ACERA is exploring the option of providing individual medical plan coverage to early retirees (not eligible for Medicare) through a private health insurance exchange for those who live outside the ACERA sponsored group plans’ service areas. Benefits facilitators in the exchange would help members enroll in an individual medical insurance/prescription plan and use their Monthly Medical Allowance to offset the cost of the plan if eligible.

ACERA conducted a Request For Proposal (RFP) in 2014 to gather the information we need to determine if this is a viable option for our members. After further research this year, a private exchange called OneExchange can provide the facilitator services for our retirees. A recommendation will be made to the Retirees Committee on May 6, 2015 to provide individual plan coverage and the Monthly Medical Allowance to those eligible, for plan year 2016. The Retirees Committee may make a recommendation to the full Board of Retirement which makes the ultimate decision whether to move forward. The next Board meeting is May 21, 2015.

If a decision is made to proceed, ACERA will move ahead with the project in June. We will post further news about this topic.