Employee Benefits
North Central Health Care offers a comprehensive benefit package that contains some of the most competitive benefits available in Central Wisconsin. NCHC's benefits package is an important part of your total compensation package, adding value and giving you peace of mind. Each of our employee benefits have been carefully researched and negotiated. You can enroll in your benefits with the assurance that your benefit needs are a priority at North Central Health Care.
The YOU Benefit 2025: A Comprehensive Benefit Resource Guide for North Central Health Care Employees is available electronically and contains detailed information about benefits available to employees. Please contact Human Resources if you would prefer a printed copy.
An abbreviated overview of employee benefits can be found here at
Benefits at a Glance
for 2025.
Both publications will contain plan and coverage options for January 1,
2025 through December 31, 2025.
View or download the full YOU Benefit 2025 or the Benefits at a Glance.
Do You Have Questions About Benefits or Enrollment?
For employees in Wausau-based programs, please contact Bo Johnson,
HR Speicalist at 715.841.5416 or
bjohnson@norcen.org.
For employees in Antigo or Merrill-based programs, please contact Jacque Krause, HR Generalist at 715.539.2514 or jkrause@norcen.org.
2025 Benefits Overview
The benefit information presented below describes only the highlights of the NCHC benefit plans for January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. Benefits for our employees include:
- On-Demand Pay
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Paid Holidays
- Retirement Savings Plans
- Health Plan Coverage
- Prescription Drug Plan and on-site Pharmacy
- Dental Plan
- Vision Plan
- Medical, Dependent Care or Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Accounts
- Income Continuation Insurance
- Short-Term Disability
- Group Term Life Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Identity Guard
- Employee Discount Program
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Employee Referral Program
- Employee-Assistance Program
Each year during open enrollment, employees are offered education sessions to learn more about their benefits and also have the opportunity to ask questions in-person to the NCHC Benefits Team. A YOU Benefit 2025: A Comprehensive Benefit Resource Guide for benefit plans and coverage is provided to all NCHC employees that provides a comprehensive resource for benefits.
PAID TIME Off (PTO)
North Central Health Care values you as an employee and also knows the importance of taking care of our employees, which is why paid time off is offered to our employees based on an accrual system. From your hire date, each employee accrues PTO calculated by the number of hours worked.
PAID HOLIDAYS
North Central Health Care offers nine paid holidays per year to our staff that include:
- New Years’ Eve
- New Years’ Day
- Memorial Day
- July 4th,
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day After Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
ON-DEMAND PAY
Decide when and how you get paid! Earned Wage Access (EWA) gets you paid before payday. Work your shift, and we’ll make a portion of that money available the following day*, giving you more control over when and how you want to use it. The funds you access simply get deducted from your next paycheck. No gimmicks, no hoops–just your money, in your hands. Visit www.norcen.org/UKGWallet for details.
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS
North Central Health Care participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). The WRS is a defined benefit retirement program that is commonly referred to as a pension plan. Combined with Social Security benefits (where applicable) and personal retirement savings accounts, WRS benefits can help provide financial security during retirement. Employee contributions are mandatory. WRS is a tax deferred defined benefit plan. In 2025, employees contribute 6.95% of their eligible wages and NCHC contributes a match of that same 6.95% for a total of 13.9%. Eligibility varies by hire date. If you meet requirements you will automatically be enrolled in the Wisconsin Retirement System. In addition to the Wisconsin Retirement System you may also participate in a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. Specific details about WRS benefits, including benefit estimates, may be obtained at the Department of Employee Trust Funds Plan Website: www.etf.wi.gov 877.533-5020.
HEALTH PLAN COVERAGE
North Central Health Care offers three self-funded Health Plans through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that cover the same services but have different cost structures. Two plans are paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA). To be eligible for Health Insurance you will need to work a minimum of a 0.5 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) status. A 0.5 FTE works 40 hours per 80-hour pay period. North Central Health Care has two different levels of premium contribution based on your FTE status.
Sydney Health - 24/7 Video Visits with a Doctor
For employees enrolled in North Central Health Care’s Health Plans, Sydney Health app offers 24-7 access to physician consultations. Now you can connect more easily to the care you need through our SydneySM Health mobile app. Have a video visit with a doctor on your mobile device or computer with a camera, 24/7. Visit with a doctor for common health concerns Doctors are available anytime, with no appointments or long wait times. They can help you with these types of conditions:
- COVID-19
- Flu
- Cold and fever
- Minor rashes
- Sore throat
- Headaches
During your video visit, the doctor will assess your condition, provide a treatment plan, and send prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice, if needed.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN
If you are enrolled in North Central Health Care’s health plan, you are automatically enrolled in the Prescription Drug Plan. All employees, regardless of whether they’re enrolled in NCHC health coverage, also have access to North Central Health Care’s in-house pharmacy services.
TRIA HEALTH CONFIDENTIAL PHARMACY ADVOCATE PROGRAM
Tria Health’s pharmacists are your personal medication experts, working with you and your doctor(s) to make sure your conditions are properly controlled without the risk of medication-related problems. Tria Health’s pharmacists work one-on-one to develop a personalized plan to help improve your health! Learn More
Tria Health is Your Resource for Medication Guidance
- Experiencing uncomfortable side effects?
- Looking for less expensive alternatives?
