Employee Benefits

The City of Gulfport values our employees and their families. Recognizing the impact of benefits in our employees’ lives, and striving to meet employees’ needs, the City makes a significant investment in employee benefits as an important part of each employee’s total compensation.

Insurance

2017 Health Insurance Addendums:

2015 Insurance Addendum

Health: The City of Gulfport pays a certain percentage toward the employee and dependent premium costs based on their chosen medical option. Our plan utilizes a PPO network, includes a prescription drug benefit, and becomes effective after eligible employees complete a 60 day waiting period. See the benefits summary (option I, option II, option III) and the summary plan description for more information.

Out of State PPO Directory, www.myfirsthealth.com

    • Approximately 5,000 Hospitals participate nationwide.
    • Approximately 550,000 doctors and health care professionals participate nationwide.
    • 98% of the U.S. population has access to a provider in the First Health Network.
    • Download memo

Some hospitals of interest that participate in First Health:

    • Ochsner Foundation Hospital- New Orleans, LA
    • Ochsner Medical Center- Northshore- Slidell, LA
    • USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital- Mobile, AL
    • UAB Hospital- Birmingham, AL
    • MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
    • Mayo Clinic- Rochester, NY
    • Johns Hopkins Hospital- Baltimore, MD

Enhanced (Discounted) Pharmacy Program

You can receive discounted prescriptions by having your prescriptions filled at the following pharmacies:

  • Jackson’s Discount Pharmacy: 11340 Three Rivers Rd. Ste. A Gulfport, MS 39503 | 228-832-8000
  • Beach Pharmacy: 1110 Cowan Rd. Gulfport, MS 39503 | 228-896-7070
  • T.D. Pharmacy: 12372 HWY 49 Gulfport, MS 39503 | 228-832-1414
  • French Drug Company: 400 E. Pass Rd. Ste. 1 Gulfport, MS 39503 | 228-896-5656
  • Sartins Discount Drugs: 4300 15th St. Ste. 1 Gulfport, MS 39501 | 228-864-3514
  • Loves Pharmacy: 12345 Vidalia Rd. Pass Christian, MS 39571 | 228-255-7800

Dental: Dental insurance covers plan participants’ dental services including preventative, basic, & major services. See the dental benefits summary (option I, option II) and the summary plan description for more information.

Vision: Vision insurance includes exams, glasses (frames & lenses) and contact lenses.

FSA (Flexible Spending Account)

Sometimes referred to as a cafeteria plan, or a Section 125 Plan, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) lets employees set aside a certain amount of each paycheck into an account – before paying income taxes.

During the year, participants have access to this account for reimbursement of expenses – not covered by insurance – which they regularly pay for such as:

  • Deductibles, co-pays, and other eligible expenses not covered by insurance (see the attached list for more detailed information)
  • Prescription drugs and medical supplies
  • Dental services, orthodontics, and dentures
  • Eyeglasses, contacts, solutions, and eye surgery
  • Psychiatric care and psychologists’ fees
  • Smoking cessation programs and over-the-counter drugs
  • Preschool and child daycare expenses (for dependents under age 13)

FAQ’s

  • How much can I contribute to my FSA? You may contribute as little as $5 per pay period up to $2,750 per year for your FSA Health account and as much as $5000 per year for your FSA Dependent Care Account.
  • How do I get my money back? Debit cards are issued in place of filing for FSA medical reimbursements. Should you wish not to use the debit card, you can file a paper claim to Select Administrative Services for reimbursement. You pay upfront for your medical/dependent care and submit a claim form and receipts for reimbursement. A check is issued to you in the amount of eligible expenses, up to your annual election. Checks are issued weekly by SAS. Claim forms are submitted in the plan year, which begins January 1st and ends December 31st.
  • What happens if I don’t use all the money in my FSA account? Each time you submit a claim, you can go online to determine the balance of your FSA account. If you haven’t used all your money by the last day of the month of the plan year, you can rollover $500 or less to the next plan year. However, anything over $500 that is not spent during the current plan year will be forfeited back to the employer.
  • How do I estimate my expenses? When estimating your expenses, use this worksheet to help. It is best to estimate low the first year you participate in the FSA to ensure that you don’t contribute more than you will spend. You can always increase your contributions next year.
  • When employees use tax-free dollars to pay for these expenses, they realize an increase in their spending power and substantial tax savings!
  • SAS – FSA Claim Form

Supplemental Insurance
The City of Gulfport has partnered with Lincoln and Unum to offer supplemental insurance to employees at discounted rates. If an employee chooses to enroll in an AFLAC policy, insurance premiums can be payroll deducted. Employees must self-enroll by calling 228.832.8853.

