Bridges of America Benefits

At Bridges of America, we offer a competitive salary and a variety of benefits; such as group health insurance, matching 401(k) retirement plan, dental, voluntary life insurance, company paid life insurance, paid time off, paid holiday's, health dependent care flexible spending accounts and a variety of discount programs.

Group Health Insurance – Provided through Aetna Insurance
The company pays 75% of the individual coverage cost for employees and 100% of the individual cost starting the employees’ 5th year of employment. Employees have the option to choose between two HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plans and three POS (Point of Service) plans depending on individual needs. Individual premiums will vary depending on the policy. All Aetna Insurance plans include $10,000 in life & AD&D insurance and vision coverage.
Advantec Health Advocate
NEED HELP! Health Advocate services are provided by Personal Health Advocates, typically registered nurses, backed up by a team of medical directors and administrative experts who will help you, your spouse, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law. Gets answers to every question, assistance with finding the best doctors, scheduling appointments with providers, help resolve insurance claims, assist with the elderly, obtained unbiased health information, work with insurance companies regarding appropriate approvals for needed services, assist with the transfer of medical records and help locate and research the newest medical treatments and wellness programs.
Basic Life Insurance
Bridges of America provides full-time employees with group life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance calculated at a flat $15,000. There is no cost to the employee for this coverage.
Voluntary Life Insurance
Employees who want to supplement their group life insurance benefits may purchase additional coverage. When you enroll yourself and/or your dependents in this benefit, you pay the full cost through payroll deductions and the company pay’s 100% of the cost for the coverage you had in your 4th year employment starting in your 5th year of employment. You can purchase coverage for yourself, your spouse and your child. Age restrictions apply.
401(k) Retirement Program
One of the most important benefits you can receive from your employer is an outstanding retirement program. The Bridges of America/Advantec 401(k) plan has the power to change your future!! The easiest and best way to save for your retirement is to deduct savings directly from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis and have those savings accumulate tax-deferred in the Bridges of America /Advantec 401(k) plan.
Bridges of America will make an employer matching contribution of 100% up to the 1st 8% of your base pay. (This contribution is subject to an employer vesting schedule over 6 years (see summary of benefits))
Short Term Disability
Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial is the carrier for your Voluntary Short Term Disability plan. This coverage will automatically continue annually. STD coverage begins on the 1st day of a covered accident and on the 8th day of a covered illness. This plan will pay 60% of your gross weekly salary with a maximum weekly benefit of $750. The plan will continue to pay for 13 weeks as long as you remain disabled according to the terms of the contract.
Group Dental
Services Amount You Pay
Preventive Services Exams, x-rays - No Charge in-network, 20% out-of-network
Cleanings - No charge in-network, 20% out-of-network
Deductible Applies to basic and major services only - $50 individual/$150 family
Basic Services Fillings, extractions - 10% in-network, 20% out-of-network
Major Services Oral surgery, crowns - 40% in-network, 50% co-ins out of network
Annual Maximum $1,000
Note: Individual coverage is paid at 100% for Managers and Supervisors. Although there is financial incentive to visit a participating provider, this plan allows you to seek treatment from the dentist of your choice.
Vision Plan
Vision care is vital to your health. Not only do eye examinations identify vision correction needs, but eye care professionals can also uncover a variety of health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and glaucoma. This discount eye care plan provides affordable vision care for your family’s eye care needs, including exams, frames, lenses and contacts. This vision plan is available to all employees through voluntary bi-weekly payroll deductions. If you only need basic vision coverage you can utilize the vision coverage with your Aetna plan, but if you prefer more coverage then you want to review this plan for consideration.
FSA – Flexible Spending Accounts
Bridges of America offers 2 types of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA's) that can help an employee save money.
  • Un-reimbursed Medical Expenses - is a pre-tax amount an employee can have deducted from their paycheck that covers medical, dental, vision expenses, such as their deductibles and co-pays. The employee can elect up to $3,000 per plan year. When the benefits become effective on October 1st they will receive a (Visa/MC) card loaded with the amount of the pre-tax dollars chosen for that plan year. Carefully consider the expenses for the upcoming year, as this plan, per IRS rules, is a use it or loose it plan. So what ever amount is chosen must be used by the end of the plan year, September 30th, or the money will be forfeited. Remember you can use this account for qualified over the counter items as well.
  • Dependent Day Care - allows for pre-tax childcare expenses and elderly care expenses. This type of FSA can cover daycare, after school care, and summer day camp expenses. Dependent Day Care can be used for children under the age of 13, claimed as a dependent and live with the employee. It can also be used for children over age 13 and adults who are physically or mentally unable to care for themselves as long as they reside in your home more than half of the year. If divorced, then the child must live with the employee more days during the year than the child lives with the other parent. The maximum election is $5,000 per plan year which can be set up as an automatic reimbursement for payment each month. Carefully consider the expenses for the upcoming year as this plan, per IRS rules, is a use it or lose it plan. So what ever amount is chosen, it must be used by the end of the plan year, September 30th, or you will forfeit the money.
Discount Legal Services
Legal plans work much like health plans. This discount legal program provides employees with access to a nationwide network of legal and financial resources for affordable legal coverage relevant to peoples’ evolving needs regarding legal protection and financial services, sometimes without ever receiving an invoice for attorney’s fees.
AFLAC Ancillary Benefits
Employees are eligible to enroll in AFLAC’s (American Family Life Assurance Company) plans through bi-weekly voluntary payroll deduction. AFLAC pays money directly to the employee in addition to any other health care insurance, to cover lost wages, deductibles, co-pays, special treatments, travel expenses, childcare, lodging, etc.

