County Retiree Health & Life Insurance Benefits County Benefits Office Revised Feb. 2014

Program Documentation Information regarding County Retiree Programs is available: Represented Employees: Labor Contracts. Non-represented Employees: Multnomah County 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 enrollment if you are enrolled under another County employee or retiree’s health insurance plan at your separation. Forms must be completed at separation. Kaiser members must reside in the Kaiser Permanente NW service area.

Initial Enrollment County Retiree health insurance begins after employee health insurance ends. 15/16 Rule: If County resignation date is the: 1st through 15 th of the month, active health insurance ends at the end of the month. 16 th through 31 st of the month, active health insurance ends at the end of the next month. At retirement, you may keep the same plans or choose a less expensive plan with the same insurance provider. Enrolled family members may continue or be removed.

Medical Premium Subsidy Some County retirees may be eligible for the medical premium subsidy. Subsidy is 50% of total medical premium for: Local 88, Management, Physicians, FOPPO, MCCDA, Juvenile Group Workers, Painters and Prosecuting Attorneys. Subsidy is 50% of County contribution toward active employee’s total medical premium for: Electricians, Engineers, MCDSA and ONA.

Medical Premium Subsidy 100% medical premium subsidy may be available for Electricians, Engineers and ONA members who retire at or after age 60 through 65. (Refer to Local 48 and 701 contracts for eligible member list.) Medical premium subsidy applies to all tier levels (one-party, 2-party or family coverage). Retiree pays full dental premium – no subsidy is applied to dental insurance premium.

Medical Premium Subsidy Medical premium subsidy is based on: 1. Age at retirement, and 2.Years of County service (part-time employment is pro-rated as half). To check your eligibility for medical premium subsidy, please review labor contracts or Ordinance 981. Medical subsidy continues until retiree is eligible for Medicare or age 65 (whichever occurs first).

Medical Premium Subsidy Eligibility Example #1 Employee is age 58 through 65 at the time of retirement, with at least 5 years of County service and are not eligible for Medicare: 50% medical premium subsidy begins at retirement. Example #2 Employee has 30 years PERS service and not eligible for Medicare: Refer to labor contracts or Ordinance 981 for eligibility requirements and implementation of subsidy based on age.

Medical Premium Subsidy Eligibility Example #3 Retirees who retire prior to age 58 with 10 years County service and are not eligible for Medicare: Retiree pays full medical premium up to age 58. Medical premium subsidy begins at 58 (first of the month following birthday). If date of birth is the 1 st of the month, medical premium subsidy begins on retiree’s birth date. Example #4 Retirees with a PERS disability retirement with 10 years of County service and not eligible for Medicare: Subsidy available at retirement.

How Do I Enroll? We prepare individual retiree health insurance packets! Contact the Employee Benefits Office at least 90 days prior to your retirement date for a packet Review information and make a decision

Enrollment Fill out an Enrollment Form Fill out any other necessary documentation Submit your forms to the Benefits Office Receive confirmation of your enrollment You may receive new health insurance cards

Paying Your Premium There are two payment options available: Payment by Check: Invoice payment due date is the 20 th of the month for the following month’s insurance coverage. Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT): Funds are withdrawn from retiree bank account on the 5 th day of the month for the current month’s coverage.

Open Enrollment Options Retirees have open enrollment options each year. Retirees may change to a different health plan, drop medical or dental coverage, and add or remove eligible family members. The effective date of coverage for open enrollment changes is January 1.

Qualifying Events During the health plan year, retirees are unable to change health plans or add eligible family members to coverage without a qualifying event, such as: Marriage Birth or adoption Divorce Spouse/Partner gains/loses health insurance through his/her employer Eligibility for Medicare

COBRA (continuation of coverage) If County retirees passes away, family members are offered continuation of health insurance coverage through COBRA, as follows: Spouse/Partner under age 55: 36 months of COBRA. Spouse/Partner age 55 or over: COBRA may be offered until age 65 or eligible for Medicare (whichever occurs first). Dependent children: 36 months of COBRA.

Medicare County retirees are eligible to remain on County Retiree Health plans, even after they are eligible for Medicare. County-paid medical premium subsidy ends at Medicare eligibility. Regular Medicare is effective at age 65. Early Medicare – effective prior to age 65 due to medical condition. All County retiree health plans require Medicare-eligible participants to enroll in Medicare.

What is Medicare? Medicare Part A (Inpatient Hospitalization). Medicare Part B (Other Medical Services) Medicare Part D (Prescriptions) Eligibility is determined by Social Security Administration. Any Medicare premium payments are paid to Social Security. Contact MEDICARE or for more information.

Medicare and County Health Plans Moda Health Plans are not supplemental Medicare plans. Moda will pay claims as secondary insurance, even if enrollment in Medicare does not occur. Kaiser offers a supplemental Medicare plan. Participants are required to enroll in Medicare Parts A & B and Kaiser Senior Advantage. Purchase of Medicare Part D is not required for either Moda or Kaiser coverage.

What are options at Medicare? If retiree becomes eligible for Medicare, options may be: Retiree may continue County medical and/or dental coverage – pays full monthly premium. Retiree cancels County medical and/or dental coverage. Some health plans options are PERS Health, individual plans, AARP, etc. If retiree cancels their coverage, non-Medicare eligible spouse/partner and children (up to age 18) may continue County coverage under Oregon statute. Participants pay full premium.

Life Insurance Retirees may be eligible for a $2,000 or $5,000 County-paid retiree life insurance policy. Active employee life insurance policy (and supplemental life insurance) may be continued as an individual policy. Election form must be filed with UNUM with 31 days of ending County employment.

Long Term Care Insurance County employees currently enrolled in LTC may continue current coverage. Election form must be filed with UNUM within 60 days of ending County employment. UNUM: PERS offers LTC insurance coverage. New retirees may be mailed information from PERS.

HRA VEBA Eligible County employees who receive contributions to an HRA VEBA account as a negotiated benefit are: Electricians, Engineers, FOPPO, Non-represented, Physicians, MCCDA, MCDSA, Civil Deputies, and Prosecuting Attorneys. Current VEBA account balances will continue to be available to members after separation of employment. Meritain Health

County Retiree Benefits Thank you for attending this seminar. Please take a moment to complete the survey which is included in your packet. Please feel free to contact our office at: Phone: We are here to help you with health and life insurance questions.