ATU Retirement

SCVTA-ATU, Local 265 Pension Plan Benefits

• Vesting period 10 years
• Pension benefits based upon Average Final Earnings
• Age 55 or older with at least 15 years of Eligibility Service
• Age 65 or older with at least 10 years of Eligibility Service
• Age 65 or older with at least 5 years of Eligibility Service upon Board approval
• Vested employees with less than the required ages are eligible for pension benefits starting at age 65
• Disability pension benefits
• Survivor pension options
• Death benefits paid to surviving spouses of members who die prior to retiring who have 10 or more years of Eligibility Service, if the sum of the employee’s age at the time of death plus years of Eligibility Service is equal to or exceeds 70

Retiree Medical Coverage

Only employees who retire directly from VTA are eligible for retiree medical benefits.  Deferred (term vested) retirees are not eligible and do not become eligible when their pension payments begin. 

• For ATU represented retirees who retired before 9/1/04, VTA pays the full cost of retiree medical coverage.
• Retirees who retired on or after 9/1/04 pay $25 toward their monthly premium.
• Retirees who retire on or after 1/1/11 will  pay $35 toward their monthly premium.  The employer contribution is capped at the Kaiser Medicare OOA rate.  Retirees who pay the excess above the Kaiser Medicare OOA rate do not pay the $35.

Spouses and registered domestic partners of ATU retirees may be eligible for medical coverage through the Spousal Medical Fund (SMF) with a monthly premium co-payment of $150. Spouses and registered domestic partners who are not eligible for the SMF may be covered at the retiree's full expense. Eligible dependent children may also be added to the retiree's medical plan at the retiree's full expense. The cost is deducted from the retiree's monthly pension.

Surviving spouses and registered domestic partners (who are not eligible for SMF benefits) may purchase medical coverage through VTA after the retiree's death, as long as the surviving dependent was enrolled at the time of the retiree's death. Spouses/registered domestic partners eligible for the SMF will continue to be covered by the Fund upon the retiree's death (unless they remarry or enter new domestic partnership).

ATU Spousal Medical Fund

The ATU Spousal Medical Fund currently pays all but $150 per month for spouses or registered domestic partners age 55 or over, married or in a registered domestic partnership for the continuous 5 year period immediately prior to retirement, and not covered under any other medical plan.

Spousal medical benefits are not guaranteed. The ability to continue paying benefits depends on the sufficiency of the fixed contribution rate to the SMF and the investment earnings of the Fund. There is no provision for supplemental funding if the Fund becomes insufficient to pay benefits. 

Medicare Eligibility

Retirees (and spouses/registered domestic partners, if applicable) who are age 65 or disabled must enroll in Medicare Parts A & B, and in a VTA Medicare supplemental plan.  Retirees are reimbursed for the cost of the Medicare Part B monthly premium.  The amount of reimbursement is based on the current year's rate the retiree pays (minus any penalties).  The standard Medicare Part B premium for retirees turning 65 in 2010 is $110.00.  An additional amount above the standard reimbursement will be paid if the retiree provides proof from SSA of the premium paid for the current year.  (Prior years are not retroactively reimbursed).

As long as retirees retain enrollment in a VTA sponsored Medicare supplemental plan, they should not enroll in Medicare Part D outside of VTA.  Medicare Part D reimbursement is handled by the health plan.   Enrollment is only through the health plan.

Medical Plans

• Valley Health Plan HMO
• Valley Health Plan Medicare Plan
  (www.valleyhealthplan.org)

• Kaiser Permanente HMO
• Kaiser Senior Advantage Medicare Plan
• Kaiser Out-of-Area Medicare Plan (northern California only)
  (www.kaiserpermanente.org)

• PacifiCare HMO
• United Health Care-Choice Plus
• United Health Care AARP Secure Horizons (Medicare Plan)
• United Health Care Senior Supplement (Medicare Plan)
  (www.uhc.com)

Transit Passes

VTA retirees, spouses, surviving spouses of retirees, and dependent children of retirees are eligible for transit passes, at no cost to the retiree, for use over VTA lines, including VTA paratransit services.