HELP US LOCATE SPOUSES WHO QUALIFY!
From Gary Johnson
The Association became aware that under CalPERS rules the District must provide most spouses of deceased retirees District paid health benefits that are the same as their spouse would have received had they still been alive.
This is contrary to the fact that previously such spouses only had access to District benefits if they chose to pay for them at their own expense.
The District gave CalPERS a list of spouses to be notified of this major change in providing benefits and they should have received enrollment packets.
However, we know that the list was incomplete, and we know that some ignored the opportunity because from past experience and notifications they believed that they were not eligible and concluded that this notification did not apply to them.
For a spouse to be eligible:
-
-
- The retiree must have been eligible for lifetime District benefits (Tier I or Tier II)
- The spouse must be a recipient of a monthly allowance pension through CalPERS or CalSTRS sufficient to cover the cost of the benefit
- The spouse must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B if they are eligible for Medicare. (Note: if deceased retiree was eligible for Medicare, then the spouse is eligible for Medicare)
- The District will reimburse the spouse for the cost of Medicare Part B, plus any part B late enrollment penalties and surcharges for excessive income (IRMAA), and the District will pay for a Medical supplement health plan to Medicare Part B, including Part D drug coverage
-
RETIREES PLEASE RESPOND ASAP – DEADLINE IMMINENT
-
-
- The spouse must enroll In a CalPERS health plan by October 31! (This requirement may be waived under certain circumstances)
- This surviving spouse benefit, that is, District paid coverage for the spouse, will last only as long as the District contracts with CalPERS for healthcare benefits
-
WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A LIST OF SPOUSES OF DECEASED RETIREES
-
-
- If you know any of them or of them, contact them to see if they know of this opportunity. Then, forward their name and contact information to the Retirees’ Association for our records and possible assistance
- If they are interested in more information and/or enrollment, have them contact both the Association and the District.
-
District:
Katy Lyon
Benefits Analyst – VCCCD
761 E. Daily Dr., Suite 200
Camarillo, CA 93010
805-652-5535
or
Janice Endo
District Benefits Administrative Assistant
805-652-5531
Retirees’ Association: VCCCDRA@gmail.com
