Category: Newsroom

MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM REIMBURSEMENT FOR 2022

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SPECIAL NOTICE: This article only applies to Retired Members and Qualified Surviving Spouses/Domestic Partners of the Los Angeles Fire & Police Pension Plan.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has increased the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium to $170.10 effective January 1, 2022; however, you may pay a different amount determined by CMS.

  • If you are a new Medicare Part B enrollee in 2022, you will be reimbursed the standard monthly premium of $170.10 and will only need to provide a copy of your Medicare card.  
  • If you received a Medicare Part B reimbursement of $148.50 or less on your pension check in 2021, you will need to provide documentation to update your Part B reimbursement amount for 2022. 
  • If you have been receiving a Part B reimbursement that is lower than your basic Part B premium, you may be retroactively reimbursed for your Part B premiums for up to 12 months.

To update your Part B reimbursement for the 2022 calendar year: 

Please submit a copy of either:

  • The front page of your Social Security New Benefit Amount statement for 2022; or
  • Your next Medicare monthly or quarterly billing statement (if you do not receive Social Security benefits)

To update your Part B reimbursement for premiums paid during the 2021 calendar year: 

Please submit a copy of your:

  • Social Security New Benefit Amount statement for 2021; or
  • Form SSA 1099 for 2021; or
  • First Medicare monthly or quarterly billing statement for 2021

We recommend that you redact or avoid providing any personal identifiable information such as your address, birthdate, and all but the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN) from the documents before you submit them. If the document does not have the last four digits of your SSN, please include that at the top of your documents. Please send all documents to LAFPP’s Medical & Dental Benefits Section via: 

  • Email to: mdb@lafpp.com;
  • Fax to: (213) 628-7782; or
  • Mail to: Department of Fire and Police Pensions
    Attn: Medical & Dental Benefits
    701 E. 3rd Street, Suite 200
    Los Angeles, CA 90013

Due to the anticipated high volume of submissions, it may take at least two to three months to process your Part B documentation and update your reimbursement amount on your LAFPP pension payment.

As a reminder, Part B reimbursement only applies to Retired Members or Qualified Survivors who are eligible for an LAFPP health subsidy and are enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B. Any additional Part B fees or penalties charged by CMS are not eligible for reimbursement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am eligible for Part B reimbursement?

You must be a retired member or qualified survivor who is receiving a pension and is eligible for a health subsidy, and enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B.

What document do I need to submit to receive my correct Part B reimbursement amount?

You must submit a copy of your Social Security benefits verification statement (your “New Benefit Amount”) or a copy of a 2022 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) billing statement.

My spouse (non-LAFPP member) is currently enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.  Does he/she need to submit Medicare Part B premium documentation?

No. Only the retired member or Qualified Survivor enrolled in Parts A and B is eligible for Medicare Part B premium reimbursement. 

I received a letter stating that I pay a higher Part B premium based on my income level (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – “IRMAA”). May I submit this letter as proof of my Part B premium?

Yes. You may submit a copy of the first page of your IRMAA letter if it contains your name, address and 2022 monthly Medicare Part B premium deduction.  LAFPP does not reimburse IRMAA fees, so your Part B reimbursement will not exceed the 2022 standard monthly premium of $170.10. 

I receive a monthly Social Security payment, but I did not receive/cannot locate my “New Benefit Amount” Statement from Social Security.  What should I do?

You may call or visit your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office.  To locate your local SSA office and/or telephone number, you may check their website: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON. You may also access proof of your 2022 Medicare Part B basic premium online at the SSA website: www.ssa.gov/myaccount. You may be required to create or register your SSA account. Please note that once you have an online account, your SSA notifications will be emailed to you.

When do I need to provide LAFPP documentation of my Part B Premium?

You may submit your documentation as soon as it is available and receive a retroactive reimbursement for up to twelve (12) pension roll months from the date your submission is received. 

