Warsaw Board Of Works Approves Benefit Changes
At the Oct. 3 meeting of the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety, the city of Warsaw’s Human Resources Director Jennifer Whitaker came before the board seeking approval for changes to city employee benefit packages. The changes would affect city employees dental plans, short term disability and retirement plans.
Employee’s self-funded dental plan will now cover 100 percent of dental cleanings instead of the 50 percent. “We’ve been doing really well with our dental,” said Whitaker. “We did try to go fully insured, and it was not worth it. So we went back to self-funded in 2010.”
“If we can front load that wellness benefit, we can save a lot,” continued Whitaker. She went on to state cost for X-rays and other procedures would remain a 50/50 split.
Regarding short term disability, under the new changes city employees must exhaust accrued sick time before being eligible for short term disability benefits. “This is pro-employee, this is loading their benefits in the front instead of the back,” Whitaker explained.
In summation, should a city employee be unable to work for medical reasons, he/she would first use up any accrued sick leave. Once that is exhausted, he/she would apply for short term disability, then long term disability.
Both of these changes are in response to new requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Age requirements for benefits will now mirror those of the ACA. The plan year is defined as Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, and open enrollment is reflected in November.
“I’ve got to get these plans aligned because we are not in compliance,” said Whitaker. “We have to be responsible to the taxpayers. We have to be responsible to the employees, but we have to be compliant.”
The BoW also approved a one-year agreement with the Bowen Center for an employee assistance program. Under the agreement, all city employees and their family members will have access to services such as training for supervisors and managers, critical incident stress management response, and monthly “Mental Health Moments” newsletter and two workshops for city employees. Additionally, employees and their families will have access to outpatient counseling sessions and referral to other organizations as needed.
A change to the city’s 457-Plan through OneAmerica was also approved. “OneAmerica recently reviewed our plan for structure and compliance and discovered we do not have the ability to force separated participants out of the plan who carry a balance of $5,000 or less,” wrote Whitaker. “By Accepting the reinstatement document, we will be able to do so.”
“Once OneAmerica is notified of separated participant employees, and if they qualify for the mandatory cash out, they would be notified by One America and will be able to direct where and how to receive their small balances,” Whitaker continued.