901 Employee Benefits

Employees on classified or unclassified positions with duties that are expected to continue for at least nine (9) months are eligible for benefits as defined in this policy.

The following employees are ineligible for benefits:

Eligible employees who work at least thirty (30) hours per week and whose duties are expected to continue for at least nine (9) months in positions that are set up for benefits are eligible to participate in SHBP and the Flexible Benefits Program.

Employees on Leave of Absence without Pay or Suspension without Pay may continue all insurance options in which enrolled for up to twelve (12) months by paying the required premiums.

Retired employees who were enrolled in SHBP at the time of retirement are eligible to continue coverage.

Employees whose established work hours fall below thirty (30) hours per week are generally no longer eligible for these benefits. An exception may occur when work hours decrease due to a disability. In this situation, the employee may be eligible to maintain benefits for up to twelve (12) months from the date of the disability. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) should be contacted to determine if an exception exists.

Employees who become ineligible due to a qualifying reason may elect to continue coverage under the provisions of State Law or the Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

Eligible employees can enroll in SHBP and the Flexible Benefits Program upon employment with State government. Coverage normally begins on the first day of the month following one complete month of employment. If employees are not in work status or on paid leave on this date, coverage begins on the date of return to work/pay status.

Employees transferring to DHS from other State agencies without a break in service keep the same health and flexible benefits upon transfer, if applicable.

Eligible employees can enroll in SHBP and the Flexible Benefits Program or make changes to coverage during the Open Enrollment period each year.

COBRA and State Law regarding State employees’ health insurance and flexible benefits may entitle employees and their qualified dependents to extend insurance coverage when coverage would otherwise end.

Employees or qualified dependents should contact SHBP at 1-800-610-1863 for information regarding extended health insurance coverage. Information is also available on the Georgia Department of Community Health website at dch.georgia.gov/.

Employees or qualified dependents should contact the GaBreeze Call Center 1-877- 342-7339 for information regarding extended flexible benefits coverage. The GaBreeze Administrator provides employees and dependents with written notice describing continuation rights when loss of eligibility for flexible benefits is reported. Information is also available on the DOAS Human Resources Administration website at doas.ga.gov/human-resources-administration or the GaBreeze website at www.GaBreeze.ga.gov.

Events that qualify for extended coverage include:

Events that qualify for extended coverage for qualified dependents include:

Eligible employees who work at least thirty-five (35) hours per week are generally required to be members of the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS).

Part-time employees who are not eligible for membership in ERS may be required by law to participate in the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan, which is administered by ERS. There are exceptions based on age and years of service.

Re-employed retired employees do not contribute to ERS or to the Georgia Defined Contributions Plan.

Eligible employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue leave at the end of each pay period in which they are in pay status for the required amount of time. Eligible employees who work at least twenty (20), but fewer than forty (40), hours per week accrue leave on a pro-rata basis dependent upon amount of time worked. Please refer to DHS Policy #1006: Absence from Work for additional information.

All DHS employees are covered under the provisions of Workers’ Compensation law, unless specifically excluded by law or regulation. Please refer to DHS Policy #1702: Leave and Payment for Workers’ Compensation and Special Injury Claims for additional information.

DHS recognizes that problems of a personal nature, such as stress, depression, family problems or substance abuse, can have a negative impact on employees' work behavior or performance. It also recognizes that many personal problems can be successfully addressed if identified early and appropriate care is received.

DHS provides employees and their family members living in the same household as the employee access to employee assistance program (EAP) services at no cost to the employee. EAP services assist employees in coping with and overcoming problems that may affect work behavior and/or performance. EAP participation, services, and records are confidential by law, with limited exceptions. Employees may access EAP services by contacting Acentra Health directly at 1-833-276-0988, twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week; or can visit: www.EAPHelpLink.com Company Code: Georgia.

SHBP also provides a behavioral health services benefit to assist employees to address mental health and substance abuse concerns. Employees may access behavioral health services by contacting the telephone number on their health insurance cards.

Employees are encouraged to seek assistance for personal problems that may be having a negative impact on work behavior or performance.

Supervisors are encouraged to refer employees to behavioral health services when work behavior or performance issues appear to be related to personal problems. Participation in behavioral health services must not hinder routine job expectations nor excuse employees from warranted disciplinary action.

All records and discussions of personal problems are to be handled in a confidential manner and shared with other individuals only on a “need-to-know” basis. Reference to participation in behavioral health services is not to be maintained in official personnel files.