- ACA Regulations & Important Guidelines
- Aflac
- CalPERS Retirement
- Deferred Compensation – Mission Square Retirement
- Employee Assistance Plan (Optum)
- Employee Wellness & Extras
- Group and Voluntary Life & Short/Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
- Modifying Elections & Open Enrollment
- ScholarShare 529 College Savings Program
- Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts
- Returning Forms to HR
ACA Regulations & Important Guidelines
Aflac
Aflac is a supplemental insurance that provides an additional layer of financial protection in the event of a serious accident or illness.
Employees can sign up for this service within 30 days of hire, or annually in October, during Open Enrollment for the upcoming year.
CalPERS Retirement
The City of Chico contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to manage our pension benefits. CalPERS manages the pension and health benefits (the City does not contract with CalPERS to provide health care benefits) to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees, and their families and more than 3,000 employers.
Deferred Compensation – Mission Square Retirement
Another great way to save for retirement – contribute to a Mission Square retirement plan automatically each paycheck!
Employees can enroll in or make changes to their Deferred Compensation at any time.
Did you know? CPSA and CPOA members have a 10% match!
Need additional help? Watch a
short video guide to see how easy it can be to enroll online. You can also contact the City’s Mission Square representative listed below.
Once you’re enrolled, use the following resources:
Extra Forms:
Employee Assistance Plan (Optum)
- 6 virtual or face-to-face counseling sessions
- On demand self-care options for stress, anxiety and depression
- Legal counseling and mediation services
- Financial consultations and an online financial resource center
- ID theft support
- Critical incident response services
- Adult and eldercare services
- Child and parent services
- Chronic condition and life learning support
- Assistance with convenience services
- Training and development for managers and employees
Employee Wellness & Extras
Farm Fresh to YouCity of Chico employees are eligible to join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) delivery box at a discounted rate! For more information, and a link to join, read the
Farm Fresh to You flyer.
FlightCare MembershipEmployees who join the FlightCare Membership Program are not billed for out-of-pocket expenses when FlightCare or a reciprocating emergency air transport service is used. To view information about this program and enroll online,
click here.
Fitness DiscountsHR provides a flyer of local fitness centers. Employees may need to show proof of employment with the City of Chico upon enrollment.
Fitness Discounts 2022
Lactation Room
Designated lactation rooms are available throughout the City. Please contact Human Resources, at x7900, for more information.
Group and Voluntary Life & Short/Long-Term Disability Insurance
All active, full-time, classified (permanent) employees working at least 20 hours per week and their eligible spouse and children are eligible for coverages.
Enrollment is available within 30 days of hire, or annually in October, during Open Enrollment for the upcoming year.
City-Paid Life Insurance: The City of Chico provides group life insurance equal to one times your annual salary at no cost to you.
Voluntary Life Insurance: If you want additional coverage beyond the City-paid life insurance, you can elect additional amounts as follows:
- Employee: $10,000 increments, up to 5x the employee’s annual earnings, not to exceed $500,000 (guaranteed issue: up to $150,000 if elected within 30 days of hire).
- Employee Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): $10,000 increments, up to 5x the employee’s annual earnings, not to exceed $500,000.
- Spouse: $5,000 increments, up to $250,000 or 100% of employee coverage, whichever is less, for voluntary life or AD&D (guaranteed issue: up to $25,000 if elected within 30 days of hire).
- Children – unmarried dependents to age 26: $2,000 increments, not to exceed $10,000.
Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
Applications/Change Forms
Individuals who previously opted out will need to re-verify annually. HR will contact you individually to arrange renewed documentation.
Modifying Elections & Open Enrollment
After medical, dental, vision, and flexible spending account elections are made, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations generally permit changing those elections only during the next open enrollment (October of each year). However, if you experience a “qualifying event” during the year you may change certain benefit plan elections mid-year. Be sure to notify HR of any qualifying life event within 30 days of the event in order to make changes to your elections. No exceptions to the 30 day notification deadline are permitted.
Open Enrollment
Held annually during the month of October.
During Open Enrollment, employees can:
- add or delete dependents from Medical, Dental and Vision or choose a new Medical plan;
- enroll in, increase or drop Voluntary Life Insurance;
- enroll/re-enroll in a Section 125 Healthcare, Limited Purpose or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA);
- enroll in, or change, AFLAC coverages.
NOTE: If you do not wish to change your benefits or re-enroll in an FSA, no action is required during Open Enrollment.
ScholarShare 529 College Savings Program
Why save for college with ScolarShare529?
A 529 is one of the best ways to save for higher education. ScholarShare 529 benefits include:
- 100% tax-free growth can mean more money for higher education.
- Low fees that ensure your savings primarily go toward education costs.
- Parent-owned 529 accounts have less impact on financial aid eligibility than other saving methods.
- Tax-free withdrawals for qualified higher education expenses, like tuition, room and board, books, computers, and more.
- Eligible for use at most schools nationwide and many abroad – undergraduate and graduate programs, community colleges and trade schools.
- Overseen by the ScholarShare Investment Board, an agency of the State of California.
Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts are part of Section 125, established by the IRS. Section 125 allows employees to set aside money for future healthcare and child care costs on a pre-tax basis.
Employees can enroll in a Healthcare or Limited Purpose FSA (Dental & Vision Only), and/or a Dependent Care FSA.
Enrollment is available within 30 days of hire, or annually in October, during Open Enrollment for the upcoming year.
NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2025, we will transition from Sterling Administration to BCC/Avidia Bank.
Make reimbursements and payments even easier – download their app:
Sterling: Sterling Administration
BCC/Avidia Bank: SmartCare
FOR EXPENSES INCURRED PRIOR TO 12/31/2024, contact:
Sterling Administration(800) 617-4729 or customer.service@sterlingadministration.com
www.sterlinghsa.com
FOR CLAIMS BEGINNING 1/1/2025, contact:
BCC/Avidia Bank
(800) 685-6100 or customersupport@benxcel.com
Flexible Spending Accounts MUST be re-elected annually during Open Enrollment, and run on a calendar year basis with no carry-over of unused funds.
Returning Forms to HR
If you complete paper copies, please don’t email items containing social security numbers – it’s too risky. Instead:
- Put them in an interoffice envelope and send them to HR.
- Or, scan the item to the secure HR Scan Drive by using the closest copier:
- Scan your proxy card
- Press Scan > Scan to HR. (Note a slight variation for PD copiers: Scan & Send > One-Touch > HR Scans – you may have to follow the down-pointing arrow/bottom right if there’s an extensive list.)
- Your document will magically appear in a scan folder on our end and will be acknowledged by an HR staff person within a short period of time (watch your email for a confirmation). Hold on to your originals until you receive confirmation; otherwise, no need to send the originals to HR.
Still need assistance?
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