If you have additional questions about your Medicare Part B reimbursement, please contact the Medical and Dental Benefits Section at (213) 279-3115, toll free at (844) 88-LAFPP ext. 3115, or via email to mdb@lafpp.com. 

Special Election Results – Police Department Employee Member Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners

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LAFPP welcomes Brian J. Churchill, the Police Department Employee Member-elect, to the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners! Mr. Churchill will be sworn-in during January 2022 to fulfill his fiduciary responsibilities as a Board member beginning February 1, 2022.

Commissioner Paul M. Weber will be stepping down from the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners (Board) as the Police Department Employee Member effective January 31, 2022. Since Commissioner Weber’s term was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2025, this leaves an unexpired term of forty-one (41) months. In accordance with Section 23.102.10(a) of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, the Board authorized the Office of the City Clerk to conduct a Special Election on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, to fill the upcoming vacant seat for the remainder of the unexpired term. The candidate receiving a plurality of all votes cast is then declared elected as the Police Department Employee Member of the Board.

Mr. Churchill received 53.07% of the vote, a majority, and as such is elected to serve the unexpired term of the Police Department Employee Member of the Board beginning February 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025. Congratulations Mr. Churchill!

For a current list of Commissioners, please view the Board Directory. If you have any questions concerning the Special Election results, please contact the Administrative Services Section of the Department of Fire and Police Pensions at (213) 279-3080.

2021 Valuation Reports Approved

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Good news! Based on the actuarial report for the period ending June 30, 2021, the combined funded ratio for pension and health benefits is 92.5%, up from 88.6% the previous year. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the combined funded ratio has increased for the System. The pension benefit funded ratio is now 96.8%, up from 93.2%, and the retiree health benefit funded ratio increased from 59.7% to 64.7%. The favorable results indicate that the Plan remains strong despite another volatile year marked by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Every year a valuation of the LAFPP fund is performed by the Board’s actuary. The valuation reviews the System’s assets and liabilities and establishes the City’s (including the Harbor and Airport Departments) contribution to the fund for each fiscal year. The City’s combined contribution rate for July 15, 2022 will decrease by 4.08% of sworn payroll, from 45.75% to 41.67%. The contribution rate decrease is due to a higher than expected return on the valuation value of assets (after smoothing), lower than expected COLA increases for retirees and beneficiaries, the net loss layer from the June 30, 2006 valuation being fully amortized, and other experience gains. The overall unfunded liabilities have decreased from $3.1 billion to $2.1 billion.

The approved 2021 actuarial reports can be found on the Financial Reports page of our website.

Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions CIO Announcement

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Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions (LAFPP) is excited to welcome new Chief Investment Officer Ray Joseph. After an exhaustive search for a new Chief Investment Officer (CIO) by Korn Ferry, General Manager Ray Ciranna selected Mr. Joseph as the new CIO replacing Tom Lopez, who is retiring after over 40 years with LAFPP.

Ray will lead LAFPP’s investment team in managing over $30 billion in assets. He brings over 25 years of both public and private investment experience to LAFPP after serving in numerous investment positions and companies. 

“I am thrilled that Ray will be leading the team” Mr. Ciranna said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and I look forward to him building on the success of our strong investment program.”

Previously, Mr. Joseph served as vice president at Wilshire Associates, providing investment strategies and solutions for pension plans, endowments, foundations and family offices. His public experience includes his position as Principal Deputy Special Trustee (Chief Investment Officer) for the Office of the Special Trustee within the U.S. Department of Interior, managing $4.3 billion in assets for 566 American Indian Tribes and $1.0 billion for the U.S. Treasury Department. He also served as the Deputy Director (Deputy Chief Investment Officer) and the Acting Director (Chief Investment Officer) for the State of New Jersey’s Division of Investment, where he oversaw pension investments, deferred compensation plans, and the State of New Jersey’s Cash Management program. 

About LAFPP

LAFPP oversees the pension fund for the sworn members of City of Los Angeles Fire, Police, Airport and Port departments. The fund is currently valued at over $30 billion in assets and serves nearly 27,000 members and beneficiaries.

