The Retiree Chapter of the Faculty and Staff Federation includes retirees from the Classified Employee, the Full-time Faculty and Part-time/Visiting Lecturer Bargaining Units. It holds a Retiree Lunch each semester during which retirees receive updates on their rights under their collective bargaining agreements, hear speakers of interest, and keep in touch with former colleagues.

Retiree Chapter Officers

Richard Keiser and Karen Schermerhorn, Co-Chairs

Planning Committee Members

Gail Chaskes, Ellie Cunningham, Rose LeVere, Noelia Rivera-Matos, Jim Ruffins, and Evan Seymour

For information or to join our Retiree Chapter, please write to Richard Keiser at r2rkeiser@ccp.edu or Karen Schermerhorn at r2kschermerhorn@ccp.edu

Memo to Retirees, September 1, 2022

Executive Summary: When CCP faculty and staff retire, you may sign up for Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) and Medicare Part B (doctor visits). However, Medicare Parts A and B are not sufficient medical coverage on their own. You will also need a Medigap plan to pay what Medicare Parts A and B do not cover. You will also want to continue your prescription drug and dental coverage.

In 1985, the Federation negotiated Retiree Medical Benefits, including a Medigap plan, prescription drug, and dental benefits. The College now contributes approximately $437 per month per person toward these benefits.

The contract language on retiree medical benefits negotiated in 2019 creates three tiers of retiree benefits.

• For those already retired, there is no change.

• For those who qualify and who retire through 12/31/20, current retiree medical benefits will continue.

• Those who become eligible for retiree benefits by January 1, 2021, and all others, should read the new contract language below. Many future retirees will have more costly or no medical benefits through the College.

  • A retiree who does not have medical benefits through the College will need to look for Medigap, dental, and drug plans in the healthcare marketplace or through another group plan. Non-group plans often do not provide the same coverage as group plans.

For those retired through December 31, 2020, the contribution is $96.66 according to the letter of August 10, 2022, from Koi Stevens, Manager, Employee Benefits. The Total Monthly Premium for the coverage has increased from $511.08 to $533.51 as of September 1, 2022, due to an increase in the cost of prescription drug coverage.

1. The College pays half the $533.51, i.e., $266.76 each month.

2. In addition, the College refunds to each retiree the basic monthly Medicare Part B premium taken from his/her Social Security payment which, beginning January 1, 2022, is $170.10.

3. As a result, subtracting the $266.76 and the $170.10 from the total monthly cost of $533.51, a retiree will pay $96.66 per month, beginning September 1, 2022.

Were it not for #1 and #2, above, a retiree would be paying as much as $533.51 x 12 = $6402.12 per year instead of $96.66 x 12 = $1159.92 per year. The difference ($6402.12 minus $1159.92) is $5242.20, an additional $436.85 per month, the additional amount the retiree would need to pay without the College’s contribution.

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Language from FT Faculty and Classified Employee Memoranda of Agreement, April 2019

4. Post-Retirement Benefits – Post Retirement Medical Benefits will be modified as follows:

a. Post-Retirement medical insurance benefits and eligibility for post-retirement medical insurance will remain the same (as provided in existing CBA) for employees who retire through December 31, 2020.

b. Current full-time employees, who as of January 1, 2021 are: (1) at least sixty-two (62) years old; and (2) have at least ten (10) years of full-time service at the College and his/her age plus years of full-time service of the College equals at least seventy-seven (77) will also be eligible for the same post-retirement medical insurance benefits as provided in existing CBA.

c. Current employees who as of January 1, 2021 do not meet the criteria in paragraph 4b. will be eligible for the following benefits. If an employee retires after turning sixty-two (62) with at least ten (10) years of full-time service, and the employee’s combined age plus years of service at the College are equal to at least seventy-seven (77), the employee will be eligible for the medical, dental, and prescription drug insurance that is available to regular full-time employees until becoming eligible for Medicare. When the retired employee becomes eligible for Medicare, the retiree may elect to have supplemental medical insurance provided through the College with the employee paying fifty percent (50%) of the premium/premium equivalent. (Note: No set-off/contribution for Medicare Part B payments; Straight 50%/50% contribution for supplemental Medi-Gap insurance).

d. For new employees hired after October 1, 2018, if an employee retires after turning sixtytwo (62) with at least ten (10) years of full-time service, and the employee’s combined age plus years of service at the College are equal to at least seventy-seven (77), the employee will be eligible for the medical, dental, and prescription drug insurance that is available to regular full-time employees until becoming eligible for Medicare. When the retired employee becomes eligible for Medicare, the retiree may elect to have supplemental medical insurance provided through the College with the employee paying fifty percent (50%) of the premium/premium equivalent. (Note: No set-off/contribution for Medicare Part B payments; Straight 50%/50% contribution for supplemental Medi-Gap insurance). Employees under this section shall only be eligible for benefits for a maximum period of five years after retirement.