Orange County Government, Florida

Employee Benefits

For your health and peace of mind

Overview

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

  • Medical & Prescription
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability
  • Health Savings Accounts
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Retirement Benefits

If you are a new employee enrolling in medical, dental and vision benefits, there is a 60-day waiting period before your coverage begins, and you will have 30 days from the date of hire to sign up for your benefit elections. As an employee you can make changes during the annual open enrollment each fall. During this time, you have the chance to review your benefits and make changes that meet your personal needs. You may also make changes to your benefits during the year if you experience a qualified life event such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child. The County follows the criteria established by section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code to determine that a qualified event has occurred. You can then come forward to make the changes as long as you do this within 30 days of the event.

Explore this site and review our Benefits Handbook to learn and stay informed about the complete depth and breadth of our benefits.

Medical Insurance

There are three different medical plans for you to choose from. The County and you share on the cost of premiums.

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

  • Employer contribution into an HSA or FSA for qualified employees meeting specific criteria.
  • Annual deductible of: $1,200 for employee only and $2,400 for employee with dependents.
  • Annual out of pocket max of: $2,400 for employee only and $4,800 for employees with dependents.
  • Preventive care covered 100% even prior to deductible.
  • Preventive medications covered prior to the deductible.
  • Prior to deductible, you pay the negotiated rate for all non-preventive care.
  • After you meet the deductible, you pay 20% coinsurance for all non-preventive care until you meet the annual out of pocket maximum.
  • After you meet the out of pocket maximum, all covered services and pharmacy is paid 100% by the plan for the rest of the calendar year.

Low Deductible Health Plan (LDHP)

  • Hybrid plan: Combines elements of a traditional copay plan with elements of a deductible plan.
  • Certain medical services like doctor visits and urgent care will have a flat copay year round (ranging from $20 to $100 depending on service type) while other services have a deductible, coinsurance, and out of pocket max.
  • Annual deductible of: $500 for employee only and $1,000 for employee with dependents (only applies to “non copay” services).
  • Annual out of pocket max of: $1,500 for employee only and $3,000 for employees with dependents (only applies to “non copay” services).
  • Preventive care covered 100% even prior to deductible.
  • All medications covered with a 3-tier copay schedule, without deductible or out of pocket max.

The Fine Print

Deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are yearly.

  1. You pay the negotiated rate for all non-preventive care until you meet the deductible.
  2. You pay year-round copayments ranging from $20 to $100. Copayments do not count towards the annual deductible or out-of-pocket maximums.
  3. Only for services that do not require a copayment.
  4. Pharmacy coverage without a separate deductible.
  5. Pharmacy coverage with a copayment and/or coinsurance with no deductible.

TRICARE Supplemental Plan

  • Supplemental plan for eligible members of the armed forces and their families.
  • Available to employees who are enrolled/entitled to the TRICARE Retiree health benefits due to their military affiliation.

Health Savings Account

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a personal savings account that you can use to pay for qualified medical expenses. The money in an HSA account comes from contributions made by the County, you, or any other individual provided that they do not exceed the maximum amount set by the law. Check the Benefits Handbook for contribution details.

Key Benefits:

  • Contributions made to your HSA are exempt from federal income tax.
  • The County offers payroll deductions to help you deposit money into your HSA.
  • Your deposits may earn interest and continue to grow over time.
  • The money in your HSA belongs to you, no matter who deposited it, even if you change jobs or switch health plans.
  • HSA funds can be used to pay for current and future qualified medical expenses – there's no "use it or lose it" rule.
  • You can use your HSA to pay for qualified medical expenses for your spouse or dependents, even if they are not covered under your high-deductible health plan.

Eligibility:

To qualify for an HSA, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be covered under a high deductible health plan (HDHP)
  • You have no other health coverage that is not a high deductible health plan including TRICARE, TRICARE for Life, Medical Flexible Spending Account (yours or your spouse’s).
  • You are not enrolled in Medicare.
  • You cannot receive VA medical benefits within the 3 months prior to making a contribution.
  • You cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.

How do I contribute to my HSA?

If you elect and open an HSA through OptumHealth Bank, you will be able to contribute pre-tax dollars to your account through payroll deduction. Payroll deduction amounts can be started, changed, or stopped at any time during the year without reason. Simply complete the HSA Deduction Change Form and send it to the Payroll Department for processing.

Tobacco Free

All County facilities are tobacco free. We charge $25 per pay period to tobacco users enrolled in either the HDHP or LPHP medical plans.