About Korn Ferry

Michael Kennedy of Korn Ferry assisted LAFPP in the nationwide search for the CIO.

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm that specializes in executive management searches, bringing people and organizations together to exceed their potential.

2020 Form 1099-R Are Available on MyLAFPP

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The 2020 Form 1099-R is now available for retired members on MyLAFPP. It is the easiest and fastest way to view and print your tax statement without waiting for delivery to your mailing address.

If you have not created a MyLAFPP account, you will need a PIN number to register. Please contact the Communications & Education Section at (213) 279-3155 or send an email to pensions@lafpp.com with your contact number and we will return your call during business hours.

We recommend viewing and downloading your Form 1099-R on a computer.

  • Log in to MyLAFPP
    • Forgot username: https://www.lafpp.com/post/forgot-username
    • Forgot password: https://www.lafpp.com/post/forgot-password
  • Click Forms and Correspondence
  • Click Statements
  • Locate “1099-Tax Year 2020”
  • Click “Document” to open and download your 1099-R

For the full guide with screenshots visit here: https://www.lafpp.com/post/how-download-form-1099r

Hard Copy Form 1099-R

The Form 1099-R was mailed on Friday, January 29, 2021 to the mailing address we have on file for you.

Please allow at least one week for your tax statement to be delivered to your mailing address before contacting LAFPP. 

Some members may receive more than one 1099-R tax form in a year. Here are some of the possible reasons:
  1. You exited DROP and received at least one monthly pension payment in the same year (one 1099-R for DROP, one 1099-R for monthly pension payments)
  2. You have a non-tax dependent covered on your LAFPP-subsidized health insurance plan (e.g., domestic partner or child of a domestic partner)
  3. Your IRS tax distribution code changed during the year (e.g., when member attains 59 ½ years old by June of the same year)
  4. You moved to a different state during the year
  5. You received pension payments based on your City service and from a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) or as a beneficiary

Contact Information

Form 1099-R Questions:  
Contact the Retirement Services Section at (213) 279-3125 or rs@lafpp.com.

MyLAFPP Questions:
Contact the Communications & Education Section at (213) 279-3155 or pensions@lafpp.com.

Ballot Mailing – Special Election – Police Department Employee Member Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners

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All active, sworn Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) members of the Fire and Police Pensions System are eligible to vote in the Special Election for the Police Department Employee Member of the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners to be held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

Beginning Tuesday, October 26, 2021, eligible voters will be mailed an official ballot, voting instructions, the candidates’ statements of qualifications, an identification envelope, and a paid-postage return envelope addressed to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division. Voters may submit their ballot via U.S. Postal Service or, starting at 8:00 a.m. (PT) on November 5, 2021, may hand-deliver their ballot using the contactless mail slot located at the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division, Piper Technical Center, 555 Ramirez Street, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Ballots received any other way will NOT be accepted.

In order to be counted, ballots must be received by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. The candidate who receives a plurality of all votes cast shall be declared the winner of the Special Election. The candidate elected will serve the remainder of the unexpired term that begins February 1, 2022 and ends June 30, 2025.

Voters who damage, spoil, lose, or do not receive their ballots may obtain a replacement upon filing an Affidavit of Loss/Non-Receipt (Affidavit) form. Voters may request an Affidavit form by calling (213) 978-0444 or via email at Clerk.ElectionAdmin@lacity.org.

Sworn Employee members of LAPD who become eligible within 30 days prior to the Special Election and wish to vote should obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (Certificate) from the Personnel Department. Newly eligible members may request an appointment with the Personnel Department to obtain the Certificate by emailing Per.PersonnelServices@lacity.org with the subject line “Request for COE 2021.” The Certificate will be provided to eligible members via secure email. After securing a Certificate, beginning at 8:00 a.m. (PT) on November 5, 2021, the newly eligible voter may contact the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division at (213) 978-0444 or by email at Clerk.ElectionAdmin@lacity.org to schedule an appointment to present themselves with the Certificate and receive a ballot.

