County Retiree
Health & Life Insurance
Benefits
Program Documentation
•
Represented Employees:
Labor Contracts.
•
Non-represented Employees:
Multnomah Cty Code Section 9.5,
Ordinance 981,
Personnel Rule 4-20.
Health Insurance Requirements
• Must be eligible to begin a PERS pension
at the time County employment ends.
• County retiree must immediately enroll in
coverage when County employment ends.
Cannot add coverage at a later time.
However, may defer activating County retiree coverage if you
are a dependent enrolled under another County employee’s
or retiree’s health insurance plan at your separation.
Forms must be completed at separation.
Initial Enrollment
• County retiree (RR) health insurance begins
after County employee (EE) health insurance
ends following the 15/16 Rule.
• RR Plans are the same coverage as EE Plans.
Retiree premiums = Employee plan premiums
paid by County.
• At retirement, you may change enrollment
status or “buy down” to another plan offered by
your health insurance provider.
• Kaiser members must reside in the Kaiser
service area.
Money Matters
Retiree pays 100% of the dental premium – no subsidy.
Some retirees may be eligible for the medical premium subsidy:
• Local 88, Management, FOPPO, Juvenile Group Workers,
Painters, Prosecuting Attorneys:
Subsidy = 50% of the total monthly medical premium.
Elec, Engr, MCCDA, MCDSA, ONA:
Subsidy = 50% of the County contribution toward the active
employee’s total monthly medical premium.
• 100% medical premium subsidy – may be available to Elec,
Engr, & ONA members who work to age 60.
(Refer to Local 48 and 701 contracts for member list.)
Medical Premium Subsidy
• Medical subsidy eligibility is based on:
1) age at retirement, and
2) years of County service
(part-time employment is pro-rated).
• Medical subsidy continues until retiree
is Medicare eligible or age 65
(whichever occurs first).
Medical Subsidy Requirements
(Refer to Personnel Rules and Labor Contracts)
You retire prior to age 58 with 10 years County
service (and are not Medicare eligible):
• Retiree pays 100% of the medical premium up
to age 58.
• 50% medical premium subsidy begins at 58
(first of month following 58th birthday).
Subsidy ends when you turn 65 or become
Medicare eligible – whichever occurs first.
Medical Subsidy Requirements
(Refer to Personnel Rules and Labor Contracts)
You retire between ages 58 to 65 with
5 years County service (and are not
Medicare eligible):
• 50% medical premium subsidy begins at
retirement and ends when you turn 65 or
become Medicare eligible – whichever
occurs first.
Medical Subsidy Requirements
(Refer to Personnel Rules and Labor Contracts)
You retire with 30 yrs. of PERS service:
• Local 88, Management, FOPPO, Juvenile
Group Workers, ONA, Prosecuting Attorneys:
20 yrs. County service immediately prior to separation.
Hired on or before 7/1/92: Subsidy available @ retirement.
Hired after 7/1/92:
Subsidy available @ 55.
• Engr, Elec, Painters:
20 yrs. County service immediately prior to separation.
Subsidy available @ 55.
• MCCDA, MCDSA:
Subsidy available @ retirement.
Medical Subsidy Requirements
(Refer to Personnel Rules and Labor Contracts)
You retire with a PERS Disability
Retirement and 10 yrs of County
service:
• Subsidy available @ retirement.
2012 Example - Local 88 Member
Kaiser Med (1-pty) & ODS Den (1-pty) – Approved for 50% Med. Subsidy.
Coverage premiums change annually.
• Retires at age 55
w/10 yrs Cty service.
$ 563.18 Medical
$ 50.36 Dental
$ 613.54 / Month
• Turns Age 58
50% subsidy.
$ 281.59 Medical
$ 50.36 Dental
$ 331.95 / Month
• Turns Age 65
Eligible for Medicare
0% subsidy
$ 338.08 Medical
$ 50.36 Dental
$ 388.44 / Month
Kaiser Supp Med Plan
2012 Example - Local 88 Member
Kaiser Med (2-pty) & ODS Den (2-pty) – Approved for 50% Med. Subsidy.
Coverage premiums change annually.
• Retires at age 55
w/10 yrs Cty service.