Dental Insurance

Choose from three PPO/Indemnity dental options.

  • Expenses incurred by in-network providers are reimbursed at the applicable benefit percentage shown of the allowable negotiated fee. Expenses from a non-network provider are limited to reimbursement based on Reasonable & Customary allowances for the High plan and the Maximum Allowable Expense for the Low and Middle plans.

Low Plan Middle Plan High Plan
Preventive Care Per schedule 100% 100%
Basic Services Per schedule 70% 80%
Major Services Per schedule 40% 50%
Max yearly benefit $1,000 $1,000 $1,500

Vision Insurance

  • Provides coverage for yearly eye exams, required corrective lenses and frames.
  • Copayments of $5 for eye exams and $15 for lenses and/or frames.

Life Insurance

We offer four levels of life insurance.



Basic Additional Spouse Child
Coverage 100% of salary at no cost Purchase in $10,000 increments Purchase in $10,000 increments Purchase $5,000 or $10,000
Max Amount $200,000 5x annual base pay, but no more than $300,000 50% of employee basic and additional life 50% of employee basic and additional life
Accidental Death &
Dismemberment
2x basic coverage 2x elected additional life insurance 2x spouse life insurance None

Disability Insurance

  • County-paid, Long-Term Disability coverage of 60% of your annual salary, up to a maximum of $10,000 a month. Benefits are available after a 180 day waiting period.
  • Employees can purchase short-term disability insurance to shorten their waiting period (120, 90, 60, 30, or 15 days). Employees must exhaust all leave balances and meet their waiting period in order to claim disability benefits.

Flexible Spending Accounts

We offer three different Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to cover out-of-pocket expenses with pre-tax income.

Medical FSA

  • For eligible medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision expenses.
  • You cannot elect a Medical FSA if you are contributing to a HSA.
  • Minimum annual contributions of $390, maximum of $3,510.

Limited Purpose FSA

  • For eligible dental and vision expenses only.
  • You cannot elect a Limited Purpose FSA if you are electing a Medical FSA.
  • Minimum annual contributions of $390, maximum of $3,510.

Dependent Daycare FSA

  • For eligible childcare and daycare expenses.
  • Minimum annual contributions of $390, maximum of $5,000.

Domestic Partners

Orange County extends benefits eligibility to same-sex domestic partners. Please refer to the Domestic Partner Benefits Guidebook for information about domestic partner coverage under the various benefit plans. The guidebook also provides important information about the process of declaring a domestic partnership as well as tax considerations.

Retirement

As an Orange County employee, you are part of The Florida Retirement System (FRS). You have a choice between the Pension Plan or the Investment Plan. Although we pay most of the cost, you pay a 3% pretax contribution.

Visit www.myFRS.com for unbiased financial planning and in-depth investment information and support. You can also review the Retirement Guidebook for more detailed information.

Pension Plan

Pensions promise a defined retirement benefit based on a formula and is ideal for long term employees who plan to spend the majority of their career with an FRS employer.

Employees hired or rehired with FRS employer before July 1, 2011:

  • Will “vest” after 6 years employment.
  • Will be eligible for normal pension retirement at age 62 (with at least 6 years of service) or with 30 years of service, regardless of age.

Employees hired with FRS employer on or after July 1, 2011:

  • Will “vest” after 8 years of employment.
  • Will be eligible for normal pension retirement at age 65 (with at least 8 years of service) or with 33 years of service, regardless of age.

Investment Plan

The investment plan is a defined contribution plan. However, the benefit you receive at retirement is determined by the performance of your investment choices. This plan is typically best for shorter service employees. In order to qualify or “vest”, you must work for 1 year with an FRS employer.

Deferred Compensation

Build retirement savings through payroll deductions every two weeks. Vanguard manages our Section 457(b) deferred compensation plan; learn more about the plan.

Choose between plans to pay taxes now or later. Use the Roth Assessment Tool at Vanguard Roth Tool to find out the plan that’s right for you.

Other Employment Benefits

The County also offers various employment benefits including, but not limited to:

  • Training & Development Opportunities.
  • 10 Paid Holidays.
  • Paid Leave.
  • Employee discounts and specials.
  • Educational Assistance.
  • Employee Assistance Program.
  • Free membership to County and Orlando Magic gyms.

For more information regarding these benefits, please visit our Other Employment Benefits page.

Contact Us

Orange County Human Resources, Benefits Section
450 E. South Street
Orlando, FL. 32801

Email: benefits@ocfl.net
Phone: 407-836-2900

All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.