Employee Benefits and Wellness | Sarasota County, FL

Medical Plan Options

Sarasota County Government offers three medical plans:

Aetna Value-In-Network (VIN)
Aetna Health Fund (AHF)
Aetna Choice Point of Service II (POS II)

All plans:

Include the same network of doctors, hospitals, laboratory, and radiology facilities.
Cover in-network preventive care, including mammograms, annual physical exams, and lab work at 100 %, based on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines.
Allow you to use any doctor or hospital you choose, any time you need care. Staying in-network minimizes your out-of-pocket costs, including your deductible. Whereas out-of-network services are subject to reasonable and customary limits. If your doctor charges more than these limits, you are responsible for the extra charges, and they will not count toward your annual out-of-pocket maximum.
Give you access to the best treatment facilities across Sarasota County and the region.

How VIN, AHF and POS II options are different:

VIN: you pay less in payroll deductions, have a larger deductible and most services apply to the deductible and coinsurance. This plan only covers services obtained at an In-Network provider.
AHF: you pay more in payroll deductions and receive a fund to pay initial medical expenses, but you have a larger deductible to satisfy when you receive care.
POS II: you pay the most in payroll deductions, have a smaller deductible and are generally responsible for initial medical expenses.

2026 Aetna Medical Premium (per pay period)
	VIN	AHF	POS II
Employee	$48.80	$53.58	$72.09
Employee + Child(ren)	$169.37	$250.89	$337.52
Employee + Spouse	$197.33	$294.71	$396.45
Family	$238.36	$359.01	$482.94
Dependent Aged 26-30	$325.32	$356.91	$481.97

The chart below is a general overview of the SCG medical plan options. For complete details, refer to the appropriate plan documents located in resources library below. Plan documents may supersede benefits found below.

Benefits and Services	Aetna Value In-network (VIN)	Aetna Health Fund (AHF)		Aetna POS II
	In-network ONLY	In-network	Out-of-network*	In-network	Out-of-network*
Health Fund	Not Applicable	SCG Contribution: $500 Individual $1,000 Family (Contributions are prorated if enrolled after January 1st)		Not Applicable
Annual Deductible	$3,000 Individual $6,000 All Family Tiers	$2,000 Individual $4,000 All Family Tiers	$4,000 Individual $8,000 All Family Tiers	$750 Individual $1,500 All Family Tiers	$1,500 Individual $3,000 All Family Tiers
Annual Out-of-Pocket Maximum	$6,000 Individual $12,000 All Family Tiers	$4,500 Individual $9,000 All Family Tiers	$9,000 Individual $14,000 All Family Tiers	$3,250 Individual $6,500 All Family Tiers	$6,500 Individual $13,000 All Family Tiers
		• Health Fund dollars decrease your out-of-pocket expenses
* Prescriptions count toward deductible/Max Out-of-Pocket. *Members may also be responsible for any additional amounts not payable under the plan.

Preventive Care Covered at 100%
Routine Preventive Screenings	Plan pays 100% based on US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. (Preventive services do not reduce Health Fund.)
Adult Physical	One per calendar year; note that you no longer have to wait 12 months between physicals.
Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy	Once every 10 years.
Dermatology exam	Once every 12 months.
Flu vaccine	Annually.
Gynecological exam	Once every 12 months.
Mammogram, screening, or diagnostic	Screening annually, Diagnostic every 6 months; for members age 35 years or older.
Dexascan	Bone density screening (recommended annually after age 65).
Pediatric physical	Once every 12 months, more frequently for 3 years or younger.
Pneumonia vaccine	Up to two doses as prescribed by your physician.
Shingles vaccine	Once, 50 years or older.
Tetanus	Tdap or TD

Teladoc to the rescue!

At work, on weekends, travelling away from home, or anytime you want to avoid sitting in a waiting room, Teladoc is a call or click away. Talk to a board-certified doctor by phone or video, 24/7. Teladoc doctors can treat many medical conditions, including:

Cold and flu symptoms
Urinary tract infection
Respiratory infection
Sinus problems
Skin problems
Allergies
Pink eye

$0 copay for Teladoc on all 3 medical plans!

