Sandy Caracas

• Serves as the primary contact for 2,500 employees, management team, plan vendors, and third party administrators
• Analyzes and processes all self-insured benefit invoices including 401K contributions.
• Coordinates and conducts employee orientations to promote understanding of coverage and options.
• Resolves issues and inquiries from plan participants regarding health and welfare benefits and deductions through telephone, email, and in-person interactions.
• Assists with analyzing existing benefit plans, trends to ensure strategic alignment with business objectives

• Serves as a resource to employees and managers on all aspects of FMLA leave, personal leave and STD/LTD

• Provide total leave of absence claim management– from first notice and intake to closure. This would include but not limited to obtaining and completing required paperwork, determining eligibility for leave, designating leave, requesting medical certification as required, sending required notices and accounting for intermittent and reduced schedule leave use.

• Coordinates the employee's return to work among all parties on a need to know basis

• Identifies, calculates, and communicates benefit premium arrears to employees while out on leave

• Maintain current knowledge on leave guidelines under applicable federal and state law

• Assesses needs and provides comprehensive social services to individuals and families to promote client self sufficiency
• Provides case management services by monitoring, evaluating and implementing medical care plans
• Specializes in geriatric care and provides assistance with applying for medical and monetary benefits funded by the state
• Meets with families weekly and conducts home visits to provide more comprehensive and responsive services to children, disabled and aging adults.

• Provided health plan support to benefits eligible employees within the agricultural business units
• Transitioned members from employee group plan into the individual Medicare insurance market
• Provided outreach/ education on health plan benefits and services at onsite wellness clinics
• Assisted laid-off or retiree employees with community programs and benefits
• Educated Medicare eligible employees in Medicare and Social Security guidelines
• Facilitated Ag HR business partners with presentations during Open Enrollment and layoffs
• Executed benefit presentations across multi-cultural, multi-generational workforce in various levels of the organization
• Collaborated with Ag HR staff with the launch of Wonderful Citrus retirement program