With that in mind, enclosed, you will find:

Transcription

1 Recent discussions about changes at LSU hospitals have led to many questions about benefits and other issues at LSU Health Shreveport. This packet has been prepared for benefits-eligible employees at the EA Conway Medical Center campus, Huey P Long campus and Shreveport campus. While we do not have answers to all of the questions at this time, we are committed to providing information to you as it becomes available and to helping you fully understand your benefits. With that in mind, enclosed, you will find: your personal benefits information, including retirement plan and years of service dates for information meetings (Page 1) answers to frequently-asked questions about retirement under LASERS (Page 2) answers to questions about retirement under Teachers (TRSL) systems (Page 6) information about the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) (Page 9) information about related human resource processes (Page 11) an update regarding partnership discussions for our three hospitals (Page 12) In coming weeks, we will be holding informational sessions with employees to answer specific questions and concerns about benefits. As other information becomes available, we will share it with you as well. Thank you. Sincerely, John T. Dailey, JD MPA Vice Chancellor for Administration

2 INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS about your retirement benefits, get answers at one of the informational meetings listed below for your retirement plan. All meetings are in the Zadeck Conference Room, G-221 in the medical school. LASERS Teachers (TRSL)/ Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) Location EA Conway Thursday, Feb 21 9:00 11:00 am 1:00 3:00 pm Hospital Auditorium HP Long Friday, March 8, 9 am Monday, March 25, 10 am Friday, March 8, 9 am Monday, March 25, 10 am Annex Class Room Shreveport Thursday, Feb 7, 7:30 am Thursday, Feb 21, 7:30 am Thursday, March 7, 2 pm Thursday, March 21, 2 pm Thursday, April 11, 7:30 am Friday, April 26, 7:30 am Thursday, Feb 7, 2 pm Thursday, Feb. 21, 2 pm Thursday, March 7, 8:30 am Thursday, March 21, 8:30 am Thursday, April 11, 2 pm Friday, April 26, 2 pm Zadeck Conference Room, (G221) in the Medical School FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: EA Conway Call Visit on the web HP Long Call Shreveport Call MEETINGS 1

3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) RETIREMENT BENEFITS LASERS 1. What qualifies an employee for full or early retirement? Regular Plan Hired by 6/30/06 and re-hires who did not refund contributions (LASERS) Regular 2 Plan Hired 7/1/06-12/31/10 and rehires who did not refund contributions (LASA75) Regular 3 Plan Hired after 12/31/10 and rehires who refunded contributions (LAS992) Hazardous Duty Plan POST certified employees hired after 12/31/2010 and previous hires who join (LASHAZ) Employee Contributions 7.50% 8% 8% 9.50% Retirement Benefit 2.5% of FAC* (3-year) 2.5% of FAC* (5-year) 2.5% of FAC* (5-year) 3.33% of FAC* (if past 10 yrs in HAZ Duty Position) Regular Retirement 30 yrs of service, any age 25 yrs of service, age yrs of service, age 60 5-years of service and age yrs of ser vice, age yrs of service, any age Years required to be vested Early Retirement yrs of service, any age, reduced benefit based on number of years to regular retirement eligibility *FAC - Final Average Compensation: An average of your highest 3 or 5 consecutive years of compensation Source: LASERS Membership Handbook 2. Is it possible other service could make me eligible if I don t currently meet eligibility? Service credit is earned for time that you worked in a LASERS-eligible position, and made contributions to the system. In certain instances you may be able to purchase additional service credit. Some examples are: Full-time state service was worked, but no service credit was received Service credit was denied due to an administrative error Service credit was not received due to leave without pay Furlough time (postsecondary employees) Air Time purchase of up to five years service credit for time not worked Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) Military Service not under USERRA National Guard, Coast Guard, and Reserve Forces Credit Service credit based on time worked in a federal position (Source: LASERS Membership Handbook) LASERS 2

