Eligibility for Benefits                                                    

Certain regularly appointed full-time and part-time employees who work a regular schedule of 20 hours or more per week are eligible to participate in medical, life and dental insurance plans offered through the Town of Ashland.  

Temporary employees and those employed under service agreements are not eligible for benefits. 

Long-term substitute Teachers may be eligible for medical insurance after completing prescribed periods of employment.  Please contact the Human Resource Coordinator for more information.

New Employee Enrollment into Health Insurance Plans 

A new employee eligible for health insurance and wishing to have coverage must complete the appropriate enrollment forms and submit them to the HR/Payroll Office at Ashland Town Hall within ​ 10 calendar days ​of his/her effective date of​ hire.  Benefits begin on the first of the month following 60 days or two full calendar months, whichever comes first.  

If an employee does not enroll within this 10 day time period, he/she will not ​​be eligible to enroll in a health insurance plan until the next annual open enrollment period. Therefore, if an employee is interested in health insurance and other coverage, he/she should take the time to carefully review and promptly submit all employee benefits forms. 

If an employee chooses not to enroll in health care coverage, they will be asked to sign a waiver.

Health Care Plan Options and Costs 

• Medical Insurance – The District offers a comprehensive medical health care insurance plan to eligible employees.  An employee is eligible to enroll if one’s regular work schedule is 20 hours or more per week. In order to obtain coverage, new employees must complete and submit enrollment forms to the Town Hall HR/Payroll Office within 30 days from the date of hire.  The District makes a substantial contribution toward the cost of each eligible employee’s medical coverage.  Details and plan summaries on the various medical insurance rate saver plans may be obtained from the Human Resource Coordinator. 

• Coverage for Dependents  - This requires the following documentation for each person listed: 

           Spouse – copy of marriage certificate.​

Former spouse – copy of the sections of divorce decree or separation​ agreement that include absolute date, health insurance language and signatures.  If the employee or former spouse remarries, coverage for the former spouse ends as of the date of remarriage.

Dependent child – copy of certificate of birth, adoption, or appointment as​ legal guardian. The document must link dependent to employee or employee’s spouse.

Health Care Coverage for Individuals and Families 

Eligible employees may elect either individual or family coverage. Family coverage provides for spouses and/or dependents until they reach age 26, and dependents of any age that fit the insurance plan’s definition of disabled. 

An employee may change from individual to family coverage, or add additional members to the plan within 30 days of a birth or adoption of a child, or marriage. The HR/Payroll Office at Ashland Town Hall must be notified within 30 days of such an event to affect a change in coverage outside of the open enrollment period.

Continuation of Health Insurance (COBRA) 

If employment should parts service with us or an employee or his/her dependent otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the group health insurance plan, he/she and/or his/her dependents have the right to continued participation in the Town’s group health insurance plan under federal COBRA legislation. The employee will be required to pay the full cost of the premium plus an administrative fee. Under COBRA continuation, the Town will no longer contribute to the cost of health insurance premiums. For additional information on this option, please contact the Town of Ashland Health Care Coordinator at Town Hall, 508-881-0120.

Life Insurance 

All employees are eligible to be covered by the Town of Ashland Group Life Insurance plan. Plan benefits are payable in the event of death. New employees must​ enroll within 30 days of their appointment date to be eligible for this benefit or wait until Open Enrollment in May.

Basic Life Insurance 

The District offers a $10,000 Basic Term Life Insurance​ policy with Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company to all employees working over 20 hours per week.  The bi-weekly costs are 26/20 pays at $1.30/$1.69.  This is a one-time offer available only during the first 30 days of employment; it is not offered again during Open Enrollment.

Voluntary Life Insurance 

The District offers additional Term Life Insurance in​ increments of $5,000 up to a maximum of $100,000.  Premiums are paid 100% by the employee.  This coverage is available without the need for any medical review, and includes Accidental Death & Dismemberment.  Affordable group term rates are available with coverage up to age 75.  Spouses may be insured for $25,000 and unmarried dependents between the ages of six months and 19 years (25 years if a full-time student) are insured for $10,000.  You may only opt to have this insurance if you have signed up for Basic Life Insurance.

Long Term Disability (LTD) 

Long Term Disability benefits are currently available to: 

• Administrators
• Teachers
• COTA
• Non Union Employees, Central Office
• Custodians
• Preschool and Extended Day Staff

This benefit is offered to new employees, who are advised to enroll within the first 30 days of employment.  After this period you may enroll anytime, but will be required to provide “evidence of insurability”.  Please contact the Human Resource Coordinator for enrollment details at 508-881-0156.