2013 Employee Benefits Guidebook - Administration Home

2013 Employee Benefit Guidebook
Updated August 2013
of retirement. Elected officials who were fifty-five (55) years of age or older when he/she left
the service of El Paso County and who have a minimum of eight (8) years, if elected after 2013,
or five (5) years, if elected prior to 2013, of creditable service with El Paso County are eligible
for continuation of the County’s self-funded medical benefits, if enrolled at the time of
separation. This eligibility clause is effective for all employees retiring after January 1, 2003.
Special Early Retirement – Rule of 75 Years. Age + creditable (continuous) years of service
must equal 75 years. (No minimum age requirement)
Eligibility: Retirees and eligible dependents (spouses and/or children) of retirees may continue
medical coverage on the County’s self-funded medical plans if the retiree is currently enrolled
and elects such coverage at the time of retirement. (Retirement is not a qualifying life event.)
Spouses and dependent children can continue coverage under the medical plans if they meet the
eligibility requirements outlined in Chapter IX of the El Paso County Employee Policies and
Procedures manual.
Spouses may continue to receive coverage under their own identity after the retiree has become
entitled to Medicare, reached age sixty-five (65) or death. The spouse is eligible to remain on
the EPO medical plan until age sixty-five (65) or Medicare entitlement, whichever may occur
first, at which time they may choose to enroll in the 65+ PPO Plan.
Dependent children of a retiree that is no longer eligible for the medical plans will be allowed to
continue coverage as a dependent on the EPO Medical Plan until the retiree’s spouse reaches the
age of sixty-five (65) or Medicare entitlement, provided the dependent child meets the eligibility
requirements. Once the retiree’s spouse reaches the age of sixty-five (65) or Medicare
entitlement, the dependent child is no longer eligible for the EPO Medical Plan.
If the retiree has coverage for eligible dependent children and no spouse coverage and the retiree
becomes entitled to Medicare, reaches age sixty-five (65), or dies, the dependent child is eligible
to remain on the EPO Medical Plan until they no longer meet the definition of an Eligible
Dependent.
When enrolled retirees and spouses of retirees become Medicare eligible, they are no longer
eligible for the EPO plan but can enroll at that time in the PPO 65 + Plan, provided the member
is also enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. The PPO 65+ Plan will be the covered
individual’s secondary insurance and pay after Medicare pays in accordance with plan
provisions. Please contact the Employee Benefits office for more information at 719-520-7420.
(The PPO 65+ Plan will only be offered if the County meets all eligibility requirements as
defined by the Plan Provider. If the eligibility requirements are not met, the benefit will not be
offered until such eligibility is guaranteed and will begin on January 1st of the following year.)
For the retiree and dependents of the retiree to be eligible for continuation of health benefits,
the retiring employee and dependents must be currently enrolled and elect to continue the
coverage at the time of retirement. If the retiring employee does not elect continuation of the