Howard County offers a wide variety of benefit plans including Medical, Dental, Life Insurance coverage options, Disability Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, 457(b) Deferred Compensation Program, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and an array of Voluntary Benefit Plans, with the objective of offering the most comprehensive plans possible while balancing costs to the County, employees, and retirees.
Benefit Plans
General Benefits Information & Rate Charts
Please select a link below for general information about the employee benefit programs.
2025 Rate Chart - Active Employee
Important Benefit Notifications
Qualifying Life Event (QLE) and Dependent Eligibility Notice
CBIZ Complete Benefits Administration System (CBAS) Enrollment Guide
Health Insurance For Active Employees & Retirees
Please click on a link below for more information on the medical and dental plan options for Active employees and Retirees.
Aetna Information for Active Employees and Pre-Medicare Retirees
Aetna Open Access EPO Plan Summary of Benefits & Coverage
Aetna Open Access EPO Plan Booklet
Aetna Open Access EPO Plan Schedule of Benefits
Aetna Open Choice PPO Summary of Benefits & Coverage
Aetna Open Choice PPO Plan Booklet
Aetna Open Choice PPO Plan Schedule of Benefits
CVS Health Virtual Care - Replaced Teladoc, Effective January 1, 2024
Aetna Behavioral Health Telehealth Flyer
Aetna Health App and Digital ID Cards
Progyny Fertility Program Flyer
Progyny Fertility Member Guide
CVS Prescription Drug Benefits
CVS Caremark Advanced Control Formulary List - Effective January 01, 2025
CVS Caremark Advanced Control Formulary List - Effective April 01, 2025
PrudentRx Specialty Drug Copay Assistance Program
Aetna creates and publishes the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Howard County Government.
https://Health1.Aetna.com/app/public/#/one/insurerCode=AETNACVS_I&brandCode=ALICSI/machine-readable-transparency-in-coverage?searchTerm=80608609&lock=true
Kaiser HMO Information for Active Employees and Pre-Medicare Retirees
Kaiser HMO Select Summary of Benefits & Coverage
Kaiser HMO Select Evidence of Coverage
Kaiser Interactive Enrollment Guide
Vision Service Plan (VSP) Information for Active Employees and Pre-Medicare Retirees
VSP Vision Plan Benefit Summary
Dental Plan Information for Active Employees and All Retirees
Delta Dental PPO Plan Claim Form
DeltaCare USA DHMO Summary and Fee Schedule
DeltaCare USA DHMO Plan Claim Form
Delta Member Portal & Digital ID Cards
How to Find a Delta Dentist website
Information for Medicare-eligible Retirees
Retiree Health Insurance Program
Aetna Medicare Advantage Comparision Chart
Aetna Medicare Advantage 10 plan (P01)
Aetna Medicare Advantage 95 plan (C03)
Aetna Medicare Advantage Claim Reimbursement Form
2025 Retiree Rates - Retired before July 01, 2009
Retiree Enrollment Form - Medicare Eligible
Retiree Enrollment Form - Split Eligibility
Medicare Initial Enrollment Period
Generally, your Initial Enrollment Period is when you turn age 65. It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. To learn more about Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov.
All retirees and eligible dependents, are required to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, once Medicare eligible. Please refer to the details below for Medicare Advantage enrollment process, specific to retirees currently enrolled in health insurance prior to becoming Medicare eligible.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Process
- If a retiree, or their dependent, is eligible to participate in the County's retiree health insurance plan, they will receive a notification within (60) days of the month they turn age 65 advising them of the Medicare Advantage Plans available through the County.
- All retirees, and their eligible dependents, are required to transition to a Medicare Advantage Plan once Medicare eligible, if they would like to maintain health insurance through the County.
- This notification will include a Medicare Advantage Enrollment Form (click here). Generally speaking, the enrollment form must be returned within (30) business days prior to the requested effective date.
- You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B, AND have a physical copy of your Medicare card, to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan offered through Howard County.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for out-of-pocket health care and/or dependent care expenses thereby allowing you to receive a tax break on these expenses. Please click on a link below for more information or contact Flexible Benefit Administrators at 1-800-437-3539.
Employee Assistance Program & Mental Health Resources
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling and referral services to employees and their family members. Please click on the link below for more details on this program.
Click here to access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) website.
Mental Health Resources Guide
Please click on the link below to access the Howard County Mental Health Resource Guide. The guide provides an overview of mental health resources available to Howard County Government employees and the general Howard County community.
