Retiree Medical (i) The Executive shall be entitled to receive retiree medical benefits during the Executive’s lifetime in accordance with the eligibility requirements, terms and conditions, and plan offerings for access to retiree medical benefits provided generally to full-time employees of the Company. The Executive may cover the individual who is the Executive’s spouse as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment (the “Spouse”) and/or the individuals who are the Executive’s dependent children as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment (the “Dependents”), to the extent eligible at the time of the Executive’s retirement, according to the terms and conditions of the Company’s retiree medical benefit plan. The cost of such benefits for the Executive, the Executive’s Spouse and eligible Dependents, will be 100% of the premiums and will be reimbursed by the Company on an annual basis up to the date the Executive reaches Medicare eligibility due to age, at which point such reimbursement will cease. Such reimbursement shall be made in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement practices, and in all events no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the premiums were incurred, and in accordance with the other requirements of Code Section 409A and Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) (or any similar or successor provisions). Depending on the plan, all or a portion of the reimbursement may be taxable. Such benefits shall include prescription drug coverage, but not dental or vision benefits unless included in the medical plan.
(ii) Upon reaching Medicare eligibility due to age, Medicare shall become the primary payor of medical/prescription benefits for the Executive, the Executive’s Spouse or eligible Dependents as applicable, and the reimbursement of premiums for such coverage by the Company shall cease.
(iii) The Company reserves the right to modify, suspend or discontinue any and all retiree medical plans, practices, policies and programs at any time without recourse by the Executive, so long as the Company takes such action generally with respect to other similarly situated officers; provided that, if the Company terminates retiree access to medical and/or prescription benefits generally for retirees, the Executive shall be entitled to an annual reimbursement from the Company upon proof of continued coverage for comparable medical and/or prescription coverage under an individual policy or other group policy, subject to a maximum total reimbursement of one and one-half (1½) times the applicable premium of the plan in effect at the time retiree access is terminated at the applicable coverage level, and subject to maximum annual inflation adjustment thereafter of five percent (5%).
(iv) Upon the death of the Executive, a surviving Spouse will continue eligibility and reimbursement as described above. Surviving Dependent children will not receive premium reimbursement beyond the COBRA continuation period. For all other COBRA qualifying events other than the death of the Executive, reimbursement will cease upon commencement of the COBRA continuation period.
Retiree Medical Benefits If Executive is or would become fifty-five (55) or older and Executive's age and service equal sixty-five (65) and Executive has at least five (5) years of service with the Company within two (2) years of Change in Control, Executive is eligible for retiree medical benefits (as such are determined immediately prior to Change in Control). Executive is eligible to commence receiving such retiree medical benefits based on the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control.
Health Care Spending Account After six (6) months of permanent employment, full time and part time (20/40 or greater) employees may elect to participate in a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) Program designed to qualify for tax savings under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, but such savings are not guaranteed. The HCSA Program allows employees to set aside a predetermined amount of money from their pay, not to exceed the maximum amount authorized by federal law, per calendar year, of before tax dollars, for health care expenses not reimbursed by any other health benefit plans. HCSA dollars may be expended on any eligible medical expenses allowed by Internal Revenue Code Section 125. Any unused balance is forfeited and cannot be recovered by the employee.
Health Spending Account contributions by the Executive will cease on the Effective Date. The Executive may submit claims against the balance accrued to the Effective Date, until the end of the calendar year in which the Effective Date occurs.
Dental Care Plan The Welfare Plan will include a Dental Care Plan which will reimburse members for expenses incurred in respect of the coverages summarized in Appendix "1". The Plan will not duplicate benefits provided now or which may be provided in the future by any government program.
Health Spending Account (HSA Wellness Spending Account (WSA)/Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) utilization rates;
Leave for Medical and Dental Care (a) Where it is not possible to schedule medical and/or dental appointments or appointments with a registered midwife outside regularly scheduled working hours, reasonable time off for such appointments for employees or for dependent children shall be permitted, but where any such absence exceeds two hours, the full-time absence shall be charged to the entitlement described in Clause 20.12. "Medical, dental and/or registered midwife appointments" include only those services covered by the BC Medical Services Plan, the Public Service Dental Plan, the Extended Health Benefit Plan and assessment appointments with the Employee and Family Assistance Program.
