Benefits Summary

This benefits summary reviews health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits for the City of Fort Bragg, but it is not a contract. Full details about the benefits are provided in legal plan documents and insurance evidence of coverage documents (contracts) that govern the program. If there are differences between this Benefits Summary and those documents and contracts, the legal documents will control.

The city pays a portion of the premiums for medical and dental insurance for the employee, employee plus one dependent, and employee plus family. The City also pays 100% of the cost for vision care.

  • Medical Insurance: We have three plans available through Anthem Blue Cross. Two plans are “traditional” plans, The difference between the two "traditional" plans is one has a lower deductible and co-pays in exchange for a higher monthly premium. The third plan is a high deductible Health Savings Account (HSA) plan. The City pays 80% of the premium.
  • Dental Insurance: Dental insurance is available through Delta Dental; the plan is a “traditional” plan. The City pays 80% of the premium.
  • Vision: Vision insurance is available through VSP. The City pays 100% of the premium.
  • A great summary of medical plans is contained in the City's Open Enrollment Packet.
  • Information on compliance with Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) can be found here: CCA Machine Readable FIles.

Retirement

The City contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to manage our pension benefits. CalPERS manages the pension and health benefits (the City does not contract with CalPERS to provide health care benefits) to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees, and their families and more than 3,000 employers.

The City does participate in Social Security.

The CalPERS website has more information if needed.

CalPERS Information

  • New Miscellaneous employees who meet the “Classic” CalPERS membership definition are covered under the 2% at 55 plan; effective January 1, 2013, non-classic CalPERS employees will be covered under the 2% at 62 formula.
  • Safety employees who meet the “Classic” CalPERS membership definition are covered under the 2% at 50 plan; effective January 1, 2013, non-classic Safety CalPERS employees will be covered under the 2.7% at 57 plan.

Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

The City provides this fully-funded benefit to employees.

Long Term Disability

This is an optional benefit partially funded by the CIty.

Flexible Spending Accounts

The City provides employees the option to reduce their taxable income while saving for health care needs for themselves and eligible dependents. There is also an option to save for dependent daycare costs at well.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The City provides this fully-funded benefit to employees. The EAP provides employees and their covered dependents access to various professionals for confidential assistance in a variety of areas: financial, personal, work-related, legal and nutrition and other health-related concerns.

Deferred Compensation Program (457)

This is a voluntary program offered to employees (similar to the well known 401(k), it is a retirement investment program available to employees of public agencies).

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  • Redwood Empire Muncipal Insurance Fund (REMIF) EPO 500 Summary of Benefits & Coverages
  • Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund (REMIF) EPO 250 Summary of Benefits and Coverages
  • Redwood Empire Municipal Insurance Fund (REMIF) HSA Summary of Benefits and Coverages
  • Summary Plan Description (SPD) for REMIF Group Health Plan
  • Delta Dental Benefit Summary
  • Vision Service Plan Summary
  • Open Enrollment Packet
  • CALPERS Pension Information by Association

FAQs

You must begin the process of adding your new baby/child to your health insurance plan(s) as soon as possible after completing the adoption process. All forms required can be obtained from Human Resources.

Submit the following completed forms to Human Resources.

Note the following:

  • Changes to your health insurance plan(s) must be submitted to the insurance agencies within 30 days of the date of adoption. If you do not add your new dependent within 30 days of the date of adoption, you will not be able to add him/her until our next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.
  • A copy of the official adoption paperwork must be submitted to Human Resources when the adoption is final. If you do not provide the official documents within three months, your new dependent will be removed from your health insurance plan(s) and cannot be added again until the next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.
  • You should also check the beneficiaries listed for your life insurance, CalPERS, and 457/deferred compensation, if applicable, and make any changes you might want. You may also want to change your Power of Attorney for PERS.
  • Inform Human Resources of the social security number of the new dependent as soon as possible. 

You must begin the process of removing your former spouse and any step-children (unless you adopted them) from your health insurance plan(s) as soon as possible after your divorce. All forms required can be obtained from Human Resources.

Submit the following completed forms to Human Resources.

Note the following:

  • Changes to your health insurance plan(s) must be submitted to the insurance agencies within 30 days of the date of your divorce.
  • A copy of your divorce decree must be submitted to Human Resources within 30 days of the date of your divorce.

You must begin the process of adding your spouse and any other new dependents to your health insurance plan(s) as soon as possible after your marriage. All forms required can be obtained from Human Resources.

Submit the following completed forms to Human Resources.

Note the following:

  • Changes to your health insurance plan(s) must be submitted to the insurance agencies within 30 days of the date of your marriage. If you do not add your new dependents within 30 days of your marriage, you will not be able to add them until our next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.
  • You will have three months to provide official documentation for your new dependents. If you do not provide the official documents within three months, your spouse and any other new dependents will be removed from your health insurance plan(s) and cannot be added again until the next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.
  • You should also check the beneficiaries listed for your life insurance, CalPERS, and 457/deferred compensation, if applicable, and make any changes you might want. You may also want to change your Power of Attorney for PERS.

