POLK COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BENEFITS PACKAGE

HOLIDAYS: [Ten (10) Holidays are provided annually]

New Year's Day	Martin Luther King Day
Memorial Day	Independence Day
Labor Day	Veterans Day
Thanksgiving	Day After Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve	Christmas

Only regular full-time employees and regular part-time employees are eligible to receive holiday pay.

RETIREMENT: All regular full-time and part-time employees are covered under the Florida Retirement System (FRS).  An amount equal to 9.85% (20.92% for special risk employees) of each eligible employee's wage is contributed to the system monthly by the Board of County Commissioners. Upon completion of 6 (six) years of creditable service with the County, the employee satisfies the minimum requirements for retirement vesting and at the appropriate age, or if the employee becomes disabled, he/she may apply for retirement benefits.  There are three (3) basic types of retirement.  These are normal retirement, early retirement and disability retirement. In the Investment plan option you are vested after one year of service and may take your retirement after one full year of service. You are not eligible to participate in the DROP program.

INSURANCE PLANS: One of the benefits available to eligible employees is insurance through the Health Plan.  Eligible employees are provided with Medical, Pharmacy, Mental Health, Dental, Vision, Life, and Long Term Disability (LTD) coverages.  Coverages begin after one full month of employment (example: start date 12/06/05, serve all of January, coverage begins February 01, 2006).  Employees must make benefit elections within 30 days from date of hire.

The County shares in the cost of Medical, Pharmacy, Mental Health, Life and LTD coverages for all eligible employees.  The first $10,000 of life insurance is provided to the employee by the County.  Additional employee/dependent life insurance may be purchased by the employee, at a reasonable rate.  The supplemental employee life insurance coverage amount is based on a multiple of his/her annual salary, ranging from one-half to a five times maximum.  An employee may purchase dependent life insurance for his/her spouse and/or dependent children; however, the coverage amount cannot exceed 50% of the employee life insurance benefit in effect.

LTD coverage is provided to the employee by the County.  This core benefit provides 60% replacement salary up to $1,000/month after a 180 day elimination period.  Optional LTD coverage with a lesser elimination period and greater monthly benefit maximum is available for purchase by the employee, at a reasonable rate.

Polk County Group Health Plan (Effective 10/01/06) United Healthcare
Choice Plus		Choice EPO Plan
Single (employee only)	$34.00  bi-weekly	Single (employee only)	$38.00  bi-weekly
Double (employee + one dep.)	$84.00  bi-weekly	Double (employee + one dep.)	$94.00  bi-weekly
Family (employee+ two/more dep)	$121.00 bi-weekly	Family (employee+ two/more dep)	$136.00 bi-weekly

Under the Choice Plus and Choice EPO plans, covered members may use any physician or hospital participating in the United Healthcare nationwide provider network.  Participants in the Choice Plus plan must meet an annual deductible of $250/individual and $750/family per calendar year before in-network covered benefits are payable at 80%.  Out-of-network covered services are payable at 60% once the deductible of $400/individual and $1200/family per calendar year has been met.

The Choice EPO plan has no out-of-network benefits (except in case of emergency), similar to an HMO; however, the members do not need a referral to see a specialist, nor are they required to select a primary care physician at time of enrollment.  Choice EPO plan participants have open access to any provider participating in the network and when a Participating Provider is used, covered benefits will be payable at either 100% or  90%, after specified co-payment is applied, if applicable.  There are no deductibles to be met.

DENTAL: There are three Ameritas plan options: Superior, High, and Low.  All plan options are based on a percentage of Usual & Customary charges per procedure type (Superior and High Option: Preventive-100%/Basic-80%/Major-50%; Low Option: Preventive-100%/Basic-73%/Major-48%, provided a participating provider is used.)  Under the High Option plan, the percentage payable is the same regardless of provider participation.  However, under the Low Option, non-network provider services are based on a fee schedule of reduced benefits.

VISION: Vision care coverage is provided through Spectera.  Participants are eligible to receive a complete eye exam, a pair of lenses for glasses, or 12 pairs of disposable contact lenses every 12 months and eyeglass frames every 24 months, at a low monthly premium.  When services are rendered by a network provider, exam co-pay is $10.00 and material co-pay is $25.00.  Out-of-network benefits are available at a lesser reimbursement level.

ANNUAL LEAVE: All regular full-time personnel shall accrue annual leave as noted in the following schedule: Regular part-time personnel will accrue the amounts listed on the schedule.

SERVICE TIME	BI-WEEKLY	ANNUALLY
From the first pay period through 5 years	3.70 hrs	12 days
From 6 yrs to 10 yrs	4.62 hrs	15 days
From 11 yrs to 15 yrs	5.54 hrs	18 days
From 16 yrs to 20 yrs	6.46 hrs	21 days
From 21 yrs	7.71 hrs	25 days

SICK LEAVE All regular full- time personnel shall accrue sick leave as noted in the following schedule: Regular part-time personnel will accrue the amount indicated below.

From the first pay period at the rate of 3.70 hrs BI-WEEKLY which is equivalent to 12 days ANNUALLY

Annual Leave is available for use after completion of a six (month) probationary period.  Sick Leave may be used after completion of three (3) months of service.  At this time, the employee may also use up to three (3) days per year as Personal Time Off (PTO) which are deducted from the Sick Leave account.  PTO is reinstated on an annual basis.

CREDIT UNION: The Imperial Polk Employees Credit Union is available to all employees of Polk County, the Credit Union staff and members of their immediate families.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: The county offers direct deposit to any banking institution.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM: The Tuition Reimbursement Program exists to provide financial assistance to regular full time County employees for courses which are taken at accredited schools and which are applicable to the employees' current duties.

Regular full-time employees are eligible after one full year of employment.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: The County's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is currently provided to County employees by contracted services through Horizon Health.  Employees and their eligible household members are encouraged to seek assistance if they experience  personal conflicts or problems that can affect their mental and physical well-being.  The EAP provides professional services at no cost to the employee.  Participation in the program will not jeopardize an employee's job security or promotional opportunities.  All records and information pertaining to counseling by the EAP resource are strictly confidential.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: All employees serve a probationary period during their initial six (6) months of employment.

Note: All  benefits pertain to Regular Full-Time and Regular Part-Time employees.

Revised: 11/22/2006