The University spends significantly less on some of the retiree medical coverage than it gets from the State and therefore there should be some room for the University to provide better coverage in such matters as Delta Dental limits on the semi-annual cleaning and dental examinations. The Internal Revenue Service has vetoed flexible spending arrangements on health care for retirees. However the default option taken by the University is not the best for the retiree. Retirees should take the option of a joint life expectancy and recompute the life expectancy each year. This results in the lowest minimum withdrawal spread over a maximum period of time.
Individuals can always draw more than the minimum.
There was a report from the Berkeley Campus Health Care Facilitator which is a new program being tried at Berkeley and Irvine. At present only the current employees and retirees from Berkeley and UCLA can use it. Access and benefits coverage were the major questions followed by care and billing questions. It is hoped that a Health Care Facilitator may be provided at the UC Laboratories and other campuses. CalPERS Long Term Care Plans has another application period April-June 2000 with less expensive options added.