You are eligible to participate in the county group health, life and long term disability plans as well as the Flexible Benefits Program if you are:

• An elected official, an appointed official or a regular employee who is employed by the county on a continuous basis for a regular work week of at least 32 hours, and
• Employed by the county as a regular full-time employee for a period of three months.

Dependents
Some of the options provide for participation of your eligible dependents. Eligible dependents are defined as follows:

•   Legal spouse;
•   Unmarried children under age 25.  Dependent children over eighteen* (18) 
    must be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college, university  
    or trade school.  For purposes of determining eligibility, an Employee's 
    "children" includes:

          1. natural children;

          2. legally adopted children (including children placed with adoptive parents 
              pending finalization of adoption proceedings);

          3. stepchildren who permanently reside in the employee?s home;

          4. children over age 24 who remain dependent on the Employee or retired
              employee for support and maintenance because the child becomes
              incapable of self support due to mental or physical incapacity. The
              incapacity must have commenced prior to reaching age 25 under the Plan
              or a prior health Plan of the Customer (if the child was insured on the  
              date of termination of the prior health Plan);

          5. unmarried grandchildren under age 25 for whom the Employee or retired
              employee furnishes (a) a certificate of financial dependency, (b) birth
              certificate on the grandchild, (c) birth certificate on the grandchild?s
              mother or father indicating that the Employee is the biological or  
              adoptive parent and (d) the grandchild is claimed as a dependent on your
              Federal  Income Tax Return;

• Children under age 19 permanently residing in the Employee's or retired 
  employee's home and for whom the Employee or retired employee is the 
  appointed permanent legal guardian or permanent legal custodian; and
     
• Foster children under age 19 for whom the Employee or retired employee 
  furnishes documents from the State of Texas;
     
• All other individuals to whom the Customer is required by law to extend the 
  coverage provided in the Plan shall also be considered Dependents to the 
  extent they do not also qualify for coverage as Employees; and
     
• All former Employees' Dependents to the extent that the Customer provides 
  for such coverage by Resolution of the Commissioners Court shall also be 
  considered Dependents to the extent they do not also qualify for coverage as 
  Employees.

No person may be covered both as an employee and dependent and no person
may be covered as a dependent of more than one employee.

*For dependents reaching age 25, coverage continues until the end of the
calendar month in which the dependent child turns age 25.

Written proof, satisfactory to the insurance company, of your dependent's incapacity and dependency must be furnished to the insurance company at its home office at least 31 days prior to the dependent reaching the age of 25. As a condition to the continued coverage of a dependent child who is totally disabled beyond the age of 24, certification of the dependent's physical or total mental disability shall be provided by the employee once every two years. Certification shall include current medical or mental condition and physician's statement of prognosis.

Note: Dependents not listed above (i.e., in-laws, parents, grandparents, and non-qualifying relationships and other such non-qualifying dependents) are not eligible dependents under the Employee Benefits Program.

In 1967 the Texas Legislature created TCDRS to provide the state's county and
district employees with retirement, disability and death benefits.  Every time you
get a paycheck, 7% of your money goes into your TCDRS account.  Your money
currently earns interest at a rate of 7%.  The money you deposit into your
TCDRS account is not taxed until you withdraw it or choose a retirement benefit.

One of the great things about a defined-benefit plan like your TCDRS plan is that
the ups and downs of the investment market don't affect your account.  Whether
the market does well or does poorly, your account still gets the 7% interest
rate.  Harris County assumes the investment risk of providing your retirement
benefit.

You are considered "vested" when you have earned enough service time to be
eligible for retirement once you reach the age requirement.  To be vested, you
must have 8 years of service credit.  Once vested, you may stop working for
Harris County and still keep your right to a future retirement benefit.  Your
personal account will keep earning interest each year until your membership
ends.  Your membership ends when you withdraw your personal deposits or
choose a retirement benefit, or upon your death.

When you retire, you may choose to receive a monthly benefit payment.  All
payment options pay you for your lifetime.  Some of the payment options also
provide a monthly benefit for your beneficiary after your death.

Your monthly benefit is based on the amount of money in your account and the
matching credits your employer has agreed to provide.  Under your plan, you will
get a 2.25:1 ratio of matching credits when you retire.  This means that your
employer will provide $2.25 for every $1.00 in your account as part of your
monthly benefit.

Your participation in TCDRS is mandatory unless you are a temporary employee.

Questions or comments?   Send email to: Human Resources and Risk
Management 

Plan Year
The plan year begins March 1 and continues through the end of February of each year.

Current Employee
If you are eligible to participate in the Harris County Flex Plan, you may choose benefits during open enrollment which will be held each year during the month of January. The elections will become effective as of March 1 of that year.

New Employee
As a new employee, you will become eligible for benefits on the first day of the calendar month following three full months of continuous employment as a regular employee. You may then elect to participate in the group benefit plan as well as the HCFlex Plan.

Dependents
You may elect coverage for your dependents that will become effective on the same date as yours. However, if you or your dependent is confined in a hospital or other facility due to illness or injury on the day coverage is due to begin, coverage may be postponed until the confinement ends.

Newly Acquired Dependents
If you acquire eligible dependents during the year, you may enroll them any time during the calendar year of the acquisition. To do this, you must complete a Harris County Employee Benefits Change form which may be obtained from your Benefits Coordinator or from The Office of Human Resources & Risk Management.