A doctor is a call or click away: 1-855-Teladoc (1-855-835-2362) or download the Teladoc app.

For instructions on how to download or print your Aetna Digital ID Card, click here.

To find information from previous plan periods, please consult the archives.

Medical Plan Comparison

Learn more about how each plan works.

Physician Office Visits	Aetna Value In-Network (VIN)	Aetna Health Fund (AHF)		Aetna Choice POS II
Physician Office Visits	In-network ONLY	In-network	Out-of-network	In-network	Out-of-network
Primary Care Physician	$40 co-pay	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible you pay 40%	$25 copay	After deductible, you pay 40%
Specialist	30% (no deductible)	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible you pay 40%	$50 copay	After deductible, you pay 40%
Lab/Diagnostic Imaging	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible you pay 40%	$35 copay	After deductible, you pay 40%
Teladoc	$0	$0		$0

Emergency Care	Aetna Value In-network (VIN)	Aetna Health Fund (AHF)		Aetna Choice POS II
Emergency Care	In-network ONLY	In-network	Out-of-network	In-network	Out-of-network
Urgent Care	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	$75 copay	After deductible, you pay 40%
Emergency Room	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	$400 copay (Waived if admitted)	After deductible, you pay 40%

Hospital Services

Aetna Value In-network (VIN)

Aetna Choice POS II and Aetna Health Fund (AHF)

In-network ONLY

In-network

Out-of-network

Inpatient, Outpatient, and Inpatient Maternity

After deductible, you pay 30%

After deductible, you pay 25%

After deductible, you pay 40%

Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services	Aetna Value In-network (VIN)	Aetna Health Fund (AHF)		Aetna Choice POS II
	In-network ONLY	In-network	Out-of-network	In-network	Out-of-network
Inpatient	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	40% after deductible	After deductible, you pay 25%	40% after deductible
Outpatient	$40 copay			$25 copay

Family Planning Services	Aetna Value In-network (VIN)	Aetna Health Fund (AHF)		Aetna Choice POS II
Family Planning Services	In-network ONLY	In-network	Out-of-network	In-network	Out-of-network
Infertility treatment	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%		Specialist copay
Comprehensive Infertility Services	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%		Specialist copay
Coverage includes maximum lifetime benefit of $30,000

Other Services	Aetna Value In-network (VIN)	Aetna Health Fund (AHF)		Aetna Choice POS II
Other Services	In-network	In-network	Out-of-network	In-network-only	Out-of-network
Convalescent	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%
Home Health Care (120 visits/year)	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%
Hospice - Inpatient	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%
Hospice - Outpatient	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%
Speech, Physical Occupational Therapy	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%
Spinal Manipulation Chiropractic (20 visits per year each)	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%
Acupuncture (up to 20 visits per)	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%		After deductible, you pay 25%
Durable Medical Equipment	After deductible, you pay 30%	Deductible waived, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	Deductible waived, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%
Allergy Testing	$40 copay (PCP) After deductible, you pay 30% (Specialist)	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	$25 copay (PCP) $50 copay (Specialist)	After deductible, you pay 40%
Allergy Injections	$5 copay	After deductible, you pay 25%	After deductible, you pay 40%	$5 copay	After deductible, you pay 40%
Ambulatory Services	After deductible, you pay 30%	After deductible, you pay 25%		After deductible, you pay 25%
Hearing Aid Benefit	$1,500 benefit one time every five years. This benefit is unique to Sarasota County members.

Remember: If the doctor or medical facilities you visit are not in Aetna’s network, you can still receive out-of-network benefits; however, it will cost you more.

Visit Plan Summary for POS II, AHF, and VIN to learn more about the plan.

Click here to view Machine Readable Files (MRF) Transparency File.

Medical Premium Reduction Program

See your health in '3D' and get money added to your paycheck!

