The State will establish one "combined" employer contribution (known as a "Benefit Allowance") amount for your health, dental, and vision benefits. The benefit allowance is automatically established in the SCO payroll system, therefore, no enrollment form is required. Based on the health, dental, and vision plans you choose, the full premium cost is deducted from the benefit allowance. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the State's vision plan. The vision benefit is mandatory under CoBen, and you may not cancel your State-sponsored vision coverage.

State employees eligible for the CoBen Benefit Allowance must meet the eligibility criteria listed below:

1. Designated Bargaining Unit 2, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, and 19, managerial, supervisory, exempt (except Judicial council employees, Judges and Justices), confidential, and all other permanent employees excluded from collective bargaining.
2. Limited-Term (LT) or Temporary Authorization (TAU) employees appointed six months or more (for appointments in item 1).
3. Seasonal Lifeguards (Unit 7) and Seasonal Firefighters (Unit 8).
4. All eligible employees must work half-time or more.

Keep in mind that no enrollment form is required and the benefit allowance is automatically established. The effective date is on a prospective basis and based on when you move into or out of an employee designation that is eligible for Consolidated Benefits.

If the total cost of the plans you choose is less than your CoBen allowance, then you will receive the difference as taxable cash (excess cash) in your paycheck. The excess cash amount will be subject to state, federal, and social security taxes.

If the total cost of the plans you choose is more than your benefit allowance, then you pay the difference (out-of-pocket) with pre-tax dollars automatically deducted from your paycheck. The out-of-pocket amount will not be subject to state, federal, and social security taxes.

If you elect to receive cash in lieu of your State-sponsored health plan but enroll in a State-sponsored dental plan, then your dental benefit enrollment party code will be used to determine the amount of the benefit allowance. In this situation, you will receive cash in lieu of health, and your dental and vision premiums will be fully paid. You will not have an out-of-pocket dental and vision premium cost.

However, if the total cost of your dental and vision premium is less than your benefit allowance, than you will not receive the difference (excess cash) in your paycheck. In order to receive excess cash, you must be enrolled in health, dental, and vision. If you are not enrolled in all three benefits, then you will not be eligible to receive excess cash.

No. Your benefit allowance will automatically stop at the time of retirement or separation, if your benefits are canceled for non-eligibility, or there is a change in your eligibility for Consolidated Benefits. At retirement, your health and dental deduction (if any) will be shown as the State share and retiree share of the applicable premiums.

If you need more information, check with your Personnel Office to obtain a copy of the CoBen Handbook.

You may also use the CoBen Calculator which will help you determine how much will be deducted from your paycheck, or added to it, based on which health and dental plans you choose. State vision coverage is mandatory under CoBen; therefore, the vision amount is automatically added into the calculation.

The CoBen Handbook also includes a worksheet that you may fill out to help calculate your benefit costs. However, the CoBen Calculator has the advantage of being easier to use and allowing you to try different scenarios. You simply click on your health and dental plan choices, and number of dependents that will be covered. The calculator automatically computes the total cost of the benefits and subtracts the CoBen allowance. The result shows whether you will have a monthly benefit deduction or receive extra cash, and the amount of the deduction or cash. There are two separate calculators, one for excluded employees and another for bargaining unit employees in CoBen.

The CoBen Calculator is located under Consolidated Benefits, then scroll down to the link for the calculators.