OPFD Benefits

The City of Overland Park offers a comprehensive benefits program for full-time employees and their dependents. Coverage is effective on the first day of the month following the date of hire.

Overland Park offers:

• Medical insurance through Blue KC
• Dental insurance through Delta Dental of Kansas
• Vision insurance through Davis Vision

The City provides comprehensive health and dental insurance for retirees based on their years of service. Coverage goes into effect the first day of the month following their retirement.

Health, Dental + Vision Insurance Rates

The voluntary wellness program is available to all full-time employees, and includes a health and fitness assessment designed to help employees understand their health status and identify risk factors that may be related to future illness or injury. Free assessment tests are performed annually at several city facilities. Family members also are eligible to participate in this program for a discounted cost.

OPFD expects our responders to maintain fitness levels equivalent to the requirements of our profession. All front-line responders must pass a fit-for-duty physical each year. The annual exam requirements are based upon the nationally recognized standard from the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA 1582). Not only does this confirm the ability to perform, but also aids in the early identification of addressable health concerns. 

Additionally, OPFD continues to implement cancer reduction measures. Each responder is issued two sets of firefighting gear so that contaminated gear can be pulled from service until cleaned. As the department builds new facilities and remodels older facilities, the concept of red, yellow and green contamination zones is implemented. These zones help to isolate contaminants and keep them out of fire station living spaces. All of these measures and more are aimed at reducing the likelihood of cancer from long-term exposure to the carcinogens produced by fire.

Commissioned members of OPFD (Firefighters, Fire Medics & Paramedics) participate in the Kansas Police and Fire (KP&F) retirement plan. As a KP&F member you will make an automatic 7.15% pre-tax contribution. The City of Overland Park also contributes to the fund. You will earn 4% interest annually and can withdraw your account balance if you ever leave employment. KP&F is a defined benefit plan (pension). Benefits are based on a formula, not an account balance.

Final Average Salary

x 2.5% Multiplier (Set by Kansas Law)

x Years of Service

= Retirement Benefit

Retirement benefits are guaranteed after 15 years of service. Employees are encouraged to make additional investments into retirement savings. 457 deferred compensation savings plans are also available to Overland Park employees.

As part of KP&F, employees also receive disability and death benefits starting on the first day of employment. Disability benefits will replace 50% of pay while you continue to earn service credit for retirement. KP&F death benefits provide protection for your family in the event of service connected and non service connected death.

Employees working 24-hour shift schedules accrue vacation each pay period, based on the length of service:

• 0-4 years of service: six days of annual vacation accrual
• 4-9 years of service: seven days of annual vacation accrual
• 9-14 years of service: eight days of annual vacation accrual
• 14-19 years of service: nine days of annual vacation accrual
• 19-24 years of service: 10 days of annual vacation accrual
• 24 years of service or more: 11 days of annual vacation accrual

Employees can carry vacation time from year to year, with a maximum of two times their annual accrual rate.

Holidays

The City observes the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day and the day after
• Christmas Day

Personal Days

Full-time employees are granted three paid personal holidays each year in addition to vacation.

Sick Time

Employees working a 24-hour schedule accrue sick leave for personal illness or the illness of an immediate family member at 11 hours per pay period. Unused sick time may be accumulated, year-to-year, without limits.

Bereavement

Overland Park offers paid time off following the deaths of immediate family members.

Military Service

Overland Park offers pay equal to the difference between an employee’s regular pay and military pay, up to 10 working days per year, for short-term military service.

Jury Duty

Overland Park offers paid time off for jury duty.

Full-time employees in non-probationary positions may qualify for reimbursement for educational expenses including tuition, fees and books for credit and non-credit classes taken at accredited colleges, universities, community colleges, trade or vocational schools.

The City will reimburse up to $2,500 for undergraduate tuition and up to $3000 for graduate-level classes annually.

Short-term disability benefits go into effect when an employee is unable to work due to an illness or injury.

Off-the-Job Illness or Injury

Employees receive 60 percent of their base salaries beginning on the 91st day of disability leave. Beginning on the 181st day, an employee may be eligible to receive benefits provided by Kansas Public Employees Retirement System or Social Security.

On-the-Job Illness or Injury

Employees receive 100 percent of their base salaries, offset by any worker’s compensation benefits received, for the first 180 calendar days. Beginning on the 181st day, an employee may be eligible to receive benefits provided by Kansas Public Employees Retirement System or Social Security.

Voluntary Short-Term Disability Insurance

This insurance provides coverage until the employee becomes covered by one of the city’s disability plans. During the first 90 days off, the employee will receive 60 percent of their base monthly salary, should they become unable to work. Waiting periods are applicable before benefit payments begin. Employees must exhaust all accrued sick leave before they are eligible for benefit payments under each plan.

The employee assistance program supports Overland Park staff with mental health counseling, identity theft assistance, personal money management training, and more.

The Overland Park Fire Department also maintains a trained and certified Peer Support Team comprised of firefighters, paramedics, and training staff that offer non-clinical, confidential support to our members. The team is qualified in critical incident stress, mental health best practices, and offering peer level assistance in times of concern or crisis.

Comprehensive life insurance plans are available for employees and their dependents through Symetra. The City pays all of the cost of this coverage for the employee.

Coverage goes into effect the first day of the month following the date of hire.

The City pays for term life insurance coverage in the amount of 2.5 times an employee’s annual salary, rounded to the next higher $1,000 with a maximum of $300,000. Additional coverage for spouses and dependents is available, if elected and paid for by the individual employee.

This city-provided benefit provides a base plan of financial protection for care at home or in a facility when the employee is not able to perform at least two daily living activities (i.e., eating, bathing, dressing, continence, transferring or toileting).

The base plan pays a facility benefit of $1,000 per month for up to three years or $500 a month for professional home care up to six years. Other benefit options are available on a voluntary basis, and immediate family members may purchase this plan.

Overland Park’s service award program provides recognition and rewards to full-time and part-time employees for every five years of continuous service.