Human Resources

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.

Newly hired and rehired employees are eligible for health benefits on the 31st day 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 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.*

            *Domestic Partner Premium is a post-tax deduction.

• Summary of Benefits/Enrollment Timelines
• 2025 Washoe County Medical Plan Comparison
• Eligibility Quick Reference
• Glossary of Terms
• Medical Insurance FAQs

 Self-funded PPO Plan

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

• UMR PPO Health Plan Summary
• UMR PPO Health Plan Document

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.

• UMR HDHP Health Plan Summary
• UMR HDHP Health Plan Document

Prescription benefits under this plan are managed by MaxorPlus.

HSA/HDHP FAQs

HSA Contribution Worksheet (Understanding Your Maximum Contribution)  

  Surest Plan (Surest)

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

• Surest Plan Summary of Benefits
• Surest Plan Provider Network Guide 
• Surest Plan Document

  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.

• GAP Summary with Rates
• Gap Plan Reimbursement Form
• GAP Plan FAQs

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

  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

 Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Washoe County's Flexible Spending Benefit Plan is administered by American Fidelity Assurance Company.

Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account

Health Flexible Spending Account

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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