4 2. What is Air Time and how much does it cost? Air time is service credit purchased in one-year increments, which may be used for retirement eligibility. The cost varies based on age and how close you are to retirement. You can find your specific cost by completing the Application for Purchase of Service R.S. 11:429(B) Form and paying the $150 calculation fee. It takes weeks to receive the quote, but it is good for 90 days. You can also view information regarding Air Time and sample situations which may give you an idea of the cost at Purchasing Air Time for Retirement Eligibility. 3. Can annual/sick leave be applied to years of service for early or full retirement? Yes, but it cannot be used to make you eligible. 4. What does it mean to be vested? At the time an employee has a right to contributions made by his or her employer in a retirement plan, they are said to be vested. An employee who is vested in the retirement plan will get a retirement benefit when they reach the required eligibility age (shown in the chart above). Employees who contribute to the retirement plan but do not reach the point of being vested when they separate from state service can request a refund of their contributions or leave it in the plan. You must be vested to qualify for a retirement benefit. Refunded years do not count toward vesting. 5. What happens to my leave balance? At retirement from LSU (early or full retirement) Staff paid bi-weekly receive pay for up to 300 annual hours they have accrued (built up). Employees who receive monthly paychecks are paid for up to 300 accrued annual and up to 200 accrued hours of sick leave at their current hourly rate. Leave balances can either be paid out in a lump sum by LASERS or used to increase monthly benefits. Leave cannot be used to make you eligible to retire. If I leave state employment and later retire At separation, you will be paid for the amount of hours of annual leave you have accrued (built up), up to 300 hours. You will not be paid for any accrued sick leave. When you later retire, if you have less than 20 years of service, you will not be paid for leave balances. If you have more than 20 years of service, you will be paid any remaining balance of annual and sick leave at the time you retire. You can either receive a lump sum or use the leave balance to increase monthly retirement benefits. Leave balance cannot be added to years of service to make you eligible for retirement. 6. Define early retirement. After 20 years of service, an employee can retire at any age with a reduced benefit that is based on the number of years until full retirement eligibility. LASERS 3

5 7. What is the effect of early retirement on: Health insurance Monthly retirement benefit Insurance can be continued, but you may have to pay a higher premium. In most cases there is less of a financial impact if you take an early retirement while you are still a state employee versus taking an early retirement after you have left state service. 8. What options are available for employees with years of service regarding retirement accounts? You can either immediately withdraw only the money you put into the account, or wait until age 60 and get your full retirement benefits. 9. What is IBO and who is eligible to receive IBO? The Initial Benefit Option (IBO) is an optional method of retirement which allows you to receive a lumpsum equivalent of up to 36 months of your maximum retirement benefit at the time of your retirement. It is available only to employees meeting regular retirement criteria who did not participate in DROP. DROP, which stands for Deferred Retirement Option Plan is an optional program that allows you, once you meet eligibility requirements, to freeze your regular monthly retirement benefit and have it deposited into a separate account, while still working and drawing a salary. (Source Lasers Membership Handbook) 10. What do I do if I plan to retire? Contact the Employee Benefits Department at or Shvbenefits@lsuhsc.edu for an appointment to begin the process. 11. How do I know how much my retirement check will be? You can receive a quick and easy estimate by using the online calculator at Employees who worked part-time or have purchased Air Time for retirement eligibility or those wanting a more precise number will need to submit a Request for Retirement Benefit Estimate Form available on the LASERS website. 12. How do I access the online calculator via Member Self-Service: Go to LASERS website, Under Quick Links, select Active Member Self-Service On first visit, on Login page select Register in box on right side. On Registration page, enter your social security number (in the format indicated). Enter your birth date (in the format indicated), select Next Enter your zip code (in the format indicated), select Next Create New User ID according to instructions given. User ID is case sensitive. Create New Password according to instructions given. Confirm Password. Password is case sensitive. Select a Secret Question from the menu. Fill in the answer to the Secret Question, select Next. Click Done. On subsequent visits, sign in with User ID and Password in box on left side of Login page. Choose Account Type (member). Select Login. LASERS 4

6 13. Can I use the online LASERS calculator if I completed or I m currently in DROP? No, this would require a supplemental calculation that can only be done by LASERS. 14. What happens if I request a refund of my retirement contributions in LASERS? Refunds of contributions automatically cancel all service credit in LASERS. In other words, a refund cancels your membership in the retirement system, and makes you ineligible for benefits. The refund will only be of your contributions, not the employer contributions, and will not include interest. Refunds are subject to federal taxes and penalties, unless rolled over into another qualified retirement plan (such as an IRA). LASERS encourages you to contact a tax consultant to determine if this applies to you. (Source: LASERS Membership Handbook, page 32) 15. How do I request a refund? You need to complete a refund form from the Benefits Office, Room 108 in the Administration Building. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: EA Conway Call Janice Waggoner (jwaggo@lsuhsc.edu) Visit on the web HP Long Call Francine Sims, fsims1@lsuhsc.edu Visit Benefits Office, HPL Annex Building Shreveport Call SHVbenefits@lsuhsc.edu Visit in person Room 108, Administration Building Visit on the web LASERS 5

