Signing up for health insurance

• You can sign up for health insurance when your job includes benefits
• Health insurance starts the first of the month after your first day of work or after the first day you start earning benefits (for example, if your first day of work is February 15, your insurance starts March 1)
• Flexible spending accounts start the date you sign up for them
• You pay for insurance out of your paycheck, pre-tax
• You also have out-of-pocket costs (copays and deductibles)
• The county offers a choice among four plans
• Plans cover health care, prescription drugs, teeth cleanings, and exams for children up to age 19

Premiums and costs

You can lower your office copays by earning the county’s health incentive.

Compare premiums, copays and other costs:

• With health incentive (PDF)
• Without health incentive (PDF)

Providers

Find a provider

BeWell Clinic and online care

You can visit the BeWell Clinic in downtown Minneapolis without any copay or deductible. Prescription drug copays apply. BeWell Clinic visits are on your own time. Get BeWell Clinic information.

Use online care for 60 of the most common conditions without any copay or deductible.

Your online care depends on your health plan:

• All plans – MDLive
• Advantage (HealthPartners/Park Nicollet) and Standard – Virtuwell
• Advantage (Fairview/North Memorial/HealthEast) and Standard – Oncare
• Advantage (Hennepin County Medical Center/NorthPoint) – E-visits

Pay less for prescriptions:

• Use a pharmacy in the Navitus Health Solutions network

• Order prescriptions online through NoviXus

Contact information

Health benefits and claims

PreferredOne
763-847-4477 (Toll free: 1-800-379-7727)
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday
PreferredOne website

Health networks

Advantage Fairview / North Memorial / HealthEast
612-672-2952 or 855-821-4832
Available 24 hours, 7 days a week

Advantage HealthPartners / Park Nicollet
952-967-7108 or 800-861-1868
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Advantage Hennepin County Medical Center / NorthPoint
612-873-5700
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Standard
763-847-4477 (Toll free: 1-800-379-7727)
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Adding or dropping insurance

You can cover family members on your health insurance:

• Your spouse
• Children up to age 26 (birth/adopted/foster/step child)
• Children you’re legally ordered to insure
• Disabled adult children
• Grandchildren you claim on your taxes and who live with you

If you’re married to another county employee and both qualify for insurance, you can be covered either as an employee or spouse but not both, and only one of you can cover children on your plan.

You may be able to add or drop health insurance for yourself or your family within 30 days of one of these life events:

• Marriage
• Divorce or legal separation
• Birth or adoption
• Death
• Loss or gain of employer insurance
• Loss or gain of medical assistance
• Medicare
• A grandchild becomes a dependent

A life event does not let you change your health plan. You can only change your health plan at open enrollment.

Documents you'll need to add or drop insurance

New marriage: a copy of your marriage certificate

Adding a spouse – all of these are required:

1. Copy of your marriage certificate
2. Copy of a bill dated within the last 60 days and both your names are on the bill OR the front page of your most recent joint federal tax return
3. Letter from your spouse’s employer which includes the coverage your spouse is losing and the date the coverage ends

Birth or adoption - one of these is required:

1. Copy of a state-issued birth certificate (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Official birth record
3. Minnesota voluntary recognition of parentage or adoption papers naming you as parent

Adding child - both of these are required:

1. Copy of a state-issued birth certificate naming you as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Proof of loss of previous coverage through an employer’s group plan or from Medical Assistance

Adding a spouse’s children at marriage: copy of birth certificate naming your spouse as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)

Divorce or legal separation: final decree with both parties’ full names, date filed with the court and address of ex-spouse

Adding a grandchild - all of these are required:

1. Grandchild’s birth certificate naming your child as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Your child’s birth certificate naming you as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
3. Copy of your most recent tax return showing the grandchild as your dependent or notarized letters from both parents granting you the right to claim the child on your taxes
4. Document dated within the last six months showing the grandchild lives with you such as school records or a doctor bill

Death: copy of death certificate. An uncertified copy is acceptable.

