Benefits Information

The City provides Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services to you and your household members through Horizon Health at no cost to you. The EAP supports you in dealing with personal issues so you can be less distracted at work and/or spend less time away from your job. Professional help is available on issues such as:

• Alcohol or drug problems
• Eating disorders
• Stress or depression
• Financial or legal problems
• Critical incidents or catastrophes
• Family, relationship or emotional concerns
• Job-related problems and co-worker conflicts
• Elder care
• Gambling or other addictive behaviors
• Grief

To access services, contact Horizon Health at:

Telephone:1-888-272-7252 (or TTY 1-888-879-8274)
Additional Online Resources: www.horizoncarelink.com
Login: city of seattle
Password: city of seattle

Your Counseling Benefit
You can call twenty-four hours a day, 365 days of the year and reach a master’s prepared counselor through Horizon Health, the City’s EAP provider. Counselor assistance—by phone or in person—is offered at no expense to you. You and your household members can access six face-to-face counseling visits per issue every year.

If ongoing counseling is advisable after the six initial visits and is considered “medically necessary” under the medical plan, you will be referred in consideration of your medical coverage. If it is not considered medically necessary, you may continue seeing your Horizon Health counselor at your own expense.

The City will allow you up to 6 hours of paid time off during any calendar year (not charged to sick leave or vacation) to attend EAP counseling or training sessions. You must receive advance approval from your supervisor and can use a maximum of two hours at any one time. You do not need to divulge the reason you are using the EAP, but you may need to request an appointment verification from Horizon Health if your supervisor requests. You may always schedule your appointments during non-work hours.

Other Services and Resources
Employees and their household members can also access non-counselor resources, such as financial counseling, legal counseling, and telephonic and on-line Work/Life Resources using the above phone number and web site.

Complete Confidentiality
Your confidentiality is protected in accordance with public law. Neither supervisors nor any other City employee is provided with individual EAP information.

Page: http://www.seattle.gov/personnel/benefits/optional/eap.asp
Printed: 5/25/2013 4:19PM