Hello prospective FUSD retirees!
This is intended for employee’s that have submitted their retirement notification to the Human Resources Department. On behalf of the District, we thank you for your service.
As you may be nearing your retirement date, we understand you may have questions on how your health benefits will look after retirement. We hope the information below is helpful.
Criteria for Retiree Lifetime Medical Benefits
If you do not qualify for retiree lifetime benefits, you will be mailed a COBRA continuation of coverage letter to the address on file approximately one month before your health and welfare benefits terminate through the District. The criteria to qualify for lifetime benefits is summarized below.
- You need to have been hired permanently before 7/1/2005
- You need to be at least 57.5 years of age
- If you are at least 50 years old, but not quite 57.5 yet, you can still qualify for lifetime medical benefits, but will be required to pay the COBRA premium until the month you turn 57.5.
- You need to have at least 16 years of service with the District
- Some of you might have 15 years of service, with the current school year counting as your 16th.
- You must have filed for retirement with Human Resources and CalSTRS/CalPERS.
OR
- You need to have been hired permanently on/after 7/1/2005
- You need to be at 57.5 years of age
- If you are at least 50 years old, but not quite 57.5 yet, you can still qualify for lifetime medical benefits, but will be required to pay the COBRA premium until the month you turn 57.5.
- You need to have at least 20 years of service with the District
- Some of you might have 19 years of service, with the current school year counting as your 20th.
- You must have filed for retirement with Human Resources and CalSTRS/CalPERS.
File your Retirement with CalSTRS/CalPERS
Given that you have submitted your retirement form to HR you want to ensure that you also file your retirement with your pension provider; either CalSTRS or CalPERS. On your CalSTRS/CalPERS application, you want to enter your retirement date for a date after the date you entered in the form submitted to HR. Please thoroughly review your retirement application with both CalSTRS/CalPERS, as any mistakes can delay your retirement through these pension providers.
If you have not already done so, you can visit the CalSTRS/CalPERS website by clicking on the icons referenced below and apply for service retirement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this process may take longer than expected so we urge you to apply 3 months before your retirement date.
Retiree Appointments with the Benefits Department
Once HR processes your retirement, you will be contacted by a Retiree Technician.
For employees retiring at the end of the school year, at some point in May or early June, you will be contacted by a Retiree Technician, either via phone or email, with meeting location, options and dates. During this meeting we will review the District’s retiree health benefits agreement and answer any questions you might have.
Please ensure your contact information such as, phone number and address, in the HR system (Lawson) is correct and up to date. If you need assistance with updating your phone number, please contact the Employee Service Center at 559-457-3514, or email them at EmployeeServiceCenter@fresnounified.org.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our retiree technicians.
Ongoing Events:
Aetna Non-Medicare Retiree Plan A and/or Plan B
Kaiser Non-Medicare Retiree
Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO
Aetna OpenChoice PPO Non-Medicare Spouse/Dependents
Medicare Retiree HMO Plan