Did you change Bargaining Units?
Employees may transition between bargaining units through several common personnel actions:
- Promotion or Demotion: Moving to a higher or lower job classification in a different unit.
- Classification/Compensation Studies: Updates to job roles that reassign a position to a new unit.
- Collective Bargaining: Systemic updates to job definitions or unit agreements.
Medical Plan Eligibility
Some medical plans are only available to part time employees for specific bargaining units. If your current plan is not offered for your FTE in your new bargaining unit, the Benefits Office will move you to the other plan with the same insurance company.
If you want to switch to a different insurance company, you can do that if you have a certain qualifying life event within 60 days or during Open Enrollment in the fall. Open enrollment changes will take effect on January 1st of the following year.
Impact on Other Benefits
Changing your bargaining unit may also change what other benefits you are eligible for or enrolled in, including:
- Short-Term Disability
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- HRA VEBA
- Long-Term Care Insurance
The Benefits Office will send you an email explaining any changes to your coverage, new benefit options you can choose, and what steps to take next.
Plan Information by Bargaining Unit
View Bargaining Unit benefit details for comprehensive plan information by group.
Did you change the number of hours per week you work? (FTE Change)
Full-time to Part-time employment status change
An employee who experiences a qualified change in FTE can change health plans within the same carrier and remove dependents based on this change in FTE. Employees have 60 days from the change in FTE to change plans and/or remove dependents. The requested change is not retroactive. It will be effective the first of the month, following receipt of completed paperwork.
The document below is required to add new a spouse or domestic partner to coverage.
- Marriage/Domestic Partnership Affidavit webform - Required if adding spouse/partner to coverage and not already on file.
Part-time to Full-time employment status change
If your work hours change (such as moving between full-time and part-time), you may be able to change your medical and dental choices or update who is covered on your plan.
Time Type Classifications:
Local 88, JCSS, and IUPAT
- Full-Time: 0.80 – 1.0 FTE (32 – 40 scheduled hours/week)
- Three-Quarter Time: 0.75 – 0.79 FTE (30 – 31 scheduled hours/week)
- Half-Time: 0.50 – 0.74 FTE (20 – 29 scheduled hours/week)
All Other Bargaining Units
- Full-Time: 0.80 – 1.0 FTE (32 – 40 scheduled hours/week)
- Part-Time: 0.50 – 0.79 FTE (20 – 31 scheduled hours/week)
Note on 3/10 Schedules: If an employee is at .75 FTE with a Full-Time time type, they are considered Full-Time for benefits purposes.
Rules and Deadlines for FTE Changes:
- 60-Day Deadline: You have 60 days from the date of your job change to request benefit changes.
- Stay with the Same Company: You must stay with your current insurance company. For example, if your FTE increases, you can switch from Moda Major Medical to Moda PPO 400, but you cannot switch from Moda to Kaiser. You can switch companies during Open Enrollment in the fall.
- When Changes Start: Your health plan costs are based on your FTE at the beginning of the pay period. New plan choices start on the 1st of the month after you submit your request and paperwork (or on the 1st if your submission is on the 1st).
- Please review our Medical/Dental Plan Costs and Comparisons to review plan costs by Bargaining Unit and FTE along with medical/dental comparison charts to compare insurance plans.
- Required Documents: For FTE increases, to add a spouse or domestic partner, you must submit a completed Marriage or Domestic Partnership Affidavit. To end your medical coverage if you have other qualifying insurance please submit the Affidavit to Opt Out of County Medical Coverage.
Full-Time to Part-Time Changes
If you move to a part-time FTE, you can switch to a lower-cost plan with your current insurance company, end your medical coverage if you have other qualifying insurance, and/or remove family members from coverage.
Important Timing Tip to Save Money
If you plan to switch to a lower-cost plan (like Moda Major Medical or Kaiser Maintenance), try to schedule your work change between the 17th and the end of the month.
- If your change happens between the 17th and the end of the month: Your new choices start smoothly on the 1st.
- If your change happens between the 2nd and the 16th: You will have to pay the higher part-time rates for your current expensive plan for the rest of the month until your new plan starts on the 1st.
*Example Scenario: A Local 88 employee with family coverage (Employee + 2 or more dependents) is currently enrolled in the Kaiser 10/20 Medical Plan and Kaiser Dental. They are reducing their hours from Full-Time (1.0 FTE) to Half-Time (0.5 FTE) in March and want to switch to the lower-cost Kaiser Maintenance Plan.
Here is how their paycheck deductions change based on when the FTE reduction takes effect:
Scenario A: FTE Change Happens Early in the Month (March 2 – March 16)
The employee pays the higher Half-Time rates on their expensive plan for the second half of March.
| Pay Period | Paycheck Date | Work Status | Medical Plan & Cost Share | Dental Cost Share | Total Per Paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
03/01 – 03/15 | March 31 | Full-Time | Kaiser 10/20: $75.94 | $9.46 | $85.40 |
03/16 – 03/31 | April 15 | Half-Time | Kaiser 10/20: $734.50 | $67.64 | $802.14 |
04/01 – 04/15 | April 30 | Half-Time | Kaiser Maintenance: $120.20 (New Plan Active) | $67.64 | $187.84 |
Scenario B: FTE Change Happens at Month-End (March 17 – April 1)
Result: The employee pays Full-Time rates until their new lower-cost plan takes effect on April 1.
Pay Period | Paycheck Date | Work Status | Medical Plan & Cost Share | Dental Cost Share | Total Per Paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
03/01 – 03/15 | March 31 | Full-Time | Kaiser 10/20: $75.94 | $9.46 | $85.40 |
03/16 – 03/31 | April 15 | Full-Time | Kaiser 10/20: $75.94 | $9.46 | $85.40 |
04/01 – 04/15 | April 30 | Half-Time | Kaiser Maintenance: $120.20 (New Plan Active) | $67.64 | $187.84 |
Premium Reimbursement Option:
Local 88, ONA, IBEW, IUOE, JCSS, MCDAI or FOPPO part-time employees who work extra hours at a full-time schedule, or Local 88, MCDAI or JCSS half-time employee who work extra hours at a three-quarter time schedule, may receive reimbursement of the difference between what they pay and what an employee working full-time or three-quarter time would pay for medical/dental costs. Learn more about premium reimbursement.
Part-Time to Full-Time Changes
Some health plans are only for part-time employees. If you are enrolled in a part-time-only plan and move to full-time:
- The Benefits Office will automatically move you to the full-time plan with the same insurance company if your current plan is unavailable in full time status.
- Dependents are not added automatically. If you want to add family members to your new plan, you must submit an election form and required documents within 60 days.
For questions about job changes, please contact the Employee Benefits Office at employee.benefits@multco.us or leave us a voice message at 503-988-3477.