSA medical plan. For more information visit The Hub/Benefits/Medical Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Care- Contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible health, dental and vision expense not covered by a group health plan.
- Dependent Care- Contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent care expenses including day care, day camp, and elder care expenses incurred while at work.
For more information visit The Hub/Benefits/Flexible Spending Accounts
Pioneer Valley Credit Union (PVCU)
Benefits of being a PVCU member include:
- Free and Online Services Include: checks, online and mobile banking, bill pay, account activity alerts, eStatements, mobile check deposit, PVCU does not charge when use non-PVCU ATMs (and reimburses up to $25/year for ATM charges from other banks)
- Checking: cash rewards, teen checking, overdraft protection services
- Savings: holiday and vacation clubs, youth accounts, emergency fund accounts, retirement accounts
- Loans: Low rates on loans! 24/7 online loan applications, auto, personal, student, recreational vehicle, heat, mortgages
- One on One Financial Counseling, debt analysis, budget plans, retirement planning, college planning, student debt, etc.
- CU on the Go Mobile Branch Solutions- the bank comes to your worksite upon request.
- PVCU also hosts information tables at various locations across the organization. Learn more about banking services, open an account, apply for a loan or make updates or changes to an existing account. Click here to see the current schedule.
Full Service Branch Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut Street - Daly Bldg across from the Gift Shop.
Phone: 413-733-2800 or visit www.pvcu.org
Hours
Loan office hours are the same as the full service branch.
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri.: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
ATM Locations
- 280 Chestnut St. - Terrace level
- 361 Whitney Ave. - Café- ATM takes deposits
- 759 Chestnut St. - Back of the North Café and at Daly Bldg across from the Gift Shop (takes deposits)
- 3300 Main St. - Vestibule at the main entrance
Franklin First Federal Credit Union
Membership is available to anyone who works, lives, attends school or worships in Franklin County. For more information call 413-774-6700 or visit www.franklinfirst.org
ID Theft Protection Insurance
Alerts you to any possible suspicious activity with fully managed resolution services. 100% issue resolution guarantee. $1 million ID theft insurance policy. Learn more on The Hub>Benefits>Health Insurance and Financial Protections>Benefits Plus
ID Theft Resolution Support
Free 60-minute telephone consultation with a Fraud Resolution Specialist™ who listens to issues, answers questions and gives directions and tools to help resolve situation
Free ID Theft Emergency Response Kit℠. Available through your WorkLife and EAP Support program for you and your dependents, and household members. If your identity is stolen and you do not have ID Theft Protection insurance, call 800-888-6332 to get connected with a Fraud Resolution Specialist.
Educational Assistance
Receive reimbursement for expenses incurred as part of an approved course of study at an accredited college, university, or technical school, up to $2,500 per year. For more information, review the Human Resource Policy BH-HR-705.
529 College Savings Plan
A 529 plan is an education savings plan designed to help you set aside funds for future college costs. It is named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code which created these types of savings plans in 1996. 529 plans offer unsurpassed income tax breaks. In addition, this plan provides you professional money management services and low fees. To learn more and to enroll, login to Workday >Benefits> BenefitsPlus
Financial Hardship Services
Financial hardship typically refers to a situation in which you are not able to keep up with debt payments and bills or if the amount you need to pay each month is more than the amount you earn, due to a circumstance beyond your control.
A financial hardship can happen to anyone and often results from a change in your financial circumstances. Common reasons for a hardship include, loss of job in your household, reduced hours or pay, divorce or death of a spouse or medical illness or injury. There are community and federal resources that can help during these times.
Community Resources and Government Benefits
Resources are available at both the community and federal level and vary based on income, need and where you reside. Support resource examples include; housing, utilities, food, goods, transit, money and legal resources.
You can research what is available on your own or engage a worklife specialist to do the work for you (that’s what we recommend!)
Ask a Worklife Specialist to Compile Information for You
Call Worklife and EAP Support and request a worklife specialist for “Daily Needs”. The specialist will work with you to assess your needs and research all available support programs. Within 3 business days you will be emailed an organized and comprehensive packet of information from which to work from.
Contact a specialist 24/7 by phone at 800-888-6332 or send a simple message to WeCanHelp@lifecare.com that includes the following information:
- Your name
- Your contact number and/or email address
- A description of what we can help find for you
Research Services on Your Own through Resource Databases
413cares.org - 413Cares is an innovative community portal that provides online access for residents of Western Massachusetts to available resources from housing, to healthcare, early education and more. Visit 413Cares.
HelpSteps - HelpSteps helps connect individuals to resources based on your identified location and needs. Visit https://www.helpsteps.com
Look4Help - Look4Help is an online, public resource directory that is updated to reflect available resources from food, mental health, employment, and much more. Visit https://www.look4help.org/
Federal Financial Assistance Benefitshttps://www.benefits.gov/categories/Financial%20Assistance
Federal Grant and Loans, visit https://www.usa.gov/benefits-grants-loans
Common Situations that Create Financial Distress:
- High balances (or balances beyond your credit limit) on credit cards
- Using credit to pay for everyday expenses when you aren’t able to pay off balances monthly
- High debt to income ratio
- Utilizing high-interest loans or cash advances to make ends meet
- Juggling monthly bills
- Making only minimum payments on balances
- Fear of knowing what you owe
- Late or over the limit fees piling up
- Reduced credit score resulting from high balances and/or late payments
- Inability to qualify for needed credit
We want to help put an end to your financial stress. Money Coaches through My Secure Advantage can help with all aspect of your finances and help you put a recovery plan in place. Visit the Financial Education and Coaching section of this Financial Well-being webpage to learn more.
The PerkSpot Employee Discount Center is your one-stop-shop for exclusive discounts at many of your favorite national and local merchants! PerkSpot is completely free, and optimized for use on any device: desktops, tablets, and phones.
Highlights
- Shop 24/7, 365 days a year.
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- Includes special discounts available to Baystate employees only.
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Getting Started
Sign up or log in at baystate.perkspot.com. Follow the simple on-screen instructions to make an account with your personal or work email.
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Enjoy access to thousands of discounts in dozens of categories, updated daily. Take advantage of online offers from popular national retailers, and discover discounts in your neighborhood with PerkSpot’s streamlined Local Map. Filter your map results by categories like restaurants, health & fitness, retail, and more!