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�Retirement, Benefits & More�

Debbie Bryant

Benefit Services Coordinator

619/644-8029

March 2025

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This presentation is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

All plan terms and conditions are subject to applicable laws, regulations, and policies. In the event of a conflict between this presentation and official plan documents or legislation, the official sources will prevail.

The Social Security and Medicare information provided is general in nature. For specific questions, please contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.

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Agenda

Retirement Checklist
Notification to Retirement System
Notification to District
Retiree Benefit Eligibility
Retiree Health Benefits
Retiree Correspondence
Benefit Conversions
Social Security Awareness
Basic Medicare Information
VEBA Post 65 Plans
AB528 (Certificated/STRS)
HR Substitute Hiring Process

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Retirement Checklist

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Notification to Retirement System

Attend PERS or STRS workshops

Retirement estimates

Contact PERS as early as 3 months prior to retirement date to start application process

Contact STRS as early as 6 months prior to retirement date to start application process

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Notification to District

Send completed Exit/Separation Form to Human Resources when you decide on retirement date
HR receipt of Exit/Separation Form initiates

Calculation of final check (paid month after term)

Classified employee accrued vacation paid
Classified employee paid up to $1,000 of available sick time in their final check
Certificated employees do not receive payment of accrued balances

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Notification to District (cont’d)

Unused sick balance used towards service credit

Internal process for classified employees
STRS requires Express Benefits form for

certificated employees*

Provide form to Payroll Department

Retirement plan will be notified of sick balance after final attendance log received and processed by Payroll

PERS 2,000 hours = 1 year service credit. No cap
STRS depends on position - Regular Teacher - 1,110 hours = 1 year service credit (185 x 6 = 1,110) No cap

Generation of retiree benefit correspondence

*Excludes STRS Cash Balance

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Retiree Benefit Eligibility

10 years service with the District

Employees who retire at age 54 or older and up to age 65 (Medicare eligibility)

Medical, Medical Waiver or Medical Reimbursement, Vision, Dental and EAP

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Retiree Health Benefits

Active benefits end on the last day of the month in which you retire

Exception: If you retire in June, active benefits will continue through August 31, 2025.

The following retiree benefits are effective September 1, 2025:

Medical/Vision
Dental
Medical Waiver or Medical Reimbursement Program

Instate retirees eligible for retiree buy out
Out of state retirees are eligible for reimbursement
Annual payment is provided and will be prorated for both the year of retirement and year of reaching age 65

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Retiree Health Benefits (cont’d)

Dependents may remain on retiree benefit plans until retiree reaches 65 (Medicare eligibility)

Dependents are eligible for 36 months of COBRA

Retiree with medical and vision dependent coverage remits 10thly payments on the first of each month to VEBA; VEBA invoices will be sent to those who owe premiums

Automatic bank withdrawal available
Late payments and/or failure to pay insurance premiums may cause termination of dependent coverage

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Retiree Health Benefits (cont’d)

Traveling medical benefits (i.e. vacations away from home)

Emergencies and/or urgent care

No follow up care outside of service area

Notify your doctor and/or carrier within 24 hours of treatment/hospitalization
Keep itemized receipts, charts and doctor’s notes that will be used to file and support claim for reimbursement

VEBA and GUHSD Kaiser and UnitedHealthcare medical plans are only available for services in California. KP and UHC coverage does not transfer outside of California if you relocate to another state.

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Retiree Health Benefits (cont’d)

If you move out of California or relocate to an area outside carriers’ service area in California (some areas in Northern California), your District medical and vision coverage will end and you will be enrolled in the Retiree Reimbursement plan:

You will need to obtain your own health coverage, provide proof of current coverage and of premium for medical reimbursement
Reimbursement is based on actual cost not to exceed District cost of last plan you were enrolled in prior to relocation
Annual reimbursement typically ranges from $1,270 to approximately $12,900 a year

Reimbursement amount changes annually dependent on district plan renewals

Payment is taxable - 1099

Delta Dental coverage is nationwide. Claims must be submitted to Delta Dental of California

New group number assigned for Delta Dental is 18212-02404

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Retiree Benefit Correspondence

Retiree correspondence provides important information about retiree benefits and is normally mailed to your home within the month of retirement
The Benefits Office will transfer the retiree and dependents (if any) to the medical, vision and dental retirement groups. No benefit paperwork required from Early Retiree.

UHC or SIMNSA will provide a new medical ID card digitally.

Provide the new id card to medical provider as group number will change

Kaiser

Member id number remains the same

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Retiree Benefit Correspondence

Retiree and dependent medical/vision costs are the same as active employee and dependent payroll deductions

Retirees are notified of open enrollment, therefore, it is very important for the District to have your current home address, email address and phone number

Check your paystub for address on file
Include personal email address on completed Exit Form

Most notifications are via email

Review your PS ESS to see if changes need to be made

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Benefit Conversions

New York Life - life insurance plans can be converted to individual plans within 31 days of benefit termination date

UNUM long term care plans can be converted to individual plans within 31 days of benefit termination date

Unum <20 years of service $1,000 month benefit*
Unum >20 years of service $3,000 month benefit*
Check employee and/or employer contributions on paystub for tenthly rates
Buy Up Plan and monthly premium (employee paid)

*District paid plan

Flexible Spending Account Options

Healthcare Reimbursement eligibility ends last day of month worked

COBRA eligible if balance

Dependent Care Reimbursement – submit claims for the remainder of the calendar year

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Benefit Conversions

MetLife Legal and Parents Plus terminate the last day of the month that you terminate

