Overview
Howard County offers a wide variety of benefit plans including medical and dental plans, life insurance coverage options, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, 457(b) deferred compensation program, Employee Assistance program, 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.
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 Your contributions and investments are not taxable until withdrawn.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the Roth deferred compensation feature, your contributions go into the plan on an after-tax basis but your funds may be withdrawn tax free.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.
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.
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.
Please select a link below for general information about the employee benefit programs.
Important Benefit Notifications
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 summary of benefits & coverage
Aetna PPO summary of benefits & coverage
Aetna Compassionate Care Program
Kaiser HMO Information for Active Employees and pre-Medicare Retirees
Kaiser HMO Select summary of benefits & coverage
Dental Plan Information for Active Employees and All Retirees
Information for Medicare-eligible Retirees
Aetna Medicare Advantage 10 plan (P01)
Aetna Medicare Advantage 95 plan (C03)
Howard County employees are eligible to receive a discount on auto and homeowner's insurance through Liberty Mutual Insurance. Employees may contact Liberty Mutual for quotes on coverage by calling 1-800-524-9400.
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.
Base Life Insurance Summary Police, Firefighters, and Emergency Communications Employees
Howard County provides long term disability benefits at no cost to full time and part time benefitted employees. Please click on the links below for more details about the LTD benefits.
Benefit Summary - employees with 5 or more years of service
Benefits summary - employees with less than 5 years of service
United Legal Benefits provides pre-paid group legal services at no charge or at discounted attorney fees. Please click on a link below for more detailed information.
Employees may select from a variety of benefits under the voluntary benefits menu as listed in the summary below.