Gunnison County Human Resources

Guide to 2012 Employee Benefit Package

Mr. Peeper

Photo Courtesy of Bev Alexander

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Premiums
• Workers' Compensation Insurance
• AFLAC Insurance
• Retirement
• Flexible Compensation
• Health Club
• Credit Union
• EAP Program
• Leave Time Benefits
• Employee Benefit Links

Medical Insurance

The following documents are available for download:

• Second Amendment to the Gunnison County, Colorado Employee Benefit Plan Effective January 1, 2010 (amendment effective January 1, 2012)
• First Amendment to the Gunnison County, Colorado Employee Benefit Plan Effective January 1, 2010 (amendment effective January 1, 2011)
• 2010 Plan Document

For the 10th year, Gunnison County will offer employees a partially self-funded PPO medical plan. Deductibles will remain separate $600/$1,200 deductibles for in-network and out-of-network. After the deductible is met, there will be a 20% co-pay up to $5,000/$10,000 for covered expenses in-network with $20/$30 office co-pays in-network. Prescription card deductibles will remain at $100 per covered individual through CVS Caremark. NGS American will continue to process claims. The medical PPO networks will continue to be Cofinity and PHCS Healthy Directions. Upon enrollment, you must commit to remaining on medical insurance until the following January unless you have a change in family status.

Medical PPO Network Links:

• Cofinity
• PHCS Healthy Directions Network

Prescription Medicine Providers Network Link:

• CVS Caremark Pharmacy Network

Mail Order Prescription Services Link:

• https://www.caremark.com/wps/portal

Forms & Supplemental Information:

• Medical Insurance Enrollment Form
• Medical Insurance Change Form
• HIPAA Privacy Notice
• COBRA Notice

Medical, Vision Claims Analyst - Sue Stosik

• Phone # (800) 521-1555, ext. 87185
• Fax # (586) 416-2378

Mail medical, dental and vision claims that you are sending in and claims from non-network providers to:

NGS CoreSource
PO Box 2310
Mt. Clemens, MI 48046
or fax: (586) 416-2378

View Medical Claims at: https://www.ngs-american.com/welcome.asp.

Dental Insurance

Click here to download/print the plan document.

There will be no changes to the Dental Plan benefits in 2012. There is a $50 Calendar Year Deductible per covered individual with a family maximum of 3 deductibles. Maximum coverage is $2000 per year per covered individual. Upon enrollment, the employee must commit to 2 years of coverage.

Forms and Supplemental Information:

• Dental Insurance Enrollment Form
• Dental Insurance Change Form
• HIPAA Privacy Notice
• COBRA Notice

Dental Claims Analyst - Kim Gold

(800) 521-1555, ext. 82841

Mail medical, dental and vision claims that you are sending in and claims from non-network providers to:

NGS CoreSource
PO Box 2310
Mt. Clemens, MI 48046
or fax: (586) 416-2378

View Dental Claims at:

https://www.ngs-american.com/welcome.asp

Vision Insurance

Click here to download/print the plan document.

Vision insurance is also under Gunnison County's partially self-funded plan. Participants will use the NGS ID card for medical, prescriptions, dental and vision. Vision insurance also carries a two-year commitment. A summary of benefits follows:

Forms & Supplemental Information:

• Vision Insurance Enrollment Form
• Vision Insurance Change Form
• HIPAA Privacy Notice
• COBRA Notice

Medical, Vision Claims Analyst - Sue Stosik

Phone # (800) 521-1555, ext. 87185
Fax # (586) 416-2378

Mail medical, dental and vision claims that you are sending in and claims from non-network providers to:

NGS CoreSource
PO Box 2310
Mt. Clemens, MI 48046
or fax: (586) 416-2378

View Vision Claims at:

https://www.ngs-american.com/welcome.asp

Life Insurance

In 2012, Gunnison County will have term life insurance coverage with Lincoln Financial. Coverage is $10,000 for the employee, $5,000 for the spouse and $2,000 for any eligible dependent(s). Coverage is adjusted downward at age 65 and again at age 70 & 75. It is possible to convert to an individual policy if leaving employment with Gunnison County.

Supplementary Life Insurance is also available. Guaranteed amount $100,000 for employee up to $500,000 with underwriting. Guaranteed amount of $30,000 for spouse up to $150,000 with underwriting. The spouse can only be insured for 50% of the elected employee coverage. Premiums vary depending on age and coverage. Contact the HR Department for quotes.

Coverage will not begin until premiums are deducted from County paycheck.

• Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance Program Specifications
• Life Insurance Enrollment Form
• Evidence of Insurability Form
• AD&D Insurance Enrollment Form
• Life Insurance Change Request Form
• Life Insurance Change of Beneficiary Form

Premiums

Vision and basic life premiums will remain unchanged. Supplemental life insurance premiums will be adjusted according to age brackets (if your current age has moved into a different age bracket, your premiums will increase slightly). In 2012, health insurance premiums will increase 13.7%, as will dental. The County will absorb 75% of the employee premium and 50% of the dependent premium for medical. Dental, vision and basic life premiums will be cost shared at 50%/50%. Supplemental Life premiums are calculated according to age and coverage amounts and will be entirely the employee’s responsibility.

Workers' Compensation

Injury Leave

• Definition Any employee who becomes incapable of performing his/her essential job functions as the result of an injury or illness incurred within the scope of the County’s employment shall be deemed to be on injury leave until he/she is able to resume his/her essential job functions on his/her regular work schedule; or when approval is granted, by the County, to return to his/her regular work schedule on a restricted duty basis, as defined by the attending physician, resuming performance of all of the essential duties required in the employee’s position with reasonable accommodation; or when the employee is separated from County employment.
• Statutory Benefits An employee on injury leave, whether full-time or part-time injury leave, shall receive the statutory benefits available under the Workers' Compensation Act of Colorado, C.R.S. 8-40-101, et. seq., and pursuant to Gunnison County Personnel Policy.
• Modified Schedule or Restricted Duty While recovering from an on-the-job injury, an employee may return to work on a temporary basis with a modified work schedule and/or with restricted duties as the case may allow. Gunnison County reserves the right to limit or deny return to work on a modified schedule or restricted duty.
• Policy Regarding FMLA The Family & Medical Leave Act is a separate Federal Act, but will run concurrently with any eligible on-the-job injury leave. See Section 8-3 of the Personnel Policies for further information regarding Family and Medical Leave policies.
• Statutory Exceptions Benefits may be reduced by 50% in the following situations:
  1. Where an injury is caused by the willful failure of the employee to use safety devices provided by the employer.
  2. Where injury results from the employee’s willful failure to obey any reasonable rule adopted by the employer for the safety of the employee. (Reference department policies for safety rules.)
  3. Where injury results from intoxication of the employee from drugs or alcohol.
• Notification/Reporting for Workers' Compensation In the event of an on-the-job injury, an employee should notify his/her supervisor immediately or by no later than the end of the shift on which the injury occurs. The employee must complete an Employee's Report of Injury form and an Authorization for Release of Medical Information form for submission to his/her supervisor within four workdays from the time of the incident. If the employee is unable to complete the form, it may be completed by a family member or a representative. The employee's supervisor shall contact the Personnel Department immediately in order to provide the information necessary for the Personnel Department to complete an Employer's First Report of Injury form. The employee's supervisor must submit the forms completed by the employee, along with a Supervisor's Report of Incident form, to the Personnel Department within one working day after receipt from the employee.
• Medical Examinations & Treatments If an injury requires immediate emergency treatment, the nearest hospital emergency room should be utilized. Upon release from emergency treatment, the employee must seek follow-up medical care from a County-designated provider. Injuries not constituting an emergency, but requiring a physician's care, shall be treated by a County-designated medical service provider (see designated medical provider list under Employee Forms> Workers' Compensation). Failure to comply with utilization of a County-designated provider may result in a denial of payment for medical expenses through the County Workers' Compensation Pool. Each new employee receives a list of designated medical providers and a list can be obtained from the Personnel Department at any time in addition to posting on the website.
• Denial of Injury Leave An employee may be denied injury leave if it is determined by the County's Workers' Compensation Carrier that the injury is not job-related. If the injury is finally deemed non-compensable under Gunnison County's Workers' Compensation policy, injury leave compensation will cease on the date the claim is denied. In this event, unless the finding is overturned on appeal, the amount of payment made to the employee by the County while on injury leave will be deducted from the employee's accrued sick and vacation leave balances or, if these balances are not sufficient, deducted as leave without pay.
• Reporting Medical Status During injury leave, employees must keep their supervisor informed of their medical status in regard to their ability to return to work. The County reserves the right to request periodic reports regarding the employee's medical status from the designated medical provider.
• Separation Injury leave does not preclude an employee from being separated from employment pursuant to another Personnel Policy.

Injury Leave With County Compensation

• Regular Full-Time & Scheduled Part-Time Positions A full-time or scheduled part-time employee in a regular position, who is eligible for injury leave, will be paid his/her full salary from the County during the initial three (3) calendar days of injury leave following the date of the injury (or the first 24 hours of injury leave for an employee on an approved modified schedule). The County will require reimbursement in the amount of all payments received by the employee from the Workers' Compensation insurance carrier for lost wages during this initial period.
  
