2025 Benefits
2025 Benefits at a Glance
My Medical Benefits
Summary of Benefits and Coverages (SBC)
Semi-Monthly Contributions
Eligibility
Employees who work 20 or more hours per week are eligible to enroll in the VSHA medical plan. Regular employees who work less than 20 hours are eligible for pro-rated benefits. Coverage begins on the first of the month following date of hire.
Health Reimbursement Account
A Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) is an employer-funded plan that provides money that employees will use to offset the cost of the medical deductible and pharmacy services. The money contributed to this HRA is not taxed and you can access these funds to pay for any qualified medical expense for you or your covered dependents. The HRA is used first, and any money remaining in the account is retained by the VSHA at the end of the calendar year.
VSHA provides a Health Reimbursement Account to assist with reaching annual deductibles ($2,500 for single; $5,000 for 2-person, employee & child(ren), or family [2P+]). The funding provided by the VSHA is pro-rated monthly at $208.33/month for single; $416.66/month for 2P+.
Eligibility
Employees who work 20 or more hours per week are eligible to enroll in the VSHA medical plan. Regular employees who work less than 20 hours are eligible for pro-rated benefits. Coverage begins on the first of the month following date of hire.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (IRS Section 125) allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars which means employees do not have to pay federal income tax, Vermont State income tax or FICA tax on the set-aside amount. VSHA also does not pay FICA taxes on that portion of the employee’s gross wages. Dollars set aside pre-tax are not calculated as gross wages and are not added to social security wages.
VSHA employees who work 20 or more hours per week are eligible to enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Employees are eligible on the first of the month following date of hire or during open enrollment.
There are three Flexible Benefit Plan components:
Premium Offset Plan (POP):
POP allows employees to pay their group insurance premium contribution with pre-tax dollars. Participation in this element of the plan means the premium contribution is deducted from gross wages, pre-tax, instead of net wages, after-tax.
Healthcare Flexible Spending Reimbursement Plan:
This component allows an employee to set aside money from their salary on a pre-tax basis to go into an account to reimburse for eligible health related expenses that are not paid by their insurance plan. These expenses include, but are not limited to, deductibles, co-insurance, dental and orthodontia, vision care including glasses and contact lenses, physicals, prescription drugs, and mental healthcare.
Employees can set aside a maximum of $2,000. Funds in the account can only be used on eligible expenses incurred during the plan year. As the employee incurs eligible expenses, they can make a point-of-sale using a debit card or by submitting a clam to the claims administrator and receive reimbursement.
The full annualized amount elected to the healthcare flexible spending account is available from the first day of the plan year or upon enrollment.
If an employee does not spend the full amount of the elected amount during the plan the plan year, they can roll $660 (projected) into 2026 but will lose the remaining balance of unused funds in the account.
Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan:
The dependent care component allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 per household for single taxpayers and married couples filing jointly, or $2,500 for married filing separately. Married couples have a combined $5,000 limit, even if each has access to a separate dependent care plan through their employer. A dependent care flexible spending account covers qualified day care expenses for children younger than age 13 and adult dependents who are incapable of caring for themselves.
Dependent care FSA-eligible expenses include:
- Licensed nursery schools
- Qualified childcare centers
- Adult day care facilities
- After school programs
- Summer camps for dependent children under age 13
- Preschool tuition
Dependent care expenses are incurred and then reimbursed on an on-going basis. There is no roll over of funds at the end of the year.
Additional Information & Documents
FSA Store
The Richards Group has entered into a partnership with Health-E Commerce, also known as the FSA/HSA Store. This gives you access to hundreds of products that have been pre-vetted & approved for use with your Flexible Spending Accounts.
Did you know you could use your FSA to save money on everyday health essentials like baby health items, health trackers, pain relief products and more?
Here are just a few benefits of using the FSA Store:
- No Receipts Needed
- 2,500+ FSA Eligible Products
- 100% Eligibility Guaranteed
- Skip the claims process when you use your FSA card
This partnership also allows access to their Caring Mill products. Caring Mill is a line of premium healthcare products that support a healthy lifestyle and on average is priced 30% less than branded equivalent products.