Loss or gain of employer health or dental coverage due to a change in employment for a spouse or dependent - item 1 is required plus one or more of the other items:

1. Letter from employer listing names of all covered persons, coverage each person has and date coverage began or ended
2. If adding a spouse: copy of your marriage certificate
3. If adding a child: copy of a birth certificate (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)

If your spouse is a new Hennepin County employee: complete the family status change form and note the new employee status. Family status change form (DOCX)

Loss or gain of Medical Assistance - item 1 is required plus one or more of the other items:

1. Letter from your county showing when coverage began or ended
2. If adding a spouse: copy of your marriage certificate
3. If adding a child: copy of a birth certificate

Medicare: copy of Medicare card or proof of supplement plan coverage

To make your life event changes

1. Complete the family status change form. Family status change form (DOCX)
2. Send in the form and all required documents

Signing up for dental insurance

• You can sign up for dental insurance when your job includes benefits.
• Dental insurance pays for teeth cleanings, exams, x-rays, fluoride treatments and special dental care
• Dental insurance starts the first of the month after your first day of work or after the first day you start earning benefits (for example, if your first day of work is February 15, your insurance starts March 1)
• Flexible spending accounts start the date you sign up for them
• You pay for insurance out of your paycheck, pre-tax
• You also have out-of-pocket costs (copays and deductibles)

Cost per paycheck for dental insurance

Union employees in AFSCME Council 34, AFSCME Local 1719, and AFSCME Local 2822:

• Single: $18.96
• Family: $42.42

All other employees:

• Single: $11.34
• Family: $25.44

Plan overview

• Dental plan highlights (PDF)
• Dental plan details
• Find a dentist

Adding or dropping insurance

You can cover family members on your dental insurance:

• Your spouse
• Children up to age 26 (birth/adopted/foster/step child)
• Children you’re legally ordered to insure
• Disabled adult children
• Grandchildren you claim on your taxes and who live with you

If you’re married to another county employee and both qualify for insurance, you can be covered either as an employee or spouse but not both, and only one of you can cover children on your plan.

You may be able to add or drop dental insurance for yourself or your family within 30 days of one of these life events:

• Marriage
• Divorce or legal separation
• Birth or adoption
• Death
• Loss or gain of employer insurance
• Loss or gain of medical assistance
• Medicare
• A grandchild becomes a dependent

Documents you'll need to add or drop insurance

New marriage: a copy of your marriage certificate

Adding a spouse - all of these are required:

1. Copy of your marriage certificate
2. Copy of a bill dated within the last 60 days and both your names are on the bill OR the front page of your most recent joint federal tax return
3. Letter from your spouse’s employer which includes the coverage your spouse is losing and the date the coverage ends

Birth or adoption - one of these is required:

1. Copy of a state-issued birth certificate (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Official birth record
3. Minnesota voluntary recognition of parentage or adoption papers naming you as parent

Adding child - both of these are required:

1. Copy of a state-issued birth certificate naming you as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Proof of loss of previous coverage through an employer’s group plan or from Medical Assistance

Adding a spouse’s children at marriage: copy of birth certificate naming your spouse as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)

Divorce or legal separation: final decree with both parties’ full names, date filed with the court and address of ex-spouse

Adding a grandchild - all of these are required:

1. Grandchild’s birth certificate naming your child as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Your child’s birth certificate naming you as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
3. Copy of your most recent tax return showing the grandchild as your dependent or notarized letters from both parents granting you the right to claim the child on your taxes
4. Document dated within the last six months showing the grandchild lives with you such as school records or a doctor bill

Death: copy of death certificate. An uncertified copy is acceptable.

Loss or gain of employer health or dental coverage due to a change in employment for a spouse or dependent - item 1 is required plus one or more of the other items:

1. Letter from employer listing names of all covered persons, coverage each person has and date coverage began or ended
2. If adding a spouse: copy of your marriage certificate
3. If adding a child: copy of a birth certificate (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)

If your spouse is a new Hennepin County employee: complete the family status change form and note the new employee status. Family status change form (DOCX)

Loss or gain of Medical Assistance - item 1 is required plus one or more of the other items:

1. Letter from your county showing when coverage began or ended
2. If adding a spouse: copy of your marriage certificate
3. If adding a child: copy of a birth certificate

Medicare: copy of Medicare card or proof of supplement plan coverage

To make your life event changes

1. Complete the family status change form. Family status change form (DOCX)
2. Send in the form and all required documents

Contact information for dental benefits and claims

HealthPartners
952-883-5000
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday

Signing up for vision insurance

You can sign up for vision insurance when your job includes benefits. Vision insurance starts the first of the month after your first day of work or after the first day you start earning benefits. For example, if your first day of work is February 15, your insurance starts March 1. Flexible spending accounts start the date you sign up for them.