$1,131.14 Medical
$ 100.72 Dental
$1,231.86 / Month
• Turns Age 58
50% subsidy.
$ 565.57 Medical
$ 100.72 Dental
$ 666.29 / Month
• Turns Age 65
Eligible for Medicare
0% subsidy
$ 676.16 Medical
$ 100.72 Dental
$ 776.88 / Month
Kaiser Supp Med Plan
Paying Your Premium
There are two payments options – due dates
meet County’s obligation to pay ODS/Kaiser:
• Payment by Check:
Invoice payment due date is the 20th of the
month for the following month’s coverage.
Ex.: Payment due Dec. 20 for Jan. coverage.
• EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer):
Funds are withdrawn from your bank account
on 5th day of the month for the current month’s
coverage.
Ex.: Withdrawal on Jan. 5 for Jan. coverage.
Open Enrollment Options
• Retirees have the same open enrollment
options as active employees each year. You
can change health plan and coverage is
subject to annual rate changes.
• Retirees may change to a different health plan,
drop medical or dental coverage, or add or
remove dependents.
• The effective date of coverage for open
enrollment changes is January 1st.
Qualifying Events
During the health plan year, retirees are unable
to change health plans, cancel health
insurance, or remove dependents from
coverage without a qualifying event such as:
• marriage,
• birth,
• divorce, or
• SP/DP gains/loses health insurance through
his/her employer.
• Medicare eligibility.
COBRA
If County retiree passes away, family members
are offered continuation of health insurance
coverage (COBRA) as follows:
• SP/DP under age 55 – 36 months of COBRA.
• SP/DP age 55 or over – COBRA like option
until age 65 or Medicare eligible (whichever
occurs first).
• Dependent children – 36 months of COBRA.
Medicare
All County retiree health plans require participants who are
eligible for Medicare to enroll in Medicare
.
• Regular Medicare effective at age 65.
• Early Medicare – effective prior to age 65 due
to medical condition.
• Medicare Part A (Hospitalization) –
generally no monthly premium.
• Medicare Part B (Medical Services) –
2011 monthly premium may be $115.40.
• Medicare Part D (Prescriptions) –
County health insurance = Medicare Part D.
No need to purchase Medicare Part D.
Retiree and/or Dependent
Medicare Eligible
• Multnomah County requires enrollment in
Medicare Part A and Part B.
• ODS plans are not Supp. Medicare plans.
ODS will pay claims as secondary insurance
even if enrollment in Medicare does not occur.
• Kaiser offers Supplemental Medicare plans.
Participants are required to enroll in
Medicare A & B and Kaiser Senior Advantage.
Participants may not be enrolled in 2 Kaiser
medical plans.
Retiree
Medicare Eligible
• Retiree continues County medical and/or dental
coverage – pays 100% of the premium.
• Retirees cancels County medical and/or dental
coverage and purchases a Supp. Medicare plan.
Example: PERS Health Insurance Program.
(503) 224-7377
• Non-Medicare SP/DP and children (up to age 18)
continue County coverage under ORS 243.303.
Participants pay 100% of the premium.
Life Insurance
• County Retiree Life Insurance Program
Retirees may be eligible for a $2,000 or $5,000
County-paid life insurance policy
(Refer to Personnel Rules & Labor Contracts)
• Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
At retirement, you may be able to convert the
life insurance policy you now have as an active
employee. Election form must be filed with UNUM
within 31 days of ending County employment.
Long Term Care Insurance
PERS offers LTC through UNUM.
• New retirees are mailed information in the
PERS Health Insurance Program packet.
• Retirees are mailed information 60 days prior
to eligibility for Medicare.
• UNUM: 1-800-227-4165.
Multnomah County LTC – Local 88, Mgmt, ONA:
• May continue current coverage by notifying
UNUM within 60 days of separation.
VEBA
Current VEBA account balances will continue to
be available after separation.
Eligible County employees, who receive
contributions to a VEBA account as a
negotiated benefit, are:
• Electricians.
• Engineers.
• FOPPO.
• Management.
• MCDSA.
County Retiree Benefits Questions
Please feel free to contact
Marla Imsland or Jeanie Staino
Multnomah County
Employee Benefits Office
(503) 988-5651.
We are here to help you with your health and
life insurance needs.