The Future of UC Retirement Benefits

To Whom It May Concern,

I am very interested in the proposed change to the retiree health benefit. I am one of the individuals who has worked for the University for nearly 10 years as of today and as of July 1, 2013 I will have nearly 12.5 years of service. When I was hired on the retirement health benefit was very clear. You work 10 years and you get 50% coverage, you work 20 years and you get 100% coverage when you retire effective as of age 50.

With the new change that is taking effect July 1, 2013 a formula was created and a value of 50 was set for the grandfathering in provision. I will be just under this value by about 2.5. Needless to say I am a bit frustrated after working so hard for the University to find out that I wont be grandfathered into the current health benefit system and that such a significant change is being made to my retirement health benefit.

To the point, my question is why not go ahead and use the 50 formula that you have but also include people with 10 years or more of service credit in the Grandfather provision? I can’t believe there are all that many with a formula value of less than 50 and more than 10 years of service. I guarantee you this will help with employee moral and will encourage longer service by these employees, which is a stated desire of the University.

Thank you for your consideration,
Jesse Hendricks

Because the policy is blatantly ageist in nature, and discriminates against a minority of faculty, and a majority of staff. Why would they make an exception for you, the grandfathering composite of 50 provision is indefensible as it is not supported by any principle except saving money by punishing ‘younger’ employees.