Retiree Medical Grants

Assistance for dental services and hearing aids

The Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions provides need-based grants of up to $2,500 once every three years to eligible retired plan members and their spouses or surviving spouses for dental services and/or hearing aids. These services and supplies are not covered by Medicare, the Medicare Supplement Plan (available until December 31, 2023), or the Humana Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan. Retiree Medical Grants are provided as reimbursements for documented, eligible expenses after services are rendered.

Amount

Each eligible retiree, spouse, or surviving spouse may receive one grant of up to $2,500, once every three years.

Maximizing reimbursement

The grant is paid as a single reimbursement of up to $2,500 for eligible expenses once every three years. Grants cover services incurred on or after January 1, 2019. You may apply to be reimbursed for a single expense or a combination of eligible expenses. To maximize reimbursement, wait until your receipts amount to or approach $2,500. 

Examples

1. You applied for and received a grant for $1,200 for dental expenses incurred in December 2020. You may apply for another grant of up to $2,500 in three years (December 2023).
2. You incurred dental expenses of $1,100 in August 2023, and the dentist said you would need additional dental work. You incurred an additional $1,250 in out-of-pocket dental expenses in December 2023. You applied for and received a Retiree Medical Grant for $2,350 in January 2024.

Eligibility

To qualify, you must

• be a retired member, spouse, or surviving spouse age 65 or older of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), an affiliated employer, or Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad (KPCA); and
  
• have a total household adjusted gross income that is less than $80,520 in 2024.

Additionally, you must meet the following criteria.

1. You receive a retirement or survivor’s pension with 15 years of participation in the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. You may receive up to a 10-year service credit if the retired member served PC(USA) congregations, mid councils, and/or agencies without enrollment in the pension plan and had at least five years of Defined Benefit Pension Plan participation, for a combined 15 years of service.*
   
2. You participated in the Board's Medicare Supplement Plan (available until December 31, 2023) and/or are enrolled in the Humana Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan.

You must be able to document the cost of the dental services and/or hearing aids along with any coverage (or lack of coverage) available through your medical coverage.

*For surviving spouses, this eligibility requirement refers to the deceased spouse's years of plan participation/service.

How to apply

• Complete the Retiree Medical Grant Application.
• Email the application and required documentation to memberservices@pensions.org.
• Be sure to include receipts for expenses.

The Board considers applicants’ financial and personal needs and resources when considering requests for assistance.

Requesting preapproval

Before you incur an expense and apply for a grant, you may request that the Board of Pensions predetermine whether the expense and financial need qualify for a Retiree Medical Grant. Simply submit an application with a copy of the itemized, estimated costs.

If you are preapproved, submit your receipt(s) after you receive the itemized services and the Board of Pensions will reimburse you the allowed amount.