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Employees Planning Retirement

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Your SamCERA Retirement Benefits Employees should contact SamCERA via e-mail at samcera@co.sanmateo.ca.us or telephone at 363-4581 to sign up for a retirement seminar. The seminar is available to all employees and covers pension options and amounts, continued health benefits, healthy living, financial planning, Social Security, Long-Term Care and Deferred Compensation. Employees who are thinking about retiring should also contact SamCERA to obtain an estimate of the amount of the pension they will receive and to make an appointment to discuss their retirement options in detail. You can learn more about your retirement benefits by visiting SamCERA's website at www.samcera.org Your San Mateo County Insurance Benefits Employees considering retirement may use their sick leave time to: Cash out the balance of sick time and receive a lump sum payment subject to tax and waive the right to continue health coverage in a County offered group plan. This selection is irrevocable and must be made before the retirement date. OR Apply sick time towards a health insurance premium on a monthly basis at the rate determined by the union agreement. This option allows the retiree to keep insurance coverage within the County groups as a lifetime benefit and to move from one plan to another during the open enrollment period. If the retiree elects to cancel coverage after electing this option, the cancellation is irrevocable and the retiree may not re-enroll.     RETIREE SICK LEAVE BENEFITS   UNION GROUP SICK LEAVE BENEFIT PLAN OPTIONS AFSCME, SEIU, BCTC, PDA, UAPD, Law Enforcement Unit/Coroner Investigator For each unused 8 hours* of sick leave at time of retirement the County will contribute $160 monthly for individuals with less than 45% of their eligible sick leave amount and $190 for 45%+ of available sick leave Health or dental AFSCME (F020-NURSE)192 hours @ $160 For each unused 8 hours of sick leave at time of retirement the County will pay full monthly premium for retiree only. Max 180 months. Health only CNA                                                 192 hours @ $150. For each unused 8 hours of sick leave at time of retirement the County will pay full monthly premium for retiree only.  Max 180 months. Health only DSA (Deputy Sheriffs)                      For each unused 4 hours of sick leave at time of retirement the County will contribute $125 until age 65. After 65, the County will contribute $125 for each 8 hours. Health or dental SERGEANTS                                    For each unused 8 hours of sick leave at time of retirement the County will contribute $250 until age 65. After 65, the County will contribute $125 for each 8 hours. Health or dental ENGINEERS      For each unused 8* hours of sick leave at time of retirement the County will pay full monthly premium for retirees only not to exceed $160 / $190. Health only MGMT, CONFIDENTIAL, & DIST ATTY                         For each unused 8 hours of sick leave at time of retirement the County will pay full monthly premium for retiree and family.                                 Health, dental and vision ELECTED OFFICIALS ONLY For each month of employment at time of retirement the County will pay full monthly premium for retiree and family. Health, dental and vision *Option to increase sick leave utilization in increments of 1 hour from 8-14 hours per month. Represented retirees may elect to apply sick time at a rate of 8 hours per month up to 14 hours per month and may change that designation in increments of one hour only during an open enrollment period or due to a family status change. This option is available only to those represented employees who retire after 11/10/02 Chart of County Contribution Sick Time Under 45% of sick time remaining More than 45% of sick time remaining 8 hours $160 $190 9  180 213.75 10  200 237.50 11  220 261.25 12  240 285.00 13  260 308.75 14  280 332.50 **Click here for Full Monthly Rates Employees who receive a disability retirement will be assured that they have up to two years (192 hours) of sick leave time on their record. This time is applied to the health insurance premium payment by the County to the limits set by union agreement. HEALTH PLANS For retirees under age 65--see the active employees health plan comparisons on  County Employees Benefits page.   Kaiser   Aetna   Blue Shield POS Plan For retirees over age 65 see  Retiree Benefits page   Kaiser-Senior Advantage   Blue Shield-PPO plan (Medicare primary)   PacificCare-Secure Horizons DENTAL INSURANCE   Available to all retirees who reside in the coverage area Pacific Union Dental   Available only to those who have selected this benefit at retirement:   Blue Shield Dental  Delta Dental LIFE INSURANCE All employees are covered by a term life insurance plan. The amount of coverage is set by union group. This coverage ends 31 days from the end of the pay period that you last work. This may be converted to an individual policy with the insurance carrier. If you have purchased an additional amount through our group, that amount also may be continued with the insurance company on an individual basis ( but at group rates if under age 70. ) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RETIREMENT   CONTACTS Paul Hackleman, Benefits Manager, (650) 363-4330 Rita Mitchell, Retiree Health Benefits, (650 363-4229 Filomena Viverios, (650) 363-4227