About Us Contact Us
Login to

Winter 2017 Issue of Spotlight on Benefits Available Now

The Winter 2017 issue of the Pension and Health Plans’ newsletter, Spotlight on Benefits, is now available. Be sure not to miss our front-page article outlining new changes in support of the Basic Pension Plan, in addition to those announced in our Summer 2017 issue. The new changes, effective January 1, 2018, are as follows:

  • Reallocation of the 6% employer contributions for Collectively Bargained Participants so that the full 6% in contributions on the first $20,000 in covered earnings will go to the Basic Pension Plan

  • Incremental yearly increases to the earnings threshold for Credited Service Months, through 2020

  • Increase in the early pension reduction factor from 3% to 5% per year for participants and alternate payees who begin their Basic Plan benefit before age 62

  • New activity requirement for disability benefits requiring any participant applying for a disability pension to have earned a minimum of 12 CSMs in the 36 months immediately preceding the disability

Also included in this issue:

  • How delaying your Basic Plan benefit can net you a higher monthly benefit, even more than the Basic Plan monthly maximum

  • Tips for avoiding unexpected out-of-pocket costs from labs and tests ordered by your doctor but not be covered by the Health Plan

  • Changes to Express Scripts’ list of covered medications take effect January 1.

  • The All-Inclusive Network Limit, which includes deductibles, co-insurance and co-payments (including prescription drug co-payments, the $50 emergency room co-payment and the $10 co-payment for visits to the UCLA Health/MPTF Health Centers) increases to $7,350 individual/$14,700 family on January 1.

  • Required notices and inserts

    • Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Notice informs women fighting breast cancer of their rights and benefits under the Health Plan.

    • 2016 Summary Annual Report provides year-end financial information for the Supplemental Pension Plan and the Health Plan.

    • 204(h) Notice provides a more detailed explanation (with examples) of the Basic Pension Plan Changes taking effect January 1.

Read the full newsletter here.