Medical Retiree Trust

The Santa Monica City Coalition Benefit Trust Board of Trustees would like to announce a change in the rate for reimbursement check. Effective July 2010 the new rate will be $275 per month. The Board of Trustees would like to remind our members that if they have questions about the Benefit Trust to contact Delta Health Systems administer Shirley Yap-Cordova or Cindi Forbes at 800.700.6762

The Santa Monica City Employees Coalition Benefit Trust was established by the coalition of bargaining units representing all permanent employees of the City, except Fire and Police sworn personnel. The Trust was established to provide reimbursement to retired employees for part of their medical insurance premiums. The Trust will not provide insurance for retired employees, but will provide partial reimbursement to eligible retired employees for some of the premiums they pay for health insurance.

The Trust, established on July 1, 2001, by its terms, started to provide reimbursement to eligible employees on July 1, 2006. To be eligible, an employee must be age 58 or more, an employee must be eligible to receive retirement benefits from the City when they separate employment from the City (Currently age 50), and must have had five years of payments made to the Trust if hired prior to January 1, 2009 or 10 years of payments made to the Trust if hired on or after January 1, 2009. Since July 1, 2001, the City has been making monthly contributions of $142 per employee to the Trust. During the last several years the Trust has employed actuaries to advise the Board of Trustees how much would be available for the reimbursement benefit. Although many of us had hoped the trust benefits would cover the entire cost of retiree health insurance that is not the case. Based on the actuarial figures, the current benefit is now $250.00 per month. The Trustees hope to be able to raise the benefit in the future. These benefits are lifetime benefits with a continuation for spouses, domestic partners and/or minor children.

The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of representatives from each of the bargaining units. The Board of Trustees meets four times a year. The meetings are generally held on the first Wednesday in February, May, August and November.

Finally, the Trust Administrator is Delta Health Systems. Questions about the Trust should be addressed to either Cindi Forbes cindi.forbes@delapro.com or Alva Aguirre of Delta Health Systems at (800) 700-6762, or to one of the Trustees below. It?s important that all employees provide the Trust with up-to-date information, including home address and beneficiary information, as the Trust provides for benefits to surviving minor children, spouses and/or domestic partners.

MEA Representatives to the Medical Trust are: Steve Demmer & Ken Ward

Political Action Committee

In 2003, the Board of Directors of the Coalition of Santa Monica City Employees voted to form a Political Action Committee to aid in securing present and future benefits for all members through organized participation in the local election process.

The PAC consists of a committee of the existing Coalition Board of Directors, and concern itself only with local elections, candidates and issues that have a rational relationship to the welfare of the non-sworn city employees.

MEA members do not pay additional dues to support the PAC. MEA members may "opt out" of the participation in the PAC by filling out the linked form.

Future Endeavors

This year the Coalition will study possible changes to our health insurance structure and research possible a change of carrier and will also look at the feasibility of improving our PERS retirement formula.

Coalition Summer 2006 Newsletter

The Coalition recently negotiated pension enhancements that raise future service credits to 2.7% at age 55.

For a VERY limited time, qualifying members may still purchase additional service credits at the current rate for service credits which is 2.0% at age 55.

If you are eligible and considering purchasing additional service credits at this lower rate, CalPERS MUST receive your application no later than Friday, May 25, 2007.

For more information please contact CalPERS at

888 CalPERS
(or 888-225-7377)

http://www.calpers.ca.gov

City Council Voting Results - PERS Enhancement

City Council voted unanimously in support of the Resolution to change our PERS retirement formula to 2.7 @ 55. Click here to see the Coalition presentation for a better understanding.

The 2.5 % deduction is effective with the July 14th paycheck (except for MEA, STA & EPP who have 90 days to complete Negotiations. Deductions for those groups will start by October 1).

The change to our PERS formula will be effective June 1, 2007.

Please share this information with your co-workers and Bargaining Unit members to expedite the good news. The Coalition will put out a formal notice via our upcoming newsletter to all members.

Thank you ALL for your support!

Lauralee Asch
Coalition President

FAQs about the Coalition Benefit Trust

Extracted from the Coalition of Santa Monica City Employee General Membership Meeting, presented by Cindi Forbes, Administrator, Delta Health Systems, on November 16, 2005 in the Civic Auditorium.

Q: What is the Benefit Trust?
A: The Coalition has implemented a retiree medical benefit plan, for employees of the City of Santa Monica, who are represented by bargaining units in the Coalition. The benefit plan provides for health premium reimbursement after retirement.

Q: What are the health insurance premiums?
A: Health insurance premiums are generally defined to include medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, and long-term care policies.

Q: What kinds of benefits are covered?
A: Reimbursements towards the cost of retirement health insurance premiums.

Q: How do I become eligible?
A: The eligibility requirements are: 5 years employment with the City of Santa Monica, be a Santa Monica Annuitant (PERS Retiree), must be age 58, have a minimum of 5 years contributions.

Q: When will benefits begin?
A: Benefits commence after retirement, if you meet the eligibility requirements, but not before July 1, 2006.

Q: What will the benefit level be?
A: The current benefit level is set at $142 per month. (Note: benefit level could be modified depending on investment return, participation levels, etc.)

Q: How long will benefits last?
A: Currently, the plan is designed so that benefits last until death. However, the Trustees reserve the right to modify the benefit schedule in order to maintain the long-term financial stability of the Trust.

Q: Are the survivor benefits?
A: Yes, the plan includes benefits for surviving spouse (100%) or dependents (50%). (Note: There are also benefits for surviving domestic partners to the extent allowed by law.)

Q: May I elect whether or not to participate?
A: No. Contributions are held in a pooled account in trust.

Q: Will I have an individual account?
A: No.

NOTE: The above is designed to provide you with key information about the Retiree Medical Plan, but it does not provide all the details and limitations of the plan. Exact specifications are provided in the "Premium Reimbursement Plan of the Santa Monica City Employees Coalition Benefit Trust," as restated through October 1, 2003, which will prevail in case of conflict with the above FAQs.

It is the employee's responsibility to provide the Trust with updated address and dependent information. Failure to do so could result in loss of benefits. To ensure that the administrator of the Trust has the most up-to-date information, and to facilitate your receiving of all benefits of which you are eligible, you must complete and return an Enrollment Form to:

Cindi Forbes, Administrator
Delta Health Systems
P.O. Box 2487
Stockton, CA 95201
Contact info for Cindi Forbes: (800) 700-6762 or e-mail cindi.forbes@delapro.com