The City offers an outstanding comprehensive benefits program that is competitive with other employers. Regular, full-time employees and designated PT30 employees are eligible to participate in these programs, as described in each plan.
Information on eligible dependents, supporting documentation and how to enroll can be found here.
Eligibility
- Full-time employees
- Part-time employees who consistently worked 30 or more hours per week over the past 12 months
- Retirees from the City of Houston
Please note that contractors and temporary employees ARE NOT eligible.
ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS
- Legal spouse
- Children up to age 26 that you are the legal guardian or legal foster parent
- Grandchildren and stepchildren to age 26 if they qualify as your dependents for federal income-tax purposes and live with you
- A dependent child who is 26 or older, primarily supported by you, and incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental incapacity, physical disability or handicap which arose while the child was covered as a dependent under these plans without a break in coverage
- Dependents (children and grandchildren) for whom a court order has been received requiring the employee to provide healthcare coverage, provided HR Benefits receives the court order within 31 days after issuance
REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
| Employee relationship | Required supporting documentation | Coverages available |
|---|---|---|
| Legal spouse (Ex-spouses are not eligible without a court order) |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental, vision, basic and voluntary life insurance and supplement coverage |
| Biological child |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental, vision, basic and voluntary life insurance and supplement coverage Coverage available up to age 26 |
| Adopted child |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental, vision, basic and voluntary life insurance and supplement coverage Coverage available up to age 26 |
| Legal custody/guardianship foster child (Children for whom you have legal guardianship or legal foster care) |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental, vision, basic and voluntary life insurance and supplement coverage Coverage available up to age 26 |
| Court ordered dependent (Dependent for whom a court order has been received requiring you to provide healthcare coverage) |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental, vision, basic and voluntary life insurance and supplement coverage Coverage available up to age 26 |
| Stepchild |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental, vision, basic and voluntary life insurance and supplement coverage Coverage available up to age 26 |
| Biological grandchild (Step-grandchildren are not eligible for coverage) |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental and vision Coverage available up to age 26 |
| Disabled children age 26 and over |
|
Eligible for: medical, dental, vision, basic and voluntary life insurance and supplement coverage. Contact the Benefits Division for appropriate paperwork to continue coverage. |
Required documents must be submitted and verified before dependents can be covered under any of the City of Houston benefits plans. Submitted documents must be County Clerk certified or court-filed documents. Each submitted document will be reviewed by the Benefits Division for approval before processing changes to coverage.
IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY NOTES
If both you and your spouse work(ed) for the city, you may be covered as an employee/retiree or as a dependent - but not both. Dependents may be enrolled under only one parent or guardian.
If you are a hire new within 30 days of your start date, please complete your enrollment through your SAP HROne Connect submit the above requested documentation within 30 days of your start date to the Benefits Division.
A dependent child who is 26 or older, primarily supported by you, and incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental incapacity, physical disability or handicap which arose while the child was covered as a dependent under these plans, or while covered as a dependent under prior city plans without a break in coverage Upon applying and receiving third party medical administrator’s approval, proof of the child’s condition and dependence must be submitted within 31 days or the child ceases to qualify for benefits. Dependents (children and grandchildren) for whom a court order has been received requiring the employee to provide healthcare coverage, provided HR Benefits receives the court order within 31 days after issuance
ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES
There are several opportunities to elect, drop, add, or modify benefit coverage for yourself and/or your dependents. It’s important to carefully consider the benefit options available to you and your dependent(s), as there are only a few opportunities to select coverage or make changes to your benefits.
1. Initial Enrollment for New Employees
You have only thirty (30) days from your hire date to make initial enrollment elections and submit supporting documents for any dependents you would like to cover. After you receive your first paycheck, you can log into Employee Self service (ESS) using your e-number, that is, the letter “e” followed by your employee ID number and your network password. Contact HITS at 832-394-4487 for password assistance.
If supporting documentation is not received within the 30-day window, you will have to wait until Open Enrollment or until after you experience a qualifying life event to enroll for benefits coverage. After enrollment, your benefits will begin the 1st or 16th day of the month following your 30th day of employment. Make sure to complete a Final Paycheck Beneficiary Form.
2. Annual Open Enrollment
The annual open enroll is one time a year event. This is an opportunity to review and make changes to your benefits elections. During this time, you can add, drop, or modify medical, dental and vision, as well as enroll or re-enroll for a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HFSA). The open enrollment period for plan year 2024 - 2025 is March 11, 2024 - March 29, 2024. If you are happy with your current medical, dental, vision and life benefits elections, you do not need to make any changes. If do not make any changes to your medical, dental, vision and/or life benefits elections during open enrollment, your current benefit elections will roll over into plan year 2024 – 2025.
Important Reminder: If you would like to continue or start a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HFSA) you must enroll/re-enroll.
3. Special Enrollment for Qualified Life Events
Employees may update benefits coverage only if they experience a qualifying life event (QLE). With a QLE, employees have 31 days from the date of the event to log in to HROneConnect.houstontx.gov. Under Organizational Updates, choose the Benefitplace tile. Click Edit or Change Your Benefits to begin.
Once complete, submit supporting documents by uploading them to the Document Center in Benefitplace. Any documentation needed will be highlighted on the employee’s account. Choose Add document. Attach the requested document, then select Save Document. A message will be displayed confirming documentation has been uploaded. From this page, employees can either view and manage documents or return to the homepage.
Qualifying Life Events are defined as:
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Obtain legal guardianship or foster care
- Court Order for an employee
- Death of a spouse or child
- Loss or gain benefits coverage
- Return from Military Leave
- Moving outside of the Limited Plan service area
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO ENROLL
- HROne password
- Date of birth for all dependents (NOTE: birth certificates and marriage certificates MUST be received and verified before you are able to add your eligible dependents to your benefits
- Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for all dependents
Submitting supporting documents
Submit documents through one of the following:
- Secure Document Submission Portal: bit.ly/COHBenefitsForm
- Mail/Hand deliver: 611 Walker 4th floor, Houston TX, 77002
How to Enroll
Log in to HROneConnect.houstontx.gov. Under Organizational Updates, choose the Benefitplace tile. Click Edit or Change Your Benefits to begin. If applicable, submit supporting documents by uploading them to the Document Center in Benefitplace. Any documentation needed will be highlighted on the employee’s account.
Choose Add document. Attach the requested document, then select Save Document. A message will be displayed confirming documentation has been uploaded. From this page, employees can either view and manage documents or return to the homepage.
