Retiree Health & Other Post-Employment Benefits
Structuring and administering retiree health and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) plans can be challenging, especially when it comes to formulating an affordable, sustainable plan offering the types of benefits retirees desire.
Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) attorneys work closely with public agency clients, helping them arrive at the right balance of providing much-desired benefits and controlling retiree health liabilities. We design and redesign plans and provide guidance on effective funding practices. Whether our clients offer retiree health benefits directly or through the CalPERS health insurance system, we can find ways to help reduce expenses and enable them to meet their commitments.
With decades of experience representing hundreds of public agencies, we understand the regulations and obligations that public agencies face when it comes to retiree health and OPEB plans, and we are adept at delivering cost-effective viable solutions. Further, our experience has taught us what does and does not work when it comes to union negotiations. This enables us to offer our clients practical guidance on union proposals and to obtain and maintain greater flexibility with respect to OPEB plans.
Although plans may be subject to California's “vested rights” doctrine, we can help find ways to:
- Substantially reduce or eliminate OPEB liability
- Fund liabilities
- Comply with the “equal contribution rule” under the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act while establishing varying rates of employee and retiree cost-sharing for OPEB and health benefits