Vision insurance doesn't cover eye exams or other eye care. Your health insurance covers eye exams.

Vision insurance pays for frames, lenses and contact lenses:

• Frames: pays up to $175
• Contact lenses: pays up to $175 (instead of lenses for glasses)
• Lenses: $25 lens co-pay (instead of contact lenses)
• Additional pairs of frames and lenses: 40% discount
• Non-prescription sunglasses: discounts
• No deductible
• Starts over every January 1

Employee cost per paycheck

You pay for vision insurance out of your paycheck pre-tax:

• Employee: $2.46
• Employee and spouse: $4.62
• Employee and children: $4.86
• Family: $7.20

The county doesn't contribute any cost to vision insurance.

Vision benefits summary (PDF)

Find a provider

Adding or dropping insurance

You can cover family members on your vision insurance:

• Your spouse
• Children up to age 26 (birth/adopted/foster/step child)
• Children you’re legally ordered to insure
• Disabled adult children
• Grandchildren you claim on your taxes and who live with you

If you’re married to another county employee and both qualify for insurance, you can be covered either as an employee or spouse but not both, and only one of you can cover children on your plan.

You may be able to add or drop vision insurance for yourself or your family within 30 days of one of these life events:

• Marriage
• Divorce or legal separation
• Birth or adoption
• Death
• Loss or gain of employer insurance
• Loss or gain of medical assistance
• Medicare
• A grandchild becomes a dependent

Documents you'll need to add or drop insurance

New marriage: a copy of your marriage certificate

Adding a spouse - all of these are required:

1. Copy of your marriage certificate
2. Copy of a bill dated within the last 60 days and both your names are on the bill OR the front page of your most recent joint federal tax return
3. Letter from your spouse’s employer which includes the coverage your spouse is losing and the date the coverage ends

Birth or adoption - one of these is required:

1. Copy of a state-issued birth certificate (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Official birth record
3. Minnesota voluntary recognition of parentage or adoption papers naming you as parent

Adding child - both of these are required:

1. Copy of a state-issued birth certificate naming you as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Proof of loss of previous coverage through an employer’s group plan or from Medical Assistance

Adding a spouse’s children at marriage: copy of birth certificate naming your spouse as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)

Divorce or legal separation: final decree with both parties’ full names, date filed with the court and address of ex-spouse

Adding a grandchild - all of these are required:

1. Grandchild’s birth certificate naming your child as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
2. Your child’s birth certificate naming you as parent (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)
3. Copy of your most recent tax return showing the grandchild as your dependent or notarized letters from both parents granting you the right to claim the child on your taxes
4. Document dated within the last six months showing the grandchild lives with you such as school records or a doctor bill

Death:

Loss or gain of employer health or dental coverage due to a change in employment for a spouse or dependent - item 1 is required plus one or more of the other items:

1. Letter from employer listing names of all covered persons, coverage each person has and date coverage began or ended
2. If adding a spouse: copy of your marriage certificate
3. If adding a child: copy of a birth certificate (issued by a state or foreign government - not a hospital or clinic; must be in English or have an English translation; doesn’t have to be notarized)

If your spouse is a new Hennepin County employee: complete the family status change form and note the new employee status. Family status change form (DOCX)

Loss or gain of Medical Assistance - item 1 is required plus one or more of the other items:

1. Letter from your county showing when coverage began or ended
2. If adding a spouse: copy of your marriage certificate
3. If adding a child: copy of a birth certificate

Medicare: copy of Medicare card or proof of supplement plan coverage

To make your life event changes:

1. Complete the family status change form. Family status change form (DOCX)
2. Send in the form and all required documents

Contact information for vision benefits and claims

EyeMed
866-804-0982
6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday

Signing up for disability insurance

• Employees who earn benefits can get disability insurance
• Long-term disability coverage: you automatically receive this coverage at no cost to you
• Short-term disability coverage: you can choose this coverage and opt out any time
• Disability insurance starts either the first of the month after your first day of work, or after the first day you start earning benefits (for example, if your first day of work is February 15, your insurance starts March 1)

Partial income replacement

• Disability covers some income if you miss work due to illness or injury
• Payments apply only to your own illness or injury, not a family member's

Short-term disability

• You can choose short-term disability insurance and opt out any time
• Your pay for short-term disability out of your paycheck, after tax
• Your cost is based on your salary
• Determine your cost by using the premium calculator

Short-term disability payments

• You receive at least $100 per week for about two-and-a-half months

Relation to other paid leave

• You don't have to use up your paid leave to receive disability
• You can still have a balance of up to 80 hours paid leave

Avoiding sign-up penalties

• You must sign up within 30 days of qualifying, to avoid a penalty
• Shortening your original chosen waiting period also has a penalty
• If you drop coverage and want to sign up again, there’s no penalty. But you must fill out a medical history statement (evidence of insurability). How to submit a medical history statement.

