Common use of Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Clause in Contracts

Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits. The District will pay the equivalent of the lowest non-catastrophic HMO medical premium (employee only) towards the health and welfare package (health, dental, and vision) as it exists in the year of retirement for full-time bargaining unit members who are at least fifty-five (55) years of age and have ten (10) years of service in the District. Bargaining Unit Members with a hire/seniority date on or after July 1, 2009 will be required to have fifteen (15) years of service in the District to be eligible for benefits under Article 7.7. Full-time bargaining unit members who are at least fifty-five (55) years of age and have at least five (5) years of service in the District may purchase the District’s equivalent to the lowest non-catastrophic HMO medical plan (employee-only) towards the health and welfare package (health, dental, and vision) as it exists in the year of retirement. Bargaining unit members may include eligible dependents in the plan; however, the cost difference greater than employee-only coverage must be paid by the bargaining unit member. This benefit will be provided for a period of no more than five (5) years or until the unit member attains Medicare age eligibility; whichever comes first. Full-time bargaining unit members who wish to extend medical coverage beyond the five (5) years above may purchase the HMO medical plan until Medicare age eligibility. In the event of the death of the bargaining unit member, during the retirement benefit coverage, the surviving eligible dependents may continue to participate in the health and welfare package with the cost being incurred by the surviving eligible dependents.