Available AFLAC policies include:
  • Personal Accident Indemnity (Level 2)
  • Personal Cancer Indemnity
  • Specified Health Event
  • Hospital Protection Plan (Hospital Confinement)
YOU DECIDE.COM – Discount Program
Bridges of America is partnered with Youdecide.com to provide our employees discounts on many services in an effort to help save our employees money. Employee can go online at any time to enroll, create a username and password and submit the corporate client code to enjoy the many benefits available throughout their employment. Here’s just a sample of the many discount services available:
  • Auto and home insurance
  • Auto and home financing
  • Disaster mortgage protection
  • Extended auto warranty
  • Recreational marine insurance
  • Vision discounts
  • Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
  • Orkin termite and pest control
  • Shoes.com
  • Id safeguards
  • Life line screen service
  • Long term care insurance
  • LetsTalk.com
  • 1-800-PetMeds
  • ADT Home Security
  • Living Language by Random House
  • Magazines.com
  • Sports Perks
  • Synergistic Lifestyle
  • The Walking Company
  • And many, many more services
Cafeteria Plans
All eligible employees are able to enroll in the company sponsored cafeteria plans providing pre-tax premium deductions for their Health, Dental, Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
Paid Time Off - PTO
All eligible employees are offered Paid Time Off (PTO) based on their years of service and as outlined in this policy.

All eligible employees working a scheduled 40 hours per week:
1st year employee 2.46 hours per bi-weekly pay period
2nd to 4th year employee 3.08 hours per bi-weekly pay period
5th to 9th year employee 3.85 hours per bi-weekly pay period
10th year employee 4.62 hours per bi-weekly pay period

All eligible employees working a scheduled 32 hours per week:
1st year employee 1.85 hours per bi-weekly pay period
2nd to 4th year employee 2.46 hours per bi-weekly pay period
5th to 9th year employee 3.08 hours per bi-weekly pay period
10th year employee 3.85 hours per bi-weekly pay period
Miscellaneous Leave
The company allows employees to take leaves of absence that do not qualify under any other leave policy for the following reasons:
  • Jury Duty Leave
  • Educational Leave
  • Time Off to Vote
Holiday Leave
Religious Holidays may be observed in lieu of regular paid holidays and should be negotiated through their supervisor.

Paid Holidays - The Company recognizes the following paid holidays:
  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
Bereavement Leave
The company provides bereavement leave of absence with pay to eligible employees, who have worked with the company for 90 days or more, who wish to take time off from work duties due to the death of an immediate and extended family member.
  • Immediate Family Member: For the purposes of this policy and procedure, the term immediate family member is to be defined as the spouse, parent(s), step-parent(s), child, and step-child, or sibling(s), step-sibling(s) of the employee.

  • Extended Family: For the purposes of this policy and procedure, the term extended family member is to be defined as parent-in-law, grandparents, & grandchildren.
Regular full time employees will receive up to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave for Immediate family members.
Regular full time employees will receive up to three (3) days of bereavement leave for Extended family members.