Candidates may designate up to two (2) individuals to observe the ballot tally. Candidates may also participate in addition to the two observers. Names of observers designated by the candidates must be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Friday, November 12, 2021 via email at Clerk.ElectionAdmin@lacity.org. Ballots will be opened and tallied on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. (PT), and will be available to designated observers via livestream[1].

[1] The Office of the City Clerk – Election Division’s Notice of Election is the source of and supersedes this web posting. Questions related to the Special Election conduct may be addressed to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division at (213) 978-0444.

2021 Non-Medicare Subsidy Increase

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SPECIAL NOTICE: This article only applies to eligible retired members of Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions and respective Qualified Surviving Spouses/Domestic Partners.

The new approved amount for the non-Medicare health subsidy maximum is $1,958.82 per month, effective July 1, 2021.

On April 1, 2021, the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners approved a two percent increase to the non-Medicare health subsidy. With the increase to the non-Medicare health subsidy, the vast majority of pre-65 members will see a reduction in premiums and potentially experience lower out-of-pocket costs. In fact, the maximum subsidy will fully subsidize all LAFRA or LAPRA single-party and two-party non-Medicare plan premiums for members with a non-frozen subsidy and at least 25 years of service.

Each year, the Board has the authority to increase the non-Medicare subsidy by up to the lesser of 7% or the actuarial medical trend rate for the upcoming fiscal year. The non-Medicare actuarial medical trend rate for fiscal year 2021-2022 is 4.75%, therefore the Board had the authority to increase the subsidy by up to 4.75% this year. The approved 2% increase is consistent with the Board’s fiduciary duty to all members. The Board considered the following information that would potentially affect members:

  • Impact to out-of-pocket premium costs for non-Medicare subsidy eligible retirees;
  • Impact to retirees in multi-party Medicare plans; and
  • Average premium changes among most eligible plans.

Do I qualify to receive the non-Medicare subsidy?

The actual increase in subsidy benefit per member is dependent upon eligibility and the retiree’s respective health plan premium. The approved increase to the maximum non-Medicare subsidy provides fully subsidized single- and two-party coverage for all eligible pensioners with 25+ years of service. Qualified survivors who are under the age of 65 and pensioners who are enrolled in a Board-approved HMO or PPO single-party Medicare health plan are not impacted by the maximum non-Medicare subsidy increase.

If you have questions or need more information regarding the non-Medicare Health Subsidy increase, please contact Medical & Dental Benefits at (213) 279-3115.

Special Election – Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners Police Department Employee Member

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A Special Election to select the Police Department Employee Member of the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners (Board) is scheduled on November 16, 2021. The candidate elected will serve the unexpired term beginning February 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2025.

BOARD MEMBER DUTIES – The Board exercises the prudent person standard in the discharge of its duties. It has sole and exclusive fiduciary responsibility to administer the Fire and Police Pension System (System) and its assets; has the authority to set and adopt investment policies for over $31 billion in fund assets; and has the duty to establish actuarial assumptions and adopt rules and regulations necessary to administer the System.

Preparation for regular and special meetings requires an individual to commit hours of advanced reading of Board Reports and disability cases. The Board normally meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 8:30 a.m. (PT). Most meetings are from three to four hours.

ELECTION PROCESS – Only active, sworn Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) members of the System are eligible to run and vote for this Board seat. Members who are interested in becoming a candidate are required to complete and submit the Notice of Intent form which was mailed with the Election Notification. Signature gathering by eligible members is not required to run as a candidate.

Along with the Notice of Intent, the candidate has the option to submit an Occupational Ballot Designation and a typewritten Statement of Qualifications for Office. The Occupational Ballot Designation will be printed under the candidate’s name and shall consist of three words to describe the following: (A) the current principal profession, vocation, or occupation of the candidate, or (B) the principal profession, vocation, or occupation of the candidate during the last calendar year immediately before the filing of the Notice of Intent to become a candidate. The Statement of Qualifications for Office may include information on education, work experience, years of service, and other relevant qualifications and shall not exceed 300 words in length. Any words beyond the 300 word limit will not be printed.

