If you would like to view the PowerPoint from orientation, please click here!
If you would like to watch the recorded meeting, click here!
Backing the Badge is a free, confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for first responders and their families. It is offered by Encompass, a leading provider of EAP services. Backing the Badge provides a variety of services, including:
- Counseling: Backing the Badge offers confidential counseling services to first responders and their families. Counselors are available 24/7 to help with a variety of issues, including stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse.
- Work/life balance: Backing the Badge offers resources and support to help first responders and their families achieve work/life balance. This includes tips on stress management, time management, and communication.
- Legal assistance: Backing the Badge offers legal assistance to first responders and their families. This includes help with issues such as employment law, family law, and criminal law.
- Financial assistance: Backing the Badge offers financial assistance to first responders and their families. This includes help with paying for counseling, legal services, and other expenses.
Backing the Badge is a valuable resource for first responders and their families. It provides confidential, affordable, and comprehensive support to help them cope with the unique challenges of their jobs.
Here are some of the benefits of the Backing the Badge EAP program:
- Confidentiality: All services provided by Backing the Badge are confidential. This means that your information will not be shared with anyone without your permission.
- Affordability: Backing the Badge is a free program for first responders and their families.
- Comprehensiveness: Backing the Badge offers a wide range of services, including counseling, work/life balance resources, legal assistance, and financial assistance.
Please Click Here for more information.
Contact Encompass to schedule a confidential appointment at 1.844.871.3577
Also visit ENCOMPASS’s website:
www.encompass.us.com Company Code: gtmetro
The first time you visit the website you will click on “Member Portal”, and then select the option labeled: “Create a new account with your company code: SIGN UP”
This will allow you to use our company code and set up your own unique login credentials.
To see a full list of benefits, click here.
For instructions on how to use the Member Portal, click here.
Click Here to login into the Member Portal
GT Metro Peer Support – Click for More
Who should access Peer Support?
Peer support is available to any
employee that is experiencing
significant stress in their life.
How does an employee access
Peer Support?
Simply reach out to an identified Peer
Supporter and they will make
arrangements to meet with you.
The FRAP from Provident – Click for More
Confidential Assistance Available 24/7 to Help Firefighters Better Cope.
This first-of-its-kind program provides firefighters and their household family members with confidential counseling, resources, and referrals to assistance for
a range of issues, including:
• Stress Management
• Depression
• Family Conflict
• Anxiety
• Relationships
• Financial or Legal Concerns
• Addictions
• Grief and Loss
• Problem Gambling
• Child and Elder Care Provident.
FRAP – Frequently Asked Questions
Ability Assist from The Hartford – Click for More
Life presents complex challenges.
If the unexpected happens, you should have simple solutions to help cope with the stress and life changes that may result. That’s why The Hartford Ability Assist Counseling Services can play such an important role. Our strightforward approach takes the complexity out of benefits when life throws you a curve.
Qualifying Event
Do you need to add dependents to your insurance? Has your spouse recently experienced a drop in coverage? Have you recently gotten married, divorced or had a child? There is 30-day window to make changes to your insurance.
Please see the the Employee Navigator for any Qualifying Life Events.
The Company Identifier for Employee Navigator is GTMetro.
The Employee Navigator is a great way to add/drop coverage, view your plan documents, see your cost per paycheck and more at a glance.
Need help enrolling in the Employee Navigator? Click here for more information
The Company Identifier for Employee Navigator is GTMetro.
A 457(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan offered by some government employers and nonprofit organizations. It allows employees to save a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis, which reduces their taxable income for the year. The money in a 457(b) plan grows tax-deferred, meaning that earnings are not taxed until they are withdrawn.
457(b) plans offer a number of advantages over other retirement savings plans, including:
- Tax benefits: Contributions to a 457(b) plan are made on a pre-tax basis, which reduces your taxable income for the year. Earnings on your investments grow tax-deferred, meaning that you don’t pay taxes on them until you withdraw the money.
