Houston County School District

Employee Benefits

 

 

Our Mission is to produce high achievement

for all through continuous growth.

Our Vision is to be the standard for world-class education.

Benefits Enrollment Portal

 

 

 

Houston County School District

Employee Benefits

 

 

Our Mission is to produce high achievement

for all through continuous growth.

Our Vision is to be the standard for world-class education.

Benefits Enrollment Portal

The Houston County Way.

► Strive for excellence in all that we do.

► Have a professional attitude.

► Go the extra mile.

► Base decisions on what's best for students.

► Provide quality customer service.

► Hard work, with dedication & love for students.

► Approach work every day with a positive attitude, hope, enthusiasm, and compassion.

► Do things right; do the right thing.

 


New Hire Information:

If you are a new hire, please click here to review the New Hire Benefits Guide, which provides a general overview of the available benefits.  Complete New Hire information, including an overview of what to expect for your new hire onboarding, is available on the New Hire Information page.

 

If you need assistance, please call the Benefits Service Center at (866) 671-0721.  Benefits representatives are available Monday - Thursday from 8am - 6pm and Friday from 8am - 5pm. 

Our Benefits

The Houston County Board of Education provides an array of employee benefits for all full-time employees.
 
When you come to work here, you will participate in the best healthcare and retirement plans available in any industry, as well as a wide array of additional benefits like Dental, Life Insurance, Disability, and Flexible Spending Accounts to protect and leverage your paycheck.

 

Employee Assistance (EAP)

Houston County Schools provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to all benefits-eligible employees and household members at no cost to you.  Call The Hartford's Ability Assist Counseling Services for confidential assistance to help manage life's challenges!

Sick Leave & Disability

As a Houston County School District employee, you receive employer-provided sick leave and you have the option to elect disability coverage.  These benefits provide you with income replacement should you miss work due to illness or an accident. If you become ill or injured, your accumulated sick days must be used first.  Once your sick leave is exhausted, the disability plan pays a benefit.  The disability benefit is reduced by any other income you receive while on disability such as Social Security and Teacher’s Retirement. 

You have a choice of several benefit start dates, and it’s important to consider your sick leave balance when electing your disability option.  Be sure to elect a waiting period that exceeds your sick leave balance to help manage your premiums. If you are a new employee, keep in mind the district does not advance sick leave.  You may need a shorter waiting period disability option if you have a limited number of sick days.  

The disability plan pays a benefit should you remain disabled.  This provides you with financial protection in the event of a catastrophic illness or injury. 

Life Insurance

Life Insurance can help provide financial protection for your family if you pass away. The money received from a life insurance policy could help your family with both everyday and future expenses, including medical bills, funeral costs, utilities, college tuition, and mortgage payments. Life Insurance provides you with coverage as long as you continue paying your monthly premium.

Your cost will vary depending on your age and amount of coverage you elect. It is important to assess your current and future financial obligations to help you determine the coverage that's right for you. Our Benefits Service Center Specialists can help you make the right decision for you and your family.

New Hire Information

Welcome to Houston County!  We are excited to have you in our district.  

Please watch the new hire video regarding your next steps for the on-boarding process.  At the conclusion of the video, review detailed information on your benefit options by clicking on the New Hire Benefits page. 

Human Resources and Benefits Contacts

Contact information for the Human Resources / Benefits Office is available by clicking below.

Retirement

The Houston County retirement program is made up of multiple parts: Social Security and either the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) or the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS), and the HCSD Supplemental Retirement plan options.  If you want to learn more about how our retirement plans work, and how to make sure you get the most out of your HCSD  retirement, click the link below.

New Hire Benefits

Congratulations on your new position, and welcome to Houston County Schools!

The Houston County Board of Education provides an array of employee benefits, which begin on the 1st of the month following a full calendar month worked.  Monthly payroll deductions will be taken 1 month in advance of coverage.  If you choose not to elect benefits as a new hire, no changes will be allowed until the next Open Enrollment period, unless you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). 

Wellness

ShareCare is the wellness program vendor for the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP), and they provide comprehensive well-being and incentive programs for members.  As you complete wellness activities, you will earn points in your Health Incentive Account to help offset your medical expenses.  High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) members must meet a portion of the deductible before well-being points may be used. 

Change in Family Status (QLE)

If you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) or change in family status, you are able to make changes to who is covered under your benefits. Click below for more information on this process.

Flexible Spending (FSA)

The Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside pre-tax funds that are available for healthcare and dependent day care expenses.  You may enroll in the Healthcare FSA (for medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, and other related expenses) and / or the Dependent Care FSA (primarily for dependent day care expenses).

Dental

Dental Insurance is designed to offer you coverage for common dental care issues and to help you budget for dental services. You pay for a certain amount out-of-pocket for services covered by your plan before your insurance starts paying (known as your deductible). Under this plan, the deductible is waived for preventive services like exams, cleanings, and x-rays. After you meet your deductible, you’re responsible for a percentage of covered expenses, which is called co-insurance.

State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP)

There are two health plan carriers available to employees and their families: Anthem and UnitedHealthcare (UHC).  Each carrier has multiple plan options available, and each plan includes coverage for preventive care, visits to primary care and specialty care providers, coverage for hospital stays, and visits to urgent care & the emergency room.  When thinking about your health benefits, don’t look at just one thing - like your contributions or the deductible - be sure to consider the whole picture!