INSURANCE BENEFITS


Review  this section for a summary regarding other Insurance Benefits and your opportunities for coverage:

  Eligibility Status
  Medical Insurance
  Employee Assistance Program
  Flexible Benefit
  Dental Programs
  Life Insurance Plans
  Supplemental Life

Eligibility Status

The CCG offers a variety of insurance opportunities to it's employee and their dependents.  All regular full-time employees become eligible for coverage after they have been employed for 30 days. Open enrollment is conducted on an annual basis and allows employees to make changes to their insurance plans at that time.

Insurance premiums for various coverage are deducted from our employee's bi-weekly pay, i.e., health insurance premiums are deducted 26 times per year.


MEDICAL INSURANCE


HEALTH CARE PLANS (HMO-PPO)
The health care benefit plan is a comprehensive major medical programs utilizing Preferred Provider Organizations of physicians and hospitals. Both plans are designed to minimize out-of-pocket expenses for employees and their covered dependents. Participation in the health care plans is voluntary. Premiums vary depending on the type of plan you select and are payroll deducted on a bi-weekly basis. The policy also features a $20/$25 co-payment benefit for routine visits to the doctor's office, based on the type of doctor visited. The Columbus Consolidated Government's portion is $259.16 per month for each active employee and retirees who have not obtained age 65. A monthly amount of $60.00 is set aside for each retiree who is age 65 and over. Health insurance premiums vary depending on the plan selected and who is covered under the plan.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

On both plans, you pay a maximum co-payment of $20.00 per prescription drug plus the difference between the brand name and the generic, if brand name is chosen when generic is available. The HMO plan has a mail order prescription drug long-term or maintenance medication, where you pay a $10.00 co-payment per prescription for a 90 day supply.

NOTE:
You must add newly born children, adopted children, children of a new marriage or children awarded by the courts within 30 days of the actual birth date, adoption date or court date. You must add new spouses within 30 days of the date of marriage. Documentation must accompany the forms, i.e., birth certificate, adoption papers, court documents, marriage or divorce certificates, etc. Failure to comply within the 30-day time period will require the employee to wait until open-enrollment in November and December.

Employees have two health insurance options from Blue Cross Blue Shield of GA to consider: 1) Health Maintenance Organization (HMO);  and 2)  Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). 

Because BC/BS of GA's HMO plan requires all participants to select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) to coordinate all of their health care a list of current HMO PCPs and PPO providers  may be viewed on the web at: Georgia -- Home Page / Main Menu  http://www.bcbsgeorgia.com/index.html  please see Provider Directory for either plan.   

BC/BS of GA's HMO plan provides excellent coverage for our employees and their dependents.  Since your PCP coordinates your health care services they will actually telephone BC/BS of GA and obtain referrals for you to visit a Specialty Care Physician (SCP). No benefits are provided if you seek care with an out of network provider under the HMO plan, unless your PCP has obtained a referral from BC/BS.