Structuring and administering retiree health and OPEB plans can be challenging, especially when it comes to formulating an affordable, sustainable plan that offers the types of benefits that retirees desire. Best Best & Krieger LLP lawyers work closely with public agency clients, helping them arrive at the right balance of providing much-desired benefits and controlling retiree health liabilities. We design plans, as well as redesign them, and we provide guidance on effective funding practices. Whether our clients offer retiree health benefits directly or through the CalPERS health insurance system, we can find ways to help reduce expenses and enable them to meet their commitments.
With decades of experience representing hundreds of public agencies, we understand the regulations and obligations that public agencies face when it comes to retiree health and OPEB plans, and we are adept at delivering cost-effective viable solutions. Further, our experience has taught us what works and what doesn’t when it comes to union negotiations. This enables us to offer our clients practical guidance on union proposals and to obtain and maintain greater flexibility with respect to OPEB.
Although plans may be subject to California's “vested rights” doctrine, we can help find ways to:
- Substantially reduce or eliminate OPEB liability
- Fund liabilities
- Comply with the “equal contribution rule” under the Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act while establishing varying rates of employee and retiree cost-sharing for OPEB and health benefits
Areas of Focus:
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Areas of Focus:
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Pension Benefits | Private Representation: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Retiree Health & Other Post-Employment Benefits | Tax
Areas of Focus:
Business Litigation | Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Areas of Focus:
Business Litigation | Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Trusts & Estates
Areas of Focus:
Audits & Investigations | Compensation & Benefits for Elected Officials | Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Pension Benefits | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Retiree Health & Other Post-Employment Benefits
Areas of Focus:
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Areas of Focus:
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Pension Benefits | Public Agency Labor & Employment | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Retired Annuitant Employment | Retiree Health & Other Post-Employment Benefits
Areas of Focus:
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Public Sector: Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation | Tax
Event
Apr 09, 2020
The Role of Retirees in the COVID-19 Response
California Special Districts Association Webinar
Press Releases
Jul 19, 2018
Partners Roger Crawford and Isabel Safie Named Top Labor & Employment Lawyers
Daily Journal Releases Annual List of 75
Authored Articles & Publications
Jul 11, 2018
The Anticipated Demise of the Vested-Rights Doctrine
Cases Before State’s High Court Could Mean Big Changes for Retirement Benefits Writes Jeffrey Chang in PublicCEO
Jun 12, 2018
[WEBINAR] Preparing for Changes in the “Vested Rights Doctrine” - Understanding Plan Design Options
BB&K Webinar
BB&K Webinar
Jun 12, 2018
Preparing for Changes in the “Vested Rights Doctrine” - Understanding Plan Design Options
BB&K Free Webinar
Event
Feb 20, 2018
California Society of Municipal Finance Officers
Annual Conference
Client Successes
Feb 15, 2018
Settlement Reached with CalPERS on Behalf of Truckee
BB&K Represented Town in Negotiations
BB&K Webinar
Feb 13, 2018
Free Municipal Law Webinar Series from BB&K
Legal Issues that Matter Most to California Cities
Oct 19, 2017
[WEBINAR] The Art of Reducing OPEB Liabilities
BB&K Municipal Law Webinar Series
Client Successes
Oct 05, 2017
Connections the Key for Resolving CalPERS Issues
BB&K Partner Isabel Safie Helped Two Public Agencies Overcome Problems
Event
Aug 08, 2017
Public Sector Benefits 2017: Big Ticket Items You Need to Plan For
The Pun Group Accounting Conference
Press Releases
Aug 04, 2017
BB&K Welcomes Jeffrey Chang, Susan Neethling and David Allen to the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice
Additions Expand Services for Public Agency Employers