7 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) RETIREMENT BENEFITS Teachers (TRSL) 1. What qualifies an employee for full or early retirement? Hired prior to 7/1/99 Hired between 7/1/1999 and 12/31/2010 Hired on or after 1/1/2011 Retirement Benefit 2.5% of FAC* (3 year) 2.5% of FAC* (3 year) 2.5% of FAC* (5 year) Regular Retirement 30 years at any age 25 years at age years at age years at any age, 2% FAC 5 years at age 60, 2% FAC 30 years at any age 25 years at age 55 5 years at age 60 5 years at age 60 Years required to be vested Early Retirement 20 for 2.5% 5 for 2.0% years of service, any age, reduced benefit *FAC - Final Average Compensation: An average of your highest 3 or 5 consecutive years of compensation Source: TRSL Member Handbook 2. Is it possible other service could make me eligible if I don t currently meet eligibility? The following types of service may be purchased to increase the service credit if they apply to you: Previously refunded service U.S. military base teaching service Leave without pay Maternity leave Sabbatical leave In-state private school service Non-TRSL participating charter school service Out-of-state public school service Military service Note: Air Time is not available for TRSL retirement plan members (Source: TRSL Members Handbook) TRSL 6

8 3. Can annual/sick leave be applied to years of service for early or full retirement? Unused annual and sick leave can be converted to service credit but cannot be used to meet eligibility for retirement. 4. What does it mean to be vested? What if I am vested, but have less than 20 years of state service? At the time an employee has a right to contributions made by his or her employer in a retirement plan, they are said to be vested. An employee who is vested in the retirement plan will get a retirement benefit when they reach the required eligibility age (shown in the chart above). Employees who contribute to the retirement plan but do not reach the point of being vested when they separate from state service can request a refund of their contributions. You must be vested to qualify for a retirement benefit. Refunded years do not count toward vesting. 5. What happens to my leave balance? At retirement from state service Staff paid bi-weekly receive pay for up to 300 annual accrued (built up) hours. Those paid monthly receive up to 300 accrued annual and up to 200 accrued sick leave at their current hourly rate. TRSL may give you service credit (add time to your retirement calculation) for unused annual and eligible sick leave toward your retirement benefit. Leave balance cannot be added to years of service to make you eligible for retirement. If I leave state employment and later retire At separation, employees are paid for the amount of hours of annual leave accrued (built up), up to 300 hours. You will not be paid for any accrued sick leave. 6. Define early retirement. After 20 years of service, an employee can retire at any age with a reduced benefit. 7. What is the effect of early retirement on: Health insurance Insurance can be continued, but you may have to pay a higher premium. Monthly retirement benefit In most cases there is less of a financial impact if you take an early retirement while you are still a state employee versus taking an early retirement after you have left state service. 8. What options are available for employees with 5-19 years of service regarding retirement accounts? You can either immediately withdraw only the money you put into the account, or wait until age 60 to retire and receive a monthly benefit. TRSL 7

9 9. What is ILSB and who is eligible to receive it? The Initial Lump Sum Benefit is an optional method of retirement which allows you to receive a lump-sum equivalent of up to 36 months of your maximum retirement benefit at the time of your retirement. It is available only to employees meeting Regular Retirement criteria who did not participate in DROP. DROP, which stands for Deferred Retirement Option Plan is an optional program that allows you, once you meet eligibility requirements, to freeze your regular monthly retirement benefit and have it deposited into a separate account, while still working and drawing a salary. 10. What do I do if I plan to retire? Contact the Employee Benefits Department at or SHVbenefits@lsuhsc.edu for an appointment to begin the process. 11. How do I know how much my retirement check will be? You can request an estimate of your retirement benefits by submitting a Benefit Estimate Request (Form 10) to TRSL. An online calculator a at will provide an unofficial projection of your retirement benefits. 12. What happens if I request a refund? A refund would be a return of only the money you put into TRSL. Refunds do not include interest or employer contributions. Partial withdrawals are not allowed. Once a refund is made, membership in TRSL is terminated and service credit is cancelled. Refunds are issued on the 5th and 20th of the month and can be directly deposited in your account. If you get a refund and do not roll it over into a qualified retirement account (as determined by the Internal Revenue Service), you will have to pay taxes and possibly a 10% penalty on the money. 13. How do I request a refund? Complete the Application for Refund (Form 7) available at or request one at web.master@trsl. org or call TRSL at or toll free at ASK-TRSL ( ). Members with five or more years of service credit should also complete a Request for Refund Rather than Retirement Benefit (Form 7E). FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: EA Conway Call Janice Waggoner (jwaggo@lsuhsc.edu) Visit on the web HP Long Call Francine Sims, fsims1@lsuhsc.edu Visit Benefits Office, HPL Annex Building Shreveport Call SHVbenefits@lsuhsc.edu Visit in person Room 108, Administration Building Visit on the web TRSL 8

