PAX Centurion - Spring 2019

Page 52 • PAX CENTURION • Spring 2019 617-989-BPPA (2772) By Karrie Soltys, cityhealthinc@boston.gov BPPA Retired Patrolmen’s Division News BPPA RETIRED PATROLMEN’S DIVISION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Date:_ ____________________________________________ Name:____________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________ City, State, Zip:_ ___________________________________ Home Phone:_ ____________________________________ Cell Phone:_ ______________________________________ Date of Appointment:______________________________ Date of Retirement:________________________________ Rank at Retirement:________________________________ Email:_ ___________________________________________ Annual Dues are $24.00. Please mail this application and $24.00 annual dues to the: BPPA Retired Patrolmen’s Division 295 Freeport Street, Boston, MA 02122-3513 F or some, those words evoke happiness and for others anxiety. The process of completing paperwork and planning for what happens after leaving a job can be overwhelming. Questions often arise regarding what benefits can be continued upon retirement and what will change. Although some things in the daily routine will change, the good news is health insurance coverage for City of Boston retirees will not except until the life status change of reaching age 65. City of Boston retirees who receive a pension and are enrolled in health insurance at the time of retirement can continue their existing health insurance coverage at the same cost as the active employee share until the retiree or their spouse reach age 65. The age of 65 is when individuals are eligible to apply for the Federal Medicare program. Other medical conditions such as disability for more than 24 months, End Stage Renal Disease, or ALS (Lou Gehrig ’s disease) may qualify an individual to become Medicare eligible prior to reaching age 65. For those without a qualifying disability or medical condition, eligibility for Medicare is based upon contributions to Social Security which are measured in a credit system. No more than four credits can be earned per calendar year. For 2019, earnings of $1,360 equal 1 credit and $5,440 will earn the maximum four credits per year. Earning 40 credits qualifies individuals for Medicare Part Acoverage at no cost, and eligibility for Part B. Individuals may also qualify for Medicare benefits if a current, former or deceased spouse has earned 40 credits, Medicare taxes were paid during employment (employees hired at July 1, 1986 have paid Medicare taxes), and Military service that counts. You may create an account on the Social SecurityAdministration website to view your credits at www.ssa.gov . For those retirees who do not have 40 credits through the different eligibility conditions, the health insurance coverage remains the same (same plans and premium costs as active employees). Medicare medical benefits consist of two parts – Part A for hospitalization benefits and Part B for outpatient medical services such as doctors’ visits, laboratory, and outpatient surgical. www.ssa.gov . Medicare Part B benefits have a monthly cost which is deducted from monthly Social Security monies received or billed on a monthly or quarterly basis. The 2019 monthly cost for Medicare Part B is $135.50, and is subject to be increased based upon annual income. The City of Boston reimburses 50 percent of the Medicare Part B premium annually in July for retirees and spouses enrolled in a Medicare plan with the City. The City of Boston follows the Massachusetts Mandatory Medicare regulation under Chapter 69 of theActs of 2011. This law, passed July 1, 2011, mandates that all cities and towns require retirees, retiree spouses, and Medicare eligible dependents to apply for Medicare Parts A& B, and if eligible transition to a Medicare plan in order to continue health insurance coverage. This regulation is the life status change for health insurance coverage of retirees and/or their spouses upon reaching age 65. With proof of Medicare enrollment, City of Boston retirees and spouses may change to a plan specifically designed to coordinate with Medicare. Currently, there are six Medicare plan choices offered by the City. These plans provide coverage of the Medicare Part Aand Part B deductibles and coinsurance as well as prescription drugs (also referred to as Part D). Under these plans retirees pay a copayment for covered medical services. However, not all of the plans work the same way. Three of the six plans are called Medicare Supplements. Medicare Supplement plans work secondary to Medicare allowing retiree to see any physician that accepts Medicare and who will take them as a patient. Referrals are not required for specialist providers, and residency can be anywhere within the United States or its territories. The fourth option (Managed Blue for Seniors) is also a Medicare Supplement plan, but requires residency within the Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts service area, and referrals to specialists. The last two options available are MedicareAdvantage HMO plans. MedicareAdvantage plans provide all the benefits of Medicare plus coverage for some additional services (i.e., vision or hearing). These plans are an HMO requiring retirees to select a primary care physician and obtain referrals for doctors and hospitals that participate in an established network. MedicareAdvantage HMOs Retirement…