Other State Benefits - cagov/ODI-Onboarding-and-State-of-CA-Benefits GitHub Wiki

Table of Contents

Reimbursement Accounts

FlexElect Program

The FlexElect program for state employees lets you set aside part of your monthly wages in a "Reimbursement Account" to pay for certain expenses. FlexElect offers two types of reimbursement accounts: a "Medical Account" and a "Dependent Care Account."

One-pager - What is FlexElect FlexElect Program Overview Flex Elect Reimbursement Claim Form

Things to note when enrolling in a reimbursement Account

  • Estimate expenses conservatively. It's better to underestimate costs than overestimate. If you overestimate how much you expect to spend on eligible expenses, you'll end up with more money in your account than you can claim for reimbursement. Leftover funds cannot be carried over to the following year.
  • Meet the deadline for claims. The deadline to submit claims for expenses incurred in the current plan year is June 30.

Medical Account

With a Medical Reimbursement Account, you can set aside money from your paycheck to pay for health care expenses not covered by your insurance. The money you set aside is exempt from taxation, so you end up owing fewer taxes on your income.

Overview & Eligible Medical Account Expenses

If you enroll in a Medical Reimbursement Account, your contributions to it must be:

  • At least $10 per month, and
  • No more than $2,750 per person per year. (This is a change from prior years.)

In other words, over a 12-month period you may contribute a minimum of $10 per month up to a maximum of $229.16 per month. If you enroll mid-year, you may contribute more than $229.16 per month as long as you don't exceed the $2,750 annual maximum.

Once the plan year starts (January 1st), you cannot change your monthly deduction amount except in limited circumstances called "permitting events."

Dependent Care

A dependent care account is for paying daycare expenses. This account does not cover medical expenses for your dependents. The money you contribute to a dependent care account is not taxable, which means you'll pay less taxes than you would if this money is counted as taxable income.

Overview & Eligible Dependent Care Expenses

Annual Limits on Dependent Care Deductions

If you enroll in a dependent care reimbursement account, your contributions to it must be:

At least $20 per month and no more than $5,000 per year per household ($2,500 for a married individual filing a separate tax return).

In other words, over a 12-month period you may contribute a minimum of $20 per month up to a maximum of $416.66 per month (or $208.33 if you're married and filing a separate tax return). If you enroll mid-year, you may contribute more than $416.66 per month (up to the applicable annual household limit).

If you earn more than $120,000 in prior tax year, you're considered a "highly compensated employee" under IRS rules and may be subject to a lower maximum contribution than listed above. This program can't determine your maximum contribution until all enrollment documents have been processed (typically February or March). CalHR will notify you if it was determined that you must reduct your contribution amount.

Employee Assistance Program

This program is provided by the State of California as part of the state’s commitment to promoting employee health and well-being. It is offered at no charge to employees and their eligible dependents. It provides a valuable resource for support and information during difficult times, as well as consultation on day-to-day concerns. EAP is an assessment, short-term counseling, and referral service designed to provide you and your family with assistance in managing everyday concerns.

Need help? Call toll-free, 24 hours a day seven days a week.

EAP Contact Information Magellan Healthcare Phone: 866-EAP-4SOC (866-327-4762) TTY callers: 800-424-6117

Website

EAP Overview Types of Services offered EAP Supervisor Handbook Virutal Training Series

  • There are a range of topics of pre-recorded sessions available to listen to for free, including: Overview of services offered for employees and supervisors, Conquering Workplace Stress, Successfully Navigating Challenging and Difficult Relationships, and Making the Transition from Individual Contributor to Leader

Healthier U - Wellness Program

CalHR has a number of resources available to help employees live a healthy lifestyle. They provide videos, articles, guidance and resources on mental health, healthy eating, exercising and much more. Sign up to the Healthier U website to gain access to these resources.

Group Legal Services Insurance Plan

The Group Legal Services Insurance Plan is a voluntary, employee-paid plan that provides comprehensive legal coverage. It is designed to meet the most common personal legal needs of an individual or family. It connects employees with network attorneys and other legal resources to help you resolve life's legal issues.

Open Enrollment for the Plan is held annually during the fall. If you are currently enrolled in the Plan you do not need to re-enroll, as coverage continues automatically. Plan can be cancelled at any time

Overview & types of coverage Coverage and costs for Individual and Family Plans

Group Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

LTD is a voluntary insurance plan that is available to eligible excluded state employees only. This benefit replaces a portion of your income in the event you cannot work for six months or more due to a covered illness or injury. Overview Enroll

Employee Wellness Program

Promotes a work environment that encourages healthy lifestyle choices, decreases the risk of illness and disease and enhances employee effectiveness and well-being.

Employer offered Activities & Employee Discounts

Basic Group Term Life Insurance

Excluded employees (not part of a bargaining unit) are automatically enrolled in the basic life insurance coverage offered by the state. This is an employer paid benefit where employees designated supervisory and confidential have $25,000 of basic insurance coverage and employees designated exempt and managerial have $50,000 coverage.

For a small monthly fee, excluded employees can also enroll in Supplemental life Insurance where they can elect coverage amounts in $10,000 increments up to eight (8) times their basic annual earnings, not to exceed $750,000.

About Supplemental life Insurance Enrolling in Supplemental Life insurance

Bargaining Units for Civil Service Staff

Supervisors/Managers are not enrolled in a Union, but can choose to be in one, and pay union dues, in order to receive certain benefits.

Non-supervisors can opt out of being in union, but will still need to pay small percentage of dues as Unions are bargaining with state for benefits that benefit all civil service employees.

Bargaining Unit Benefits for Supervisors & Managers