PPA
Pension Protection Act of 2006
The Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006 made some of the most dramatic changes to America's pension laws in decades.
The sweeping legislation was vast in scope and as a result impacted many saving and investment opportunities for retirees. One component of the PPA was the Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety (HELPS) provision.
This page focuses on how this enhancement impacts FPPA Retirees and their healthcare choices.
Healthcare Enhancement for Local Public Safety (HELPS) Provision
This component of the PPA grants eligible retired public safety officers an annual federal income tax exclusion of up to $3000 for amounts paid to cover the cost of qualified health insurance premiums on behalf of the member, his or her spouse, or dependents.
Information about member eligibility, how the tax exclusion is claimed, and options for direct payments are covered in this Q&A document.
Updates for SECURE 2.0 Act
With the passage of this legislation, Members are no longer required to pay premiums via pension payroll deduction. Learn more in this article from NCPERS.
Currently there are 2 health insurance program categories for which FPPA can make direct premium payments through deductions from a member's pension benefit:
There are several employer group health or FPPA-sponsored insurance programs for which FPPA is currently withholding and paying monthly insurance premiums for retirees.
Click here for a list of these group plans.
If you are an employer offering a group plan that is not listed or a member enrolled in an employer group plan that is not listed, we strongly encourage you to contact FPPA for more information as to how your group plan can qualify for participation in this program.
FPPA has made arrangements for the direct payment of insurance premiums for retirees enrolled in the AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans and/or the AARP MedicareRx Plans insured through UnitedHealthcare. The program is only available to FPPA members age 65 or over whose monthly insurance premium(s) do not exceed their monthly pension benefit.
Current UHC Policyholders
If you are already enrolled in an AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan and/or an AARP MedicareRx Plan insured through UnitedHealthcare and wish to enroll in the FPPA Premium Deduction Program, use the link below.
Current UHC Policyholders - Click Here
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Retirees Wishing to Enroll
If you wish to enroll in an AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan and/or an AARP MedicareRx Plan and wish to take advantage of the PPA tax exclusion, use the link below.