Basic Life Insurance
The state of Ohio provides employees who have more than one year of continuous state service with basic term life insurance benefits, at no cost and with no evidence of insurability. Life insurance is designed to provide financial help to your family should you die unexpectedly, which typically replaces approximately one year of income that would have been generated by your job.
Disability Benefits
All state of Ohio employees are eligible to apply for disability leave benefits. These medical benefits provide financial and emotional assistance to you and your family in the event that you are unable to perform the duties of your position due to a non-work-related disabling illness, injury or condition for a period of more than 14 consecutive calendar days. Disability leave benefits are provided for non-work-related injury or illness, mental health conditions and substance abuse conditions.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Workers' compensation, or work-related disability, compensates employees for work-related injuries or illnesses. This program enables employees who are injured on the job to be compensated for lost time. Benefits are limited to wage loss, medical and rehabilitation expenses and are payable as long as the disability lasts or medical treatment is reasonably necessary.
Behavioral Health Benefits
Specialized mental health and chemical dependency services are provided under a single program available to all employees enrolled in any of the state’s health plans. This program provides 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week telephonic assessment and referral services for a variety of behavioral health issues, such as depression, stress, marital and family issues, serious mental illnesses, and alcohol and drug dependency. The program also includes a disability component in which employees who require time off for behavioral health conditions have access to specialized providers on an expedited basis.
Dental Benefits
For employees with one year of continuous state service, the state pays the full cost for you and your eligible dependents to participate in one of the state’s dental plan options. When you participate in either of the dental plans, you can go to the dentist of your choice and receive benefits. When utilizing participating dentists, the exempt dental plan emphasizes preventive services at no cost by offering routine exams, cleanings and X-rays.
Flexible Spending Account
The state of Ohio provides state employees with IRS tax-favored flexible spending accounts, which enable employees to pay for health care and dependent care expenses using pre-tax dollars. The state of Ohio offers two flexible spending accounts: a Health Care Spending Account and a Dependent Care Spending Account. Flexible spending account features include: tax-free reimbursement of eligible IRS-approved expenses; per-pay-period deposits from your pre-tax salary; savings on federal, state and local taxes; and security of paying anticipated expenses with your flexible spending account.
Health Care Benefits
The state of Ohio provides employees with quality, affordable and competitive health care benefits as a part of the total compensation package. State of Ohio employee health plans do not contain pre-existing condition exclusions; therefore, coverage is available to you and your eligible dependents regardless of current health or health history. Employees have the option to select a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) – Ohio Med – or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) – Aetna, Paramount, The Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare. The fundamental difference between the two is that a PPO provides out-of-network coverage while an HMO does not.
Pharmacy Benefits
State employees who are enrolled in a state health plan are automatically eligible to receive pharmacy benefits through Catalyst Rx, the state’s pharmacy benefit manager. Employees may opt to fill their prescriptions at a retail pharmacy, or through the Walgreens Mail Order Service.
Supplemental Life Insurance
State of Ohio employees are eligible to enroll in a supplemental life insurance program at their own cost. This benefit is available upon hire (there is no waiting period) and provides benefits in addition to the state-paid basic life insurance policy that becomes effective after one year of continuous state service. Supplemental life insurance coverage is available for not only yourself, but also for your spouse and dependent children.
Vision Benefits
State of Ohio employees who have more than one year of continuous state service are eligible to receive vision care benefits at no cost. Eligible dependents, such as your spouse and your unmarried children who are dependent upon you for primary support, may also receive vision benefits at no charge. Employees may choose between two plan options, each of which offers large, statewide provider networks and similar benefit levels for in-network services. Routine vision benefits include annual vision examinations, lenses and frames, contact lenses and laser vision discounts.