Health Benefit Plans

Medical - Dental - Vision 

Washoe County offers its employees comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage. Employees are eligible for health benefits after 30 days of employment.

Beginning June 1st, newly hired and rehired employees are eligible for health benefits on the 31st day of employment.  Employee's hired April 2nd - May 31st will have met the 31-day requirement and will have a benefit effective date of July 1st.

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 Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
  • Self-funded High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) 
  • Surest Plan (Surest)

Washoe County contributes 100% of the premium for each employee. For employees who wish to cover their dependents, employees pay 50% of dependent premiums. Premiums are deducted each pay period on a pre-tax basis.*

The table below outlines the cost, per pay period, to the employee based upon plan selection and number of family members covered:

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            *Domestic Partner Premium is a post-tax deduction.

logo-umr.png Self-funded PPO Plan

The PPO Plan is administered by UMR and the United Healthcare Choice Plus network of providers.

Prescription benefits under this plan are managed by MaxorPlus.

logo-umr.png High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA)

The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is administered by UMR and the United Healthcare Choice Plus network of providers. The HDHP is paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) which is administered by American Fidelity Assurance Company.

Prescription benefits under this plan are managed by MaxorPlus.

HSA/HDHP FAQs

HSA Contribution Worksheet (Understanding Your Maximum Contribution)

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A UMR Representative is available every Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.                   

Located in the Human Resources Office at 1001 E. Ninth St.,  Bldg. A, Room 220, Reno NV.                 

No appointment is needed. 

  Surest Plan (Surest)

This plan is administered by Surest, with prescription benefits managed by Optum Rx. 

 

 American Fidelity GAP Plan 

This GAP Plan is administered by American Fidelity Assurance Company, and is designed to help cover a portion of your out-of-pocket expenses with the Surest health plan.

 Dental_Vision 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 and their covered dependents are not able to opt out of any coverage offered. 

The self-funded dental plan is administered by UMR and the network of PPO dental providers is managed by Guardian: 

Dental Plan Summary

Find an In-Network Provider:

  1. Go to guardiananytime.com and select Search Providers
  2. Under Plan Type, select PPO
  3. 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 Plan Summary

Vision Service Plan (VSP) Provider Network

Standard life insurance log  Life Insurance

Washoe County provides basic life insurance coverage with a benefit maximum of $20,000. The benefit reduces to $13,000 at age 65 and $7,000 at age 70.

To enter/update life insurance beneficiary information, log into ESS, and select the Life and Work Events tab. Select the Beneficiary Change link and enter your beneficiary information. 

ESS Life Insurance Beneficiary Instructions (printable version)

If you are unable to access ESS, please complete a Life Insurance Beneficiary Form and submit it to healthbenefitsmailbox@washoecounty.gov.

Supplemental life insurance is available for purchase; please see additional information under Supplemental Benefits web page.

Life Insurance FAQs

  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. 

COBRA FAQs

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American Fidelity Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

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 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 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).
How to Submit for Reimbursement:
The fastest way to file a reimbursement claim is through your online account, or on the mobile app,AFmobile®.
  • Online
    1. Log in to your online account
    2. Click the File a Claim button on the top of the page
    3. Select Reimbursement Account
    4. Complete the claim form
    5. Click the Submit button
  • AFmobile
    1. Touch the Submit Reimbursement button on the AFmobile dashboard
    2. Complete the Claim Form
    3. Click the Submit button

 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 $3,200 pre-tax dollars per calendar year for reimbursement of eligible medical, dental and vision expenses.
How to Submit for Reimbursement:
The fastest way to file a reimbursement claim is through your online account, or on the mobile app,AFmobile®.
  • Online
    1. Log in to your online account
    2. Click on the File a Claim button
    3. Select Reimbursement Account(s)
    4. Complete the claim form
    5. Click the Submit button
  • AFmobile
    1. Touch the Submit Reimbursement button on the AFmobile dashboard
    2. Complete the Claim Form
    3. Click the Submit button
  • Fax or Mail
    1. Download and complete a Claim Form and include all applicable receipts and documentation. Please note, paper claim filing is not the fastest option. File a claim online or through AFmobile to get your money faster.

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

 

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