Exception: Summer retirees term August 31
You can elect to continue MetLife Legal by completing a MetLife retiree enrollment form and make a pro-rated payment for the remainder of the year
You can continue each year thereafter by making an annual payment
Payment is payable to SDCOE/FBC
Retiree MetLife enrollment form available upon request
If not enrolled now, plan will be offered during open enrollment periods

Contact Benefits Office to convert plan(s)

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Social Security Awareness

Reduction of Social Security Benefits ($$)
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

Affects individuals who receive a pension from a job that they did not pay Social Security taxes
Certificated (STRS)
Classified (PERS) - mistakenly offset

Government Pension Offset (GPO)

Affects individuals who receive a pension from a government job that did not pay into Social Security
Reduces or eliminates spousal or survivor Social Security benefits by two-thirds of the pension amount

Search Social Security website (www.ssa.gov) or call 800/772-1213 for additional information

If you have questions concerning WEP and/or GPO, contact the Social Security Administration

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Medicare Eligible Spouse Reaches Age 65 and on Early Retiree District Benefits

65+ Spouse must enroll in Medicare A & B to avoid lifetime penalties
UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente

Medicare eligible spouse can stay on District medical
Spouse is required to assign Medicare benefits to Kaiser or UnitedHealthcare’s Advantage program, or a substantial surcharge is assigned to the Retiree for spouse coverage
Scripps no longer accepts HMO Medicare Advantage plans
If maintaining spouse coverage, contact Benefits Office immediately for the Advantage group enrollment form

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Medicare Eligible Spouse who Reaches Age 65 and on Early Retiree District Benefits

Medicare – 2025 Monthly Premiums

Part A / Hospitalization Insurance – Typically no cost as paid through Medicare taxes

If not Medicare eligible, the monthly premium is $285 or $518 to purchase Part A. The premium is based on quarters worked

Part B / Medical Insurance

Medicare B premium is approximately $185 a month if worked 40 quarters
Medicare B premium is based on Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

Two year look back period

Part D / Prescriptions

Part D is offered through private companies either as a stand-alone plan, for those enrolled in Original Medicare, or as a set of benefits included with your Medicare Advantage Plan.

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Medicare Eligible Spouse who Reaches age 65 and on Early Retiree District Benefits

Medicare A & B enrollment mandatory; otherwise, late enrollment incurs significant financial penalties

Part A - If you have to buy Part A and don't when first eligible for Medicare, the monthly premium may go up 10% for twice the number of years you didn't sign up

Part B - Up to 10% for each full 12-month period not covered – lifetime

Part D – 1% of national premium per uncovered month – lifetime

Only enroll in ONE Medicare Advantage and Part D plan

Medicare premiums are paid to Medicare

Medicare premiums are in addition to GUHSD premiums

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VEBA Post 65 Group Retirement

California Schools VEBA offers Post-65 Group Retirement Plans to its members.

Who Can Join?
You must be a Medicare-eligible retiree or dependent who is no longer eligible for the district retiree plan
You must be entitled to Medicare Part-A and enrolled in Medicare Part-B
You must live within the CMS-approved Kaiser Permanente or UnitedHealthcare service area

One-time offer

Enrollment must be within 30 days of benefit termination date

Attend VEBA Medicare webinar sessions
Webinar meeting schedule sent 6 months before obtaining age 65
Contact:

Paula Lancaster

619/961-2047 or post65inquiries@vebaonline.com

By virtual appointment only

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VEBA Post 65 Group Advantage

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AB528 GUHSD Benefit Coverage

AB528 election must be made within 30 days of the CERTIFICATED/STRS based retiree losing District retiree coverage

If not elected within 30 days of loss of coverage as a certificated retiree, there is no future opportunity to enroll (one-time offer)

Enrollment with District Benefits Office

AB528 was originally established for certificated staff who did not contribute to the Medicare system

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AB528 GUHSD Benefit Coverage

Certificated retirees who reach age 65

Participant of STRS
2025 Monthly Premiums

Kaiser Permanente Sr Advantage (KPSA)

Medicare A and B enrollment mandatory for KPSA medical enrollment
DeltaCare (HMO)
$251 monthly for single coverage

UnitedHealthcare Advantage

Medicare A and B enrollment mandatory for UHC medical enrollment
DeltaCare (HMO)
$700 monthly for single coverage

Delta Dental PPO

$80.96 monthly for single coverage

No Vision Service Plan (VSP) coverage
Retiree pays 100% of AB528 and Medicare monthly premium
Coverage available for spouse but not child(ren)

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Individual Medicare Advantage and Medical Health Plans

Interested in other Medicare Advantage health plan options?

Marsh & McLennan Agency (GUHSD broker)
Medicare Advantage Plans - California

Moving Out of State

LIG Solutions (VEBA Partner)
Independent Medical Insurance Broker

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HR Substitute Hiring Process �

Retired employees cannot work for school districts for six (6) months from retirement date
In most instances classified employees need current TB, check with Human Resources
I-30 Form required for certificated retirees

Free of contagious or infections disease including TB
Requires physician’s signature

Certificated STRS retirees cannot work in a classified position
Re-fingerprinting may be required based on when original fingerprints were rolled. A1 Livescan rates below:

Certificated retiree w/valid credential – apx $72
Classified retiree – apx $72
Volunteers - apx $50

Applications for substitute work are processed through Edjoin and approved by the HR Admin Team

Human Resources – 619/644-8020

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CONGRATULATIONS �ON YOUR �RETIREMENT!!!

Debbie Bryant Desiree Lynch

Benefit Services Coordinator Benefits Technician

dbryant@guhsd.net dlynch@guhsd.net

619/644-8029 619/644-8056

This presentation is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

The Social Security and Medicare information provided is general in nature. For specific questions, please contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.