10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) RETIREMENT BENEFITS Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) 1. What is ORP? The Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) is an alternative retirement plan to Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). It is provided by a private carrier for academic employees and unclassified staff members of the LSU System. Each participant chooses his or her own carrier from the administrators in the plan: ING Financial Services, TIAA-CREF or VALIC. 2. How does ORP differ from the TRSL retirement plan? Unclassified employees have the option of the TRSL defined benefits plan or the ORP Optional Retirement Plan. The monthly payment in the defined plan will depend on your years of service, earnings and age at retirement. For the ORP option, the amount of the monthly income payable at retirement is directly related to the balance in your account, your age at retirement, and the income option you select. 3. How are benefits paid? ORP benefits are paid in the form of a lifetime income and, except for death benefits, single-sum payments (lump sum) are not permitted. 4. Can I switch from Teachers to ORP? Permanent academic employees and unclassified staff members are automatically enrolled in the TRSL defined benefit plan. If you wish to enroll in an ORP, you have 60 days from your date of hire to enroll retroactive to your original hire date. If you wait past your first 60 days to enroll, your effective date will be delayed to the first of the following month and only your contributions (not those made by the LSU System) will transfer over to your selected ORP carrier. Once you have contributed to the TRSL defined benefit plan for greater than five years, you are not eligible to enroll in an Optional Retirement Plan and once you have selected ORP, you cannot change to TRSL. 5. Can I change ORP carriers? You may elect to change ORP carriers at any time. 6. What is my contribution? Your employee contribution is 8% of allowable earned compensation. TRSL charges you 0.1% to administer the funds. 7. How much is the employer contribution from LSU? The contribution rate is subject to change each July 1st. The LSU System contributed 5.70% of allowable earned compensation for When will I be vested? Your ORP account is immediately vested. ORP 9

11 9. When am I eligible to receive a retirement benefit? As an ORP participant, you are eligible to annuitize your ORP account at termination of employment. 10. As an ORP participant, can I continue my group insurance? In order to be eligible to continue group insurance policies after retirement, as an ORP retiree, you must meet the minimum retirement eligibility requirements under the provisions of TRSL. 11. How do I know how much my retirement benefit will be? The ORP is a defined contribution retirement plan and the amount of the monthly income payable at retirement is directly related to the balance in your account, your age at retirement, and the income option you select. When you are ready to retire, you will select from several annuity options depending on the company you have selected as your ORP carrier. 12. Can I receive a lump sum at retirement? Under the provisions of Louisiana law you may receive your account only as a lifetime payout. Cash withdrawals from your ORP account are not allowed except under limited provisions at retirement. You may elect an initial benefit payment, not to exceed 36 months of your single-life annuity, but all future payments will be reduced. At retirement or termination of employment, the funds in your ORP account are also eligible for a lump-sum IRA rollover, subject to withdrawal provisions of your ORP carrier. 13. Can I get benefits if I become disabled? Since ORP benefits are always based on the value of the ORP account, there is no guaranteed or defined disability benefit as a participant in the ORP. However, in the event of a disability, an ORP participant may be able to continue participation in other insurance programs. If you become disabled, you must have at least five years of service in an ORP to apply for continued participation in the insurance plans at retirement. 14. What if I leave before retirement? You retain ownership of your account and you may elect to receive a monthly benefit based on the value of your account. State law does not permit a lump-sum refund at termination of employment. Funds in your ORP account are eligible for a lump-sum IRA rollover, subject to withdrawal provisions of your ORP carrier. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: EA Conway Call Janice Waggoner (jwaggo@lsuhsc.edu) Visit on the web HP Long Call Francine Sims, fsims1@lsuhsc.edu Visit Benefits Office, HPL Annex Building Shreveport Call SHVbenefits@lsuhsc.edu Visit in person Room 108, Administration Building Visit on the web ORP 10

12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) HUMAN RESOURCES 1. How much notice is required for retirement both early and full? For processing time, please allow 2 weeks notice prior to last day worked. 2. What steps must be taken to start the retirement process (early and full); contact information, forms etc. Are these available on the website? Visit the Benefits Office for a retirement packet or find and print the forms from our website, www How do I update my beneficiary information? Visit the HR Benefits office for forms. To update a retirement beneficiary you must provide a copy of both your own and your beneficiary s Social Security card. 4. How soon does an individual receive leave balance and retirement checks? Leave balances will be paid within a month of last day of work and you will receive your first retirement check within 45 days. Employees who are paid bi-weekly receive pay for up to 300 annual accrued (built up) hours, employees who receive monthly paychecks receive up to 300 accrued annual and up to 200 accrued sick leave at their current hourly rate. 5. What penalties are there for early retirement, withdrawing funds from the state retirement system and what are the rehire rights? Early retirees receive a reduced lifetime benefit that is calculated individually based on years of service and age. When you withdraw funds from the state retirement system you can avoid taxes by rolling the money over to a qualified retirement plan. A financial advisor can help you select a plan. Rehiring for a state job is subject to review by the retirement office, but you can get another non-state job without a review by the retirement office. 6. Will there be financial advisors available to assist with decision making process? We hope to provide assistance in this area. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: EA Conway Call HP Long Call Shreveport Call HUMAN RESOURCES11