Plan details

• Compare costs for different levels of short-term disability coverage
• Enroll or change your benefit (PDF)
• Detailed summary of short-term disability insurance (PDF)

To file a claim for short-term disability

1. You must record your last day of paid time in APEX
2. Read and follow the claim instructions. Short-term disability claim instructions (PDF)
3. Call 1-800-378-2395

Certificate of coverage

• Certificate of coverage (PDF)

Long-term disability

• You’re automatically enrolled in long-term disability insurance at no cost to you
• You can opt out any time
• Long-term disability payments amount to at least $100 per month
• Payments could start once you’ve missed 90 days of work

Plan details

• Detailed summary of long-term disability insurance (PDF)

Opting out of long-term disability insurance

• Email HR benefits at hr.benefits@hennepin.us
• Once we get the email your coverage ends last day of that month (for example, if we get the email March 9, your coverage ends March 31)
• If you opt out and want to opt back in, you must fill out a medical history statement (evidence of insurability). How to fill out a medical history statement

If you're already receiving short-term disability payments

• You don’t have to also file a long-term disability claim
• You may have a gap between when short-term coverage ends and long-term begins
• Long-term payments are monthly, while short-term payments are weekly

To file a claim for long-term disability

1. Read and follow the instructions. Long-term disability claim instructions (PDF)
2. Call 1-800-378-2395

Certificate of coverage

• Certificate of coverage (PDF)

Other disability coverage

• Disability benefits are also available from the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
• Learn more about PERA disability benefits

Signing up for life insurance

• Employees who earn benefits automatically receive a basic life insurance policy at no cost to you
• Life insurance starts the first of the month after your first day of work or after the first day you start earning benefits (for example, if your first day of work is February 15, your insurance starts March 1)

Plan overview

• No cost to you
• Payment to your family if you die while employed at the county: $50,000 life and $50,000 accidental death and dismemberment
• If you get a terminal illness while under age 60 you can get a one-time payment of up to 75 percent of your life insurance
• Return of your body if you die more than 200 miles from home
• Additional payment for using a seat belt or air bag in a car accident
• Travel assistance including medical help, emergency transportation and legal services
• Help creating a will, funeral planning, and grief support for your survivors
• Summary of basic life insurance

Cost

• No cost for automatic coverage.
• Cost for any additional coverage you buy depends on your age and level of insurance you choose.

Filing a claim

• Contact Cathy Krepsky at 612-348-4617

Change your coverage or beneficiary

You must cancel coverage for children who are no longer eligible for your plan. Cancellation is not automatic.

To change your coverage, complete and submit the enrollment and change form.

Enrollment and change form (PDF)

To change your beneficiary:

• Active employees make the change in APEX
• COBRA recipients and retirees must complete and submit the beneficiary change form. Beneficiary change form (DOC)

Additional life insurance you can buy

The cost for additional insurance you buy above your automatic insurance comes out of your paycheck. You pay for this with after-tax dollars.

Determine your cost with the life insurance calculator

Summary of benefits for additional life insurance

Coverage for yourself if you die

If you buy within 31 days of being hired or becoming eligible for benefits:

• You can buy up to $100,000 in coverage without a medical evaluation (evidence of insurability)
• You can buy up to another $400,000 in coverage with a medical evaluation the insurer approves. Instructions for submitting a medical history form (evidence of insurability)
• You buy in amounts of $10,000

If you buy after 31 days:

• You can buy life insurance if you have a medical evaluation the insurer approves. Instructions for submitting a medical history form (evidence of insurability)
• You buy in amounts of $10,000 for up to $500,000 in coverage

Coverage for your spouse or domestic partner if they die

If you buy within 31 days of being hired or becoming eligible for benefits:

• You must first have additional life insurance for yourself
• You can buy up to $50,000 in coverage without a medical evaluation (evidence of insurability)
• You can buy up to an additional $200,000, with a medical evaluation the insurer approves. Instructions for submitting a medical history form (evidence of insurability)
• You buy in amounts of $5,000
• You can’t buy any more than half the value of your additional insurance
• Doesn’t include accidental death or dismemberment

