Insurance

COBRA/HIPPA Insurance Election

Employees or dependents can elect to continue coverage under the college major medical plan if they are no longer covered for the following reasons:

1. termination
2. reduction of hours
3. death of an employee
4. divorce or legal separation
5. eligibility for medicare (employee or spouse age 65 or older)
6. dependent child reaches age 19 (may be extended to age 25 if specific conditions are met).

Please notify the Human Resources Office when any of the above circumstances occur. Application forms are required if coverage is desired for any of the above reasons.

Health Insurance

Group insurance is available to regular, full-time employees. Gulf Coast State College employees are covered through the Florida Community College Risk Management Consortium. Premiums are paid by the individual with college participation as approved by the District Board of Trustees. Insurance coverage is reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis. Specific conditions of the current plan can be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.

Life Insurance

Life insurance is available to all regular, full-time employees. Premiums are paid by the individual with college participation as approved by the District Board of Trustees. Life insurance is reduced for active employees at age 70 and is limited to $5,000 for retirees up to age 70. More information is available through the Human Resources Office.

Optional Insurance

Various types of insurance are available from a number of firms at the employee's expense through payroll deduction. Such plans include hospital income, term, disability, and whole life insurance, income protection, prepaid dental, vision, and cancer insurance. Costs will vary depending on the extent of coverage desired. These premiums are not subject to the contribution approved by the District Board of Trustees. Further information is available from the Human Resources Office.

Workers' Compensation

All Gulf Coast State College employees are covered by workers' compensation insurance provided by the college for injuries or illnesses arising out of, or in the course of, employment. To protect yourself and your co-workers, follow all safety rules and regulations. Workers' compensation was designed to cover medical expenses and a portion of any earnings lost due to injury on the job. The amount of compensation is based on the employee's salary, among other factors. Workers' compensation laws prohibit reimbursement beyond normal weekly compensation. For further details, contact the Human Resources Office.

All illness-in-the-line-of-duty or on-the-job accidents or injuries, no matter how minor, must be reported immediately to your supervisor and to the Human Resources Office. If medical attention is necessary, Human Resources will advise you of physicians authorized by GCSC and the Florida Community College Risk Management Consortium to treat employees. It is imperative that accidents be reported to the Human Resources Office before seeking medical attention, unless the accident is life threatening, in order to receive workers' compensation benefits. During hours when the Human Resources Office is closed, employees are, using appropriate professional judgment, to use the emergency rooms of local hospitals (Human Resources will designate and publicize authorized hospitals on a regular basis) for medical attention relating to an on-thejob injury.

Accident/Incident Report and First Report of Injury or Illness forms must be completed by the division or department and forwarded immediately to the Human Resources Office. Failure to do so may result in a monetary fine imposed on the college under state statutes.