SECTION 9 LACERA-Administered Retiree Health Care Benefits
Choice of Medical and Dental Plans
Retirees can choose from a selection of LACERA-administered medical plans and dental/vision plans, including Medicare supplement or Medicare HMO plans for Medicare-eligible retirees. Coverage is available to all retirees, regardless of pre-existing medical conditions.*
The plans cover the retiree; however, you may elect to add your spouse or domestic partner and dependent children to your medical and/or dental coverage. Upon your death, coverage for your surviving spouse or domestic partner and/or dependent children enrolled in your plan(s) will continue without a lapse.*
New retirees have 60 days from their LACERA-approved retirement date to enroll themselves, their spouse or registered domestic partner, and eligible dependents in the plan of their choice.** Late enrollment rules apply if the 60-day time limit is not met.
Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), dependents who no longer meet the eligibility requirements for LACERA-administered health care coverage may apply for continued benefits for a maximum of 36 months. Dependents eligible for COBRA cannot be denied coverage based on their health status.
For information on LACERA-administered retiree health care benefits, call 1-800-786-6464 and press 1 to speak with a LACERA Health Care Benefit Specialist.
*Certain eligibility rules apply.
**If you are an active employee and currently cover an adult disabled dependent on your health insurance, visit the Health Care section of lacera.com for information regarding the process and requirements for continuing this coverage without interruption when you retire.
Costs of Medical and Dental Plans
The cost of LACERA-administered plans varies according to the plan selected, number of dependents covered, and your years of service credit.
The County subsidizes retiree medical/dental insurance based on the member's years of service credit; a minimum of ten years of service applies. For a member with ten years of service credit (excluding ARC and reciprocal service credit), the County contributes 40 percent of the selected plan premium or 40 percent of the benchmark plan premium, whichever is less.* For each year of service credit beyond ten years, the County contributes an additional four percent per year of the selected plan premium or four percent of the benchmark plan premium, whichever is less, up to a maximum of 100 percent for a member with 25 years of service credit.
Members (including those with 25 years of service) are required to pay the difference each month on premiums exceeding the benchmark amount.
Although retirees with less than ten years of service credit are not eligible for the County subsidy, they are eligible for LACERA-administered retiree health care benefits. In such cases, these retirees are responsible for the full amount of the insurance premiums.
*Service credit from the City of Los Angeles (LACERS) may count toward the County retiree health care subsidy; certain eligibility rules apply. For additional information, call 1-800-786-6464 and press 1 to speak with a LACERA Health Care Benefit Specialist.
6/16/09