College Policy Number/Title:

• 63.07  Benefits

The college defrays a portion of the cost of health and dental plans for full-time, position control/budgeted employees who elect this coverage.  Full-time, position control/budgeted employees who do not elect health coverage are required to provide proof of coverage by another health plan.  Employees should complete their application for the selected plan within the first 30 days of employment and the application should include all family members to be covered.  Otherwise, eligible family members may be enrolled only during the annual open enrollment period, except in certain life status changes such as marriage, birth, etc., in which case they would be covered effective the first day of the month following the event.  It is the employee's responsibility to notify the office of human resources of such changes.

Open enrollment periods are held each year in May or June.  During this time, employees who did not select a plan at the time of initial employment or who wish to switch plans may do so.  Current costs for each plan are distributed to all eligible employees during the open enrollment period.

Several medical and dental plans are available and are offered in cooperation with Howard County Government.  Literature on all of the plans, as well as costs for current plans, is available in the office of human resources.

Coverage under all health and dental benefit plans begins on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment.

The employee's share of health insurance premiums falls under the Howard Community College Flexible Benefits Plan under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) code.  As such, employee premiums are paid on a pre-tax basis.  If the employee waives election of health insurance, he/she is entitled to a credit which can be applied toward other pre-tax benefits (dental insurance or flexible spending accounts) or be taken as additional taxable income.

If an employee does not elect to continue health insurance coverage during an extended leave without pay (see "Leave Without Pay" procedure 63.08.08), the employee must re-enroll upon return to employment.

For additional information regarding Group Health Benefits, refer to the Benefits at a Glance document.