Washoe County Employee Benefits is located within the Human Resources Department at the County Administration Complex, 1001 East Ninth Street, Building A, Room A220, and the contact information for the benefits team is as follows:
• Kristie Harmon, Benefits Specialist, 775-328-2079, kharmon@washoecounty.us
• Karen Jeffers, Benefits Analyst, 775-328-2076, kjeffers@washoecounty.us
• Laura Daniels, Office Support Specialist, 775-328-3642, ldaniels@washoecounty.us
• Sue Sabourin, Benefits Manager, 775-328-2088, ssabourin@washoecounty.us
Coverage becomes effective on the 91st day of continuous full-time or permanent part-time employment. You must complete an Enrollment Form within 31 days of your effective date. If the Enrollment Form is not completed on a timely basis, you will be enrolled with employee-only coverage in the Self-funded PPO medical plan as of your effective date and will not be allowed to change plans or add dependents until the ensuing Open Enrollment period.
Every year, mid-May through mid-June, the County holds an Open Enrollment period during which time you can make any changes to your health insurance plan without qualifying event restrictions. This is the perfect opportunity to review all your health insurance options to make sure you and your family are appropriately covered.
Washoe County pays 100% of the employee premium; however, you should refer to your specific collective bargaining unit as they may have negotiated separate employee contributions to the health fund. Through collective bargaining, the County has also agreed to pay 50% of the enrolled dependent’s premium. Employees are responsible for the remaining premium for their enrolled dependents.
Current insurance rates can be found under the Benefits section on the Medical-Dental-Vision webpage.
You must complete a new enrollment form in its entirety, as it replaces all previous forms, and return it to Human Resources along with any applicable documentation.
Under the new Health Care Reform Bill, you may cover your child/children to age 26. They do not have to be a full-time student, living with you, and/or dependent upon your financial support.
If you are adding a domestic partner, you must do so within 31 days of filing the declaration of domestic partnership, or during the annual Open Enrollment period.
You may add your new baby within 31 days of the birth by submitting a new Enrollment Form and a copy of the live birth confirmation to Human Resources.
Please see the “Quick Reference Sheet” (link below) for more information on adding or deleting dependents.
As a result of the Health Care Reform Act, dependent children may now continue on your health insurance until age 26.
Yes, this is considered a “qualifying event” and they must be added within 31 days of the loss of coverage. You must also submit an updated Enrollment Form to Human Resources along with documentation from the previous insurance company that indicates their last day of coverage.
Yes, this is considered a “qualifying event” and the employee must remove the dependent(s) within 31 days of the effective date of the new insurance. An employee must submit an updated Enrollment Form and documentation from the spouse’s new employer or insurance company that indicates the effective date of his/her coverage to Human Resources.
You may change health plans for any reason during the annual Open Enrollment period by completing an Enrollment Form in its entirety and submitting the signed form to Human Resources before the close of the Open Enrollment period. Forms can be obtained from your HR representative or via the Human Resources website.
Only certain qualifying events allow for a plan change mid-year (i.e. marriage, birth or adoption, a dependent looses insurance through their employer, etc.) Please see the “Quick Reference Sheet” (link below) for a complete listing of qualifying events.
If you do not complete an Enrollment Form, your current health plan will remain in effect with the newly negotiated plan design changes. However, you are strongly encouraged to attend one of the annual Open Enrollment meetings to be sure you understand any changes occurring at the beginning of each new fiscal year (July 1).
If you are on the Self-funded Plan, go to www.uhnppo.com. Enter your provider’s name and click search. Or you may contact Universal Health Care directly at 775-356-1159.
If you are on the HMO, go to www.hometownhealth.com. Click on provider directory, choose HMO Plan, enter the provider’s name and click search. Or you may contact Hometown Health Customer Service at 775-982-3232.
• Self-funded PPO: Saint Mary’s, Northern Nevada Medical Center and Carson-Tahoe
• Hometown Health’s HMO: Renown Regional Medical Center
If you are on the HMO, you must receive care only from the physicians, hospitals and other health care providers that have contracted to provide services for Hometown Health.
If you are on the Self-funded PPO, you will receive a better rate if you use contracted providers, but you do have flexibility.
The GAP Plan was first introduced in FY 10/11 and is available in conjunction with the Hometown Health HMO Plan only. Washoe County pays the cost of the GAP plan for all employees enrolled in the HMO; however, it is an elective coverage for dependents and employees are responsible for those premiums. Provided by American Fidelity, the GAP Plan is designed to reimburse the following out-of-pocket expenses up to:
• $1,000 per inpatient hospital confinement
• $200 for certain outpatient services
• $25 for non-routine doctors visits (limit of $125 per family per year)
For more information about the GAP Plan, or to enroll or delete a dependent, you must contact American Fidelity directly at 775-829-1313. Dependent coverage is not administered through Washoe County Health Benefits.
Yes. By visiting one of the websites below, you can identify which drugs are available on your specific plan, how much they cost, and the applicable co-payment:
• Self-funded PPO: www.catalystrx.com. Or contact Catalyst Rx directly at 888-896-4600.
• HMO: www.hometownhealth.com. Or contact Hometown Health directly at 775-982-3232.
For a full description of what services meet the definition of preventative and routine medical care, please refer to your plan summary or contact your plan administrator directly:
• Self-funded PPO participants may contact CDS Customer Service at 775-352-6900.
• HMO participants may contact their Customer Service at 775-982-3232.
If you are on the self-funded PPO, you may contact CDS Group Health at 775-352-6900 to request new cards.
For those on the HMO, you may contact Hometown Health at 775-982-3232.
The HMO Medicare Advantage Plan was added to the Washoe County Retiree Health Benefits Program in FY 10/11. The coverage is provided through Senior Care Plus, and is available only to those retirees and their dependents with both Medicare parts A and B. This plan is a great option for those retirees who are receiving only a partial premium benefit from Washoe County and/or who are covering dependents. Please note that enrollment occurs only on the first of each month.
You may contact the Enrollment Specialist at Senior Care Plus, Christopher Gourlay, at
775-982-3134.
We strongly encourage all employees to attend Open Enrollment meetings which are scheduled each year mid-May through mid-June. If for some reason you cannot attend one of these informative meetings, you may call 775-328-2079 to set up an appointment with our Benefits Specialist, Kristie Harmon.
Employee FAQs