(b) Employees in areas where adequate medical and dental facilities are not available shall be allowed to deduct from their credit described in Clause 20.12 the necessary time including travel and treatment time up to a maximum of three days to receive medical and dental care at the nearest medical centre for the employee, their spouse, dependent child and a dependent parent permanently residing in the employee's household or with whom the employee permanently resides. The Employer may request a certificate of a qualified medical or dental practitioner, as the case may be, stating that treatment could not be provided by facilities or services available at the employee's place of residence. An employee on leave provided by this clause shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable receipted expenses for accommodation and travel to a maximum of $510 effective April 1, 2019, $520 effective April 1, 2020, and $530 effective April 1, 2021 per calendar year.
(c) An employee otherwise entitled to leave pursuant to (b) above who chooses to travel on a vacation day or a day of rest or to remain at work and not accompany their spouse, dependent child or dependent parent, as provided in (b) above, may claim the reimbursement of receipted expenses under the conditions stipulated.
(d) Employees in receipt of STIIP benefits who would otherwise qualify for leave under this clause shall be eligible to claim expenses in the manner described above.
(e) Where leave pursuant to (b) above would be reduced, the Employer may approve airfare payment for the employee in lieu of the $510 effective April 1, 2019, $520 effective April 1, 2020, and $530 effective April 1, 2021 reimbursement, once per calendar year.
(f) For the purpose of this clause, "child" includes a child over the age of 18 residing in the employee's household who is permanently dependent on the employee due to mental or physical impairment.
Retiree Life Insurance Employees who retire under the Monroe County Employees' Retirement System shall be eligible for $4,000.00 term life insurance. All employees hired by the Employer on or after October 1, 2007 shall not be eligible for Retiree Life Insurance.
Retirees The Parties and the Crown agree to meet for the purpose of transitioning retirees currently in board-run benefits plans into a segregated plan administered by the OECTA ELHT via an amendment to the Trust Agreement, based on the following:
i. Basic plan design is the active member plan design
ii. School boards can request alterations to the plan design to meet their specific needs (limited to survivor coverage for health and dental benefits, out of country coverage, hearing aids, physiotherapy, and private duty nursing) subject to the coverage being available by the carrier. It is not the intent of the parties to enhance the benefits coverage of the retirees. For example, life insurance is not to exceed the existing level of coverage.
iii. Boards can opt out of the ELHT plan for retirees. It is understood that such opt out is irrevocable.
iv. The plan administrator will advise each school board of the per member premium cost on an annual basis.
v. Any annual plan deficit shall be captured in the premiums charged to school boards and retirees in the subsequent benefit year.
vi. Any terminal deficit is the responsibility of all school boards who had members in the plan, based on a formula that includes the school board’s time in the plan and retiree enrolment.
vii. School boards maintain any liability resulting from any issues arising as a result of members being transferred to the ELHT benefits plan for retirees. For clarity, once the transition is completed, the school board is not liable for any subsequent decisions by the Trust.
viii. Any school board wanting to move its retirees into a plan administered by the ELHT shall sign a participation agreement. The Parties and the Crown shall meet within 30 days of ratification of central terms to discuss the amendment to the trust as described above and timelines for the transition. If by May 30, 2020 the Parties and the Crown are unable to resolve all disputes concerning the amendment to the Trust Agreement and the standard form participation agreement, the Parties and the Crown (as participant) agree to refer the matter to arbitration with a mutually agreed upon arbitrator. The arbitrator shall determine any outstanding disputes based on the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding. The Parties agree that any arbitration on outstanding disputes shall be scheduled expeditiously.