With every Caring Mill purchase, a donation is made to Children’s Health Fund, providing necessary treatments to thousands of children in need, throughout the United States.
Curious what your FSA dollars can cover? Simply enter the product you are looking for in the eligibility list below.
Vision Benefits
VSHA is pleased to offer a vision benefit for its non-bargaining unit employees. This plan is through Eye Med/Delta Vision and is 100% employee paid, through payroll contribution.
Employee Contributions
Dental Benefits
The plan provides 100% coverage for diagnostic and preventive work after a deductible ($25 per person, $75 per family), 80% coverage for minor work and 50% coverage for major work. The plan also includes orthodontic benefits of a lifetime maximum of $1,250 per each employee, spouse and dependent.
The contract year maximum is $1,500.
Plan Documents
Employee Contributions
There is no cost to employee and their dependents.
Eligibility
Employees who work 20 or more hours per week are eligible to enroll in the VSHA dental plan through Northeast Delta Dental. Coverage begins on the first of the following date of hire. VSHA pays the entire monthly premium for full-time employees, spouses and dependents. Part-time employees who elect to participate pay a portion of the monthly premium.
Health Through Oral Wellness (HOW) Program
A healthy mouth is part of a healthy life, and Northeast Delta Dental’s innovative HOW works with your dental benefits to help you achieve and maintain better oral wellness. HOW is all about you because it’s based on your specific oral health risk and needs. Best of all, it’s secure and confidential. Here’s how to get started:
1. Register
Go to www.healththroughoralwellness.com and click on “Register Now”.
2. Know Your Score
After you register, please take the free oral health risk assessment by clicking on “Free Assessment” in the Know Your Score section of the website.
3. Share Your Score With Your Dentist
The next step is to share your results with your dentist at your next dental visit. Your dentist can discuss your results with you and perform a clinical version of the risk assessment.
EyeMed – Vision Discount Program
This vision discount program is available free to all Northeast Delta Dental subscribers and their dependents. To access the discount, simple present your EyeMed Vision Care Card or the program flyer at participating providers.
For questions about the plan or to find a participating provider, go to https://www.nedelta.com/patients/eyemed-discount/
GREAT SAVINGS – UP TO 35% OFF EYEWEAR
Choose from any available frame including quality name-brand products such as Brooks Brothers®, Ann Klein®, Vogue® and more at provider locations.
With EyeMed Vision Care, Northeast Delta Dental members have access to over 71,000 vision care providers nationwide at 27,000 locations including optometrists, ophthalmologists, opticians, and the nation’s leading optical retailers.
It’s easy! To request your discount, simply present your Delta Dental member ID card or the flyer you can find on the EBC when you arrive at the provider office or location. Your EyeMed provider will take care of the rest!
To learn more about the EyeMed Vision Care Discount Plan, please visit our website at https://www.nedelta.com/patients/eyemed-discount/
Contact Information
(800) 832-5700
Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
Basic Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
VSHA provides Basic Life and AD&D insurance through Mutual of Omaha.
- Coverage is 1.5 times the employee’s annual salary.
- AD&D insurance has an equal amount to the Basic Life Insurance amount.
- Coverage amounts reduce by 35% at age 65, and by 50% at age 70.
Plan Documents
Eligibility
After the initial waiting period of one year of employment, employees are automatically enrolled in employer paid Basic Life & AD&D coverage.
Limited Service employees are eligible for Basic Life & AD&D coverage after two years of employment.
www.mutualofomaha.comVoluntary Life Insurance
Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
Employee:
Employees may purchase voluntary life insurance on themselves, in $10,000 increments, to a maximum of seven times their basic annual earnings up to a maximum of $500,000 (whichever is less).
Employees are guaranteed coverage up to seven times their annual earnings or $100,000 (whichever is less) when initially enrolling (newly eligible) without having to complete a medical questionnaire.
