Article 11 – Benefits

Article 11 – Benefits

11.01 - Board Provided Benefits: The Board will provide major medical insurance through the District’s medical plan and group term life insurance for all eligible employees.

1. Eligibility: Employees who are regularly scheduled to work thirty (30) or more hours per work week are eligible for Board provided medical and life insurance coverage as described in this article; except that, employees who were employed with the Board as of January 4, 1996, and who were, at that date, and continue to be, regularly scheduled to work twenty (20) or more hours per work week, shall continue to be eligible for Board provided major medical insurance and group term life insurance as described in this article.

11.02 – Flex Credits: Effective April 1, 2023, the Board shall contribute $9,213.60 into Flex Credits for each employee who is enrolled in Board-Provided Benefits and an additional $4,000.00 for each employee who elects to enroll in spouse or dependent coverage

1. Application: Flex Credits are to be applied by employees toward the purchase of their own major medical insurance, dependent medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, and/or cancer insurance.
2. Health Savings Account (HSA): For employees who elect the High Deductible Health Plan with an HSA, any Flex Credits in excess of the employee only medical plan premium will be deposited into the employee’s HSA account with the District’s HSA vendor and will not be applied to dependent medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, and/or cancer insurance.
3. Total Contribution: The total Board contribution for the benefits listed above shall not exceed the Flex Credits amount. Regardless of the benefits elected, the employee shall not receive cash from the Flex Credits.

11.03 – Flexible Benefits Plan: The School District of Lee County shall offer its employees an IRS Section 125 qualified Flexible Benefits Plan (Flex Plan). Voluntary benefits included in the Flex Plan may be purchased pre-tax through payroll deduction or with Flex Credits.

1. Enrollment: Enrollment in the Flex Plan is automatic. New employees eligible for benefits have the option to waive participation in the Flex Plan within the first thirty (30) days of employment. Regular employees eligible for benefits are allowed to change their Flex Plan status during the annual enrollment period or within sixty (60) days following a qualified family status change. Enrollment in any individual benefit included in the Flex Plan remains binding until the employee changes their benefit election. Such changes may only be made during the Open Enrollment period for the benefit or within thirty (30) days (to add a benefit) or within sixty (60) days (to drop a benefit) following a qualified family status change, and must be made on the appropriate enrollment change form. Changes made during the Open Enrollment period will become effective the first day of the new benefit plan year.
2. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): All eligible employees may participate in optional medical and/or dependent care FSAs, which allow those employees to pay for qualified medical and dependent care expenses with pre-tax payroll deductions. Employees enrolling in an FSA must do so annually as they are regulated by the IRS. Flex Credits may not be directed to Flexible Spending Accounts.

11.04 – Major Medical Insurance: The Board will provide major medical insurance through the District’s medical plan to each eligible employee. Such coverage shall become effective the first of the month following a forty-five (45) day waiting period from date of employment. The date of employment shall be included as one of the forty-five (45) days.

11.05 – Option to Decline Benefits: Employees who can verify evidence of medical insurance coverage shall be allowed to decline coverage under the School District's medical plan. Employees shall receive $25.00 per paycheck (24 pay periods) or $30.00 per paycheck (20 pay periods) of Flex Credits to spend on voluntary benefits (dental, vision, critical illness, accident, and/or cancer).

11.06 - Life Insurance: The Board will provide twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) of group term life insurance for each eligible employee, with an additional twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. Coverage shall begin on the first of the month following a forty-five (45) day waiting period from date of employment. The date of employment shall be included as one of the forty-five (45) days.

11.07 - Voluntary Benefits: The Board will make optional voluntary group benefits available to all eligible employees. Employees who participate in voluntary benefits must do so at their own expense or with available Flex Credits. Voluntary benefits shall be recommended by the Insurance Task Force and approved by the Board.

1. Eligibility: Employees who are regularly scheduled to work twenty (20) or more hours per work week are eligible for the optional group voluntary benefits offered by the Board.

11.08 - Liability Insurance: The Board will provide liability coverage for employees in an amount not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence.

11.09 – Self-Insurance Fund Reserve: Self-Insurance Fund reserves shall not be transferred out of the fund without the recommendation of the Insurance Task Force.

11.10 – Retirement: The District participates in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and contributes on behalf of all eligible employees.

11.11 – Social Security: The District makes Social Security contributions on behalf of all eligible employees.