Full Year of Medical, Dental and Vision Plan Benefits Preserved for Spouse and Children
The El Paso County Health Plan Trust Board, at a special meeting today adopted an amendment to the Plan that will extend for one full year the healthcare, dental and vision benefits for the spouse and children of employees killed in the line of duty.
County staff began working to develop the needed change immediately following the shooting death of Detective Micah Flick. The El Paso County Detective was killed in a February 5, 2018 shootout while attempting to make an arrest as a member a regional auto theft task force. Two other El Paso County Deputies, one Colorado Springs Police Officer and a civilian bystander received injuries in that incident.
The health plan amendment, adopted unanimously today by the Trust Board will preserve all dependent benefits that were in place at the time of the employee’s death at no cost to the dependents. Out of pocket medical expenses will also be covered through the County Employees Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
Additionally, members of the Health Plan Trust were given details of benefits through Workers Compensation Insurance. Those benefits are tax free and typically amount to about two-thirds of the deceased employee’s pay and continue for the spouse of an employee killed on the job until the spouse remarries. If the spouse remarries, the surviving children receive the benefit until the age of 18 if not in college and 21 if attending college.
El Paso County Commissioner Board President Darryl Glenn, who serves as the Commissioners liaison to the Health Plan Trust Board, thanked County staff from personnel, finance and the County Attorney’s Office for starting work immediately upon the death of Deputy Flick to develop the adopted Plan Amendment in compliance with applicable Colorado laws, Internal Revenue Service requirements and federal healthcare regulations. “I really want to stress that staff began working immediately after the tragic loss of Deputy Flick to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements were met to make sure that we could get this done quickly and right.”