Life Insurance Benefits
All full time employees receive a base life insurance benefit equal to 2 times base annual salary at no cost. Full time and Part time employees may elect to purchase supplemental life insurance equal to 1 times, 2 times, or 3 times base annual salary as well as spousal/dependent life insurance. Please click on the links below for details.
Basic Term Life and AD&D Insurance Benefit Summary
Base Term Life Insurance Summary Police, Firefighters, and Emergency Communications Employees
Base Term Life Insurance Certificate
Supplemental Term Life Insurance Summary
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form - Police & Fire
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation FAQ
Life Insurance Needs Calculator
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Howard County provides Long-Term Disability benefits at no cost to full time and part time benefitted employees. Employees have the option to purchase additional Supplemental Long-Term Disability and/or Short-Term Disability. Please click on the links below for more details about the Disability benefits.
Long Term Disability Coverage Highlights
Long Term Disability Certificate - Class I (5 or more years of service)
Long Term Disability Certificate - Class II (0-4 years of service)
Click here to submit a disability claim online. Policy Number 647388
Long Term Disability Claim Form
Voluntary Supplemental Short Term Disability Coverage Highlights (100% Employee Paid)
Voluntary Supplemental Short Term Disability Certificate
Click here to submit a disability claim online. Policy Number 647388
457(b) Deferred Compensation Program
The deferred compensation program, also known as a 457(b) plan, is a defined contribution plan that allows employees to set money aside through pre-tax payroll contributions for retirement. Because your contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis, you reduce your taxable income so you pay less income tax each pay period. You may elect to contribute to the plan with either flat dollar amount contributions or with percentage of your pay contributions. You decide how to invest your contributions from a wide array of investment choices. Your contributions and investments are not taxable until withdrawn. With the Roth deferred compensation feature, your contributions go into the plan on an after-tax basis but your funds may be withdrawn tax free. With a deferred compensation program your retirement benefit is dependent upon the amount of your contributions and the investment returns.
For additional information, please contact our deferred compensation plan representative at 410-274-9568 or visit the deferred compensation website.
Nationwide 457(b) Deferred Compensation Specialist Flyer
Nationwide 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan Program Summary
Nationwide Indexed Principal Protection Participant Brochure
Voluntary Benefits Program
Employees regularly working 20+ hours per week have the option to enroll in a variety of voluntary benefits listed below. Employee cost share for voluntary benefit elections will be captured via payroll deduction.
Chubb LifeTime Benefit Term Insurance with Long Term Care (LTC).
Chubb LifeTime Benefit Term Insurance provides money to your family at death, and while you are living too. Life insurance premiums will never increase and are guaranteed to age 100. If you need LTC, you can access your death benefit while you are living for home health care, assisted living, adult day care and nursing home care. You get 4% of your death benefit per month while you are living for up to 25 months to help pay for LTC.
Chubb LifeTime Benefit Term Insurance Brochure
Nationwide Pet Insurance
Nationwide pet insurance helps you cover veterinary expenses so you can provide your pets with the best care possible without worrying about the cost. Simply pay for coverage through a convenient after-tax payroll deduction.
My Pet Protection Plan Summary
The Standard Accident Insurance
The Standard Accident pays cash benefits directly to you or anyone you choose regardless of any other coverage you have. The Standard Accident pays extra benefits for injuries resulting from participating in organized sports.
The Standard Accident Coverage Highlights
The Standard Accident Group Certificate
Accident Insurance Claim Form: Policy Number 647388
Health Maintenance Benefit Screening Flyer
Health Maintenance Screening Benefit Claim Form: Policy Number 647388
The Standard Critical Illness Insurance
Prudential Critical Illness pays you cash immediately. Upon diagnosis of a covered illness, The Standard will send you a lump sum check directly to you. You can use your cash benefit however you choose. Your benefit is paid in full regardless of any other insurance you have.
The Standard Critical Illness Coverage Highlights
The Standard Critical Illness Group Certificate
Critical Illness Claim Form: Policy Number 647388
Health Maintenance Benefit Screening Flyer
Health Maintenance Screening Benefit Claim Form: Policy Number 647388
The Standard Hospital Indemnity Insurance
The Standard Hospital Indemnity plan pays a lump-sum benefit in the event of hospital admission, hospital confinement and intensive care expenses.
The Standard Hospital Indemnity Coverage Highlights
The Standard Hospital Indemnity Group Certificate
Hospital Indemnity Claim Form: Policy Number 647388
Health Maintenance Benefit Screening Flyer
Health Maintenance Screening Benefit Claim Form: Policy Number 647388
Legal Resources Pre-Paid Legal Plan
Legal Resources provides pre-paid group legal services at no charge or at discounted attorney fees. Please click on a link below for more detailed information.