Employee Benefits
The State of Colorado offers Medical, Vision, Dental, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA's), Health Saving Accounts (HSA's), Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement Options, and is partnered with other organizations to provide other benefit programs.
To learn more about benefits or change your current elections, please use the links below!
Benefits Contact: DNR_HR_Employeebenefits@state.co.us
Rise in Covid-19 Cases
Both Cigna and Kaiser now have updated COVID boosters and vaccines available. In addition, the Federal Government is releasing more free testing kits. You can order them here, https://www.covid.gov/tests.
If you experience symptoms of having an illness, please notify and work with your supervisors to take advantage of the sick leave you have available.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may use your accrued sick leave, and, if necessary or desired, FMLA. Please email DNR_HR_EmployeeLeave@state.co.us with any questions about leave, and for questions specific to COVID-19, please email DNR_HR_Covid19@state.co.us. HR is here to assist you.
CDPHE guidance on what to do if you do test positive for COVID-19 is available on the CDPHE Website.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that if you are exposed, you follow the precautions listed on their website.
If you test positive for COVID-19, the current recommendation is that you stay home for 5 days. If you are asymptomatic after 5 days, you can return to normal activity. If you are still symptomatic after 5 days, CDPHE and the CDC recommend isolating for 10 days.
***** 31-Day time-frame to make changes to your benefits *****
Every employee needs to be aware there is a time limit on making mid-year life event changes. If you or your dependent experience a qualifying mid-year life event (e.g. birth, marriage, divorce, etc), you must make changes to your benefits within 31 days of that event. You will then have up to 45 days from the date of the event to provide proof of the event and any dependent verification documentation. Note that the effective date of change will be the 1st of the month following the mid-year life event or the day the change it is entered into BenefitSolver, whichever is later. The exception to this rule is for birth/adoption, where the effective date is the date of birth/adoption.
STATE OF HEALTH
Want to Save $240 Per Year?
Invest in your health and earn your wellness credit! STATE OF HEALTH, a no-cost, year-long program, is run by the State of Colorado to support your health and wellness goals.
In addition to the benefits below, participants receive a $20 per month wellness credit for joining and completing the program, resulting in $480 in medical premium savings over two years! You’ll see the discount on your pay stub.
● Personalized health coaching
● A fitness portal with on-demand and live fitness classes
● Skill groups that cover nutrition, exercise, stress management, getting better sleep, goal setting, and more
● And more
Join one of the webinars below to learn how the STATE OF HEALTH program has helped other State employees, the different levels of no-cost support, and more! Learn more and apply today!
Note on Life Insurance Benefits: If your spouse/domestic partner/civil union partner or child is also a state employee, they may be covered for their own optional life insurance as an employee or as a spouse/domestic partner/civil union partner or child under your plan but cannot be covered under both. Double optional life insurance coverage is not allowed under current plans. If you have been previously covered under another state employee(even if they have left state employment), please let your HR representatives know so that we can ensure your coverages are transferred over correctly from our vendor system.
The State of Colorado offers two medical and vision plan options:
Kaiser Permanente
All premiums are sent to Kaiser and they use those funds in conjunction with all charges employees are responsible for paying (Co-Pays, Co-Insurance, and Deductibles) to pay for the services through them.
Cigna Healthcare
Self-Funded: all medical claims are paid by the state through your premium contributions.
To learn more about the medical plans, please visit the DPA Division of Human Resources website.
Cigna
(800) 244-6224
Kaiser Permanente
KP COpilot: (888) 413-0591
stateofcolorado@kp.org
EyeMed
(888) 485-5174
The dental plan through the state is self-funded as well through Delta Dental (similar to the self-funded medical option). Additionally, Delta Dental offers a Basic and Basic Plus Plan. To learn more about the state's dental insurance.
Delta Dental
Phone: (800) 489-7168
www.deltadental.com
State employees hired prior to January 1, 2006, automatically participate in the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA DB), a defined benefit plan. New employees have 60 calendar days to make their retirement choice (once eligibility is determined, you may not be eligible if you had PERA previously) between two types of retirement plans:
Defined Benefit (DB)
New Employees who do not elect a retirement benefit plan within 60 days will default to this plan.
Consider this option if you like to let PERA manage your investments.
Defined Contribution (DC)
Consider this option if you would like to manage your own investments.
Before making any retirement options, we recommend that you consult with your financial advisor or contact PERA.
Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
(800) 759-7372
www.copera.org
Other State Benefit Programs
The State of Colorado also provides Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Saving Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts. To view more information about the state's benefits, please visit the DPA Division of Human Resources website.
HSA Enrollment
Enrollment in the HSA will no longer require an employee to open up an account with Optum Bank or associate their existing account with the State of Colorado. Once an employee completes their enrollment, a file will be sent to Optum Bank and an account will be opened or associated with the State on their behalf.
Helpful Benefit Information
Disability Benefits Comparison -
Retiree Working for a PERA Employer Guide
To Enroll or Complete Mid-Year Life Event Changes: www.benefitsolver.com
Informational Flyers:
My Choice Mobile Application Flyer: NEW Mobile App is your one stop shop App for maintaining your benefits information and more!