If you buy after 31 days:

• You must first have additional life insurance for yourself
• Your spouse or domestic partner must fill out a medical evaluation (evidence of insurability)
• You can buy up to an additional $250,000, with a medical evaluation the insurer approves. Instructions for submitting a medical history form (evidence of insurability)
• You buy in amounts of $5,000
• You can’t buy any more than half the value of your additional insurance
• A spouse cannot be covered both as employee and spouse
• Doesn’t include accidental death or dismemberment

To cover a domestic partner, you must complete a domestic partner certificate and send a copy to HR benefits mail code 040. Domestic partner certificate (PDF)

Coverage for your children if they die (biological, adopted or step)

• You must first have additional life insurance for yourself
• You can buy in amounts of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 and pay one cost for all children 
• You can cover them through age 18 if living at home, and through age 24 for full-time students  
• Once you no longer have an eligible child, you must cancel their coverage. Cancel coverage with the beneficiary change form (DOC).
• You can't cover children who are married or full-time military
• You can cover a disabled child after they turn 18 but you must apply for that coverage. Application for disabled child (PDF)
• No medical evaluation required (evidence of insurability)
• Doesn’t include accidental death and dismemberment

Other life insurance plans for county employees

Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)

New hires have 90 days to enroll in PERA's life insurance plan. Other employees can enroll in October and November (PERA's open enrollment period).

PERA life insurance summary of benefits (PDF)

To sign up for or cancel PERA life insurance complete the form in APEX.

Minnesota Benefits Association

Highlights of Minnesota Benefits Association life insurance

Certificate of coverage

Certificate of coverage - Standard Insurance Company (PDF)

Signing up for flexible spending accounts

The county offers several types of flexible spending accounts. You can sign up during open enrollment.

Health care expense account

• You can set aside money pre-tax for medical, dental or vision expenses
• You can cover expenses for yourself and any dependent listed on your taxes
• You must enroll during open enrollment each year for the following year
• You choose an amount to set aside for the year and the entire amount is available to you January 1
• You can set aside up to $2,650 per year, per employee
• You don’t have to take part in the county's medical, dental or vision plan to have a health care expense account
• If you have a life event mid-year (like a marriage, birth, death, etc.) you can change the amount you set aside

If your spouse has a Health Savings Account (HSA) with another employer

• You cannot choose the health care expense account
• Because both plans save on taxes, the IRS prevents married couples from using both

List of eligible expenses

List of expenses you can cover with a health care expense account

Using your account

Keep all your receipts. If asked, you must turn in your receipts by November 30. If you don’t, the amount of money represented by the receipts will become taxable income on your December paycheck.

Choose one option for using the money in your account:

1. Use a pre-paid debit card. See how it works (YouTube)
2. Pay out of pocket and submit a reimbursement form. Reimbursement form (PDF)

You must submit your claims for the current year by March 31 the following year. If you have leftover money, you can use up to $500 of it the next year. You lose any unused money over $500.

Changing the amount you set aside

Change the amount (PDF)

Dependent care assistance

• You can set aside pre-tax dollars for certain day care and elder care costs
• If you’re married, you and your spouse must be working, attending school full time or looking for work
• A family can set aside up to $5,000 per year
• If you’re married and filing taxes separately, you can set aside up to $2,500 per year

Eligible expenses

• Care for a child under age 13
• Care for someone who can’t care for themselves and who lives with you more than half the year
• In-home child care
• Licensed day care
• Preschool
• Before- and after-school care
• Elder care

Kindergarten fees aren’t covered.

For questions call 121 Benefits at 612-877-4321 or 1-800-300-1672.

Enrollment and changes

You can enroll during open enrollment. If you have a life event mid-year, you can enroll mid-year or make changes. Mid-year change form (PDF)

You can make changes within 30 days of:

• Date your daycare began or ended
• Date your daycare began with a new provider
• Change in cost or coverage with your previous provider

Reimbursement

• You can turn in claims for expenses you had from January 1 to December 31
• You have until March 15 of the next year to incur claims. You have until March 31 to turn in claims for the previous year.
• You give up any unused funds
• Reimbursement form (PDF)

Adoption assistance

• You can set aside pre-tax dollars for certain adoption costs
• You can set aside up to $12,000 per year

Eligible expenses

• Attorney fees
• Court costs
• Counseling fees
• Travel fees

For questions, contact 121 Benefits at 612-877-4321 or 1-800-300-1672.

