HIGHLANDS FIRE DISTRICT
HUMAN RESOURCE POLICY GUIDELINES
CODE/TITLE: 40.05 Group Health Insurance
SECTION: 40.00 Employee Benefits
APPROVED: 04/19/05
REVISED: 11/21/06, 01/20/09, 01/19/10, 12/17/13
I. PURPOSE
To assist employees and their family in providing protection in the event of a need for medical and vision attention.
II. SCOPE
This policy applies to all eligible employees.
III. POLICY
It is the policy of HFD to make available group health, dental, and vision insurance benefits to full-time employees and their eligible dependents, at a cost shared by the District and the employee.
IV. GUIDELINES
Coverage becomes effective on the first day of the month following the date of full-time employment. In the event that the employee fails to submit the required enrollment forms, coverage will be delayed until the next open enrollment period.
1. Medical Insurance – The District shall pay the entire premium for employee coverage. If an employee elects to cover dependant/s on the group policy, the District may elect to pay a monthly subsidy for spouse, child(ren), or family premiums to help offset the employee’s cost for dependent medical insurance coverage. The subsidy shall be no more than fifty percent (50%) of the dependant premium. The subsidy amount shall be recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board, on an annual basis, at time of policy renewal. The employee shall be responsible for paying the remaining amount due for the dependant’s premium through payroll deduction.
2. Dental Insurance – The District shall pay premium for the employee coverage. The employee shall be responsible for paying for the premium for dependent coverage, if such election is made. Such premiums shall be handled via payroll deduction.
3. Vision Insurance – The District shall pay the premium for the employee and dependent coverage.
4. Cafeteria Plan – The District may provide opportunity for employees to receive benefits under a Cafeteria Plan. A Cafeteria Plan, also known as a section 125 plan, is a written plan that provides certain benefits on a pretax basis for which the law provides an exclusion from wages. Benefits provided under the Cafeteria Plan include, but may not be limited to the following:
a. Premium-only-plan (POP) allows for pretax health insurance premium contributions by employees.
b. Health Savings Account (HSA) enables employees enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to pay for current qualified health expenses and save for future and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis. The District may elect to contribute to the HSA in an amount recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board.
5. Coverage under the group insurance plans will end on the last day of the month following the date of termination, or at the time one no longer meets eligibility requirements.
6. Detailed information on insurance plans shall be provided to employees at the time of hire and anytime plan changes occur thereafter.
Employee Benefits 40.05 Group Health Insurance, 12/17/13