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Insurance
The City of Quincy offers benefit eligible employees health, dental and life insurance coverage.The health insurance is offered thru the Government Insurance Corporation. An employee must work 20 hours consistently to be considered benefit eligible. All employees have access to the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP).
Health Insurance
Several plans are offered thru the GIC, including a Harvard Pilgrim PPO.
The Preferred Provider Organization is a flexible plan where you can receive care from virtually any participating provider or hospital without having to get a referral. You are not required to select a primary care physician. You are covered for routine, preventive, specialty and emergency care. Covered prescriptions include generic, select brand and non-select brand drugs.
To contact Harvard Pilgrim Health Care call (888) 333-4742 or log on to their website at http://www.harvardpilgrim.org. Back to Top
Dental Insurance
Delta Dental is the dental provider for the City of Quincy offering family and individual plans to benefit eligible employees. There are two plans offered.
Delta DPO+ covers preventive, basic restorative and major restorative coverage at 80% for a maximum amount of $1,500 per calendar year, per member. New bridges, dentures, braces and periodontal work are not covered under the plan.
Delta Care works much like a dental HMO, in which you and your family receive care from a network of participating dentists. New bridges, dentures, braces, and periodontal work will have some coverage under the plan. Most preventive and diagnostic services are covered at 100%. There is a $1,000 calendar year maximum on certain specialty services.
To contact Delta Dental call (800) 872-0500 or log on to their website at www.deltamass.com. Back to Top
Flex Spending
The City of Quincy offers participation in a Flex Spending Plan up to $2,000 for health related and $5,000 for dependent care coverage.
Life Insurance
The City of Quincy currently offers all active benefit eligible employees basic and voluntary life insurance plans. The programs are insured by Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company. The Basic plan offers employees $7,500 group term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. The cost for this coverage is shared by the City and the covered employee. Once enrolled in this plan, the coverage will remain in effect as long as contributions are made.
The voluntary group life insurance offers all active benefit eligible employees the opportunity to purchase additional group life insurance. The plan offers a maximum of $50,000. No health questions or exams are required. Employee coverage includes accidental death and dismemberment. Dependent life coverage is available.
If you have any questions regarding your life insurance policy, please contact our Human Resources Department. You can contact Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company at (781) 828-7000 or www.bostonmutual.com
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Open Enrollment
Open enrollment for existing benefit eligible employees to make changes to their health, dental and life insurance plans is traditionally held the first three weeks of May each year. Changes in the GIC health plan are permitted from mid Aril to mid May. The effective date for all changes made during this time is July 1st.
The only other time changes may be made outside of open enrollment is if the employee experiences a "qualifying event".
A "qualifying event" that would enable an employee to add or delete a spouse from an existing plan would include marriage, death, divorce, legal separation or annulment. Employees may add, change, or delete coverage if the employee's spouse receives loss of coverage in their separate plan with their employer.
Employees may change the number of dependents listed on the plan in the event of birth, adoption, death of a dependent, or when a dependent becomes ineligible under the plan due to age or loss of full time school verification.
Please note that you are required to report any changes in eligibility/ineligibility of a dependent to Human Resource within 31 days of the date of eligibility/ineligibility. If you are adding a dependent to the plan you must provide all required documentation no later than 31 days after the date of the "qualifying event".
Deferred Compensation
Our deferred compensation programs allow employees to invest pre-tax money through payroll deductions. The following financial service organizations manage these programs. For more information, please contact the Human Resources Department or contact the individuals below:
ING: Robin Krieger, 617-376-4927 www.ingdirect.com
Nationwide: Judith Santosuosso 617-840-9901 santosj2@nationwide.com
Great West: Walter Manning, 866-317-6584 x 20081 walter.manning@gwrs.com
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COBRA
The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act commonly known as "COBRA" offers a temporary extension of the group insurance coverage when the employee or covered dependent experiences a loss of coverage. Since COBRA is a temporary extension, benefits remain identical to that of a similarly situated active employee. The participant is responsible for paying the full group premium. COBRA continuation coverage offers individuals increased time to obtain new coverage and should not be viewed as a permanent plan.
