The Board of Trustees established retiree medical benefits on the basis that Employer contributions for Active Participants will, if continued, partially maintain benefits for retirees. You will be required to pay a portion or all of the cost of coverage for retiree benefits. Retirees eligible for retiree coverage are required to pay a monthly premium to the Plan based on the Medicare status of the retiree and other eligible enrolled Dependents.

See the Eligibility Rules for Retirees.

Benefits for Early Retirees (age 55-64)

  • Medical: Anthem Blue Cross of California (Group #277955M002) or Kaiser Permanente (Group #8972)
  • Vision: VSP for Anthem Blue Cross participants or Kaiser vision care for Kaiser participants
  • Dental: Ameritas Dental
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA): Navia Benefits, continue to use any accrued balance
  • Wellness: BaySport (exercise, nutrition, smoking cessation, and more)
  • Behavioral: Optum United Behavioral Health EAP
  • Substance Abuse: BeatIt for Anthem Blue Cross participants or Kaiser substance abuse care for Kaiser participants
  • Hearing Aids: 617 Plan
  • Orthotics: 617 Plan for Anthem Blue Cross Participants or Kaiser orthotics for Kaiser participants

Early Retirees are not eligible for the following benefits:

  • Life Insurance and AD&D Insurance
  • Disability

Benefits for Retirees (age 65+)

  • Medical: Blue Shield Medicare Supplement (retirees in California) or Kaiser Senior Advantage (retirees in the northern CA Kaiser service area) or Hartford Medicare Supplement (retirees outside of California)
  • Vision: VSP for Blue Shield and Hartford participants, or Kaiser vision care for Kaiser participants
  • Dental: Ameritas Dental
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA): Navia Benefits, continue to use any accrued balance
  • Hearing Aids: 617 Plan
  • Nutritional Counseling: 617 Plan, amendment 1

Retirees are not eligible for the following benefits:

  • BaySport Wellness Program
  • Life Insurance and AD&D Insurance
  • Disability
  • Behavioral Health
  • Substance Abuse
  • Orthotics

Retiree Rates for Medical Care Plans (effective June 1, 2020)

Definition Members Old Rate New Rate
Early Retiree PPO SINGLE $480.00 $505.00
Early Retiree PPO w/Spouse under 65 2-PARTY $841.00 $891.00
Early Retiree PPO w/Spouse over 65 2-PARTY $771.00 $821.00
Early Retiree PPO Family FAMILY $1,033.00 $1,108.00
Early Retiree Kaiser SINGLE $350.00 $375.00
Early Retiree Kaiser w/Spouse under 65 2-PARTY $642.00 $692.00
Early Retiree Kaiser w/Spouse over 65 2-PARTY $538.00 $588.00
Early Retiree Kaiser Family FAMILY $884.00 $959.00
Early Retiree Disabled SINGLE $136.00 $161.00
Early Retiree Disabled w/Spouse under 65 2-PARTY $338.00 $388.00
Early Retiree Disabled w/Spouse over 65 2-PARTY $203.00 $253.00
Medicare 65 or older SINGLE $136.00 $161.00
Medicare 65 or older w/Spouse under 65 2-PARTY $338.00 $388.00
Medicare 65-79 w/Spouse under 65 + Children FAMILY $670.00 $745.00
Medicare 65 or older w/Spouse over 65 2-PARTY $203.00 $253.00
Medicare 65-79 w/Spouse 65-79 + Children FAMILY $445.00 $520.00

Retiree Hour Bank Conversion

An eligible Retiree’s Hour Bank and money will be transferred from the San Mateo Electrical Workers Health Care Benefits Plan (Active Plan) to the Retired San Mateo Electrical Workers Health Care Benefits Plan (Retiree Plan) on the effective date of retirement. This money will be held in account and can be used by the Retiree to pay monthly contributions to the Retiree Plan.

The dollar amount transferred will be the equivalent of the current cost of (Active Plan) monthly benefits, multiplied by the number of full months (Hour Bank balance divided by 120) in the Retiree’s Hour Bank.

Example: If the Retiree has 720 hours in their Hour Bank at retirement and the current monthly cost for Active Plan is $700, then the Retiree would receive $4,200 in their account (720 hours/120 = 6 months x $700).

Medical Plans for Early Retirees (Age 55-64)

Medicare Supplements for Retirees (Age 65+)

Anthem Blue Cross Resources

Kaiser Resources

Other Benefits

Dental Care (all)

Disability (Actives only)

Health Reimbursement Account (Actives, Apprentices)

Early Retirees and Retirees can continue to use any accrued balance in their account.

Life & ADD Insurance (Actives only)

Both the Life Insurance and the Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefit for Actives is $100,000. These benefits are provided through MetLife Insurance; group policy number 5374409.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care (Actives, Apprentices, Early Retirees)

Through the Optum EAP program, you and your dependents can get confidential help for a wide range of concerns. BeatIt! provides substance abuse services for Anthem PPO medical plan participants. Kaiser provides mental health and chemical dependency services for its members.

Miscellaneous Benefits

A full description of all benefits, including additional benefits not described on this website, are found in the Summary Plan Description and in the annual Open Enrollment Packet. Some examples include:

  • Hearing Aids: One hearing exam, provided by a physician or certified audiologist, is covered every 5 years. The benefit is limited to $2,000 each 12-month period per device per ear. Apprentices and Dependents are not eligible for this benefit.
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Treatment for Actives with either Anthem Blue Cross or Kaiser is provided by Aloha Sleep Group; see flyer.
  • Orthotics: Medically necessary orthotic devices are covered once every twelve months for Actives with Anthem Blue Cross. Kaiser provides orthotics to their members.

Vision Care (all)

Kaiser provides vision care for all Local 617 members who are enrolled in Kaiser. A VSP Plan is provided for all other Local 617 members.

Wellness Programs (Actives, Early Retirees)

BaySport provides nutrition counseling, complementary injury checks, health screenings, health coaching, and more to Actives, Early Retirees, and their spouses.