Retiree Benefit Update Virtual Town Hall Meeting 9/7/2021
Virtual Town Hall #2 10/4/2021
Town Hall 2 Slide Deck.pdf 10/4/2021
On Monday August 9, 2021, the Board of Trustees approved mandated Medicare enrollment for eligible District retirees. 08-09-21 DOCKET.pdf
RetireeFirst
714.646.3618 or Toll-Free at 833.265.8654
Anthem 2022 Formulary.pdf
Rancho Santiago CCD_2022_PPO 0PH_$0 Ded_F01242022_CA_EOC (3).pdf
Rancho Santiago Community College District Anthem MAPD Plan Summary Updated.pdf
4.11.2022_BoardMeeting_RF.Anthem.Keenan FINALv4.pdf
Please see below for some FAQs:
Is this plan an HMO?
The Anthem Medicare Preferred PPO with Senior Rx Plus is
not an HMO and you will not have a primary care physician. It is a PPO plan which will allow you to see the provider of your choice. They do not need to be part of the Anthem Blue Cross network. The only requirement is that the provider be a part of the Medicare network (96% of the health providers nationally) to receive full coverage (Passive PPO).
Is RetireeFirst the Carrier?
No. The administration, approval, and billing of all medical services is done by Anthem Blue Cross as the carrier for the plan. RetireeFirst provides support services to retirees and the District but
does not make medical coverage decisions.
How does the RetireeFirst plan work?
Under the RetireeFirst Anthem National Passive PPO Medicare Advantage plan a member will be able to seek covered services from any Medicare provider (96% of the health providers nationally) in the US. That provider will then bill Anthem directly for 100% of the costs vs. having to bill Medicare first and then Anthem secondary. Anthem then works with Medicare to obtain the applicable reimbursements. The processing of the Medicare reimbursements by Anthem is why retirees are asked to “assign" their applicable parts of Medicare. Under a Medicare supplement plan, provider must bill Medicare first and then the plan second. However, the difference is an administrative issue that is not a responsibility of the retiree but rather the provider. A major factor for consideration was the fact that the RetireeFirst plan utilized Anthem as the carrier which ensured minimal to zero disruption for all retirees currently on the Anthem HMO and PPO plans.
What happens if I want to leave the plan?
Since it is an employer sponsored group Medicare insurance plan, any participating retiree would be allowed a special open enrollment upon termination. During the special open enrollment, they could select whether to move to an individual Medicare advantage plan or Medigap plan. It is important to note that this flexibility is due to the fact that this is a group Medicare insurance plan and
not an individual Medicare Advantage policy.
What will happen to the Kaiser Senior Advantage Plan?
There will be
no change. The District will continue to offer the Kaiser Senior Advantage plan.
Why did the District choose this plan?
The District chose the RetireeFirst Anthem National Passive PPO Medicare Advantage plan because it offers better coverage than the CompanionCare plan and matches the coverage offered to active employees. In addition, the RetireeFirst plan offers individualized retiree advocacy services not currently available to our retirees. For these reasons, the Board chose this plan as a replacement to the existing CompanionCare Medicare supplement plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
· What is Medicare?
- Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals who are 65 and older. Medicare has generally three parts:
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part B covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)
Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines).
· Who does it apply to?
- All eligible current and future retirees, along with their dependent spouses, are to enroll in Medicare part A and B once they turn age 65 and if they have retired.
· Will the retirees continue to have healthcare with this transition?
- Yes, with the Medicare transition, the retiree and dependent spouse healthcare will be enhanced by Medicare benefits such as coverage, access, and security (see below) as well as a District sponsored Medicare group health plan to bridge the cost of Medicare through the timeframe provided in the collective bargaining agreements.
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Better Coverage – Medicare group health plans offer close to 100% coverage and in most cases it provides higher coverage levels.
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Better Access – With Medicare group health plans, retirees are able to access medical services from any provider that accepts Medicare. This network is nationwide and provides significant flexibility to retirees.
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Better Security – With enrollment in the Medicare Parts A and B, retirees will be assured that they will have access to medical benefits regardless of any future changes to the District's plan or carrier.
· What if I am at or over the age of 65 and I still have not enrolled in Medicare?
You still have the opportunity to enroll. However, there may be penalties attached for late enrollment. Not to worry, the District is planning to cover penalties attached to late enrollment of Part B for retirees who retired before August 9, 2021.
· Are there costs incurred with enrolling in Medicare?
- Enrollment in Medicare part A is free for most people, enrollment in Part B incurs a premium which the retiree is required to pay. The premium is on a tiered scale based on the retiree's income.
- The District plans to cover premiums associated with the Medicare group health plans for the length in the applicable collective bargaining agreements or board policy.
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· How much are Medicare penalties?
- Medicare penalties starts at 10% per year for every 12 months you could have signed up for Medicare. For example, if you don't sign up until age 70, you would accumulate 50% (age 65 to 70 = 5 years) in penalties. This means you will pay 50% more of your typical Medicare part B premium for life. There may also be additional penalties associated with Medicare Part A.
· Are there penalties attached to the Medicare late enrollment?
- Late enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B can trigger financial penalties that will be assessed against the retiree. To ensure the smoothness of the transition, the District will reimburse any penalties associated with late enrollment in Medicare Part B for retirees who retired before August 9, 2021.
· What if I am not eligible for Medicare?
- You may be able to enroll based on the eligibility of your dependent spouse. For those who cannot, the District is working on a plan with our benefits partner Keenan to bridge these retirees.
· I will be age 65 or over while still employed with the District, should I still enroll?
- No, you do not need to enroll in Medicare as long as you are working regardless of your age. You will be covered by the District's health and dental plans until you are enrolled in Medicare as outlined below.
· How can retirees sign up and who can we contact with questions?
- Current retirees can enroll in Medicare during the open enrollment period, that occurs annually between January 1 and March 31.
- The District will be working with our benefits partner, Keenan on an education campaign and setting up meetings to explain the transition and enrollment process.
- Future retirees can sign up in two ways:
