Benefits

Employee Benefits

Comprehensive Benefits Program

The DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners is committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive benefits program to ensure they stay healthy and feel secure.  DeSoto County is a Florida Retirement Participant.  Benefits offered at no cost to the employee include medical, basic life and accidental death and dismemberment  (AD&D) insurance.  Optional benefits offered are dependent on medical, dental, vision, and voluntary life insurance.  For a detailed description of these benefits please contact the Human Resources department during normal business hours - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mon - Fri.

 

Health: UnitedHealthcare (UHC)

The County provides a health insurance plan to employees through United Healthcare effective on the first day of the month after 30 days following the date of employment.  The employees’ premium is paid 100% by the County and 50% of the premium is subsidized for Spouse, Children, or Family coverage.  This plan has an office visit co-payment of $25 per visit to primary care physicians and $50 for specialists in-network. The plan calendar year deductible is $1,000 per individual and $2,000 per family in-network.  The out of pocket maximum in-network per plan year is $3,000 per individual and $6,000 per family.  Contact Human Resources for more information on the medical plan, benefit summary highlights, prescription mail order, Care24, MyHealthcare Cost Estimator, and Virtual Visits.

 

Dental: The Standard

DeSoto County offers a High or a Low dental care plan through The Standard.  Employees have the option to purchase either plan which provides basic and major coverage for them or eligible family members.  The Low plan provides a $1,000 benefit and the High plan provides a $1,500 benefit per individual per year.  Contact Human Resources for Benefit Summary Highlights.

 

Vision: EyeMed

This vision plan through EyeMed provides an additional benefit that is over and above what is available through the County’s health insurance plan.  Contact Human Resources for a Benefits Summary.  For a listing of Participating Providers, please visit the EyeMed website.

 

Life: The Standard Life and AD&D Insurance

Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) employees are provided life insurance policy through The Standard for (1x) one times their annual salary at no cost.  The policy pays double in the event of accidental death or dismemberment.

 

Voluntary Life Insurance

Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance is arranged through The Standard. Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) employees have the option of purchasing additional Life and AD&D Insurance at attractive rates and the convenience of payroll deduction. Cost is based on age and amount of coverage selected. Age-related cost adjustments will occur on the policy anniversary date, October 1. When initially eligible, employees are issued guaranteed insurance amounts without submitting any evidence of insurability (EOI) or proof of good health as long as they enroll within 31 days of their initial eligibility date. Any life insurance coverage over the Guarantee Issue Amount will be subject to evidence of insurability.

 

Evidence of Insurability (EOI)

Beneficiary Designation Change Form

How to File a Claim

Portability 9504

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Portability and Conversion

Portability Request Application

Conversion Request Application

 

 

Supplemental Benefits

DeSoto County employees are afforded the opportunity to elect supplemental benefits through numerous vendors that offer products in addition to the benefits already included in the benefits package.  Through DeSoto County's Cafeteria Plan, the employee may choose to have their premiums deducted on a pre-tax basis.  This reduces taxable income.  The participation requirement is by fiscal year.  Please see below for information on supplemental benefits.   To contact a representative or a financial advisor regarding these plans, please contact Human Resources.

 

Deferred Compensation - This plan allows you to deduct money from your check pretax and place it into a retirement investment account.  This is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Section 457 plan and is offered through Edward Jones (The Hartford/ Mass Mutual), ICMA-RC, Nationwide, and VALIC 

Supplemental Insurance - Policies for additional insurance coverage are available to include, but not limited to, Intensive Care, Hospital Indemnity, Cancer, and Short Term Disability.  These policies are offered through AFLAC, Colonial Life, Liberty National, and Washington National.   

Tuition Discount - DeSoto County Government has a collaborative partnership with Hodges University.  Hodges University offers many degree programs.  Under this signed agreement, Hodges University will make the following tuition discounts available to DeSoto County Government employees:  at the undergraduate level, a $400.00 discount per class, per semester, and at the graduate level, a $300.00 discount per class, per semester.   The tuition discount is also applicable to any University online degree program as well.  Eligible undergraduate students/employees may qualify for an additional grant.  The Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) is FREE money (not available at the graduate level) and may be combined with the discount mentioned above for even greater tuition savings! 

Attraction Discounts - Through TicketsAtWork DeSoto County Commissioners employees are now eligible to take advantage of many discounts and special offers for theme parks and attractions nationwide including the Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Studios®, Sea World®, Six Flags®, Busch Gardens®, Orlando Dinner Shows & more!  When you create your account use "DeSoto" as your company code.