4 PENSION PERSPECTIVES 2026 NON-MEDICARE RETIREE HEALTH SUBSIDY INCREASE On February 5, 2026, the Board of Fire and Police Pension Commissioners (Board) approved a 5.2% increase to the maximum non-Medicare health subsidy. Effective July 1, 2026, the new maximum is $2,523.00 per month. This subsidy maximum is applicable to retired members who are either under the age of 65 or age 65+ enrolled in Medicare Part B only. The new maximum subsidy will fully subsidize all Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association (LAFRA), Los Angeles Police Relief Association (LAPRA), or United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC) single-party and two-party non-Medicare plan premiums, as well as some family plan coverage levels for retired members with a non-frozen subsidy and at least 25 years of service. How did the Board determine the non-Medicare health subsidy increase? On May 2, 2024, the Board adopted a formula to determine the annual non-Medicare health subsidy increase. The formula, which was developed with input from Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association (LAFRA), Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), Los Angeles Police Relief Association (LAPRA), and United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC), determines future increases as the lesser of: 1 The average of the annual increase in the Los Angeles Medical Care Index published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as of the previous December and 7%; or 2 The maximum allowable increase to the Non-Medicare Health Subsidy pursuant to Los Angeles Administrative Code Section 4.1154(e). Based on this data, the Board approved a 5.2% increase to the maximum non-Medicare health subsidy. 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 retired members 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 Parts A and B health plan are not impacted by the maximum non-Medicare subsidy increase.
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