Sarasota County offers a program that encourages healthy preventive steps you may take to help maintain your health, while reducing your medical insurance premiums by:

Single coverage – $24 per pay period
Family coverage tiers – 30% reduction

All employees and covered spouses must complete each requirement that pertains to them between Oct. 1, 2025, and Sept. 30, 2026 to qualify for the medical insurance premium reduction in plan year 2027.

NOTE: It is the employee’s responsibility to report errors regarding Premium Reduction credits to the Benefits office. Retroactive payroll adjustments due to Premium Reduction qualification will only be made through the end of February of each year. No adjustments will be made beyond that time period.

For questions about these screenings, or to confirm eligibility, log in to Aetna Member Website or contact your Aetna Health and Benefits Professional at 861-5273 (KARE) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. You may also send an email to AHBP@AETNA.com for assistance.

Complete the 3D's: doctor (Primary care physician [PCP] physical), dentist, and dermatologist!

Program requirements

Applies to

Frequency

Doctor (PCP): Annual preventive exam/physical

Billing codes: 99385, 99386, 99387, 99395, 99396, or 99397 - the diagnosis code must be Z00.0.

99202, 99203, 99204, and 99205 - no Z code. These will be accepted towards the Premium Reduction Program, however, they are not preventive visits. Therefore, you will be responsible for copays or deductibles as outlined in the SCG Aetna medical plan.

All employees and spouses

Annually

Dental exam

Billing codes: D0120, D0140, D0150, D0180, D1110, or D4910.

All employees and spouses

Annually

Dermatology exam

Billing codes: 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, or 99215.

All employees and spouses

Annually

Note: The county’s medical plans do not require members to wait 365 days between preventive physical exams.

New hires in 2026: Employees hired by Sept. 30, 2026, may qualify for the 2027 reduction if they can verify that they have met all the requirements above prior to Sept. 30, 2026. New hires should provide verification of compliance (dates and locations of exams and labs) to the Aetna Health and Benefits Professional. If you are hired after September 30, 2026, you will not be eligible for a reduced premium until 2028.

Important notice for spouses: Employees who are married prior to Sept. 30 and are adding their spouse to the medical plan may qualify for the premium reduction next year if the spouse is able to verify that they have met all of the requirements above.

Aetna Health and Benefits Professional Services

Make your life easier! You no longer have to take time from your busy day to manage your health-related tasks.

Examples of some services:

Help you find a high-quality physician, hospital, or other health service provider.
Explain your benefits and anticipated out-of-pocket costs.
Schedule medical appointments for you.
Review your bills to confirm you are paying the correct amount.

The Aetna Health and Benefits Professional Services can also help ensure that you don’t miss out on the county’s Premium Reduction Program. To learn more, call the Aetna Health and Benefits Professional at 941-861-5273(KARE) or email AHBP@AETNA.com.

Prescription Plan

Prescription coverage is provided by Aetna. You may obtain a 30-day supply and some 90-day supplies at any retail pharmacy. Aetna also offers a mail-order program. To help save money for both you and the plan, generics should be the go-to choice for prescriptions.*

Prescription Coverage for POS II, AHF and VIN Plans
Get your prescription filled at	VIN Plan	AHF	POS II
Network Pharmacy (30-day supply)	Generic $15	Generic $9
	Brand* Formulary: 30% coinsurance	Brand* Formulary: 20% coinsurance ($35 minimum and $70 maximum)
	Brand* Non-formulary: 30% coinsurance	Brand Non-formulary: 40% coinsurance ($75 minimum and $150 maximum)
Specialty Drug	PrudentRX: $0 copay for eligible medications 30% coinsurance	30% coinsurance ($150 minimum and $300 maximum)	PrudentRX: $0 copay for eligible medications 30% coinsurance
Maintenance medications can be filled through CVS Mail Order or any participating pharmacy. (30–90-day supply)	Generic $37.50	Generic $22.50
	Brand* Formulary: 30% coinsurance	Brand Formulary: 20% coinsurance ($87.50 minimum and $175 maximum)
	Brand* Non-formulary: 30% coinsurance	Brand Non-formulary: 40% coinsurance ($187.50 minimum and $375 maximum)
Local retail network pharmacies may provide free antibiotics, diabetes and blood pressure medications and $4 generic prescriptions. Take advantage of these programs to keep your costs down. Remember to give the pharmacist your Aetna ID card to ensure the claim is added to your prescription record.