  If the employee is still unable to return to his/her regular work schedule after the initial period of three (3) calendar days (or 24 hours for an employee on a modified schedule), the County may continue to pay the employee 10% of his/her regular rate of pay for up to 176 hours of additional eligible leave time. This payment from the County is in addition to the non-taxable 66 2/3 % of wages payment that the employee receives from the Workers' Compensation insurance carrier.
• Intermittent Part-Time & Seasonal Positions Any seasonal or intermittent part-time employee, who is eligible for injury leave, will be paid his/her appropriate salary from the County during the initial three (3) calendar days of injury leave following the date of the injury. During this initial three (3) day period, the County will require reimbursement in the amount of all payments received by the employee from the Workers' Compensation insurance carrier for lost wages. The employee shall also have his/her case referred to the County's Workers' Compensation insurance carrier for any continued payments to which the employee is entitled in lieu of payment of wages.
• Termination of Injury Leave With County Compensation Termination of injury leave with County compensation will occur: when the employee is placed on injury leave without County compensation status; when the County has a written release from the attending physician permitting the employee to return to his/her regular work schedule and resume performance of all the essential duties required in the employee's position; or when the employee is separated from County employment.

Injury Leave Without County Compensation

• Conversion to Injury Leave Without County Compensation When an employee remains on injury leave (full time or on an approved modified schedule) beyond the maximum hours eligible for compensation by the County, the employee will be placed on injury leave without County compensation status. The employee shall also have his/her case referred to the County's Workers' Compensation insurance carrier for any continued payments to which the employee is entitled in lieu of payment of wages.
• Termination of Injury Leave Without County Compensation Termination of injury leave without County Compensation may occur: when the County has a written release from the attending physician permitting the employee to return to his/her regular work schedule and resume performance of all the essential duties required in the employee’s position; or when approval is granted, by the County, to return to his/her regular work schedule on a restricted duty basis as defined by the attending physician, resuming performance of all the essential duties required in the employee’s position with reasonable accommodation. The failure of an employee to return to work upon the expiration of the 12-workweek period, as defined by the Family & Medical Leave Act Section 8-3(c) will subject the employee to dismissal unless an extension is granted prior to the return date. An employee should refer to Sections 8-4; 8-5; or 8-9 for a request of additional leave.
• Continuation of Benefits Employees who are on approved injury leave with County compensation status will continue to be eligible for all County benefits that they normally receive when on regular status. Employees who are on approved injury leave without County compensation status will not continue to earn compensated benefits (sick leave, vacation, holidays, etc.) or retirement match but, if currently participating, will be eligible to continue regular participation in the County's health, dental, vision and life insurance programs through the last day of the month in which the following calculation of time expires: Calculation = period of time equal to the hours an employee regularly works per week multiplied by 12, minus all injury leave hours used since the date of the initial injury. The employee, however, must continue to pay his/her share of the monthly premium by the assigned due date or their insurance coverage will be subject to cancellation. Effective the first day of the month following expiration of eligible leave hours, the employee will be responsible for paying the County’s share of participating premiums in addition to the employee share. This responsibility will continue until injury leave without County compensation status is terminated. For employees who have been employed at Gunnison County more than 20 years, the responsibility for paying the County’s share of participating premiums will not begin for an additional three months from the date that other eligible leave hours expire.

AFLAC Insurance

Supplemental insurance policies offered through AFLAC include:

• Personal Cancer Protection Plan
• Hospital Intensive Care Insurance
• Accident Expense Plus
• Specified Health Event Protection Policy
• Short Term Disability

The local AFLAC agent will meet with you individually to answer any questions you may have about these policies. If you elect for your AFLAC premiums to be deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis, this requires a one-year commitment, unless you have a change in family status.

Retirement

Gunnison County and the Employee team up to contribute to Employee Retirement in three ways:

Social Security Account - A mandatory 7.65% contribution from the employee will be matched by 7.65% from the employer.

County 401(a) Retirement Program - This is a mandatory Retirement Plan for employees regularly scheduled for 20 hours per week or more. The minimum withholding amount is 3% of gross salary, which the County defers and matches. The employee becomes vested in the employer's share of contributions to their retirement account at a rate of 20% per year. Additional contributions can be made to this plan after-tax up to 10% of gross salary.

457 Deferred Compensation Plan Match Program - This is an optional contribution. This contribution can be done pre-tax or after-tax. FICA tax is payable on employee and employer contributions.

457 Deferred Compensation Additional Retirement Contributions - The employee can contribute additional amounts to retirement above the amounts matched by the employer up to the annual maximum limits. Annual Deferral Limits for 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.

Flexible Compensation

The following documents are available for download:

• Summary of Plan Change to Gunnison County, Colorado Flexible Benefit Plan Effective January 1, 2008 (change effective January 1, 2011)
• Summary of Plan Description of Gunnison County, Colorado Flexible Benefit Plan, Effective January 1, 2008

Pre-tax Benefits

This program allows Gunnison County Employees to deduct their group health insurance premiums and certain other eligible medical and child-care costs from their paycheck on a pre-tax basis. Upon enrollment, you must commit to participating for the remainder of the plan year unless you have a change in family status. The plan year runs from January 1 to December 31 of each year. Expenses must be incurred during that period(and an additional grace period from January 1 to March 15 of the following year)to be eligible for reimbursement.

