New Employee

Service Information

New Employees

Congratulations on your new position and welcome to Cook County!  

Please review the plan options and requirements. Enrollments must be completed within 31 days of date of employment. New hire medical, dental, and vision benefits begin on the first day of the month following employment. Benefits end on the last day of the month after termination or loss of eligibility date. New hires must submit dependent documents through Employee Self Service with enrollment. Late enrollments will not be accepted, and the next available enrollment opportunity will be within 31 days of a Qualifying Life Event or during Open Enrollment.

New hires are eligible for the following employee benefits:

  • Medical insurance, including pharmacy coverage
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (healthcare and dependent care)
  • Commuter Benefit
  • Voluntary Benefits

For detailed information about Cook County’s employee benefits, use the Related Services menu to the right.  

All employees are responsible for reviewing the ACA, COBRA and HIPAA Privacy information.

The Employee Benefits team is here to assist you. If you have any questions, please call us at 312-603-6385 or email risk.mgmt@cookcountyil.gov.

    Benefits Enrollment Instructions

    Step by Step Benefits Enrollment Instructions

    Step by Step Benefits Enrollment Video

    Dependent Supporting Documentation

    Documentation is required for establishing an employee’s legal relationship when adding a dependent due to new hire enrollment, during Open Enrollment or as a result of a qualifying life event. Documents written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

    Dependent Status - Supporting Documentation

    Access Employee Self Service

    For assistance with logging into ESS, employees should contact their agency's Help Desk.

    Within the Cook County Network (at work)

    Outside the Cook County Network (from home)

    Documents

    2025 Employee Benefits Overview*

    Benefits Enrollment Checklist 

    General Notice of COBRA Continuation Coverage Rights

    *This benefit guide is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract or guarantee of coverage. Benefits may change at any time, and employees should always refer to the official plan documents for the most up-to-date information regarding their eligibility and coverage details. 

    Qualifying Life Events Instructions

    Qualifying Life Events - Removing Dependents with/without Benefits Changes Step By Step Instructions

    Qualifying Life Events - Adding Dependents with/without Benefits Changes Step By Step Instructions

    Related Links