*If you or your provider choose a brand name drug, you will pay the coinsurance plus the difference in the ingredient cost between the generic and brand name drugs.

Filling Maintenance Medications: Members who use maintenance medications may use any of the following major pharmacies (CVS, Publix, Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens) or CVS Mail Order to fill prescriptions for 90 days. A maintenance medication is one that is taken daily, and most likely, permanently.

PrudentRX & PrudentMed (New Feature!)

Aetna has collaborated with PrudentRX exclusively for a program that may help save you money on your specialty prescription. If you are prescribed a specialty drug, make sure to accept enrollment with PrudentRX. Participating members will have a $0 out-of-pocket cost on eligible specialty medications! Your enrollment in the program will begin automatically, but additional steps may be needed. **You can choose to opt-out at any time**

*Some manufactures require you to sign up to obtain copay assistance that they provide for their medications- in that case, you must call PrudentRX to participate in the copay assistance for that medication. PrudentRX will also contact you if you are required to enroll in the copay assistance for any medication that you take.

**If you choose to opt out of the program or if you do not affirmatively enroll in any copay assistance as required by a manufacturer, you will be responsible for 30 percent of the cost of your specialty medications.

Please note: PrudentRX and PrudentMed are only available for the VIN and POSII plans.

PrudentRX participating pharmacies include CVS and Publix. PrudentMed covers eligible specialty medications under the medical benefit.

If you currently take or will start taking an eligible specialty medication, you will receive a welcome letter from PrudentRx that provides information about the specialty copay program solution as it pertains to your medication. Any inquiries about program enrollment or participation can be directed to PrudentRx at 1-855-476-4118. Failure to enroll or opting out of PrudentRx or PrudentMed solutions will result in being responsible for the full amount of the member cost share on specialty medications that are eligible for the specialty copay solution.

Search Drug Costs

To get more information about drug cost, contact the Aetna Health and Benefits Professional at AHBP@AETNA.com or 941-861-5273.

Click here to locate your nearest in-network pharmacy.

For instructions on how to download or print your Aetna Digital ID Card, click here.

Dental Plan Options

Aetna DMO Plan

Offers in-network coverage only.
Covers 100% of preventive care and requires copays for all other services with no maximum annual benefit.
Provides dental coverage using a specific network of providers for procedures with fixed copayments. There is no coverage for out-of-network providers.
You must select and register with a Primary Care DMO dentist by calling Aetna at 1-877-238-6200 prior to obtaining services. The primary care dentist must refer the member to specialists when required by the plan.

Aetna PPO Plan

Offers both in- and out-of-network coverage.
Pays a fixed percentage of your eligible expenses with an annual maximum benefit of $1,750 per member.
If using a network provider, the percentage paid by the plan will continue at 90% for Type II benefits (fillings, root canals, etc.) and 60% for Type III benefits (crowns, etc.).
The percentage paid for out-of-network providers is limited to usual, customary, and reasonable charges (UCR). UCR charges are the amount paid for a medical service in a geographic area based on what providers in the area usually charge for the same or similar service (allowed amount).
Plan members are responsible for any amounts above what is considered UCR.

2025 Aetna Dental Premiums (per pay period)
	Aetna DMO In-Network Only	Aetna PPO
Employee	$0	$0
Employee + Child(ren)	$5.92	$21.37
Employee + Spouse	$5.90	$21.37
Family	$9.94	$28.50

Deductibles, Maximums and Co-pays
	Aetna DMO	Aetna PPO
Preventive	100% covered	100% covered (if you have not met the $1,750 annual maximum benefit)
Annual deductible	$0	$50 Individual or $150 Family
Basic services	Copay based on procedure	After deductible, you pay: 10% in-network or 30% out-of-network
Major services	Copay based on procedure	After deductible, you pay: 40% in-network or 60% out-of-network
Comprehensive orthodontia	$2,400 copay	$1,750 Lifetime Benefit
Annual maximum	No Limit	$1,750

For instructions on how to download or print your Aetna Digital ID Card, click here.

