A former participant of the Benefit Fund who initially retired on or after January 1, l985 and is in receipt of a monthly pension from either the New York State Retirement System or a related organization (as defined by the Fund) is eligible for retiree coverage, provided that the former participant satisfies at least one of the following conditions:
Dependents of eligible retirees are covered for benefits and are defined as the retiree’s spouse, domestic partner, unmarried dependent children who have not reached their l9th birthday, and unmarried dependent children who are full time students and have not reached their 25th birthday. Coverage is also extended to unmarried children, regardless of age, who are incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental retardation or physical handicap who became so prior to age 26.
Coverage is not extended to dependents of deceased retirees members. However, upon the death of the retired member, the dependent may choose to continue coverage under COBRA. The Fund office must be contacted within 60 days of the death for the qualified beneficiary/dependent to be eligible for continuation of coverage.
Payment will not be made for any benefit that is claimed after a period that exceeds one year from the calendar year in which services were rendered. Services rendered in 2019, for example, must be claimed no later than December 31, 2020.
It is the responsibility of the retiree to inform the Fund of his or her eligibility for coverage. In a case of late notification, payment will be made only for claims submitted in the calendar year in which services were rendered.
Dental – $750 per calendar yr./family max., no more than $500 per individual.
Optical – $100 per member and eligible dependents, once per calendar year.
Hearing Aid – $400 co-pay reimbursement per member and eligible dependents, for out-of-pocket expenses (after medical payment) once every 36 months.
Life Insurance – Flat $5,000 Life Insurance for all Retirees
Identity Theft & Fraud Protection – covered at no-cost for retirees as of 6/1/2023
July 7, 2015
As you have been made aware of over the years, via newsletter and general correspondence, the Board of Trustees of the SCME Benefit Fund have instituted several enhancements and/or revisions to your Benefit Fund coverage since the publication of the 2008 Benefit Reference Guide (“booklet”) and 2008 Legal Reference Guide. The following is a summary of those revisions since the last updated in January and July of 2013. All other terms and conditions set forth in the 2008 Booklet remain effective and applicable.
RETIREE ELIGIBILITY
Effective January 1, 2012: SCMEBF Retiree Eligibility,
*You must also have a minimum of ten (10) cumulative years of service as a full time employee of Suffolk County or a contributing agency, of which no fewer than five (5) years of continuous service time must be contiguous to date of retirement within the applicable retirement system, is required. Except for School Crossing Guards, if the service was in a less than full-time position, the employee’s service time will be prorated based on the numbers of hours worked per week to a comparable full time equivalent position. These service requirements will be waived in the event of a disability retirement as defined below in paragraph 2.
*If age 70 at retirement, service requirement is reduced to five (5) years, however service time with Suffolk County or a contributing agency remains as ten (10) cumulative years of service of which no fewer than five (5) years of continuous service time must be contiguous to date of retirement.
If the employee has been approved by the retirement system or social security for a disability retirement, the employee and eligible dependents are eligible for Fund coverage regardless of age or service time, as a Fund retiree. To be certain of remaining eligible for Fund coverage, the employee must continue his/her Fund coverage with timely premium payments while he/she waits for the decision on the disability retirement.
If the employee does not continue coverage or if he/she fails to make the required payments while awaiting the disability retirement determination, coverage for the former employee and his/her dependents will end. Coverage may end permanently.
If the disability retirement is not granted, then Fund benefits are not available and/or will be terminated. The former employee will not be eligible to re-enroll in the Fund.
If the disability retirement is granted, then continued coverage under the Fund is dependent upon two things:
If the former employee did not continue his/her Fund coverage by making the required interim, Post-COBRA self-pay premium payments, then to continue coverage as a retiree, all retroactive premiums must be paid in full. Coverage will be effective the first day of the month following receipt by the Fund of the disability retirement decision, all retroactive self-pay premiums and all completed documents required for enrollment, subject to the effective date of disability retirement being a date on which the former employee was not otherwise terminated from employment.
Members must apply in writing within thirty (30) days of the date of the written decision from the retirement system, requesting reinstatement of Fund coverage. In such a case, if reinstatement is granted, coverage will be effective on the first day of the month following the receipt by the Fund of the disability retirement determination, all retroactive self-pay premiums, if applicable, and all completed documents required for enrollment.
The following rules for “Continuing Coverage for Vested Participants” will apply for eligibility as a vested participant upon separation from employment.
Employees who meet all of the eligibility criteria set forth above for the continuation for benefits into retirement, other than age, but who are within 5 years of retirement age (55), will be notified that they may continue their Benefit Fund coverage as a vested participant by continuously paying premiums. The vested participant must directly pay the self -pay “premium” to the Fund for continued coverage. Third party checks/payment will not be accepted. If the vested participant continuously pays premiums until age fifty-five (55), the Fund would then cover him/her as a retiree; if premiums are not paid at any time during this interim period, coverage cannot be reinstated. A vested participant who has family coverage may change to individual coverage during this period, but may not reinstate family coverage at any time thereafter. (This entire amendment replaces the section entitled “Who is eligible” starting on page 16 of the Fund’s Benefit Reference Guide, 2008)
