BENEFITS + PERKS

Are pets part of your household?

You might want to brush up on all the pet-centric benefits available to you as a JHU employee

A cat and dog perch on their owner's lap

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

National Pet Day is April 11, and National Pet Month is just around the corner in May, so it's the perfect time to celebrate your fur babies and the joy they bring to your life. A growing body of research shows there are many ways that pets can improve their human companions' physical and mental health.

If pets are part of your household—which for half of Marylanders, they are—you might want to brush up on all the pet-centric benefits available to you as a Johns Hopkins employee. They include:

  • Discounts on insurance, food, and treats for your pets
  • Help finding dog walkers, veterinarian appointments, and pet-friendly hotels

Nationwide pet insurance

Voluntary pet insurance available through Nationwide will help you protect your pet while managing the rising costs of veterinary care. The program is administered for JHU by Mercer Voluntary Benefits, and you can pay for coverage simply, with a convenient after-tax payroll deduction. Employees can enroll at any time of the year.

MyPetProtection reimburses eligible vet bills and includes benefits for emergency boarding and lost-pet advertising. You can choose 50% or 70% reimbursement for the level of coverage that fits your needs, and you can get cash back for accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, and more. In addition, a 24/7 veterinary help line (a $110 value) is included as a service to all pet insurance members.

Learn more about pet insurance from Nationwide on the JHU Voluntary Benefits website.

Care@Work pet care

If you and your household members spend most of the day at work or school, you may be looking for a companion for your pets. As a Johns Hopkins employee, you have a free premium membership to Care.com, the world's largest online community for finding and managing care, including for your pets and home.

On the website, you can explore detailed caregiver profiles in your area and post any job to meet your needs, including pet sitting and grooming as well as housekeeping, running errands, and more. You also can check out Care.com's articles and guides to find home and pet care tips from experts, as well as the safety center with background check options.

To begin using these benefits, register with Care@Work through johnshopkins.care.com using your JHED ID (without @jh.edu). Read more here about Care@Work benefits.

LifeMart discounts

If you're a dog owner, you are likely spending more than $1,500 annually on essential pet care, and you might be looking for ways to reduce your spending. A great place to start is LifeMart, the university's employee discount program.

Head to the LifeMart website, click on Pets on the green navigational bar, and you'll find the current offerings and deals on pet care and coupons. Some recent deals are:

  • 50% off your first box of food from the Farmer's Dog
  • 40% off your first repeat delivery from Petco
  • A free YETI dog bowl ($40 value) when you sign up for BarkBox, and 35% off your Bark food order with free shipping
  • $20 off your first booking with Rover.com
  • 20% off in Boscov's Pet Department

To get started with your LifeMart savings, visit the Discounts page of the university's HR website.

JHEAP/CCA Perks at Work

Your discounts don't stop at LifeMart. Your Johns Hopkins Employee Assistance Program (JHEAP) benefit offers the Savings Center, a discount shopping program provided by CCA through Perks at Work.

Log in to CCA (company code JHEAP) and click Centers, then Savings Center, from the home screen.

Search for the Pets category, and you'll find deals from Spot Pet Insurance, the Farmer's Dog, BarkBox, Petmate, PetSmart, Petco, Spot & Tango, Ollie Pets, Pet Plate, and Super Chewer.

In addition, Perks at Work offers discounts on everything from gyms to vacation rentals, plus free live and on-demand classes for both kids and adults on topics from wellness to personal development. Access 100-plus free online classes for every interest, including goal setting, public speaking, dance, cardio, drawing, karate, cooking, and more. You also can collect WOWPoints on every purchase that can be redeemed to earn free merchandise. The more you shop, the more you save.

New users first need to click on Register for Free to create a profile for the Savings Center and register using the company name Workplace Options US and the company code EAP. A system-created message will be sent to your email right away so that you can complete your registration. Then log in to begin exploring the site for great discounts.

Having problems during registration? Click here to contact customer service.

Posted in Benefits+Perks

Tagged hr newswire