Lincoln Financial Group
Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability

Effective January 1, 2017, our Voluntary Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, and Long Term Disability is now with Lincoln Financial Group. You can register on Lincoln Financial to view your coverage information on their website. Click here to view instructions on how to register.

  • To view policy certificates for coverage through Lincoln Financial Group, click on these PDF links below:
  • Life Lincoln Financial Group provides the City of Gulfport with $50,000 term life or accidental death & dismemberment insurance to each eligible employee. This benefit is provided at no cost to employees. To view the policy certificate, click the link below:

Sun Life Financial
Effective January 1, 2021, our group carrier for Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity benefit is through Sun Life Financial. Click here to register for access to your benefits and claims.
To view plan highlights for coverage through Sun Life Financial, click on the PDF links below:

Paid Time Off

Holiday Pay
City employees received 10 paid holidays per year observed on the following dates. Employees who are scheduled to work on these holidays are compensated by receiving 1.5 times their regular hourly pay rate during those hours worked.

Fire & Police shift personnel may accrue Holiday Comp Time – or paid time off in lieu of holiday pay. Holiday Comp Time can be used as annual leave, but cannot be cashed out upon resignation.

Annual Leave

  • City employees accrue 18 days of leave per year up to 3 years. After an employee’s 3rd anniversary, the accrual rate is graduated according to the specified accrual rate.
  • After one year of employment, an employee who leaves the City may “cash-out” up to 240 hours of annual leave upon their resignation date.

Sick Leave

  • Employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 8 hours per month for the first 3 years of employment. After the employee’s 3rd anniversary. The accrual rate is graduated according to the specified accrual rate.
  • Sick leave cannot be “cashed out” upon an employee’s resignation but can be certified to PERS.

Bereavement Leave

  • In the event of the death of an immediate family member, an employee may receive 24 hours of bereavement leave to be taken on the day of the funeral service and to make necessary arrangements beforehand.
  • An employee may not take Bereavement Leave in the days following the funeral service but may take Annual Leave as approved by his or her Department Director.

School Leave

  • Employees with school-aged dependents and grandparents are eligible for 4 hours of School Leave per year. School Leave is designed to allow employees and grandparents time to attend school functions with his or her (grand)children.

Military Leave

  • Employees who serve in the Armed Forced either on active duty or in reserves are granted Military Leave when they receive orders to report for duty.
  • Employees taking Military Leave should present a copy of their orders to their Department Directors and to the Human Resources Department.
  • Employees on Military Leave will receive 15 days of paid leave not experience a loss of seniority or pay during their service time and will continue to accrue benefits while on paid leave (including Annual and Sick Leave).

PERS Retirement

  • The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS) is the retirement system for eligible public employees who work as regular employees for state agencies, universities, community colleges, public schools, as well as certain counties and cities in the state of Mississippi.
  • Membership in PERS is a benefit afforded to eligible public employees of member agencies and is financed by contributions made by the employees and their employers and the earnings on these contributions.
  • Participation in PERS is required for all full-time and part-time plus employees of the City of Gulfport. Certain part-time employees may also be required to participate in the plan.
  • PERS Website

MS Deferred Compensation Plan

You are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Deferred Compensation Plan (MDC). By joining MDC, you can plan for a future that may appear to be far away, but in reality will be here sooner than you think.  The choices you make today affect how you will live tomorrow. Participating in MDC is one choice you can make now that can have a positive effect later.

Here are some of the advantages of participation:

  • Automatic payroll deductions
  • Your contributions to MDC are conveniently deducted from your
  • paycheck, making saving money easy!

Tax advantages:

Every before-tax dollar you contribute to your MDC account reduces your taxable income. That means the more you save, the less you pay in taxes today. You do not pay taxes on any investment earnings as long as your money remains invested with MDC; you only pay taxes when you start taking withdrawals from your account.

Flexibility:

Managing your account is easy. Changes to your contribution rate or investment selections may be made at any time, and you can choose how to make changes either through the MDC website, www.mdcplan.com, or by calling (800) 846-4551.

Workman’s Comp

  • If you are injured on the job, it is important to let us know. Immediately report the injury to your manager or supervisor, or if he/she is not available, the next person in your chain of command. If the injury requires non-emergency medical attention, report to the employee clinic. If you require emergency care, report to the nearest hospital’s emergency room.
    You must also complete a First Report of Injury form within 24 hours of the injury and forward it to Human Resources.
  • First Report of Injury