HRAR-10.01 - Benefits General

City of Portland Core Values: Anti-racism | Equity | Transparency | Communication | Collaboration | Fiscal Responsibility

Purpose

The City of Portland provides health benefit programs to eligible employees and their qualified dependents. The City’s plans and coverage are compliant with the Affordable Care Act and other state and federal law. 

To learn more, employees are encouraged to review the Employee Benefits and Wellness Program Summary Plan Description, the City’s Plan Document and other related benefit material available online or by request through the Health & Financial Benefits Office. Additional resources including contact information for outside government agencies are included in Guidance for this rule and may be updated as details change or develop.

Eligibility

Employees who are not hired into benefits eligible status may still qualify for City paid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, if they average 26 hours weekly over a pre-determined 6 month measurement period. Benefits will be equivalent to CityBasic medical, dental, and vision coverage. Eligibility can be maintained for up to six months, provided a worker is employed and in paid status. Coverage may continue if an employee averages 26 hours a week during the next measurement period. Review additional information in the current Benefits Handbook.

Life Insurance

For non-represented employees, Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 (PTE-17), District Council of Trade Unions (DCTU), Municipal Employees Local 483 Recreation, Municipal Employees Local 483 Portland City Laborers, AFSCME Local 189-3 Portland Housing Bureau, Emergency Communications Operators (BOEC), and PPCOA members, City paid basic group term life insurance options are up to $50,000.

Supplemental life insurance is available for all benefit eligible employees to purchase. Coverage for spouse and dependent children is also available to purchase. Refer to the Employee Benefit Handbook for additional details, including eligibility requirements.

Medical Expense & Dependent Care Reimbursement

The City of Portland offers Flexible Spending Account Plans that are established under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. Flexible spending accounts allow participants to be reimbursed for certain eligible medical and dependent care expenses with before tax dollars.

Refer to Plan Documents for additional details regarding the City's flexible spending accounts.

Disability

The City of Portland provides eligible employees Basic coverage for long-term disability (LTD plans. The City also offers buy-up options to supplement the Basic plans. The plans provide partial income protection for you in case of loss of income due to disability. LTD benefits are coordinated with eligible entitlements such as PERS, Social Security, Workers’ Compensation and other sources of income to replace a portion of your pre-disability earnings. Refer to the Benefits Plan Highlights Book for additional details.

Deferred Compensation

Deferred Compensation is a voluntary plan available to eligible employees to help save for retirement on a pre-tax basis. Regularly appointed employees are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Deferred compensation for public employees is allowed and regulated under Internal Revenue Code and administered by the Bureau of Human Resources Director, or designee, with the assistance of the Deferred Compensation Committee. The Committee consists of the City Administrator, the Director of the Bureau of Human Resources, and the City Treasurer or their respective designees. The Committee is authorized to recommend specifications for deferred compensation plans. The plan, its related documents, key terms, roles, responsibilities and conditions for administration and participation will be accessible under Guidance for this rule. These details may be updated as federal and state law governs, as a collective bargaining agreement applies or as the Committee and plan Administrators approve.

Public Employee Retirement (PERS)

Eligible employees can establish membership under the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). For information, contact PERS directly. 

The City of Portland makes a monthly contribution to PERS on behalf of eligible employees. In addition, the City contributes an actuarily determined amount to PERS based on an annual valuation of plan costs. 

Refer to Guidance for additional details, including a description of the rules and benefits of the system, or contact PERS directly.

Social Security

Most City employees pay a set amount each bi-weekly payroll cycle to the Social Security System which is automatically deducted from their paychecks. The City matches this amount. For more information, contact the local Social Security Office.

Resources

• Health and Financial Benefits Office and Plans
• City of Portland Deferred Compensation
• Employee Benefit Handbook & Highlights
• Employee Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)
• Affordable Care Act
• Internal Revenue Code: Section 125, Section 457
• Oregon Revised Statutes and Administrative Rules: ORS 243 and OAR 459 Division 50
• Guidance (to be updated and linked once finalized following rule revisions)