Starting at 8:00 a.m. (PT) on September 22, 2021, candidates who wish to qualify for the ballot are required to provide the following documents: 1) Notice of Intent to run for Office; 2) Occupational Ballot Designation (Optional); and 3) Statement of Qualifications for Office (Optional). The three (3) approved methods of submittal are detailed below. Documents received any other way will NOT be accepted.

  1. Hand Delivery (Appointment Only): Candidates may hand deliver the completed forms by scheduling an appointment with the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by emailing Clerk.ElectionAdmin@lacity.org. Candidates will be provided with an appointment between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (PT). The Office of the City Clerk – Election Division is located at Piper Technical Center, 555 Ramirez Street, Space 300, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
  2. Mail: Candidates may submit the completed forms via U.S. Postal Service using the paid-postage envelope provided along with the Election Notification.
  3. Email: Candidates may submit the completed forms via email to Clerk.ElectionAdmin@lacity.org.

The completed Notice of Intent must be received by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. (PT) on October 1, 2021.

Eligible voters will receive a ballot in the mail. Voters may choose to return their ballot via mail or may deposit it at the drop box located at the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division. Ballots received any other way will NOT be accepted. All completed ballots must be received by the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division by 5:00 p.m. (PT) on November 16, 2021 to be counted.

Sworn Employee Members of LAPD who become eligible within 30 days prior to the Special Election and wish to vote in the Special Election should obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (Certificate) from the Personnel Department. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. (PT) on November 5, 2021, after securing a Certificate, the newly eligible voter may contact the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division at (213) 978-0444 or by email at Clerk.ElectionAdmin@lacity.org to schedule an appointment to present themselves and receive a ballot.

The ballots will be tallied on November 18, 2021 in the presence of the observers designated by each candidate via livestream. The Office of the City Clerk – Election Division will furnish to the Board the official certified results of the election within 14 days after the date of election.

QUESTIONS – Inquiries regarding the election process may be directed to the Office of the City Clerk – Election Division at (213) 978-0444 or by email at Clerk.ElectionAdmin@lacity.org. Inquiries may also be directed to the Administrative Services Section of the Department of Fire and Police Pensions at (213) 279-3080.

Election Results – Police Department Employee Member Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners

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The term of the Board’s Police Department Employee Member, Commissioner Paul M. Weber, ends on June 30, 2020. An election was held on March 17, 2020 for this position. A candidate must have received the majority of all votes cast in order to have won the election. Commissioner Weber received 74.26% of the vote and will serve the term of office from July 1, 2020 until June 30, 2025.

Congratulations Commissioner Weber!

The Board normally meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 8:30 a.m. at the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions building at 701 E. Third Street, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Most meetings, including special and committee meetings, are from three to four hours in duration.

For a current list of Commissioners, please view the Board Directory. If you have any questions concerning the election results, please contact the Administrative Services Section of the Department of Fire and Police Pensions at (213) 279-3080.

Retired Fire Board Member Election Results

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LAFPP welcomes Commissioner Kenneth Buzzell, the newly-elected Fire Department Retired Employee Member of the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners! On October 5th, Commissioner Buzzell will be sworn-in at the Board meeting and fulfill his fiduciary responsibilities as a Board member.  

In September 2017, a special election was held to fill the vacancy created by former Commissioner Sam Diannitto, who retired from the Board after 42 years of unwavering service to System members. Commissioner Buzzell will serve the remaining 27 months of a 5-year term ending June 30, 2020.

Commissioner Buzzell retired from the Los Angeles Fire Department as a Fire Captain II, after 32 years of service. He served on the boards of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC), Local 112; the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF); the Los Angeles Retired Fire and Police Association (LARFPA); and the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS). 

Welcome Commissioner Buzzell and congratulations on your election!