Calendar Year Deductible: 
         In - Network:   
         Base Plan:   $200 per individual
                          $600 per family
         Plus Plan:     None
         Out - of - Network:
         Base Plan:  $500 per individual 
                         $1,500 per family 
         Plus Plan:   $500 per individual 
                         $1,500 per family

Calendar Year Out-of-Pocket Maximum:
         In - Network:
         Base Plan:  $1,500 per individual + deductible
                         $4,500 per family + deductible
         Plus Plan:    None
         Out - of - Network:
         Base Plan:   $3,000 per individual + deductible
                          $9,000 per family + deductible
         Plus Plan:    $2,000 per individual + deductible
                          $6,000 per individual + deductible

Physicians Services:
         In - Network:
         Base Plan:   Office Visit to PCP - $20
                           Office Visit to Aexcel Specialist - $30,
                           Office Visit to Non-Aexcel Specialist - $45
         Plus Plan:    Office Visit to PCP - $20
                           Office Visit to Aexcel Specialist - $20,
                           Office Visit to Non-Aexcel Specialist - $30
         Out - of - Network:
         Base Plan:  40% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    30% after deductible

Hospitalization:
         In - Network:
         Base Plan:  10% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    $300 per confinement copay
         Out - of - Network:
         Base Plan:  40% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    30% after deductible

Outpatient Surgery:
         In - Network:
         Base Plan:  10% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    $200 copay
         Out - of - Network:
         Base Plan:  40% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    30% after deductible

Mental Health Office Visit:
         In - Network:
         Base Plan:  $30 copay per visit
         Plus Plan:    $30 copay per visit
         Out - of - Network:
         Base Plan:  40% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    30% after deductible

Mental Health Inpatient Coverage:
         In - Network:
         Base Plan:  10% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    $300 per confinement copay
         Out - of - Network:
         Base Plan:  40% after deductible
         Plus Plan:    30% after deductible

Prescription Drug Plan Features
In – Network Prescription Drug Benefits
Harris County offers one Prescription Drug Benefit for both the Base and Plus Plans. This is a two-tiered, standard plan that consists of generic and brand name drugs. If the member or physician requests a brand name drug when a generic equivalent is available, the member will pay the brand name copay plus the difference between the generic price and the brand price. This is considered a mandatory generic prescription drug plan.

      25% Cost Share on all Prescription Drugs

Retail Pharmacy – 30 day supply
Generic Drug Copay:  $5 minimum / $15 maximum
Brand Name Copay:  $20 minimum / $60 maximum

Mail Order (for 31 to 90-day supply)
Generic Drug Copay:  $10 minimum / $30 maximum
Brand Name Copay:  $40 minimum / $120 maximum

Self-injectable drugs are available only through the Aetna Specialty Pharmacy OR an Aetna designated and approved provider after the second refill at a retail pharmacy.

Please reference the Plan Document for a complete listing of covered services reimbursement amounts, limitations and exclusions.

Complete Visual Exam (one exam every 12 months from the date of last service) 
   PPO: 
      $10 copay
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      Up to $40
 
Standard Frames (PPO every 12 months, Indemnity every 24 months)
   PPO: 
      100% after $25 Materials Copay
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      Up tp $40
 
Single Vision Lenses
   PPO: 
      100% after $25 Materials Copay
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      Up to $40
 
Elective Contact Lenses
   PPO: 
      100% after $25 Materials Copay 
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      Up to $105
 
Necessary Contact Lenses
   PPO: 
      100% after $25 Materials Copay
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      Up to $210

Teeth Cleanings (limited to 2 cleanings per calendar year) 
   DHMO: 
      No Charge
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      See Schedule of Allowances

Basic Services 
   DHMO: 
      See Co-payment Schedule
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      See Schedule of Allowances
      Deductible is $50 per person up to $150 per family per calendar year
 
Major Services 
   DHMO: 
      See Co-payment Schedule
   Indemnity Reimbursement: 
      See Schedule of Allowances
      Deductible is $50 per person up to $150 per family per calendar year

Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance provides protection for your family in the event of your death or accidental injury. The county currently provides a basic level of insurance to eligible employees and your covered dependents at no cost as shown below.

If your annual rate of basic earnings is $20,000 or more:
   Life: 
      $25,000 
   AD&D: 
      $5,000

If your annual rate of basic earnings is $15,000 but less than $20,000:
   Life: 
      $20,000 
   AD&D: 
      $5,000

If your annual rate of basic earnings is $10,000 but less than $15,000:
   Life: 
      $15,000 
   AD&D: 
      $5,000

If your annual rate of basic earnings is less than $10,000:
   Life: 
      $10,000 
   AD&D: 
      $5,000

Dependent Life Insurance for:
   Spouse: 
      $5,000 
   Unmarried Child(ren): 
      $2,000

Monthly Benefits:
   Basic coverage: 
      50% of the first $10,000 of your pre-disabliity earnings, reduced by deductible income 
   Optional Coverage: 
      60% of the first $10,000 of your pre-disabliity earnings reduced by deductible income

Monthly Maximum: 
   Basic coverage: 
      $5,000 
   Optional Coverage: 
      $6,000

Monthly Minimum:
   Basic coverage: 
      $100 or 10% of your LTD benefit before reduction by deductible income, whichever is greater 
   Optional Coverage: 
      $200 or 10% of your LTD benefit before reduction by deductible income, whichever is greater

Benefit Waiting Period: 
   Basic coverage: 
      180 days 
   Optional Coverage: 
      90 days

Maximum Benefit Period:
   Basic coverage: 
      2 years
   Optional Coverage: 
      Determined by your age when disability begins.