CoBen Cash Option

Reminders for 2012

• State employees who are dependents on their parents' state-sponsored benefits are now eligible to receive cash in lieu of health and dental coverage. This is a change from previous years and will bring us into compliance with the new federal health reform requirements.

Forms

For excluded employees and rank-and-file employees in bargaining units 2, 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, and 19

• Consolidated Benefits Cash Enrollment Election Form - STD 702 - PDF

Plan Information

f you have coverage through another source, such as your spouse, you may opt to receive cash in lieu of both your health and dental coverage or for your health coverage only. To receive CoBen Cash in lieu of benefits, you must complete the CoBen Cash Enrollment Election Form.

These payments are considered taxable income and are as follows:

• $155 - if you decline both the State-sponsored health and dental plans
• $130 - if you decline only the State-sponsored health plan

Note: You will not receive any CoBen Cash if you decline dental coverage only.

CoBen Cash payments are included with your regular paycheck and are subject to the same payroll taxes (federal, state, and social security) as your regular salary. However, CoBen Cash payments are not considered compensation for retirement purposes. This additional cash is reported on your W-2 statement in the same tax year you received the CoBen Cash payment.

Permanent Intermittent Employees (PIs) Enrolled in CoBen Cash

If you're a permanent-intermittent employee and want to receive cash in lieu of your health and dental coverage or health coverage only, you must enroll each plan year you want to participate. You must complete the enrollment form (STD. 702) during open enrollment, or as ―newly eligible after open enrollment but prior to January 1.

In order to receive the cash payment, you also must meet all the following criteria:

• be eligible to enroll in health and dental insurance as of January 1, 2012 (i.e., you qualified in the July 1- December 31, 2011 control period);

• have a permanent-intermittent appointment from January 1, 2012, through June 30, 2012; and

• be paid for at least 480 hours worked from January through June 2012.

If you're appointed to a permanent position with a time base of half-time or more, you lose eligibility for the PI cash payment. If you want to enroll as a newly eligible permanent employee, you must complete a new STD. 702 within 60 days after your appointment.

Lump sum payment

If you enroll in a cash option for health and dental benefits or health benefits only as a permanent-intermittent employee, you will receive your payment in a lump sum. The amount is for the period of January through June; you are not eligible for the cash option for the July through December period. After June 30, 2012, once your personnel office certifies your eligibility based on the criteria listed above, you will receive your cash option payment as follows:

$780 in lieu of health benefits;

$930 in lieu of health and dental benefits.

These payments are made within 60 days after the State Controller's Office receives the certification from your personnel office.

Dental Coverage

It is important for you to keep in mind that the choice you make for your dental coverage -- whether to keep your State-sponsored dental coverage or receive cash in lieu of dental coverage -- is a three-year commitment. This means:

1) If you enroll in the Cash Option for health only and enroll in a State dental plan, you must remain in a State dental plan for three years, unless you experience a valid permitting event under the CoBen Program.

2) If you enroll in the Cash Option for health and dental, you may not cancel your dental Cash Option for three years, unless you lose your other dental coverage, or you cancel both your health and dental CoBen Cash during an open enrollment period, or due to a valid permitting event under the CoBen Program. After completing the three-year commitment, employees may enroll in a dental plan during the open enrollment period.

Vision Coverage

All employees are automatically enrolled in the State's vision plan. Therefore, you need to add in the cost of this coverage when calculating the total cost of your benefits. For employees in CoBen, enrollment in the vision plan is mandatory.

Cost of Premiums Only

If you elect to receive cash in lieu of your State-sponsored health plan but enroll in a State-sponsored dental plan, then your benefit allowance will be the amount of your dental and vision premium. 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. This means you will not receive the difference between the cost of the premiums and the total allowance applicable to you. Your allowance amount, when not enrolled in all three benefits, is only that amount for the cost of the premiums or the total allowance, whichever is less.

For More Information

If you have additional questions about Consolidated Benefits or please contact your Personnel Office.

Updated December 29, 2011 at 5:39 PM.