SUMMARY OF BENEFITS
AVAILABLE TO LAY EMPLOYEES OF THE DIOCESE
All full-time and
regular part-time lay employees who customarily work at
least 20 hours per week are eligible for benefits. Below
is a list of benefit categories that further explain the
benefits.
HEALTH
INSURANCE
Anthem Blue Cross-Blue
Shield provides health insurance coverage for diocesan
employees and their eligible dependents. Employees in
the Metropolitan Richmond, Tidewater, Roanoke and Charlottesville
areas have a choice of the HealthKeepers HMO or the Point
of Service Plan. Key Care I5, a PPO (Preferred Provider
Organization), or Cost Awareness 15 is available to employees
outside those areas.
An employee is eligible for enrollment on the first of
the month coinciding with or following the date of hire.
The health insurance package also includes dental coverage
through Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield and a $10,000 basic
life insurance policy on the employee through Prudential
Insurance Company.
The diocesan employer contributes one-half of the cost
of the premium. A premium conversion plan is in place,
which allows employees to have their gross wages reduced
by the amount of the employee contribution for the health/dental/life
insurance package before calculating federal, state, Social
Security and Medicare taxes.
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RETIREMENT
The Diocese of Richmond
Lay Employees' Retirement Plan is an employer paid benefit.
There is no employee contribution. The defined benefit
plan has a five-year vesting period. Employees are entitled
to a benefit after five years of credited service, which
is not limited to one diocesan employer.
An employee becomes a participant by virtue of his/her
employment. Employers are contacted annually
to report all new eligible employees. Mercer Benefit
Consulting is the actuary for the retirement plan.
The normal retirement date is the first of the month coinciding
with or following the participant's 65th birthday. A reduced
early retirement benefit is available after age 55 and
10 years of service. The benefit calculation is made by
using a formula involving the average earnings for the
five highest consecutive calendar years and the years
of credited service.
The plan provides for a lump-sum payment to terminated
vested employees whose accrued benefit does not exceed
$5,000. The one-time payment is made after completion
of the annual actuarial valuation of the Retirement Plan.
The Retirement Plan also provides a $5,000 death benefit
for active employees. If an employee retires under the
regular form of normal retirement, no benefit is payable
at death. Other payment options are provided at the time
of retirement.
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DISABILITY INSURANCE
The Diocese provides
short and long-term disability benefits through Prudential
Insurance Company to protect employees against loss of
income due to non-work related sickness or injury. This
employer-paid benefit provides for payment of 60% of an
employee's gross salary after being disabled for 30 consecutive
days. Short-term benefits are payable for 22 weeks. After
that time, long-term benefits will be paid at 60% of an
employee's monthly salary. Long-term benefits are reduced
by any other income for which the employee is eligible,
i.e. Social Security Benefits or retirement payments.
Disability insurance coverage begins the day following
the completion of the waiting period, which is three months
from the beginning date of employment.
Benefits for a maternity related disability are payable
in the event of an illness brought on by the pregnancy
prior to delivery. Disability usually begins on the day
of delivery and continues throughout the post-partum period
(usually six weeks) when the employee is prohibited, as
certified by her physician, from performing any and every
duty pertaining to her employment.
The disability insurance may be converted to an individual
policy without medical evidence of insurability if you
leave the employment of the Diocese prior to retiring.
Also, in some instances survivor benefits are payable
in the event of the death of an employee who was receiving
long term benefits.
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ADDITIONAL
LIFE INSURANCE
Term life insurance
coverage equal to one, two, or three times an employee's
annual salary is available. The Additional Life Insurance
and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is provided
by Prudential Insurance Company.
The life insurance has a waiver of premium if total disability
begins before age 60 and it includes an Accelerated Benefit
provision which allows a terminally ill employee on waiver
of premium to receive up to 50% of the proceeds before
death.
The cost of Additional Life insurance is based on age
and amount of coverage and is paid in total by the employee
through payroll deduction.
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VISION
CARE COVERAGE
The SPECTERA Vision
Care Plan, an optional stand-alone vision plan, offers
each enrolled member an eye exam once every 12 months
by a participating optometrist plus a pair of clear, single
vision or standard, lined multi-focal lenses and a frame.
A $5.00 co-payment for the exam and a $25.00 co-payment
for the glasses are required in addition to the monthly
premium which is paid in total by the employee through
payroll deduction.
In lieu of exam, lenses and a frame, a $100 credit will
be applied toward the exam and purchase of contact lenses.
Cosmetic extras such as tints, photosensitive or progressive
lenses are available at an additional charge, which is
below the usual retail cost.
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EMPLOYEE
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
(EAP)
The Diocese provides an Employee
Assistance Program administered by Cigna Behavioral Health
for all employers, employees and members of their
households. When the problems of life and work become
more than they can handle alone, the EAP is there. Help
for issues such as depression, substance abuse, child
care, domestic violence, legal matters, elder care,
financial advice and many other areas is available by
calling a toll free number 24 hours a day, 365 day a
year. The service is totally CONFIDENTIAL. All
information shared is between the person calling and the
EAP Provider. This benefit is provided by the employers
free of charge to all employees. The toll-free number can
be obtained from the employer or the Human Resources
Office.
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LONG TERM CARE
INSURANCE
Long Term Care
Insurance has been called the "missing link to retirement
planning." The Diocese provides to its employees,
and some volunteer groups, the ability to purchase Long
Term Care Insurance at group rates. Premium
discounts are available and you will be able to
individually select benefits to meet your personal needs.
Call the Human Resources Office for more information.
