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 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) retirees and their spouses or surviving spouses for dental services and/or hearing aids. These services and supplies are not covered by Medicare or the Medicare Supplement 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. 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 September 2022. You may apply for another grant of up to $2,500 in three years (September 2025).
2. You incurred dental expenses of $1,100 in December 2022, and the dentist said you would need additional dental work. You incurred an additional $1,250 in dental expenses in February 2023. You applied for and received a Retiree Medical Grant for $2,350 in March 2023. You may apply for another grant of up to $2,500 in three years (March 2026).
3. You incurred dental expenses of $750 in January 2022. Anticipating a need for hearing aids, you did not apply for the grant for the dental expenses because you may only apply once every three years. In May 2022, you incurred a $3,800 expense for hearing aids. You applied for and received a Retiree Medical Grant of $2,500 in May 2022. You may apply for another grant of up to $2,500 in three years (May 2025).

*Grants cover services incurred on or after July 1, 2019.

Eligibility

To qualify, you must

• be a retired member, spouse, or surviving spouse age 65 or older; and
• have a total household adjusted gross income that is less than $77,760 in 2023.

Additionally, you must meet one of the two 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.** Additionally, you must be enrolled in either Medicare Parts A and B and in a Medicare supplement plan or Medicare Advantage plan.
2. You participate in the Board's Medicare Supplement 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.