Healthcare Licensing and Surveys
Employee Benefits
Healthcare Licensing and Surveys employee benefits include vacation and sick leave; life, health, and dental insurance premium contributions; Social Security match, contributions for unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation benefits, and full payment of retirement contributions.
Health Insurance
Medical insurance includes a schedule of basic benefits plus a major medical rider and preventive dental coverage. The plan is underwritten by Great-West Life. The State of Wyoming will provide $487.31 for Employee Only; $963.45 for Employee + Dependents; $1,101.36 for Family; and $550.68 for Split Contracts to be applied towards active employee premiums in these programs with a minimum of 80 hours of work time reported each month.
In general, there is an initial deductible; the State Health Plan pays in-network and in-state providers for covered medical expenses at 80 or 85 percent. This amount may be less, if care is received from an out-of-state non-network provider or if pre-certification is not obtained for in-patient care and outpatient surgery from non-network providers. The employee and their dependents have 31 days from the date of eligibility to enroll. Coverage begins on the first day of the month following employment, if the employee is actively at work on that day. Various deductibles are available. The plan provides a $400 per year wellness benefit for all covered participants and $600 in the first year of life for newborns.
Preventive Dental Insurance
If health insurance is chosen then preventive dental insurance must be chosen. The preventive dental plan covers two dental exams in a calendar year separated by five consecutive months; bitewing x-rays once every 12 months and full mouth x-rays once in a 24-month period.
Optional Dental Insurance
The optional dental plan is voluntary and is for basic and major services paid at 50 percent with a $50/$100 deductible (maximum benefit per person $1200 per year). The optional dental plan does not cover orthodontics. The health coverage must be chosen in order to have optional dental.
Life Insurance
The group life insurance plan is underwritten by Standard and provides up to $50,000 basic, plus $20,000 accidental death or dismemberment coverage through age 59 and declines afterwards. The cost increases with age. Dependent coverage is $1.95 per month for all dependents for coverage of $4,000 on spouse and up to $4,000 on each child.
In addition to the above life insurance plan, the retirement system offers an optional group term life insurance plan, with up to $165,000 coverage through Prudential. The premium for this plan is $16 per month. Prudential insurance can be obtained as a new employee or open enrollment is conducted each year from September 1 through November 30.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible medical spending has two parts: 1) Flexible Spending Account allows you to pay for eligible medical insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis; and 2) Reimbursements Accounts where money from earnings can be set aside, on a pre-tax basis, to pay eligible medical expenses or money from earnings can be set aside, on a pre-tax basis, to pay for eligible dependent care expenses.
Vacation Leave
Employees will earn annual leave based on the number of months you have been employed by the state. Upon termination of employment, employees are paid for the current balance of unused vacation leave.
Months Employed Hours Earned Each Month
01 - 48 months 8 hours per month (12 days per year)
49 - 108 months 10 hours per month (15 days per year)
109 - 168 months 12 hours per month (18 days per year)
169 - 228 months 14 hours per month (21 days per year)
over 229 months 16 hours per month (24 days per year)
Sick Leave
Employees will earn eight hours per month (12 days per year) for 160 hours per month worked with unlimited accumulation. Upon termination of employment, employee is paid 50 percent of accumulated sick leave to a maximum of 60 days. Eligible employees who have a need for donation of sick leave can also submit a Request for Sick Leave Donation.
Longevity Pay
Additional $40 per month for each five years of unbroken service, unlimited accrual.
Paid Holidays
State observes nine legal holidays each year, plus any other days that may be designated by the Governor.
Military Leave
Any state employee who is a member of the Wyoming National Guard or U.S. military reserve units is eligible for 15 working days of leave with pay each year to attend duly authorized encampments, training cruises or similar training programs. Orders must be submitted to Human Resources prior to the leave being taken.
Retirement Program
The Wyoming Department of Health pays both the employee’s contribution and the employer’s contribution for employees. The retirement contribution equals 11.25 percent of monthly gross salary for regular state employees. Early withdrawal of retirement funds results in forfeiture of employer matching contributions and interest on employer contributions.
For regular state employees retirement benefits are calculated based on average of highest three years of salary. Wyoming has the “85-Year Rule” in place for full retirement qualification; your age plus your years of service must equal 85 to qualify for full benefits upon early retirement. For peace officers, retirement benefits are calculated at 2 1/2 times the number of years of service times the final average salary, limited to 75 percent of final average salary. Peace officers retiring after 7-1-98 with 25 years of service may elect to retire upon attaining age 50.
Workers’ Compensation
Employees eligible by law are covered by liberal schedule of benefits.
Deferred Compensation
The State of Wyoming offers a plan under which employees may defer a portion of their income to provide a return in investment options elected by the employee. The State of Wyoming contributes $20 per month to employees enrolled in the Deferred Compensation Program. The amounts deferred are before tax dollars and therefore reduce the current tax rate. No federal income taxes are paid on deferred income until the investment is returned either upon retirement, termination or an unforeseeable emergency withdrawal. (Contact Wyoming Retirement System, Deferred Compensation Plan at 777-3325 or 1-800-989-9324)
Family Medical Leave Act
Any employee that has worked for the State of Wyoming a total of 12 months and completed a total of 1250 hours or work during those 12 months is eligible. FMLA entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for specified family and medical reasons.