County of Ventura Legacy Retiree Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) Overview

The Alameda Decision of 2020 concluded that all amendments to the definition of compensation earnable, enacted because of the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), were constitutional. The Court also ruled that boards may not include the value of benefits paid “in-kind,” such as the portion of flex credit applied to healthcare benefits. To comply with the decision, the Board of Retirement adopted the Flexible Benefits Correction Resolution on April 17, 2023, excluding a portion of the Flexible Credit Allowance from the compensation earnable calculation for legacy retirement plan members. This resulted in reduced pension benefits for those retiring on or after July 30, 2020. Eligible members will receive a refund of member contributions on non-cashable flex credit, plus interest (net of overpaid benefits plus interest for retirees.) The corresponding employer contributions remain with the VCERA fund as a credit toward future employer contributions. With this savings, on June 27, 2023, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of the Legacy Retiree Healthcare Premium Subsidy and Reimbursement Plan (“HRA plan”) to mitigate some of the loss in retirement benefits to members.

Additionally, on June 27, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved an Amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement between the Ventura County Fire Protection District and the Ventura County Professional Firefighters’ Association (VCPFA). This amendment enables the monthly funding of a Legacy Retiree Healthcare Contribution on behalf of eligible retirees, directed into the VCPFA-administered medical trust to cover health-related expenses for qualified retirees.

The County HRA Plan will provide eligible retirees a healthcare reimbursement account, funded by employer contributions in amounts based on individual bargaining agreements, with potential annual increases of up to 3%. The HRA can be used for eligible out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses for eligible retirees and their dependents.

While VCERA does not administer retiree health benefits or the HRA plan, and thus cannot answer questions about such plans, you can learn more by calling the Ventura County HRA Administrator at (805) 654-5033, or by visiting the HRA Benefit web page.

For information about eligibility for the County’s medical, dental, and vision care plans, contact the Ventura County Human Resources Department at (805) 662-6791, or visit the Ventura County Retiree Health Benefits web page.