9.1 PERS MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL PLAN: The District will provide the PERS Medical and Hospital Plan for employees and retirees in accordance with rules and regulations established by PERS.
9.1.1 Should a carrier withdraw from the PERS Umbrella plan, members of the unit will select from one of the remaining PERS options.
9.2 MEDICAL
PREMIUM CAP AMOUNT: Effective January
1, 2005, the District will contribute up to the following amounts as appropriate
towards PERS medical coverage premiums:
Employee
only: $604.00
per month
Employee
plus one dependent: $670.00
per month
Employee
plus two or more dependents: $883.00
per month
9.3 DISTRICT WILL PAY PREMIUM INCREASES FOR OTHER BENEFITS: The District will pay the increased costs of dental insurance, life insurance, salary continuation insurance, and Medicare Part B.
9.4 DENTAL INSURANCE: The District will provide each eligible employee and eligible dependents with Delta Dental Plan (DDP) or the coverage provided by Private Medical-Care Inc. (PMI). The plans are described in detail in the benefits handbook available in the Office of Human Resources. The maximum dental coverage in any one calendar year shall be $2000.
9.5 LIFE INSURANCE: The District will provide each eligible employee with a term life insurance policy covering the employee and eligible dependents. The life insurance plan is described in detail in the benefits handbook available in the Office of Human Resources. Effective March 1, 2001, the term life insurance coverage shall equal one time the employee’s annual base salary.
9.6 SALARY
CONTINUATION INSURANCE: The District will provide each eligible
employee with salary continuance insurance to cover disability after the employee’s
sick leave balance has been exhausted. The salary continuance insurance plan is
described in detail in the benefits handbook available in the Office of Human
Resources. Effective March 1, 2001, the
maximum monthly benefit for unit members shall be rise from
the current $3,000 per month to $5,000 per month.
9.7 VISION
INSURANCE: The District will provide each eligible employee and
eligible dependents with Vision Service Plan (VSP) Plan C. This plan will be
effective on March 1, 2001.
9.8 MEDICARE PART B COVERAGE: The District will pay the premiums for Medicare Part B coverage for an eligible retiree and/or spouse/eligible domestic partner over 65 years of age.
9.9 ELIGIBILITY RULES: To be eligible for the benefits described in this Article in any given semester or academic year, a member of the unit must be employed at more than sixty percent (60%) of full time. A full-time regular academic employee may retain eligibility for the benefits described in this Article in the case of mutually agreed upon reduction of assignment, provided that the reduced assignment is at least fifty percent (50%) of full time.
9.10 ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS/DOMESTIC PARTNERS: Eligible dependents/domestic partners are those specified in the contracts between the District and the insurance carriers.
9.10.1 The District agrees to include domestic partner benefits in the PERS Health Plans offered by the District. The definition of domestic partner shall be that used by PERS Health Plans. If the definition of a domestic partner used by PERS changes, the District shall implement the change on the effective date allowed by PERS. Domestic partners shall comply with all registration requirements required by state law or PERS, and shall complete all necessary declarations and statements of financial liability. Forms are available in the Office of Human Resources.
9.10.2 The District agrees to include domestic partner benefits in the dental and vision plans offered by the District. In order to be considered a domestic partner, the following criteria must be met:
1. The two individuals are each other’s sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely.
2. Neither individual is married to, or legally separated from anyone else nor has had another domestic partner within the prior six (6) months (unless the relationship terminated due to death).
3. Both individuals are at least eighteen (18) years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract.
4. Neither individual is related by blood to a degree of closeness that would prohibit legal marriage in the state in which the individuals reside.
5. The individuals co-habit and reside together in the same residence and intend to do so indefinitely. The individuals have resided in the same household for at least six (6) months.
6. The individuals are not in the relationship solely for the purpose of obtaining benefits coverage.
7. The individuals have engaged in a committed relationship of mutual caring and support and are jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare and living expenses. The individuals interdependence is demonstrated by at least two (2) of the following:
· Proof of domestic partnership from the California Secretary of State (required for domestic partnership medical coverage under the Public Employees’ Retirement System).
· Common ownership of real property (joint deed or mortgage agreement) or a common leasehold interest in property.
· Common ownership of a motor vehicle.
· Driver’s license listing a common address.
· Proof of joint bank accounts or credit accounts.
· Proof of designation as the primary beneficiary for life insurance or retirement, benefits, or primary beneficiary designation under a partner’s will.
· Assignment of a durable property power of attorney or health care power of attorney.
9.10.3 Dependent
children of domestic partners are eligible for coverage if they have been
legally adopted by the District employee and are unmarried, primarily dependent
on the employee for support, and meet the age, school, and all eligibility
requirements of the various medical, dental and visions plans.
9.11 SURVIVOR BENEFITS: If a member of the unit meets the eligibility requirement for retiree medical benefits specified in Section 10.1 and dies before retirement, medical and dental benefits will be provided by the District for the unmarried surviving spouse/domestic partner as provided for the unmarried surviving spouse/domestic partner of an eligible retiree in Section 10.1.
9.12 MEDICAL
STIPEND FOR PART-TIME FACULTY:
As of July 1,
2005, the District will provide up
to $450.00 per period
for reimbursement of employee incurred health benefit costs to all adjunct
faculty who are employed in the District at 40% or more of a full-time load
(6/15 FLC) and complete a 40% load. The reimbursement will be paid for the periods July through
December and January through June.
The exact reimbursement shall be equal to the level of reimbursement
received by the District from the State Chancellor’s Office under Education
Code sections 87860-87868.
9.12.1 The stipend shall be used to reimburse part-time faculty who qualify for reimbursement under these provisions for premium costs only from enrollment in any HMO, PPO, or indemnity health plan licensed and registered by either the California Department of Insurance or the California Department of Corporations.
9.12.2 Employees wishing to be reimbursed for medical expenses under this article must initiate the request on a District form. The employee must furnish documentation (cancelled check, paid statement) showing that the employee had been purchasing health insurance during the instructional period for which the employee was otherwise not eligible for reimbursement from any other source. This request is to be submitted only to the division dean at the College where the employee receives his/her paycheck. The division dean will forward the request to the Director of Human Resources for approval and processing of the reimbursement.
9.12.2.1 The reimbursement request must be submitted as follows:
a) the 15th of November for the period covering July 1st through December 31st;
b) the 15th of May for the period covering January 1st through June 30th.
9.12.2.2 The
District will pay 25% of the incurred health benefit costs to all eligible
employees once per instructional period in the months of January and June.
9.12.2.3 The District will pay all
eligible employees the outstanding difference (for up to 50% of actual cost)
within 60 days after it receives its
apportionment of funds for reimbursement, under Education Code section 87860, from
the State Chancellor’s Office.
9.13 IRC 125 PLAN: The District will maintain a program that implements the Internal Revenue Code Section 125 and provides for before tax employee contributions to non-District covered health and dependent care costs.
9.13.1 Hourly employees who are assigned at least one semester length course may participate in this plan during that semester. The limit for earnings to be set aside for an eligible hourly employee’s medical benefits is $400 per semester, $1,200 per year. The limit for earnings to be set aside for an eligible hourly employee’s dependent care benefits is $1,666 per semester, $5,000 per year. Hourly employees will enroll separately for each semester of participation.