- Need medication recommendations?
- Have a new prescription?
DENTAL PLAN
North Central Health Care provides dental coverage that is administered by Delta Dental for eligible North Central Health Care employees. Delta Dental's national preferred provider organization program gives you access to two of the nation’s largest networks of participating dentists–the Delta Dental PPO network and the Delta Dental Premier network. Although you can go to any licensed dentist anywhere, your out-of-pocket costs are likely to be lower if you go to a dentist who participates in one of these networks.
VISION PLAN
North Central Health Care provides vision benefits administered through National Vision Administrators (NVA) and offers a comprehensive vision care plan to you and your eligible family members. Each enrolled person may receive frames once every 24 months and lenses once every 12 months. Contact lenses every 12 months.
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to pay for out-of-pocket dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. Your contributions are subtracted from your paycheck before federal, state, and FICA taxes are calculated on your pay, so you save money on taxes. Contributions for FSAs do not reduce your pay for purposes of determining your life insurance or retirement benefits provided by North Central Health Care.
North Central Health Care offers Medical, Dependent Care and Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Accounts that allow you to pay certain allowable expenses with tax-free money. If you are on the HSA Plan you can deduct pre-tax dollars directly into your HSA account to pay for out of pocket expenses up to the maximum limits.
INCOME CONTINUATION INSURANCE
The Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) benefit is an “income replacement” benefit payable if you become disabled. This insurance is available to all NCHC employees who are eligible in the Wisconsin Retirement System. ICI provides replacement income for disabilities which are short- and long-term. The benefit usually lasts until you are no longer disabled or you reach age 65 (with some exceptions), whichever is sooner.
Note: ICI Coverage is FREE to all eligible NCHC employees who participate in the WI Retirement System. You must enroll within 30 days of becoming eligible by submitting a paper form to enroll in this benefit.
The benefit provides up to 75% of your average monthly earnings based on your previous calendar year earnings rounded to the next highest $1,000 and divided by 12 (for newly hired employees, your projected annual salary is rounded to the next highest $1,000 and divided by 12).
SHORT-TERM DISABILITY - Learn More
Short-Term Disability (STD) is an optional coverage that protects your income. You can elect up to 66 2/3% of your salary to be paid to you in the event that you cannot work due to a disability. This policy has a 90 day elimination period, if you are still disabled after 90 days you may be eligible to receive Income Continuation Insurance benefits.
CRITICAL ILLNESS INSURANCE - Learn More
Critical illness with cancer insurance coverage helps with the financial burden that can come along when cancer, heart attack, stroke and multiple other diseases strike a family unexpectedly. This coverage pays a lump sum if one of the covered diseases happens to your family. This plan includes a $50 wellness benefit paid once a year when you complete a covered wellness exam. View the list of exams that qualify.
ACCIDENT INSURANCE -
Learn More
This plan protects you and your family against the unexpected costs associated with an accident. This plan pays you cash that can be used to help with your house payment, car payment, groceries, and cell phone payment or even help with out of pocket medical expenses like your deductible. It’s your money, you choose where it goes. This plan includes a $50 wellness benefit paid once a year when you complete a covered wellness exam. View the list of exams that qualify.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
North Central Health Care’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all employees and their family members. Employee Assistance Program counselors can aid you and your family in assessment, problem solving and support to assist you in working through a number of work-life issues and concerns. 1.800.540.3758 or 715.344.6379.
OTHER GREAT BENEFITS
North Central Health Care has many other benefits that you will have the option of enrolling in such as Retirement Savings Accounts, Pet Insurance, and Identity Guard. In addition to these, North Central Health Care provides employees discounts from local and national businesses and retailers including restaurants, cell phone carriers, car rental, massage and wellness, gym memberships, moving and miscellaneous discounts. You can also shop online for NCHC-branded apparel at the SwagShop.
North Central Health Care offers several programs and resources just for our employees like Connections Guide, News You Can Use, Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Referral Bonus Programs. Our Human Resources Team is available to help employees access these resources.
Eligibility
Your eligibility for benefits at North Central Health Care is based on your designated Full-time Equivalent (FTE) and hours worked. Generally the minimum status an employee can work and be eligible for benefits is 0.5 FTE which is at least 40 hours per pay period. Eligibility for health insurance is based on the number of hours worked in the last year.
NEW HIRE OR NEWLY ELIGIBLE
If you are a new hire or newly eligible for benefits, your benefits will take effect the first day of the month following your date of hire. Exceptions to this will be designated by eligible Qualifying Events.
For More Information
Copies of North Central Health Care's YOU Benefit Guide may be requested in-person at the Human Resources Office at the Wausau Campus at 2400 Marshall Street, Suite A in Wausau from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, or by contacting hresources@norcen.org or 715.848.4419.
The benefit information presented here describes only the highlights of the NCHC benefit plans and does not constitute official plan documents. Additional terms and conditions may apply. If there are any discrepancies between the information contained herein and the official plan documents, the plan documents will govern. This benefit overview is not intended to give rise to any right to employment, continued employment, or any benefit with or from North Central Health Care. To view official plan documents, go to http://intranet/nchc.aspx or contact the Human Resources Office at the information provided above.
Let’s Launch Your Career! Connect with Bo to get started! Email hresources@norcen.org with subject line Career Question.