You must begin the process of adding your new baby to your health insurance plan(s) as soon as possible after the date of birth. All forms required can be obtained from Human Resources.

Submit the following completed forms to Human Resources.

Note the following:

  • Changes to your health insurance plan(s) must be submitted to the insurance agencies within 30 days of the date of birth. If you do not add your new dependent within 30 days of the date of birth, you will not be able to add him/her until our next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.
  • You will have three months to provide official documentation for your new dependent. If you do not provide the official documents within three months, your new dependent will be removed from your health insurance plan(s) and cannot be added again until the next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.
  • You should also check the beneficiaries listed for your life insurance, CalPERS, and 457/deferred compensation, if applicable, and make any changes you might want. You may also want to change your Power of Attorney for PERS.

You must begin the process of adding your spouse and any other new dependents to your health insurance plan(s) as soon as possible after your marriage. All forms required can be obtained from Human Resources.

Submit the following completed forms to Human Resources.

Note the following:

Changes to your health insurance plan(s) must be submitted to the insurance agencies within 30 days of the date of your marriage. If you do not add your new dependents within 30 days of your marriage, you will not be able to add them until our next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.

You will have three months to provide official documentation for your new dependents. If you do not provide the official documents within three months, your spouse and any other new dependents will be removed from your health insurance plan(s) and cannot be added again until the next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.

You should also check the beneficiaries listed for your life insurance, CalPERS, and 457/deferred compensation, if applicable, and make any changes you might want. You may also want to change your Power of Attorney for PERS.

No. You do not need a referral to go to a specialist. However, members will need to go to a PPO-contracted specialist to obtain the maximum benefit:

  • Current EPO plan: Members receive no benefit for services by out-of-network providers.
  • Current HSA plan: Members receive a reduced benefit for services by out-of-network providers.

The Anthem website, has a "Find A Doctor" link by which members can locate Anthem-contracted doctors/facilities in their area. Members may also call 1-800-810-BLUE (2583).

The age limit for dependent children is up to age 26 regardless of student, marital, or residency status for all plans. This does not extend to spouses or children of such dependents.
With the onset of healthcare reform it is no longer necessary to provide student verification. The age limit for dependent children is up to age 26 regardless of student, marital or residency status for all plans.
Yes. Both our Anthem Blue Cross plans provide coverage outside of California. The Anthem website, http://www.bcbs.com, has a "Find A Doctor" link by which out-of-state students or other members traveling out of state can locate Anthem contracted doctors/facilities in their area. They should confirm that the doctor/facility is still contracted with Anthem when calling to schedule an appointment. Members may also call 1-800-810-BLUE (2583).

Children of domestic partners are eligible for coverage under the City's health, dental and vision plans. The age limit for dependent children is up to age 26 regardless of student, marital or residency status for all plans but does not extend to spouses or children of such dependents. You must begin the process of adding your domestic partner and any other eligible dependents to your health insurance plan(s) as soon as possible after filing you declaration of Domestic Partnership. All forms required can be obtained from Human Resources.

Submit the following completed forms to Human Resources.

Note the following:

Changes to your health insurance plan(s) must be submitted to the insurance agencies within 30 days of the date of your declaration. If you do not add your new dependents within 30 days of your declaration. you will not be able to add them until our next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.

You will have three months to provide official documentation for your new dependents. If you do not provide the official documents within three months, your domestic partner and any other new dependents will be removed from your health insurance plan(s) and cannot be added again until the next Health Insurance Open Enrollment period.

You should also check the beneficiaries listed for your life insurance, CalPERS, and 457/deferred compensation, if applicable, and make any changes you might want. You may also want to change your Power of Attorney for PERS.

You may elect to “opt out” of the medical and dental plans completely. One may opt out either during open enrollment or within 60 days of a qualified life event. Please contact Human Resources to obtain required Opt Out Request Form, Benefits Deduction Authorization Form, and more information.

Employees who “opt out” must provide evidence of other comparable coverage and receive a contribution from the City of $200 monthly. This contribution is fully taxable.

The City offers two types of flexible spending arrangement plans; both plans have a plan year beginning on July 1st and ending on June 30th. One plan is for qualified health expenses and the other plan is for qualified dependent care expenses.

Qualifying Dependent Care Expenses must be submitted by September 15th for the plan year that concluded the preceding June 30th in order to be eligible for reimbursement. Claims can be submitted on line at ISolved Benefit Services. Forms for filing a claim by mail or fax can be found at this same web site. Any unused contributions will be forfeited.

For Health Expenses our Plan was recently changed to allow up to $550 of unused contributions to be carried over to the next plan year. To be applied against any given Plan year, claims must be submitted by September 15th for the plan year that concluded the preceding June 30th. If there is a remaining unused balance, up to $500 will be carried over to the next plan year. If the unused amount exceeds $550 the amount over $550 will be forfeited.