Eligible Qualifiers for COBRA
Covered employees and or dependents experiencing a "qualifying event" are eligible for continuing coverage under COBRA with the following time conditions.
Termination of employment (except for gross misconduct) (18 month maximum) Under new federal law the participant pays for 35% of coverage thru the GIC.
Reduction in work hours (no longer eligible for benefits) (18 month maximum)
Death of employee (36 month maximum)
Divorce or legal separation of an employee (36 month maximum)
Loss of dependent status (age dependent or no longer full time student) (36 month maximum)
When termination of employment, reduction in work hours or employees death occurs, the employee and /or any covered dependents shall be sent a COBRA qualifying event letter explaining their rights under the law.
In the situation of an employee's divorce or legal separation or loss of dependent status, it is the responsibility of the employee/dependent to notify Human Resource of the "qualifying event" within 60 days from the event. Upon notification, the administrator will have the qualified beneficiary sent the necessary COBRA enrollment forms and notification letter.
Disabled COBRA Participants
Qualified beneficiaries that experienced either a termination of employment or reduction in work hours and who are disabled shall be offered an eleven month extension (29 month total). Participants shall be required to provide social security's determination of disability within 60 days of the date of notification and prior to the end of the 18 month COBRA term.
Monthly COBRA Premiums and Election
COBRA participants must make timely premium payments to remain on the plan. Since COBRA is a continuation of benefits, coverage will remain the same as prior to the qualifying event but participants are responsible for 100% of the monthly cost. When electing COBRA, the participant may choose either a family or individual plan. For example, a person having family coverage for both medical and dental insurance may elect to continue just medical or dental and can enroll the entire family or just one qualified beneficiary.
Termination from COBRA
The administrator (Human Resources) shall terminate COBRA coverage upon one or more of the following events:
Insurance plan termination - If the City of Quincy terminates a group insurance plan for active employees, COBRA participants shall be notified and terminated from that plan only. If the City of Quincy offers a new similar type of insurance plan, the administrator shall offer COBRA participants the right to enroll in the new plan.
Nonpayment of COBRA premiums - participants will be terminated for nonpayment of premiums if premiums are not made by the agreed upon due date.
Coverage under another group plan - For participants that obtain similar coverage under another group plan, the administrator will notify the participant of their termination from the city's insurance plan.
Medicare Entitlement - once the participant becomes entitled to Medicare
(Part A and/or B) the participant will no longer be entitled to COBRA.
Service area - If a participant is enrolled in an insurance plan that requires members to reside in a specific geographical area and they move from that area, the administrator may terminate coverage.
If a disabled COBRA participant is deemed no longer disabled during the continuation period, the entire family may be terminated from COBRA.
End of COBRA term - once the participant has reached the end of the COBRA term (either18, 29 or 36 months) the administrator will send a termination notice.
Open Enrollment for COBRA Participants
Participants enrolled on COBRA may make changes to their plans during open enrollment, which coincides with active employees. Open enrollment is traditionally the first three weeks on May of each year. The effective date for all open enrollment changes is July 1st.
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
As part of the employee benefit package employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This is a risk management strategy designed to help employees of the City of Quincy manage the impact of employee personal problems in a responsive and cost effective manner. Bayview Associates is the provider of this service and is conveniently located in Quincy.
Employees have immediate access to confidential and professional resources. Assistance is provided for employees facing personal problems including marital and family conflict, co-worker problems, emotional stress, anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, financial stress and lifestyle changes.
To learn more about Bayview Associates Employee assistance program please call 617-847-1950 or 800-852-2844.
Credit Union
Your employment with the City of Quincy entitles you and your family to the many benefits of Credit Union Membership at Quincy Municipal Credit Union. You can obtain a Quincy Credit Union Membership Guide in the Human Resources Office or refer to www.qmcu.org for more information.
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The City of Quincy offers many generous benefits for our employees. Should you have any questions in regard to these, please contact the Human Resources Office at 617-376-1065.
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