Omaha VA Medical Center

VA Benefits

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

Three Nebraska VA medical facilities (Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island) integrated in November 1999 to become the newly formed, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. Each of the three divisions provide a unique array of health care services.

The Omaha Division is an acute, highly affiliated, tertiary care facility. The Omaha facility provides inpatient, medical, surgical and psychiatric care in addition to its ambulatory care services; the Omaha Division is also home to major clinical research programs. The Grand Island Division focuses on ambulatory and extended care, including geriatric and rehabilitation services. The Lincoln Division focuses on ambulatory care services.

AFFILIATIONS

• University of Nebraska Medical Center: College of Medicine, along with allied health programs in Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work, Physician Assistant, Dietetics, Nurse Practitioner
• Creighton University: Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Allied Health, Occupational Therapy Nursing

AUTHORIZED BEDS

• Omaha Division - 100 acute care beds, 8 residential substance abuse beds
• Grand Island Division - 76 community living center beds, 18 residential substance abuse beds

TYPE OF FACILITY

Medical Center