Health Benefits
Medical - Dental - Vision
Washoe County offers its employees comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage. Employees become eligible for health benefits after 90 days of employment.
New employees hired on or after July 1, 2016 will be enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account for a minimum of two plan years. After that time, employees have the option during Open Enrollment to select from one of our three health plans: Self-funded Group Health Plan, which utilizes a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), a Health Savings Account (HSA) paired with a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO).
The County pays all or a portion of the premium cost for employee coverage based on employee contract agreements. For employees who wish to cover their dependents, premiums are deducted each pay period on a pre-tax basis*. Employees pay 50% of dependent premiums. The table below outlines the cost, per pay period, to the employee based upon plan selection and number of family members covered:
| For Calendar Year 2020 | PPO | HDHP | HMO |
| Spouse or Domestic Partners* |
$202.57 |
$112.66 |
$180.12 |
| Child or Children |
$165.90 |
$93.78 |
$144.19 |
| Family (spouse plus child/ren) |
$352.05 |
$191.00 |
$335.09 |
| * Domestic Partner premium is a post-tax deduction | |||
Qualifying Life and Work Event Timeline
Self-funded Group Health Plan (PPO)
Employees have a choice of two networks for the PPO Self-funded Plan: PPO Self-funded Plan administered by CDS Group Health and the Universal Health Network of providers or PPO Self-funded Plan administered by Hometown Health and the Hometown Health Network of providers.
Prescription benefits under this plan are managed by MaxorPlus.
CDS Group Health Plan Document
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA)
The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) administered by CDS Group Health or Hometown Health and is paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) which is administered by American Fidelity Assurance Company.
CDS Group Health HDHP Plan Summary
CDS Group Health HDHP Plan Document
Hometown Health HDHP Plan Summary
Hometown Health HDHP Plan Document
Universal Health Provider Network
Hometown Health Provider Network
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
This plan is administered by Prominence Health Plan, with prescription benefits managed by Medimpact.
Prominence HMO Summary of Benefits
Prominence HMO Evidence of Coverage
Prominence HMO Provider Network
This GAP Plan is administered by American Fidelity Assurance Company, and is designed to help cover some of your out of pocket expenses with the HMO group health plan.
Dental and Vision Benefits
The Dental and Vision benefits are the same for all employees, regardless of which medical coverage is elected. Coverage under the dental and vision benefit plans is bundled with the medical plans, so employees are not able to opt out of any coverage offered.
The self-funded dental plan is administered by CDS Group Health and the list of PPO dental providers is managed by Guardian:
Find an In-Network Provider:
- Go to guardiananytime.com and select "Find a Provider"
- Under the "Not looking for Guardian providers for a group plan?" section, click on: "If you have insurance outside of Guardian that uses the DentalGuard Preferred Select network, search within that network."
- Enter a Zip Code or City and State and Provider Last Name or Office Name, if available.
Self-funded vision benefits are with Vision Service Plan (VSP):
Vision Service Plan (VSP) Provider Network
Life Insurance
Washoe County provides its employees with basic life insurance coverage up to $20,000. Supplemental life insurance is available for purchase; please see additional information under Supplemental Benefits web page.
Cobra
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985 mandates that employers offering health insurance with 20 or more employees must continue to offer employee benefits when they quit, are laid off or fired, or have their work hours reduced. Additionally, benefits must be offered to the employee’s spouse and dependents. COBRA benefits apply to health care plans, dental plans, vision plans, prescription drug plans, etc. Benefits may continue for up to 18, 24, 29 or 36 months, depending on the cause for the loss of benefits.
Monthly Cobra Premium Rates CY 2019
Option A = Medical, Vision and Dental (No Life Insurance)
Option B = Medical only
|
Self-funded PPO |
HMO |
Self-funded HDHP |
|
| Employee (coverage for one) | |||
| Option A | $911.01 | $928.34 | $530.71 |
| Option B | $849.58 | $866.90 | $469.27 |
| Employee plus Spouse | |||
| Option A | $1,805.88 | $1,723.97 | $1,028.17 |
| Option B | $1,690.56 | $1,608.64 | $912.85 |
| Employee plus Child/ren | |||
| Option A | $1,643.77 | $1,565.17 | $944.72 |
| Option B | $1,537.42 | $1,458.80 | $838.37 |
| Employee plus Family | |||
| Option A | $2,466.55 | $2,408.95 | $1,374.44 |
| Option B | $2,302.83 | $2,245.22 | $1,210.72 |
|
Rates for Dependents Only |
|||
| Option A | |||
| Spouse | $911.01 | $928.34 | $530.71 |
| One Child Only | $911.01 | $928.34 | $530.71 |
| Two + Children | $1,643.77 | $1,565.17 | $944.72 |
| Spouse and Child/ren | $1,643.77 | $1,565.17 | $944.72 |
| Option B | |||
| Spouse | $849.58 | $866.90 | $469.27 |
| One Child Only | $849.58 | $866.90 | $469.27 |
| Two + Children | $1,537.42 | $1,458.80 | $838.37 |
| Spouse and Child/ren | $1,537.42 | $1,458.80 | $838.37 |
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Plan Section 125 Flexible Benefit Plans allow employees to direct a part of their pay, on a pre-tax basis, into an account that can be used to reimburse for dependent day care and/or unreimbursed medical, dental and vision expenses. Because the money goes into the accounts before federal income taxes or FICA contributions are withheld, the employee pays less in taxes, and ultimately has more disposable income. As qualified dependent day care and/or unreimbursed medical, dental and vision expenses are incurred, the employee submits for reimbursement to the plan administer.
A Limited-Purpose Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is also available to participants in the Health Savings Account/High Deductible Health Plan. This plan limits your FSA reimbursements to dental and vision expenses only.
Washoe County's Flexible Spending Account provides a grace period of 70 days beyond the end of the calendar year to incur expenses and 90 days to submit claims for reimbursement.
Washoe County's Flexible Spending Benefit Plan is administered by American Fidelity Assurance Company.
Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account
A Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account is used to reimburse yourself, with tax-free funds, for eligible dependent care expenses incurred while working. Employees at Washoe County may allocate up to $5,000 pre-tax per calendar year for reimbursement of dependent care services ($2,500 if you are married and file a separate tax return).
To submit for reimbursement, complete a Dependent Day Care Reimbursement/Acknowledgment Form. You can create an account and file online through the American Fidelity Online Service Center or complete the form and mail/fax to the address/toll-free number on the acknowledgement form.
If you would like to have your Dependent Day Care reimbursement deposited directly into your account, complete and return this form to the address located at the bottom of the form.
Health Flexible Spending Account
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) helps with medical, dental and vision expenses not covered by insurance. You may elect a portion of your salary to be deducted, on a pre-tax basis, from each paycheck for reimbursement of qualified expenses throughout the plan year. A Flexible Spending Account may be used to reimburse for expenses incurred for the employee, spouse and eligible dependents. Example of eligible expenses may be found on American Fidelity's website. Employees at Washoe County may allocate between $300 and $2,600 pre-tax dollars per calendar year for reimbursement of eligible medical, dental and vision expenses.
There are several way to submit for reimbursement: You can create an account and file online through the American Fidelity Online Service Center or mobile app (both iOS and Android devices) or download a claim form to send by mail or fax to the address/toll-free number on the form.
If you would like to have your Flexible Spending reimbursement deposited directly into your account, complete and return this form to the address located at the bottom of the form.
The benefit information provided is subject to change. If there are conflicts of benefit descriptions at any time, the plan document for that benefit will prevail.
Benefits - Quick Reference Sheet