Vision Plan

Offers a choice between coverage for an exam and glasses, or an exam and contact lens benefit. To receive the highest payable benefit, you must obtain services from a network provider. To view the network, visit aetnavision.com and select “Find a care provider" or call 1-877-973-3238.

2025 Premiums (per pay) — Aetna Vision Preferred Plan
Employee	$2.69
Employee + Child(ren)	$5.18
Employee + Spouse	$5.28
Full Family	$9.16

2025 Aetna Vision Preferred Plan
Coverage	In-network Benefits	*Out-of-network Reimbursement	Benefit Frequency
Comprehensive eye exam with dilation	$10 co-pay	Reimbursed up to $33 (less applicable co-pay)	Once every 12 months
Eyeglass lenses (standard plastic)	$15 co-pay includes: • Single • Bifocal • Trifocal • Lenticular Polycarbonate lenses covered in full for members age 19 and younger; $30 co-pay over the age of 19. Additional co-pays apply to standard progressive lenses and photochromic lenses.	Reimbursed (less applicable copay): • Single up to $28 • Bifocal up to $40 • Trifocal up to $53 • Lenticular up to $84 • Standard Progressive $53 No out-of-pocket reimbursement for adult polycarbonate or photochromic lenses; Children up to 19 years of age have a $15 reimbursement for polycarbonate.	Once every 12 months
Eyeglass frames	$15 co-pay (no co-pay if included with eyeglass lenses); paid in full on special frame selection; $180 allowance outside of the selection (less applicable co-pay).	$93 reimbursement	Once every 24 months
Contact lens exam	Member pays discounted fee up to $40.	No reimbursement	Once every 12 months
Contact lenses (in lieu of eyeglasses)** (conventional/disposable)	$175 Allowance; Additional 15% off balance over the allowance.	$100 Reimbursement	Once every 12 months
Contact lenses (in lieu of eyeglasses) (medically necessary*)	$0 Copay	$210 allowance	Once every 12 months
Laser Vision Correction (LASIK)	15% discount off retail or 5% discount off the promotional price.	No reimbursement
*Submit member out-of-network reimbursement form and copy of paid receipt to Aetna Vision Preferred.
** This benefit is paid only once during a calendar year and must be fully utilized at the time of purchase.

View Plan Summary to learn more about the plan.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Sarasota County offers both Medical and Dependent Care flexible spending accounts (FSA). These accounts allow employees to save money by placing pre-tax contributions into accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses (for children up to age 13).

You must incur all claims in the calendar year (Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2026).

You must submit your claims for eligible expenses by March 31, 2027.

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

Members that elect the Healthcare FSA and are enrolled in any Aetna benefit (medical, pharmacy, dental, or vision) will automatically be reimbursed, whereas members that elect the Healthcare FSA account and are not enrolled in any of the Aetna benefits, will be required to pay for services out-of-pocket and submit their receipts to Inspira for reimbursement. You can submit your receipts for reimbursement through the Inspira app or their website, www.inspirafinancial.com. For more information, please call 888-678-8242.

Timely submission of claims is important to ensure you do not forfeit any dollars. Members with a healthcare FSA may submit for plan year 2026 claims up through March 31, 2027. If you miss this deadline, you risk forfeiting remaining dollars in your healthcare FSA. For 2026, the IRS allows up to $680 to be rolled over from year to year; any amount more than $680 is in risk of forfeiture.

Members with a healthcare FSA for plan year 2025 may submit claims up through March 31, 2026. You may rollover unused Healthcare FSA dollars up to $660 to the next calendar year. Any balance over $660 will be forfeited.

As of 2026, the IRS has increased the pre-tax contribution limit to $3,400 per year. Sarasota County matches 5% of the employee's contribution and makes a one-time deposit in January each year. You must be contributing as of January 1 each year to be eligible for the match.

