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.

Please refer to the hyperlinks below, providing access to an on-demand presentation, explaining coverage available to benefited eligible active and retiree population. Additional information, including plan documents, are outlined in the applicable section below. 

2024 Active Population Open Enrollment Presentation 

2024 Retiree Health Insurance Open Enrollment Presentation 

CBIZ Complete Benefits Administration System (CBAS) Enrollment Instructions

Benefit Plans

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General Benefits Information & Rate Charts

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Health Insurance For Active Employees & Retirees

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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 Open Access Booklet

Aetna Open Access Schedule of Benefits

Aetna PPO Summary of Benefits & Coverage

Aetna PPO Booklet

Aetna PPO Schedule of benefits

Aetna Behavioral Health Telehealth Flyer 

Aetna Minute Clinic Benefits

Aetna Health App and Digital ID Cards

Aetna Members Health Advocate 

Progyny Fertility Program Flyer

Progyny Fertility Member Guide 

Aetna's Website

CVS Prescription Drug Benefits

CVS Caremark Performance Drug List - Effective October 1, 2023

CVS Caremark Advanced Control Specialty Formulary List - Effective October 1, 2023

PrudentRx Specialty Drug Copay Assistance Program 

VSP Vision Benefit for Aetna members

 

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 HMO Select Member Guide

Kaiser Interactive Enrollment Guide 

Kaiser Permanente's Website

 

Dental Plan Information for Active Employees and All Retirees

Delta Dental PPO Plan Summary

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 10 plan (P01)

Aetna Medicare Advantage 95 plan (C03)

Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Comparison Chart

Medicare Advantage FAQ

Kaiser Medicare Advantage HMO

2024 Retiree Medical Rates

2024 Retiree Rates - Retired before July 01, 2009

Retiree Enrollment Form 

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 

  1. 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. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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.
  4. 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. 
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Flexible Spending Accounts

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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.

FBA FSA Member Portal 

FSA Flyer

FSA Benefit Guide

FSA Dependent Care FAQ

FSA Rollover Summary

FSA Debit Card summary

FSA web access summary

FSA mobile application summary

FSA Store Flyer

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Employee Assistance Program & Mental Health Resources

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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. 

ComPsych EAP Flyer

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. 

Howard County Mental Health Resources Guide 

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Life Insurance Benefits

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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 Claim Form

Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form  

Life Insurance Beneficiary Designation Form - Police & Fire 

Life Insurance Needs Calculator 

Life Services Toolkit

WorkLife Services 

Evidence of Insurability (EOI) Link

Taxation of Life Insurance 

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Disability and Hospital Indemnity Insurance

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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, Short Term Disability and Hospital Indemnity Insurance. 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

Short Term Disability Claim Form

Voluntary Supplemental Hospital Indemnity Coverage Highlights (100% Employee Paid)

Voluntary Supplemental Hospital Indemnity Certificate 

Hospital Indemnity Claim Form: Policy Number 647388

Decision Support Tool

Health Maintenance Benefit Screening Flyer 

Health Maintenance Screening Benefit Claim Form: Policy Number 647388

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457(b) Deferred Compensation Program

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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 Indexed Principal Protection Participant Brochure

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Voluntary Benefits Program

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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. 

For additional information, please contact Select Benefits Communication Group at 410-825-3430 ext. 2. 

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.  To enroll please Select Benefits Communication Group at 410-825-3430 ext. 2. 

Chubb LifeTime Benefit Term Insurance Brochure

Liberty Mutual Auto & Home Insurance Discount

Howard County employees are eligible to receive a discount on auto and homeowner's insurance through Liberty Mutual Insurance. To request a quote, contact Howard County's account representative, Raymond Byrne, at 301-692-4113. To obtain a quote online visit the Howard County Liberty Mutual website using the hyperlink provided below.  

Howard County Website 

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

Howard County Website

Prudential Accident Insurance 

Prudential Accident pays cash benefits directly to you or anyone you choose regardless of any other coverage you have. Prudential Accident pays extra benefits for injuries resulting from participating in organized sports. 

Prudential Accident Brochure

Prudential Accident Outline of Coverage 

Prudential Wellness Flyer

Prudential Critical Illness Insurance 

Prudential Critical Illness pays you cash immediately. Upon diagnosis of a covered illness, Prudential 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. 

Prudential Critical Illness Brochure

Prudential Critical Illness Outline of Coverage 

Prudential Claim Form 

United Legal Benefits 

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.

Benefit Overview

Enrollment Guide

Benefit Summary

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