Health Care Benefits A. Each regular, full-time employee may elect coverage for himself and his eligible dependents* under one of the following health insurance plans:
1. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Flexible Blue 3 with Flexible Blue Rx Prescription Drug Coverage with a Health Savings Account (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “H.S.A Plan”). The Employer shall pay for the illustrated premium cost of this coverage and make an annual contribution to each participating employee’s Health Savings Account in the amount of $500 for those selecting single coverage and $1,000 for those selecting Employee & Spouse, Employee Child(ren) or Family coverage, or the maximum annual amount the Employer is permitted to pay under Section 3 of the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act, Public Act 152 of the Michigan Public Acts of 2011, whichever results in the lesser Employer contribution to the cost of such plan. Employees may, at their option, make additional contributions through bi-weekly pre-tax payroll deduction as permitted by applicable law.
2. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Community Blue PPO Option 3 Revised Plan with Blue Preferred Rx Prescription Drug Coverage with a 50% co-pay ($5 floor and a $50 ceiling). Employees shall pay the difference between the illustrated premium cost of this coverage and the amount of the Employer’s total contribution towards the cost of coverage under the H.S.A. Plan as described in Section 1 (a) (1), for the same level of benefit (i.e. single, employee/spouse, employee/child(ren) and family), or pay the difference between the total cost of such coverage and the maximum annual amount the Employer is permitted to pay under Section 3 of the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act, Public Act 152 of the Michigan Public Acts of 2011, whichever results in the greater employee contribution.
3. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Community Blue PPO Option 6 Revised Plan with Blue Preferred Rx Prescription Drug Coverage with a 50% co-pay ($5 floor and a $50 ceiling). Employees shall pay the difference between the illustrated premium cost of this coverage and the amount of the Employer’s total contribution towards the cost of coverage under the H.S.A. Plan as described in Section 1 (a) (1), for the same level of benefit (i.e. single, employee/spouse, employee/child(ren) and family), or pay the difference between the total cost of such coverage and the maximum annual amount the Employer is permitted to pay under Section 3 of the Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act, Public Act 152 of the Michigan Public Acts of 2011, whichever results in the greater employee contribution.
(a) All coverage under any of the foregoing plans shall be subject to such terms, conditions, exclusions, limitations, deductibles, co-payments premium cost-sharing, and other provisions of the plans. Coverage shall commence on the employee’s ninetieth (90th) day of continuous employment. The employee’s contribution to the cost of such coverage shall be payable on a bi-weekly basis through automatic payroll deduction.
(b) To qualify for health care benefits as above described each employee must individually enroll and make proper application for such benefits at the Human Resources Department upon the commencement of his regular employment with the Employer.
(c) Except as otherwise provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act, when on an authorized unpaid leave of absence of more than two weeks, the employee will be responsible for paying all his benefit costs for the period he is not on the active payroll. Proper application and arrangements for the payment of such continued benefits must be made at the Human Resources Department prior to the commencement of the leave. If such application and arrangements are not made as herein described, the employee's health care benefits shall automatically terminate upon the effective date of the unpaid leave of absence.
(d) Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement and/or under COBRA, an employee's health care benefits shall terminate on the date the employee goes on a leave of absence for more than two weeks, terminates, retires or is laid off. Upon return from a leave of absence or layoff, an employee's health care benefits coverage shall be reinstated commencing with the employee's return.
(e) An employee who is on layoff or leave of absence for more than two weeks or who terminates may elect under COBRA to continue the coverage herein provided at his own expense.
(f) The Employer reserves the right to change a carrier(s), a plan(s), and/or the manner in which it provides the above benefits, provided that the benefits and conditions are equal to or better than the benefits and conditions outlined above.
(g) To be eligible for health care benefits as provided above, an employee must document all coverage available to him under his spouse's medical plan and cooperate in the coordination of coverage to limit the Employer's expense. If an employee’s spouse or eligible dependent children work for an employer who provides medical coverage, they are required to elect medical coverage with their employer, so long as the spouse’s or monthly contribution to the premium does not exceed 20% of the total premium cost of said coverage. The Monroe County Plan shall provide secondary coverage.
(h) Each employee is responsible for notifying the Human Resources Department of any change in his status, which might affect his insurance coverage or benefits, such as, marriage, divorce, births, adoptions, deaths, etc.