Dependent Care Spending Account

Dependent Care covers qualified dependents enrolled in childcare services, summer camp, after- and before-school care for children 12 years of age or younger. Sarasota County will match any dependent care contributions by 25% each pay period, up to $1,000 annually. To participate, you must enroll during open enrollment or during a qualified change in status. Please note that you forfeit any money within dependent care flexible spending accounts that is not used during a calendar year.

The Dependent Care FSA maximum for 2026 is $7,500. Since Sarasota County matches 25 percent (up to $1,000), the maximum amount that an employee may contribute is $250 per pay period, which totals $6,500 per year. Highly compensated employees making $115,000 or more per year are limited to an annual maximum contribution of $3,999.84, or $153.84 per pay period. Members that elect the dependent FSA account will have to submit a reimbursement request through Inspira Financial (www.inspirafinancial.com) or through their app you may download using your smartphone. For more information, call 888-678-8242.

Here is how an FSA can save you money:

Example: Mike has a three-year old in preschool and his day care expenses are $5,000. Mike wears contact lenses and needs to have two dental crowns done. He estimates his out-of-pocket medical expenses at $2,000 for the year. Mike gives himself an instant "raise" by using the FSA. Here's how:

	Without FSA	With FSA
Annual Pay	$65,000	$65,000
FSA Employee Contribution	$0	$7,000
Taxable income (W-2 earnings)	$65,000	$58,000
Federal income tax (25% bracket)	$16,250	$14,500
Social Security and Medicare	$4,972	$4,437
Total Taxes	$21,222	$18,937
After tax expenses	$7,000	$0
Net spendable income	$36,778	$39,063
Increase in spendable income	$0	$2,285

Life Insurance

Basic Life Insurance

Sarasota County pays for basic term life insurance equal to an employee’s annual pay rounded up to the next $1,000 through The Hartford.

Employees can purchase additional life insurance in increments of one or two times their annual pay (rounded up to the next $1,000).
Coverage is also available for spouses in increments of $5,000 or $10,000.
Dependent child life insurance is provided automatically when spouse coverage is selected ($200 of coverage to age six months, $2,000 of coverage for ages six months to 26).

An increase to life insurance coverage at Open Enrollment or due to a qualifying event requires an EOI (Evidence of Insurability).

The Hartford customer service: 888-301-5615

	For You	For Your Covered Spouse	For Your Children
County-paid coverage	1X-3X your salary depending on your employment status
Additional amount you may purchase	1X or 2X your annual salary	$5,000 Policy $10,000 Policy	$200 under 6 months $2,000 6 months to 26
What it will cost you	See enrollment system for age-rated premium	$.78 per pay for $5,000 Policy $1.39 per pay for $10,000 Policy	$.78 per pay to include dependent child coverage.

*Note: If you and your spouse both work for the county, you are not eligible to enroll for Supplemental Dependent Life Insurance.

Disability Insurance

Disability

Sarasota County provides basic short-term disability coverage that replaces 70 percent of your weekly earnings for up to 90 days, following a seven-calendar-day waiting period. *Short-term disability is not available for members of the IAFF due to bargaining agreements.

Long-term disability coverage is also provided at no cost to eligible employees and replaces 40% of your eligible income, following a 90-day waiting period.

Optional long-term disability coverage may also be purchased to provide an additional 20% of coverage.
Disability coverage is offered through The Hartford

An increase to your long-term disability insurance coverage at Open Enrollment or due to a qualifying event requires an EOI (Evidence of Insurability).

The Hartford Customer Service: 888-301-5615; File a claim online.

The Sarasota County Policy Number: 715167

Information on filing for leave (Disability and/or FMLA).

FMLA

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Eligible employees are entitled to:

Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:
- the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
- the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;
- to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;
- a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;
- any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a covered military member on “covered active duty;” or
Twenty-six work weeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for a covered servicemember with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the servicemember’s spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin (military caregiver leave).

For more information and for answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit: U.S. Department of Labor FMLA Frequently Asked Questions or The Employee's Guide to the Family and Medical Leave Act.

The Hartford Customer Service: 888-301-5615; click here to file a claim online.