• How Flex Accounts Work
• Eligible Expenses in a Flexible Medical Spending Account - Flexible Spending Reimburseable Items
• Over-the-Counter Drug Guidelines - Healthcare Reform
• Flex Benny Card
• Debit Card Substantiation Requirements
• Documentation Required for Health Care and Dependent Expenses
• How to File a Claim
• Flexible Benefits Planning Worksheet
• Flexible Benefits Enrollment Form
• Request for Reimbursement Form
• Grace Period Rule
• HIPAA Privacy Notice

Flex Comp Claims Analyst - Amy Smigielski

Phone # (800) 521-1555, ext. 82339

Mail Flex Reimbursement Requests to:

NGS CoreSource
Flex Department
PO Box 2312
Mt. Clemens, MI  48046
or Fax: (586) 416-2362
NEW: As of 1/1/2012, reimbursement forms may be scanned and emailed to ngsflex@coresource.com.

Health Club Memberships

Gunnison County has contracts with health clubs to offer discounted memberships to its employees. New employees are allowed thirty days from the date of employment to enroll. Current employees must sign up during open enrollment in December of each year to participate in the next plan year January 1st through December 31st. Upon enrollment, employees are required to commit to the remainder of the plan year of membership. Exception:separation from employment with Gunnison County.

• Colorado Fitness Authorization Form
• Main Street Gym Authorization Form

Credit Union

The County is a member of the Gunnison Western Federal Credit Union. Individual memberships are available to all full-time or part-time regular employees.

Gunnison Western Federal Credit Union:

Services Available:

• Secured Loans
• Signature Loans
• Revolving Lines of Credit
• Checking Accounts
• Payroll Deductions
• Traveler's Checks
• Blue Book Values

Address:

234 North Main Street
Gunnison, Colorado 81230

Office Hours:

9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday
Closed Saturday, Sunday and Holidays

Phones:

(970) 641-2482 - phone
(970) 641-2668 - fax Membership forms are available at the Credit Union Office.

Changes in payroll deductions can be made in the County Human Resources Office.

EAP Program

Gunnison County provides employees and their dependent family the ability to access a counselor, for three (3) free sessions, to help solve problems causing a primary stressor in their lives. Primary stressor(s) creating the need for counseling are defined as follows:

• Relationship problems within the Immediate Family, including but not limited to, marital or domestic problems, separation or divorce, relationship issues between spouses or domestic partners, parents and children, or siblings;
• Health-related problems such as physical or mental illness or substance abuse of the Eligible Employee or the Immediate Family member or death of a loved one;
• Job-related problems; and
• Financial/legal problems.

Employees and their dependent family will have access to a toll-free information line where financial professionals can address questions on matters of financial management including debt reduction, home buying, budgeting, foreclosure prevention, and bankruptcy prevention. Certified Consumer Credit Counselors will provide hour-long confidential counseling sessions on bad credit.

Employees and their dependent family will have access to a toll-free information line where legal consultants will provide immediate connection to an attorney in the user's state for a free 30-minute session and/or refer the client to a local attorney for a free ½ hour consultation. If additional assistance is desired, clients are entitled to 25% off of the attorney's normal and customary fees.

Click here to view the list of online webinars. Call (877) 679-1100 for more information.

Leave Time Benefits

Vacation

• Earned at the rates of:
  * 0 - 4 years: 6 2/3 hours per month
  * 5 - 8 years: 8 hours per month
  * 9 - 15 years: 10 hours per month
  * 16 - 20 years: 12 hours per month
  * 21+ years: 14 hours per month

Sick Leave

• Earned at the rate of 8 hours per month
  * on an annual basis may use up to 16 hours for personal leave
  * may use sick leave to care for self or immediate family illness/injury or other time eligible for FMLA leave
  * with supervisor approval may use sick leave as funeral leave

Holidays

• The Board of County Commissioners determine the schedule on an annual basis.
  * The 2011 Holiday Schedule includes 11 paid holidays.
  * The 2012 Holiday Schedule includes 12 paid holidays.

Employee Benefit Links

Click on any of the following to go to the appropriate Company's website. These Companies are providing Gunnison County with benefits.

• www.ccoera.org - Retirement
• www.ngs-american.com - Flex Comp
• www.ngs-american.com - Health Insurance
• www.caremark.com - Prescription Card
• www.mybenny.com - Debit Card Account Information
• www.triadeap.com - Employee Assistance Program (click here for the 2011 TRIAD webinar schedule)

Office Hours

8:00 a.m. - 12:00; 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Monday through Friday (except holidays)

Contact Information