Spouse:
Employees may purchase coverage on their spouse, in $5,000 increments, to a maximum of $250,000 (not to exceed 50% of the employee amount).
Employees may elect coverage up to 100% of the employee elected amount or $20,000 (whichever is less) when becoming initially eligible without having to complete a medical questionnaire.
Child:
Employees may purchase coverage on their dependent child(ren) in increments of $2,000 to a maximum of $10,000 (not to exceed 50% of the employee amount).
Plan Documents
Eligibility
After the initial waiting period of one year of employment, employees have the option of enrolling in Voluntary Life AD&D Insurance
Limited Service employees are eligible for Voluntary Life AD&D coverage after two years of employment.
401(a) Retirement Plan & 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
1.401(a) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan – When you are eligible and enrolled in this plan, the Authority will contribute 11% (12% if held prior to 10/1/21) of your annual salary, less the cost of basic life insurance.
- 401(a) Plan Vesting – New employees are vested at 60% after one year in the plan; 70% at 2 years; 80% at 3 years; and 90% at 4 years. They reach 100% vested after five full years of service
- The contribution Limit to a Confined Contribution Plan is $69,000.
- 401(a) Plan After Tax Option – You are eligible to make “voluntary” after-tax contributions through payroll deductions upon hire to this plan. Your voluntary contributions are after-tax, and any earnings you make on your investments will be taxed at the time you take distribution of these monies. On a limited basis, you may withdraw funds from your voluntary account. There is no penalty or taxes on your withdrawals, however, any withdrawals of earnings on voluntary accounts are subject to federal and state income taxes.
2. 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan – you are eligible upon hire and can make voluntary pretax or Roth contributions at your own pace.
- Contribution Limits for 457(b) Plan:
- Under age 50: $23,500
- Age 50+: $31,000
- Special 3 Year Catch-Up: Allows you to catch-up on contribution you missed in previous years. You must contact Scott Burbank at RPA to calculate your maximum allows in special catch up.
3. 457/401 Plan Loan Availability/Summary – Both plans allow for loans. You may have one loan from the 457(b) Plan; however, you are allowed up to two loans on the 401(a) Plan. A general loan may be for a period of 12-60 months. A residential loan may be for 61-120 months. The interest rate is Prime 1+%.
- You may borrow $1,000 to $50,000 (or up to 50% of your account) in the 457(b) plan and $1,000 to $50,000 (or up to 50% of your vested balance) in the 401(a) plan.
Plan Documents
Eligibility
As a new employee, you will not be eligible for VSHA’s basic 401(a) Retirement Plan and Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance Plans until you have completed the one year of service waiting period. A limited-service employee is not eligible until they finish their two-year position. Information and enrollment materials will be provided when you become eligible.
Scott Burbank, Financial Consultant
Phone: (860) 563-1073
Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) promote the health of employees and their household members by offering immediate access to free, confidential counseling for a wide range of life issues.
No enrollment is necessary. It is offered at no charge to the employee and their family members and provides a valuable resource for support and information during difficult times, as well as consultation on day-to-day concerns.
EAP is an assessment, short term counseling and referral service designed to provide you and your family with assistance in managing everyday concerns. EAP offers confidential clinical help for everyday people with everyday problems.
Some areas that Invest EAP can provide assistance with are:
- Family & Relationships
- Financial & Legal Problems
- Alcohol & Drug Use
- Childcare & Eldercare
- Depression & Anxiety
- Grief & Loss
- Stress & Work-Life Balance
- Parenting Techniques
- Workplace Conflict
This program is strictly confidential and your privacy is protected by law. Nobody from work or your family can find out if you’ve accessed any part of the EAP program and no reports are made to your employer except aggregate utilization reports that do not identify individuals.
Contact Information
Contact Invest EAP 24/7 at
(866) 660-9533
Password: VSHA
A call to Invest EAP puts you in immediate touch with Master’s or Doctoral level counselors, 24 hours a day. The counselors will explore your questions and concerns, and will provide information and/or referrals to meet your needs.