For information on filing for leave (Disability and/or FMLA), click here.

Other Optional Insurance

Allstate Accident Insurance

The Allstate Accident plan provides coverage that can offset expenses not paid by medical insurance. Benefits are paid directly to the insured and include various fixed dollar amounts in addition to any medical plan coverage for injuries such as dislocations and fractures, as well as reimbursements for follow-up care and health screenings. The plan also includes coverage for hospital admissions and surgical care. This coverage is employee-paid and is available via pre-tax payroll deduction. Consult the policy brochure at scgov.net or visit allstateatwork.com/SarasotaCountyGov for additional details.

Visit: Sarasota County - Allstate Benefits

Allstate Critical Illness/Cancer Insurance

Critical Illness coverage helps provide financial support if you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness. With the expense of treatment often high, seeking the treatment you need could seem like a financial burden. Claims may be made at the time of diagnosis, and payments may be spent to help cover deductibles, medicine, treatment costs or however the covered person sees fit.

Allstate customer service: (800) 521-3535

Visit: Sarasota County - Allstate Benefits

Allstate Hospital Indemnity Plan

Life is unpredictable. Without warning, an illness or injury can lead to hospital confinement, which often means costly out-of-pocket expenses. Group Hospital Indemnity coverage from Allstate Benefits can help employees and their families face these challenges by helping to protect their finances. The Hospital Indemnity Insurance pays a cash benefit directly to the insured for hospital confinements, including first day confinement, daily hospital confinement, and hospital intensive care. There are no restrictions as to how the cash payout is spent - the choice is up to the covered individual. Consult the policy brochure at scgov.net or visit allstateatwork.com/SarasotaCountyGov for additional details.

Visit: Sarasota County - Allstate Benefits

Allstate Identity Theft Protection

This protection includes 24/7 identity monitoring for things such as new credit card applications and change of address requests; solicitation reduction services (which reduce the number of junk mail and telemarketing calls by up to 20%); and a $25,000 identity fraud reimbursement policy. Learn more about Allstate Identity Theft Protection

Allstate Identity Theft Protection customer service: (800) 789-2720.

Preferred Legal for Legal Services

A comprehensive legal assistance, advice, and discounted representation on all types of legal services. Plan services are unlimited and available 24/7. Members have access to a statewide network of lawyers for formal representation, and in-person consultation is free.

Types of covered legal issues include:

Divorce
Child support, custody, and visitation
Traffic tickets/suspended licenses/DUI
Credit repair
Loan modifications/foreclosures
Bankruptcy
Wills/Powers of Attorney/trusts

For more information call 1-888-577-3476, visit preferredlegal.com or email info@preferredlegal.com.

Dependent Coverage

Who is eligible for medical plan coverage?

Sarasota County offers benefits to you and your eligible family members. Extended family members, such as grandchildren, are not eligible for coverage unless you are their legal guardian or have adopted them, or you are covering their eligible parent (your eligible dependent) and they are under 18 months of age.

Type of Dependent

Requirements

Your spouse

Must be your legal spouse. Ex-spouses are not eligible, even if court ordered.

Your children:

Biological
Adopted
Stepchildren
Children you are required to support under the terms of a Qualified Medical Child Support Order

• Up to age 26 (age 26-30* medical only).
The eligible dependent must be an insured child by blood or law and must meet the following additional criteria:
1. Less than 30 years of age.
2. Single (unmarried).
3. Has no dependents of their own.
4. Is a resident of Florida, or if not a resident of Florida, is enrolled as a full-time or part-time student.
5. Is not covered as a named subscriber, insured, enrollee or covered person under any other group, student, or franchise health plan or individual health benefits plan, or is entitled to benefits under Medicare or Medicaid.

*Employees who elect to cover dependents aged 26-30 will pay the full employer and employee share of a single tier premium for the coverage for each 26-30-year-old dependent.

Benefits Tip: Be sure to review your dependents’ eligibility and data to ensure birth dates and Social Security numbers are up to date. Please update dependent data in the Employee Portal. See Employee Portal instructions at scgov.net (keyword benefits) for instructions.

