Opting Out of Multnomah County Medical Plans

Opting Out of Multnomah County Medical Plans

If you are already enrolled in another qualifying medical plan, Multnomah County provides an opt out option for health care. When you decline medical coverage through Multnomah County, you may be eligible to receive a monthly opt out credit.

Depending on bargaining unit, employees who opt out will receive either semimonthly incentive pay or contributions into HRA VEBA (Health Reimbursement Account).  

  • Full-time (.8 FTE and over) employees receive a credit of $125 per paycheck.  
  • Three-quarter time (.75-.79 FTE) Local 88 & JCSS employees receive a credit of $93.75 per paycheck. 
  • All other part-time employees (JCSS & Local 88 employees .74 FTE and under and all other employees under .8 FTE) receive a credit of $62.50 per paycheck.
  • These groups receive an HRA VEBA contribution vs a paycheck credit: Dentists, FOPPO, Non-represented, Pharmacists, Physicians & Psychiatrists, Prosecuting Attorneys, and Return-to-Work Retiree (Budgeted).   

Qualifying to Opt Out

In order to opt out of County medical coverage, you and any dependents must be enrolled in a qualifying plan that meets Minimum Essential Coverage criteria and is not coverage purchased from the individual market.  

The following types of medical plans meet minimum essential coverage: 

  • Multnomah County medical insurance as a dependent of a County employee or retiree
  • A group medical plan that is employer-sponsored or union-sponsored (provided by your spouse/domestic partner, parent, second employment), or retiree insurance from another employer
  • Medicare
  • Medicaid - Oregon Health Plan (OHP), Apple Health, or other state Medicaid coverage
  • Veterans Affairs (VA) coverage
  • TriCare coverage

Other plans may or may not meet minimum essential coverage. Contact us if you’re unsure what type of plan you have. 

When to Opt Out

  • Within 31 days of your hire date or job change into a benefit-eligible position
  • Within 60 days of gaining new qualifying coverage
  • During Open Enrollment
    • Submitting the opt out Affidavit is required every year during Open Enrollment in the fall to continue participating in the opt out plan for the next year.

How to Opt Out

Step 1: Submit the Affidavit to Opt Out of County Medical Coverage

This online affidavit form is required when you initially enroll in opt out, and every year during Open Enrollment, unless you enroll in County coverage during open enrollment or during the year due to a qualifying life event. 

Step 2: In Workday, when you are selecting your Medical Plan, select the opt out plan that applies to you.

Example: 

Note: Most individuals with other qualifying coverage will select the “Multnomah County ACA Integrated Opt Out Plan.” Individuals on coverage such as TriCare will select the “Multnomah County ACA non-Integrated Opt Out Plan.”

Step 3: Select your dental plan, if desired.

Employees may opt out of County medical coverage and still enroll in dental coverage if desired. Opting out is for medical only, and the opt out incentive amount does not change if you select a dental plan. 

Step 4: Review and Submit your Selections. 

Other Important Information

  • You must notify the Benefits Office within 60 days if you lose your other coverage so that you, or you and your dependents, can be enrolled in a County plan. Not doing so violates the County’s contracts with health insurance providers.
  • If you have a qualifying life event (loss of other coverage, new marriage, adding a new child to the family, some job changes), you may be eligible to enroll in County coverage within 60 days of the occurrence of this event. Contact employee.benefits@multco.us if you have questions.
  • At any time, you may be asked to provide documentation of your other coverage. 
  • Opt out payments will end if you go into unpaid status.

Opt Out Credit and Your Payslip

If you are receiving your opt out credit as a payment, you will see it on each payslip under Earnings. It will be broken up by the weeks or partial weeks in the pay period. Added together, the amounts will total your opt out credit. You will first see the credit on your second/end of month payslip after enrolling in the opt out plan. (Example: Your opt out begins 4/1 and you will see the credit on your 4/30 payslip, which is for time worked 4/1-4/15).  Learn more about your payslip.

Earnings (full-time worker example)

If you are receiving your opt out credit as a deposit into HRA VEBA, you will find it on your payslip under Employer Paid Benefits as two categories - VEBA (your regular deposit at 1% or 3%) and your VEBA Opt Out. However, when the deposit is made into your VEBA account (this usually takes several days after a pay period ends), the deposit into VEBA will be the combined amount of both. 

Employer Paid Benefits (full-time employee example)

Find out more about HRA VEBA.