13 Update Regarding Discussions About The Lsu Health Shreveport Hospitals prepared by SC&H Capital January 29, 2013 We recognize the importance of sharing accurate and timely information. Hopefully this will answer some of the questions that haven t been addressed elsewhere in the packet. BACKGROUND LSU currently operates ten hospitals across the state and a number of clinics. Last Fall, the state decided to transfer LSU hospital operations to private organizations. As you may well know, LSU Health Shreveport operates the: EA Conway Medical Center in Monroe / Northeast Louisiana LSU Medical Center in Shreveport / Northwest Louisiana, and Huey P Long Medical Center in Pineville / Central Louisiana. WHERE DO THINGS STAND? The process of finding partners for each of the LSU hospitals is in varying stages. Discussions regarding each of the three hospitals are in progress. With the help of advisors, attorneys, and community leaders, we are helping LSU leadership in finding a long-term solution that works for each of the communities. regarding the EA CONWAY MEDICAL CENTER A press release on the following page discusses that LSU is in discussions with St Francis Medical Center. Discussions are underway and we hope to have more information within the next few weeks. regarding the HUEY P LONG MEDICAL CENTER As reported in the press, discussions are underway with Christus St Frances Cabrini Medical Center/Rapides Regional Medical Center. We hope to have more information within the next few weeks. regarding the LSU MEDICAL CENTER Discussions are also underway with leadership of local healthcare organizations. This has been mentioned in press accounts. Again, no decisions have been made and we hope to have more information within the next few months. WHO IS ASSISTING LSU? In the Fall of 2012, the LSU Health Sciences Foundation in Shreveport retained advisors and attorneys to help in assessing other healthcare organizations. The advisors are SC&H Capital and i3 Consulting and the law firm is Epstein, Becker & Green PC, which is nationally-recognized for its expertise in legal matters involving healthcare organizations. DISCUSSIONS 12

14 WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE DON T HAVE ANSWERS FOR? Regrettably, at this time, we don t have answers to a number of the other questions that have been posed. Right now, we do not have information regarding the impact on LSU Health Shreveport employees, and employment opportunities with potential partner hospitals and their benefit plans. Things are still at a very early stage and we will let you know as soon as we can. Thank you for your continued patience. UPDATES Up-to-date information can be found online at: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: EA Conway Call Janice Waggoner (jwaggo@lsuhsc.edu) Visit on the web HP Long Call Francine Sims, fsims1@lsuhsc.edu Visit Benefits Office, HPL Annex Building Shreveport Call SHVbenefits@lsuhsc.edu Visit in person Room 108, Administration Building DISCUSSIONS 13

15 January 29, 2013 Contact: Aimee D. Kane Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications St. Francis Medical Center (318) Sally Croom Executive Director, Communications LSU Health Shreveport (318) LSU Health Shreveport, St. Francis Medical Center Confirm E.A. Conway Talks Officials of LSU Health Shreveport and St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe have confirmed that they are discussing the possibility of a partnership to operate the E.A. Conway Medical Center in Monroe. The discussions are part of a broader effort to transition the state s hospitals to a public-private model that would provide financial stability and continue access to services they provide. Louis H. Bremer, President and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center confirmed his hospital s interest in the future of E.A. Conway, which provides acute care services, primary care clinics, access for the underserved and medical training for LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine students and residents across a number of specialties. St. Francis Medical Center has been involved in discussions with LSU regarding the need to ensure that patients who currently seek healthcare at E.A. Conway will continue to have access to these vital services. These discussions are important for St. Francis to participate in, as they will determine the future of our community s healthcare landscape, Bremer said. The talks are a prelude to more in-depth negotiations that could come later. If successful, the next step would be for the two hospitals to develop a Memorandum of Understanding. No timeline has been set. LSU and E.A. Conway have a long history of commitment to the health needs of northeast Louisiana and the medical training of future healthcare providers, said LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Robert A. Barish, MD. We welcome the opportunity to explore a collaboration to continue these vital efforts. DISCUSSIONS 14