Dealing with Life Events

When one of the following "life events" takes place, you may be able to make mid-year changes to some or all of your benefit elections within 30 days of the event.

Marriage or Divorce
Death of your spouse
Gain or loss of coverage, or change in benefits, for your spouse
Birth, adoption, change in child-care costs
Dependent is eligible for other coverage

Required Documentation

All employees who have enrolled new dependents on either of the county’s health plans must supply documentation supporting their dependents. For a dependent spouse, you will need a marriage certificate. For dependent children, you will need a birth certificate. Sarasota County performs random dependent eligibility audits. Employees are responsible for any claims incurred while a dependent is not eligible.

Retirement Planning

Florida Retirement System (FRS)

Sarasota County offers medical, pharmacy, dental and vision benefits to those who qualify for retirement as defined by the Florida Retirement System (FRS). To qualify, individuals must meet the FRS requirements below.

• Hired prior to 7/1/2011: Age 62 w/6 years vesting or 30 years of service for regular members
Age 55 w/6 years vesting or 25 years of service for special risk members

• Hired on/or after 7/1/2011: Age 65 w/8 years vesting or 33 years of service for regular members
Age 55 w/8 years vesting or 25 years of service for special risk members

The above applies to both FRS Pension and Investment Plan members.

Employees of Sarasota County contribute to the Florida Retirement System, which offers a choice of a traditional pension plan or an investment plan that permits vesting after one year of service. The FRS offers free help to assist with plan choices, the management of retirement account and general financial planning questions.

Call the MyFRS Financial Guidance Line toll free at 1-866-44-MyFRS (1-866-446-9377) between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday-Friday to speak with experienced financial planners from Ernst & Young at no cost.
Visit www.MyFRS.com.

For help with fundamental retirement questions and completion of FRS retirement forms:

Speak with the Benefits team by calling 941-861-5236 or emailing askbenefits@scgov.net.

Click here to watch the New Employee Retirement Plan Choice video. This retirement plan choice education workshop is for new employees who want to learn about the FRS Retirement Plans.

Click here to view FRS Legislative changes memo.

Deferred Compensation with Nationwide

Sarasota County also offers 457 retirement savings plans through Nationwide. Click the link to find out more and enroll online!

Employees may schedule an appointment with a Nationwide local retirement specialist to discuss deferred compensation questions, enroll in the plan or receive a personalized account review. Call 239-224-3494, email Jessica.Rosen@nationwide.com or use Book Appointment to schedule a 1:1 appointment.

Click here to access Nationwide Plans resources and forms.

Retiring Soon? Use the Retirement Checklist!

If you are planning on retiring soon (especially employees who are in the 6-month countdown period), make sure to check out the Retirement Checklist!

View the Pension Plan Retirement Checklist

View the Investment Plan Retirement Checklist

Employee Discounts

Employee Discounts

Several organizations provide discounts to Sarasota County employees. Visit the Employee Discounts page of EmployeeNet for a complete list of discounts and qualifications.

BenefitHub

BenefitHub, an exclusive Employee Discounts & Rewards marketplace for Sarasota County employees. This discount marketplace features discounts on auto insurance, pet insurance, sporting events, theme parks, travel, hotels, restaurants, and your favorite local establishments. Earn Cash Back Rewards from 2% - 20% on everyday purchases and big-ticket items.

Go to https://sarasotacountyperks.benefithub.com/or download the BenefitHub mobile app for easy access. Watch this video to learn more about BenefitHub.

Visit the Employee Discount page of EmployeeNet for registration instruction.

Free Public Transit

Sarasota County employees ride free on Sarasota County Breeze Transit buses (excluding express routes), with a valid employee I.D.

Contact Us
Employee Benefits and Wellness	Phone: 941-861-5236 Email: askbenefits@scgov.net
Aetna Health and Benefits Professional	Phone: 941-861-5273 Email: AHBP@AETNA.com

Meet the Team

2026 Benefits Guide

Schedule with a Benefits Specialist

Wellness Programs

Resources, Providers, Forms

Open Enrollment