What happens if the total cost of my health, dental, and vision benefits are more than my allowance?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2025 12:10 am
If the total cost of the plans you choose is more than your coben allowance, then you pay the difference (out-of-pocket) with pre-tax dollars automatically deducted from your paycheck. The out-of-pocket amount will not be subject to state, federal, and social security taxes.
What happens to my coben allowance if i receive cash in lieu of health coverage?
If you elect to receive cash in lieu of your state-sponsored health plan but enroll in a state-sponsored dental plan, then your dental benefit enrollment party code will be fax lists used to determine the amount of the benefit allowance. In this situation, you will receive cash in lieu of health, and your dental and vision premiums will be fully paid. You will not have an out-of-pocket dental and vision premium cost.
However, if the total cost of your dental and vision premium is less than your benefit allowance, than you will not receive the difference (excess cash) in your paycheck. In order to receive excess cash, you must be enrolled in health, dental, and vision. If you are not enrolled in all three benefits, then you will not be eligible to receive excess cash.
Is there a coben allowance in retirement?
No. Your coben allowance will automatically stop at the time of retirement or separation, if your benefits are canceled for non-eligibility, or there is a change in your eligibility for consolidated benefits. At retirement, your health and dental deduction (if any) will be shown as the state share and retiree share of the applicable premiums.
Where can i get more information?
If you need more information, check with your department’s personnel office to obtain a copy of the coben handbook.
You may also use the benefits calculator which will help you determine how much will be deducted from your paycheck, or added to it, based on which health and dental plans you choose. State vision coverage is mandatory under coben; therefore, the vision amount is automatically added into the calculation.
The coben handbook also includes a worksheet that you may fill out to help calculate your benefit costs. However, the benefits calculator has the advantage of being easier to use and allowing you to try different scenarios. You simply click on your health and dental plan choices, and number of dependents that will be covered. The calculator automatically computes the total cost of the benefits and subtracts the coben allowance. The result shows whether you will have a monthly benefit deduction or receive extra cash, and the amount of the deduction or cash.
What happens to my coben allowance if i receive cash in lieu of health coverage?
If you elect to receive cash in lieu of your state-sponsored health plan but enroll in a state-sponsored dental plan, then your dental benefit enrollment party code will be fax lists used to determine the amount of the benefit allowance. In this situation, you will receive cash in lieu of health, and your dental and vision premiums will be fully paid. You will not have an out-of-pocket dental and vision premium cost.
However, if the total cost of your dental and vision premium is less than your benefit allowance, than you will not receive the difference (excess cash) in your paycheck. In order to receive excess cash, you must be enrolled in health, dental, and vision. If you are not enrolled in all three benefits, then you will not be eligible to receive excess cash.
Is there a coben allowance in retirement?
No. Your coben allowance will automatically stop at the time of retirement or separation, if your benefits are canceled for non-eligibility, or there is a change in your eligibility for consolidated benefits. At retirement, your health and dental deduction (if any) will be shown as the state share and retiree share of the applicable premiums.
Where can i get more information?
If you need more information, check with your department’s personnel office to obtain a copy of the coben handbook.
You may also use the benefits calculator which will help you determine how much will be deducted from your paycheck, or added to it, based on which health and dental plans you choose. State vision coverage is mandatory under coben; therefore, the vision amount is automatically added into the calculation.
The coben handbook also includes a worksheet that you may fill out to help calculate your benefit costs. However, the benefits calculator has the advantage of being easier to use and allowing you to try different scenarios. You simply click on your health and dental plan choices, and number of dependents that will be covered. The calculator automatically computes the total cost of the benefits and subtracts the coben allowance. The result shows whether you will have a monthly benefit deduction or receive extra cash, and the amount of the deduction or cash.