U.S. adoptions

If the child is a U.S. citizen or resident of the U.S., you can be reimbursed even if the adoption never becomes final.

Foreign adoptions

If the child is not a U.S. citizen or resident, you can’t be reimbursed unless the adoption becomes final.

Enrollment and changes

• You can enroll during open enrollment
• If you have a life event mid-year, you can enroll mid-year or make changes
• Mid-year change form (PDF)

You can make changes at these times:

• Start or end of the adoption process
• Increase in the number of children you intend to adopt

Reimbursement

• You can turn in claims for expenses you had from January 1 to December 31
• You have until March 15 of the next year to incur claims. You have until March 31 to turn in claims for the previous year.
• You give up any unused funds
• For reimbursement contact 121 Benefits at 612-877-4321 or 1-800-300-1672

Lower your office visit copays

• You can lower your office visit copays by $15 when you earn the health incentive
• You must earn 3,000 points
• You earn points by taking part in health activities like health screenings, HealthWorks classes, online Virgin Pulse activities and/or fitness run/walks
• You must earn all points by October 31
• The lower copay takes effect the following year
• For a married couple or family to earn the lower copay, both employee and spouse must earn 3,000 points each

Using the online health and wellness tool: Virgin Pulse

• Access online activities, take the online Health Check Assessment and check your progress towards earning the health incentive with Virgin Pulse

Time off for county-sponsored health activities

• You can use up to one hour paid time per month for county-sponsored health activities
• County-sponsored screenings, flu shots, health classes, health coaching, and blood drives are included
• You must have your supervisor’s approval to use paid time for these activities

Create or log into your account

• You must create an account in Virgin Pulse to earn the health incentive
• Employees and spouses have separate accounts
• Create an account or log into your account with Virgin Pulse

Earning points

250 points:

• Complete a next-steps consult appointment
• Meet with a health coach in-person or by phone
• Get an annual flu shot
• Create or join a Virgin Pulse personal challenge
• Complete a Virgin Pulse promoted healthy habit challenge
• Visit the gym 6-11 times a month through Fitness Advantage

500 points:

• Visit the gym 12 or more times a month through Fitness Advantage
• Complete your Virgin Pulse daily cards 10 times in a month
• Complete 10 Virgin Pulse Whil sessions in a month
• Attend a HealthWorks class
• Complete a health screening
• Track healthy habits in Virgin Pulse 10 days in a month
• Participate in a Hennepin County-sponsored event (Get in Gear, Hennepin 5k, Minneapolis Bike Tour) or a community race
• Participate in the Step To It Challenge

1,000 points:

• Take 7,000 steps with a device or app connected to Virgin Pulse 20 days in a month
• Complete nine lessons of Omada Health
• Complete a PreferredOne condition management program

1,500 points:

• Complete the online Health Check assessment
• Complete a Virgin Pulse Journey 

Save on healthy food by earning more points

Earn 5,000 points to receive a Healthy Savings card for use in 2020:

• Save up to $50 a week on healthy foods at participating grocery stores
• Get 25% off fresh produce up to $5 each week
• Get a $3 voucher for produce at a participating farmer's market
• Only the employee, and not a spouse, can earn the extra 2,000 points
• Once you earn the card, discounts go onto your card each week
• Scan your card's barcode at checkout
• Visit the Healthy Savings program

Getting the incentive without earning points

Some employees and spouses automatically get the incentive for one year

• New employees who have a health insurance start date of September 1 or later
• Employees who add new health insurance coverage with a start date of September 1 or later, or during open enrollment
• Spouses added to an employee’s existing coverage with a start date of September 1 or later, or during open enrollment, if the employee earns the lower copay

We also grant exceptions for certain situations

• Chronic disability, medical condition or emergency
• Extraordinary and unpredictable events outside your control

We don't grant exceptions for other situations

• Leave of absence
• Vacation out of the area
• Residence out of the area
• Employee or retiree did not read home mailings
• Employee did not share information with covered spouse
• Employee did not read email notification(s), HCConnect or website
• Technical trouble on deadline day
• Short-term illness (like getting the flu the last week of October)

To ask for an exception, complete and submit the exception request form. Information is confidential. We respond within a few weeks. Online exception request form.