Benefits
The City of Farmers Branch is committed to providing a competitive benefits package to complement a strong compensation program. This summary provides an overview of the types of benefits offered to Farmers Branch employees. More details are available from the Human Resources Department upon employment.
Eligibility
Full-time employees are eligible for many benefits on the first day of employment. There is no waiting period for health benefits, holiday pay, deferred compensation, flexible spending accounts or the retirement plan.
Cost to Employee
The City subsidizes a large portion of medical insurance costs and provides basic insurances at no cost to employees such as life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and long-term disability insurance.
Choice
The City offers a cafeteria-style benefit program where employees are given pre- and post-tax choices of benefit programs that best meet their individual needs such as medical, dental, vision, and supplemental plans. Employees are also offered health and savings plans such as health savings accounts, medical flexible spending accounts, dependent care accounts, and deferred compensation and Roth retirement plans.
Types of Health Benefits
Medical
A consumer-driven medical insurance program through United Healthcare's Open Access Plan Network that includes a High Deductible Health Plan accompanied with a Health Savings Account (HSA). The High Deductible Health Plan is a traditional health plan that allows employees to set aside pre-taxed dollars into a Health Savings Account on a monthly basis to fund health expenses both now and in the future. The City will contribute up to $500 into the employee’s Health Savings Account. And, if the employee decides to add dependents onto the medical plan, the City will contribute $250 to $500 into the employee’s Health Savings Account depending on the number of dependents covered under the medical insurance plan.
The Health Savings Accounts are built to secure funding for health expenses both now and in the future. The account becomes the employee’s own personal savings account, which means that the money deposited into the account is solely theirs to use and keep regardless of employment status at the City of Farmers Branch.
Dental
Three programs to choose from through MetLife Dental: PPO High, PPO Low, and DHMO. PPO High Plan allows employees to utilize in- or out-of-network benefits, including a traditional indemnity dental plan where employees go to any dentist, pay a $50 deductible and co-insurance. PPO Low Plan is similar to the PPO High Plan, but gives you more "value" in-network paying a higher amount toward in-network dental expenses. Whereas, DHMO requires employees to go to their primary care dentist from the network, obtain referrals to specialists, and pay a specified co-pay for dental services.
Vision
Davis Vision provides a comprehensive vision plan for employees with in- and out-of-network options. In-network providers require a $10 co-pay for an annual vision exam and one pair of spectacle lenses and frame every calendar year from the Davis Vision "Fashion Collection". A 20% discount will be extended on any balance over the $130 allowance. Contact lenses (in lieu of eyeglasses) are covered in full each calendar year from the Davis Vision Contact Lens Formulary, or a $130 allowance towards the cost of any contacts from the provider's own supply. Out-of-network benefits allow reimbursement up to the plan maximums for an eye examination and eyewear each calendar year.
Core Benefits
Full-time employees are automatically enrolled in the City-paid Long Term Disability (60 percent of base annual salary), Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance and Life Insurance at one times your annual salary (minimum, $30,000).
Additional Coverage
Employees also have the opportunity to purchase supplemental Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage for them and their family. This is at reasonable group rates. Employees may contribute to a medical or dependent day care flexible spending account to help pay for out-of-pocket medical and day care expenses with pre-tax dollars. Supplemental insurance options provided by AFLAC are also available for Sickness, Intensive Care, Hospitalization, Cancer, Short-term Disability, etc.
Other Available Benefits
There are many other benefits available to City employees. These include:
- Tuition reimbursement
- Deferred Compensation Plan (Plan 457)
- Retirement Health Savings Plan
- Wellness program
- Eight paid holidays per year
- Twelve paid sick days per year
- Longevity pay
- Credit union
- Direct deposit
- Texas Municipal Retirement System (2:1 match)
- Employee assistance program
- Professional training and development programs
- Jury duty and military leave
Contact Information
- Human Resources
- Questions – 972.919.2556
- Jobline – 972.919.2559