Frequently Asked Benefit Questions
The more you understand your employee benefits, the better you will be at making decisions that are right for you.
BENEFITS ENROLLMENT
New Employees
 When is New Employee Orientation?
Employees typically attend New Employee Orientation (NEO) within the first two weeks of hire.
How soon do new employees need to submit benefit enrollment forms?
New employees are required to submit benefit enrollment forms within 30 days of hire date. If benefits enrollment forms are not received within this time period, the employee must wait until the next Open Enrollment period or a qualifying event.
When do benefits begin for new employees?
Employees hired between the 1st and the 15th of the month will receive benefits beginning the 1st of the next month. Employees hired between the 16th and the end of the month will receive benefits the 1st of the month following the next month.
Who are the medical, dental, and vision benefit plan providers?
The medical benefits are provided through Regence BlueShield and Group Health Options. The dental benefits are provided through Washington Dental Service (WDS), Willamette Dental, and Cigna Dental.
Are all new employees required to enroll in medical insurance?
Employees may decline enrollment in medical insurance by completing a Waiver of Health Care Coverage.
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Open Enrollment and Qualifying Events
What is Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment is a designated time period when employees may make changes to their insurance benefits.
What is a qualifying event?
A life event change, also called a qualifying event, is a personal change in status that allows employees to change benefit elections. Examples of qualifying events include, but are not limited to: change in legal marital status, change in number of dependents, and change in employment status.
How soon must a qualifying event be reported in order to add new dependants?
Marriages must be reported to Human Resources within 30 days. Births must be reported within 60 days. Beyond these time parameters, dependents may not be added to benefit coverage until the next Open Enrollment.
When can benefit coverage be removed?
You may remove benefit coverage at any time. Once it is removed, it cannot be added back until Open Enrollment or a qualifying event.
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Dependent Eligibility
Who is considered an eligible dependant?
Eligible dependents include spouses, domestic partners, biological children, adopted children, and children placed into guardianship by court order.
Who is an ineligible dependant?
Coverage of ineligible dependents may constitute healthcare fraud. Ineligible dependents include, but are not limited to: ex-spouses, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, caregivers, renters, boarders, tenants, and employees. Please contact Human Resources for more information.
What documents are required to prove dependent eligibility?
Employees must submit proof of eligibility for all enrolled dependents. Specifically, a marriage certificate is required to enroll a spouse, an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership is required to enroll a domestic partner, a government issued birth certificate is required to enroll a biological child, and a court document of legal guardianship is required to enroll an adopted child. All eligibility documents are obtained at the employee's expense. Benefits will not be extended to unverified dependents.
Are medical, dental, and/or vision benefits offered to domestic partners?
Domestic partners are eligible to receive medical, dental, and/or vision benefits after an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership has been filed with the Human Resources department.
What is the maximum age for eligible dependent children to receive medical, dental, and/or vision coverage?
Federal Health Care Reform increased the length of time dependents may be covered by their parents' or legal guardians' insurance benefits. Specifically, young adults may remain covered on the medical, vision, and dental plans until their 26th birthday. Coverage of dependents is based only on age. Marital status, enrollment in school, and geographical location does not impact dependent coverage.
Cost of Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverge
How much do employees pay for medical insurance?
Medical benefits premiums vary by plan, bargaining unit affiliation, and FTE status. Please review the medical benefits webpage for more information.
How much do employees pay for dental and vision insurance?
Snohomish County pays the monthly dental and vision insurance premium for employees working 35+ hours per week. Employees working less than 35 hours per week will be offered vision and dental benefits with pro-rated premiums. Please contact Human Resources for more information.
How much does it cost to add a domestic partner to medical, dental, and/or vision insurance?
Please review Taxable Income to Employees Electing Domestic Partner Benefits Coverage.
How much does the employer pay for medical, dental, and/or vision insurance?
Please see Payroll Rate for Employee and Employer Premium Contributions for side-by-side comparisons.
Do temporary employees receive medical benefits?
No, medical benefits are not provided to temporary employees.
Explanation of Benefits
What type of coverage do the medical, dental, and vision plans provide?
Medical, dental, and vision summary documents provide an overview of the benefit plans. These materials offer a general outline of benefits, but not a guarantee of coverage or service. Please contact the benefit provider with specific questions.
Where can an employee recieve more information about specific benefit services?
Explanation of benefits, guarantee of coverage, and preauthorization of services must be handled between the employee and the benefit provider.
Where can an employee receive information about the appeal process after services were denied or provided at a lesser coverage level than expected?
Employees may contact their benefit provider and request initiation of the appeal process.
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Pharmacy
Are pharmacy benefits included with medical insurance coverage?
Pharmacy benefits are embedded into medical coverage through Regence and Group Health. Please review comparison of medical plans for more information.
Are mail order pharmacy benefits available?
Both Regence and Group Health offer pharmacy management programs. Visit Regence Prescription Medication Mail Order Forms and Group Health Mail Order Services for more information.
Are there enhanced pharmacy benefits for certain chronic conditions?
Regence Plan A for Categories A and E offers some generic medications for asthma, diabetes, coronary, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Coronary Heart Failure, and depression at no co-pay. Some brand formulary insulin and diabetic supplies also have no co-pay. Please see Value Plus Medication List for more information.
AFLAC PRODUCTS
Does the county short term disability coverage?
Aflac offers short term disability coverge.
When can employees register for Aflac products?
Employees may meet with the Aflac representative during Open Enrollment or after New Employee Orientation.
Does Aflac offer domestic partner coverge?
Yes, Aflac offers domestic partner coverage. Please contact the Aflac representative for more information.
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DEFERRED COMPENSATION
When can employees make changes to their deferred compensation plan?
Employees may make chagnes to their Nationwide account at any time by contacting the plan representative.
Are employees offered a match for deferred compensation?
Most county employees receive a match. Please visit the Deferred Compensation page for more details.
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RETIREMENT BENEFITS
When are employees required to choose a Department of Retirement PERS plan?
Employees have less than 90 days because the decision has to be sent to DRS by payroll before the 90th day.
What is the difference between PERS2 and PERS3?
Visit the Department of Retirement Systems Web site.
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FLOATING HOLIDAYS
When can floating holidays be used?
Eligible employees receive two floating holidays (maximum of eight hours each) during each calendar year. New employees hired after July 1st receive one floater the first year, but will receive two floaters each January thereafter. Each employee may use their floating holidays at their discretion provided they receive approval from their supervisor. New employees are only eligible to use the floating holidays after completion of 60 calendar days of continuous employment. If floaters are not used by the end of the year, they will be lost
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PARKING GARAGE
How do I sign up for parking in the county garage?
Contact Glen with Republic Parking, who manages the county’s parking garage.
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