HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.a. Receive Information on how the District Processes Medicare Premium ReimbursementsItem 5.a.
J une 16, 2020
T O: A D MI NI S T R AT I O N C O MMI T T E E
F RO M :T E J I O'MA L L E Y, HUMA N R E S O UR C E S MA NA G E R
RE V IE WE D B Y:A NN S A S A K I , D E P UT Y G E NE R A L MA NA G E R
R O G E R S. B A I L E Y, G E NE R A L MA NA G E R
S UB J E C T: R E C E I V E I NF O R MAT I O N O N HO W T HE D I S T R I C T P R O C E S S E S
ME D I C A R E P R E MI UM R E I MB UR S E ME NT S , W HI C H I NC L UD E A N I NC O ME
R E L AT E D MO NT HLY A D J US T ME NT A MO UNT (I R MA A)
T his memo is to provide inf ormation to the Administration Committee and Board of Directors on the
D istrict’s method of processing I ncome R elated Monthly A djustment A mounts (I R MA A) to Medicare
premiums. Currently, and as detailed in the District MO U’s, once a retiree reaches the age of 65, they
must enroll in Medicare and a Medicare S upplemental P lan. F or Tier I and Tier I I retirees, the District
reimburses the Medicare premium amount on a quarterly basis. F or calendar year 2020, the standard
Medicare premium is $144.60 per month. However, the standard Medicare premium may be adjusted
upwards based on the retiree’s annual income. T he adjustment, called an I R MA A , is calculated on a
sliding scale and is based on a retiree’s income tax filing(s). T he Medicare payment including I R MA A is
capped at a maximum of $491.60. P lease see the chart below f or the income limits and corresponding
Medicare payment, including the standard premium ($144.60) and the I R MA A:
R etiree I ncome in 2018 (upon which 2020 I R MA A is based)Medicare P ayment
in 2020If filing individual tax return I f f iling joint tax return I f filing married & separate
tax return
$87,000 or less $174,000 or less $87,000 or less $144.60
(standard
premium,
without I R MA A)
above $87,000 and up to
$109,000
above $174,000 and up to
$218,000
Not applicable $202.40
above $109,000 and up to
$136,000
above $218,000 and up to
$272,000
Not applicable $289.20
above $136,000 and up to
$163,000
above $272,000 and up to
$326,000
Not applicable $376.00
above $163,000 and less
than $500,000
above $326,000 and less
than $750,000
above $87,000 and less
than $413,000
$462.70
$500,000 and above $750,000 and above $413,000 and above $491.60
R ecently, Human Resources consulted with labor counsel to determine if the reimbursement to the
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retirees should include the I R MA A, and it was determined that, based on the MO U language, the District is
responsible for paying for the standard premium as well as any I R MA A . A s these amounts change based
on the retiree’s (and spouse’s) income, the District does not have a method to determine what those
amounts may be for any given retiree, other than waiting for the retiree to submit their reimbursement
requests f or the calendar year. F or calendar year 2019, there are 77 retirees that are subject to an
I R MA A. T hat number may change for calendar year 2020 based on what is requested for reimbursement,
and staf f will update the Board accordingly.
Strategic Plan Tie-I n
G O A L TW O: Strive to M eet Regulatory Requirements
Strategy 3 - Comply with all federal, state, and local regulations related to District administration
G O A L TH R EE: Be a Fiscally Sound and Effective Water Sector Utility
Strategy 1 - Conduct long-range financial planning
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