The Human Resources Division is responsible for administering a comprehensive employment and benefits program for City employees. This a partial listing of benefits and services. All covered services are subject to the conditions, limitations, exclusions, terms, and provisions of your employee benefits package. In the event of a discrepancy between the information in this summary and the official source, the official source will prevail.
Open enrollment for 2023 has now closed. To submit changes to your benefits, please stay tuned for the next open enrollment session. At that point, you can submit changes to your healthcare plan via our self-service portal. If you have questions about any of the benefits, please email the Human Resources and Finance Department.
Recent Updates to Healthcare Offerings for City of Urbana Employees
- Health Insurance: Service costs and provider networks will change next year, but plan designs will not change.
- Dental Coverage: Rates will change, but plan designs will remain the same.
- Vision Coverage: There will be no changes to plan design or costs.
- Section 125 - Flex Spending: You will need to enroll in Section 125 (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care) even if you are already enrolled for this year.
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account: The 2022 annual contribution limit is $3,050.00.
- Dependent Care Account: The 2022 annual contribution limit is $5,000.00.
Changes You Can Make During Open Enrollment:
During open enrollment, you can add, change, or stop health, dental, vision, critical illness, accident, and/or short-term disability coverage; increase employee voluntary life insurance by $10,000; and enroll in a flexible spending account.
Medical insurance is provided by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. Employees can choose either the Standard Plan or Premium Plan. Both offer coverage for expenses such as doctor’s office visits, preventive care, prescription drugs, and hospitalization. Most preventive care services are 100 percent covered, and you do not need a referral from a primary care provider to see a specialist unless required by the provider.
Medical coverage is available to City of Urbana employees working at least 20 hours per week in a regular (non-temporary or seasonal) position. Part-time employees will have healthcare benefits pro-rated to the total number of hours worked.
Learn More About the Healthcare Plans
Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans are customized participating provider option plans. A participating provider option lets you choose where you go for care without a referral from a primary care physician unless specifically required by the provider. For added flexibility and convenience, you will not be limited to using providers within your plan’s provider network. However, if you stay in the network, your costs are lower. If you choose a provider outside the network, your costs will be higher. For certain common conditions, you can also choose a virtual healthcare visit 24 hours a day, seven days a week via mobile app, online video, or phone.
- Download Healthcare Plan Details For City of Urbana Employees
- Learn More About the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Standard Plan
- Learn More About the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Premium Plan
Vision Healthcare Coverage Offered by the City of Urbana
The City's vision plan is a voluntary offer through Dearborn National. To learn more about the details, you can download this vision healthcare benefit summary.
Dental Healthcare Coverage Offered by the City of Urbana
City of Urbana dental enrollees have access to two plans: the Delta Dental Network Participating Provider Option and the Delta Dental Premier Plan. Both plans allow you to go to any in- or out-of-network general or specialty dentist at the time of treatment. There are 143,000 Delta Dental Participating Provider Option and 223,000 Delta Dental Premier Plan dentist locations nationwide.
Details of the Delta Dental Network Participating Provider Option
This plan is similar to a medical health maintenance organization plan in that it provides significant discounts in exchange for a smaller number of covered providers. The Delta Dental Network Participating Provider Option offers a great number of benefits and features.
- Cost for an Employee Only: $24.34 per month
- Cost for an Employee Plus Their Spouse: $48.66 per month
- Cost for an Employee Plus Their Child(ren): $56.38 per month
- Cost for an Employee’s Family: $92.52 per month
Details of the Delta Dental Premier Participating Provider Option
This plan offers a greater range of provider coverage. In addition to having access to in-network dentists, employees with this plan have access to participating Delta Dental Premier dentists who are not in the network while still receiving the benefit of that dentist's contracted fee. The Delta Dental Premier Participating Provider Option offers enhanced benefits for all individuals on the plan.
- Cost for an Employee Only: $33.70 per month
- Cost for an Employee Plus Their Spouse: $67.40 per month
- Cost for an Employee Plus Their Child(ren): $77.38 per month
- Cost for an Employee’s Family: $127.16 per month
Details of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Pension Plan
All benefits-eligible, non-union employees participate in the City’s defined benefit retirement plan through IMRF. A defined benefit plan offers the security of a guaranteed return on contributions, and you will receive benefits for as long as you live. Both the City of Urbana and employees contribute to pensions. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2011, are in the Tier 2 level of benefits. How much service credit you have determines in part both your pension amount and the age at which you can retire. Your service credit is based on how long you have worked in a qualified position.
Details of the 457 Voluntary Retirement Supplement Plan
Employees may also contribute to a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan through MissionSquare. This supplemental retirement plan is funded through employee contributions only and does not require service credit. Participants in this plan can take distributions from the plan upon separation from City service without an IRS penalty, regardless of the employee’s age. Employee contributions to this plan are pre-taxed and tax-deferred.
Details of the Retirement Health Savings Account
Eligible employees who have accrued a sick leave balance of at least 300 hours on June 30 of each year are automatically enrolled in MissionSquare’s Retirement Health Savings Program, the City's post-retirement medical savings benefits program. There is no vesting period and no plan-defined limit on the amounts that may be contributed.
All contributions and interest earned in these accounts are tax-free if you pay for or get reimbursed for qualified medical care costs (premiums, deductibles, etc.). Typically, employees receive around $1.40 in benefits for every $1.00 deposited into their accounts.
Details of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Pension Plan
AFSCME employees participate in the City's defined benefit retirement plan through IMRF. A defined benefit plan offers the security of a guaranteed return on contributions, and you will receive benefits for as long as you live. Both the City and employees contribute to pensions. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2011, are in the Tier 2 level of benefits. How much service credit you have determines in part both your pension amount and the age at which you can retire. Your service credit is based on how long you have worked in a qualified position. In addition, AFSCME employees who separate in good standing with at least 10 years of completed service are eligible to receive a payout for unused sick leave at a pro-rated amount based on years of service.
The Police Pension Fund is managed by the Police Pension Fund Board and governed by the Illinois Pension Code.
Historically, the City has contributed more than required by law, which means that Urbana’s employee pension systems are in excellent condition. In addition, FOP employees who retire in good standing will be paid for their remaining accumulated sick leave hours at a rate of 50 percent of the employee's hourly pay, including longevity as of the last day the employee worked.
Details of the Firefighter’s Pension Fund
The Firefighter's Pension Fund is managed by the Firefighter’s Pension Board and governed by the Illinois Pension Code. Historically, the City has contributed more than required by law, which means that Urbana’s employee pension systems are all solidly funded. IAFF employees who retire in good standing with 20 years of service will be paid for accumulated sick leave at a rate of 50 percent of the employee's hourly rate of pay at the time of separation.
Credit Union
Employees have the option of participating in the Urbana Municipal Employees Credit Union, a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution dedicated to serving government employees, local employee groups, and their families.
Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling for employees and their family members with no out-of-pocket expense to the employee. Eligible employees and dependents may receive up to 12 free counseling sessions per year.
Software Discounts
As a City of Urbana team member, you’ll enjoy significant discounts on certain software purchases like the Microsoft Office suite.
Employee Parking
The City offers free employee parking adjacent to each facility at all locations in the City Complex.
Tuition Assistance
Employees who are in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees with non-union classifications may receive tuition reimbursement for classes that complement their jobs.