HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS IN RETIREMENT

District Health Benefits

Qualifying employees retiring from the District may be eligible to continue certain District-paid health benefits during retirement.

Application for Continuation of Health Benefits (LAUSD Form HI-22) and eligibility information are available online from the District Employee Benefits Administration or by calling (800) 527-1482. Applications are also included in the retirement packet available by request, as noted on the Preparing to Retire (CalSTRS) web page. Employees are urged to review eligibility requirements for continuing health benefits prior to their resignation and retirement dates. Your resignation and retirement dates must be immediately consecutive in order to meet one of the eligibility requirements for continuing District-paid health benefits during retirement.

CalSTRS Medicare (Part A) Premium Payment Program. (Applicable only to certificated employees hired prior to April 1, 1986, and who voted YES in the 2001 one-time, irrevocable District Medicare Election and meet other CalSTRS eligibility criteria.

A YES ballot authorized the District to withhold salary deductions for the federal Medicare tax (1.45% of salary) beginning with the employee’s December 2001 pay warrant. A YES vote may enable the employee to earn the 40+ quarters required for Medicare Part A (hospital expenses) on the employee’s own account at age 65 or, alternatively, to qualify to enroll in the CalSTRS Medicare (Part A) Premium Payment Program, provided the employee retires prior to a specified date.

Under the CalSTRS Medicare Premium Payment Program, Medicare Part A (hospital) premiums (currently $410 per month) are paid by CalSTRS for eligible retired members who are not otherwise eligible for Part A and who enroll in Medicare Parts A and B at age 65.

IMPORTANT: To be eligible for the CalSTRS Medicare (Part A) Premium Payment Program, the employee must have voted YES in the District 2001 Medicare election and must retire by June 30, 2012. The CalSTRS Board met in April 2007 and voted to extend the previously required date from June 30, 2007 to June 30, 2012.

Life Insurance

District-paid group life insurance coverage does not continue during retirement. However, it is possible to convert to an individual plan for both the District-sponsored and the employee-paid optional plan provided application is made within 30 days of termination of active employment. District employees participating in the employee-paid optional life insurance program may be able to participate in retiree (decreasing) term life insurance program directly with Metlife. Call Metlife at (800) 866-6983 for forms and information.