- Flexibility: 457(b) plans offer a lot of flexibility in terms of how you can contribute and withdraw money. You can make lump-sum contributions or contributions through payroll deductions. You can also withdraw money from your 457(b) plan penalty-free if you leave your job for any reason.
- Portability: 457(b) plans are portable, which means that you can take them with you if you change jobs. This is not the case with all retirement savings plans, such as 401(k) plans.
If you are a government employee or a nonprofit employee, a 457(b) plan can be a great way to save for retirement. It offers a number of tax benefits and flexibility that can help you reach your retirement goals.
For Questions / More Information Regarding. . .
Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Benefits
Contact Peterson McGregor at 231-922-7220
Retirement
Contact Bob Gingras / Wealth Management Advisor at 231-932-2624
Contact OneAmerica/ Bobbi Holt at 866-986-9450
Colonial Life
Kimberly Zbikowski – Agency Development Manager
Kimberly.zbikowski@coloniallifesales.com
616-334-8373 (Cell)
Colonial Cancer Assist Brochure
Colonial Critical Illness Brochure
QUESTIONS? Reach out to Stacey Bird.
Email: hr@gtmetrofire.org
Phone: 231-947-3000 ext. 1221
What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?
- A tax-advantaged savings account specifically for medical costs.
- Available only if you have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
- Contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, meaning you don’t pay income tax on the money you put in.
- Funds within your HSA grow tax-free.
- Withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified medical expenses.
- HSA money rolls over year after year (there’s no “use it or lose it” rule).
- After age 65, you can use HSA funds for any reason.
Key HSA Benefits
- Triple tax advantage: Pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals (if used as intended).
- Control over healthcare spending: You choose how and when to spend the money.
- Long-term savings: An HSA is smart for both current medical costs and future healthcare expenses in retirement.
Your Delta Dental insurance plan helps cover the cost of a wide range of dental treatments and procedures, including preventive care, basic care, major restorative care, and orthodontic treatment.
- Preventive care: Delta Dental covers 100% of the cost of routine preventive care, such as cleanings and exams.
- Basic services: Delta Dental covers a portion of the cost of basic dental services, such as fillings, crowns, and extractions.
- Major services: Delta Dental covers a portion of the cost of major dental services, such as root canals and implants.
- Orthodontics: Delta Dental offers orthodontics coverage for children and adults.
Please see the full summary of the dental plan here: Summary of Dental Plan Benefit
You can login/register for an online account here: Delta Member Portal
Our current health insurance provider is Priority Health.
Please click below for more information.
Summary of Health Insurance Benefits
For more information regarding services before deductible, click here.
To access or register for your online account, click here.
Get more from Priority Health:
See healthy and live happily with help from VSP!
VSP Vision Insurance is a vision insurance company that offers affordable, comprehensive coverage to millions of people in the United States. VSP offers a variety of plans to fit your needs, including individual plans, group plans, and student plans. VSP also offers a variety of benefits, including:
- Eye exams: VSP covers 100% of the cost of routine eye exams, including comprehensive eye exams, contact lens exams, and glasses prescriptions.
- Eyeglasses: VSP offers a wide selection of frames and lenses at a discounted price. You can also choose to have your glasses shipped to you or picked up at a participating eye doctor’s office.
- Contact lenses: VSP offers a variety of contact lenses at a discounted price. You can also choose to have your contact lenses shipped to you or picked up at a participating eye doctor’s office.
- Vision discounts: VSP offers discounts on a variety of vision-related products and services, such as sunglasses, eyewear cleaning supplies, and vision therapy.
Life Insurance
Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority is proud provide Group Life & AD&D insurance
in the amount of $100,000 to all eligible employees.
You can purchase additional life insurance from The Hartford.
Disability Insurance
Your short term and long term disability insurance is also provided through The Hartford.
For details and a complete benefits summary please see the Employee Navigator portal.
Make the most out of your Benefits Package with The Hartford – Click Here for the Benefits Guide
