Eligibility

Open Enrollment

Alachua County has an annual open enrollment for group health, dental, vision and flexible spending accounts. This is a time when County employees may enroll, drop, change or add coverage. Open enrollment is held each year during July and changes made during open enrollment are effective October 1.

Eligible Dependents

Dependents are eligible for coverage as follows:

Your lawful spouse, or domestic partner (dental and health only, also must meet criteria and complete affidavit),
your child, newborn child, stepchild, legally adopted child, or a child for whom you have been court-appointed as legal guardian or legal custodian, who has not reached the end of the calendar year in which they reach age 26
the newborn child of a covered dependent child, coverage will automatically terminate 18 months after the birth of the newborn child.
your children, who due to a disability, are incapable of self-support.

Life Style Changes

New employees may enroll in any benefit plan for which they are eligible provided they make the election within their eligibility period. All employees may make changes during open enrollment. The IRS rules regulating pre-tax premium plans do not allow for changes to be made to benefits elections with out a qualified life style event. Changes must be made within 30 days of the event. The following events are some but not necessarily all qualified life style changes.

Birth, placement for adoption
Marriage
Death
Divorce
Dependent starting a new job
Dependent terminating a job
Reduction of work hours
Moving outside HMO service area
Dependent's open enrollment period with significant financial impact
Dependent losing eligibility

If you experience a qualified event you must contact Risk Management and complete the necessary paperwork and provide the supporting documentation. The paperwork must be completed within 30 days of the event. If more than 30 days have passed you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to make the change to your coverage.

Employee Assistance Program

Alachua County Employees can access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through UF Health, formerly Shands at Vista. The employee assistance program is a confidential counseling and referral service available to Alachua County employees and can be used to deal with any problem an employee may be facing, such as drug/alcohol abuse, grief, divorce, financial problems, work issues, marital conflicts, children, etc. The plan allows for four free visits per plan year (October 1 - September 30).

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Employee Benefits

Eligibility