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- Benefits Retirement for Employess Over 55
HEALTH BENEFITS RETIREMENT FOR EMPLOYEES OVER AGE 55
Q: How do I continue health benefits if I am 55 or older when I leave County employment?
A: If you are at least age 55 at the time you leave County employment and have completed the required minimum number of years of County service, you may be eligible to receive retiree health benefits. This “retirement for health benefit purposes” can be done even though you have not retired in the State pension system and you plan to continue working outside Nassau County.
Q: How do I retire with health benefits purposes?
A: Contact your department Human Resources Representative for the necessary forms, which will be submitted to Comptroller’s Health Benefits Unit.
Q: What are the minimum requirements to retire with health benefits?
A: Depending on your union or employment contract, date of employment and age at retirement you must have completed a minimum number of years of County service, to be eligible to retire with health benefits. See schedule below:
| Union | Minimum Age | Minimum Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
| CSEA and IPBAhired on or after 8/22/03. | 55 | 10 |
| CSEA and IPBAhired prior to 8/22/03. | 55 | 5 |
| COBA | None | 25 |
| CSEA- Probation Officers, Fire Marshalls, AMTs, Deputy Sherriff and Correctional Center title. | None | 25 |
| Under Sherriff | None | 25 |
| PBA, SOA and DAI | None | 20 |
| College Ordinance | 55 | 5 |
| Non-College Ordinance employees hired prior to 8/21/08. | 55 | 5 |
| Non-College Ordinance employees hired on or after 8/21/08. | 55 | 10 |
Q: Is prior public service included when calculating the minimum years of service required for health benefits retirement?
A: Yes, but it depends on specific titles within certain unions and your date of hire. See schedule below:
| Union | County Hire Date | Minimum Years of Service | Minimum County Service | Prior Service Creditable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSEA | Prior to 8/22/03 | 5 | 1 | 4 yrs. NYS or municipal subdivision |
| CSEA, IPBA | On or after 8/22/03 | 10 | 10 | Not creditable |
| CSEA(applies only to qualifying titles) | N/A | 25 | 5 | *Creditable as determined by NYSERS |
| COBA | N/A | 25 | 5 | *Creditable as determined by NYSERS |
| PBA, SOA, DAI, COBA | N/A | 5 | 1 | 4 yrs. NYS or municipal subdivision |
| PBA, SOA, DAI | N/A | 20 | 5 | *Creditable as determined by NYSERS |
| Ordinance | Prior to 8/21/08 | 5 | 1 | 4 yrs.NYS or municipal subdivision |
| Ordinance | On or after 8/21/08 | 10 | 5 | 5 yrs.NYS. Or municipal subdivision. |
| College Ordinance | 5 | 1 | 4 yrs. NYS or municipal subdivision |
*Some prior service, such as military service, deemed as creditable by NYSERS for pension retirement may not be accepted by Nassau County for health benefits retirement.
Q: Who determines whether I have creditable prior public service?
A: Prior public service credit is calculated by your department’s Human Resources Representative and approved by the Comptroller’s Office. Please speak with your department Human Resources Representative to discuss whether you are entitled to prior public service credit and have not yet received it.
Q: Are my dependents still eligible to continue on my insurance once I retire?
A: Yes. As long as they are qualified dependents they are eligible to continue on your insurance once you retire. Please See "RETIREE" section for Medicare requirements that may apply to you and/or your dependents.
Q: How much do I pay for health benefits when I retire for health benefits purposes?
A: Under current practice, you will continue to pay for your health benefits at the same rate of contribution you were paying while an active employee. For example, in 2020, an ordinance retiree, who is not Medicare eligible, and is enrolled in the Empire Plan will pay $238.76 a month for family coverage and $51.59 a month for individual coverage. Please note that these rates are subject to change.