About VEBA Trust
VEBA Trust was created in 1984 to provide school districts in Washington with a method of providing supplemental benefits, particularly post-employment (retiree) medical reimbursement plans. VEBA Trust is a non-profit voluntary employees’ beneficiary association (VEBA) authorized under Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(9). VEBA Trust is operated for the benefit of public employees in the state of Washington and is managed by a board of trustees appointed by the plan sponsors: Association of Washington School Principals, Washington Association of School Administrators, and Washington Association of School Business Officials. Mission statement The VEBA Trust provides high-quality, tax-advantaged health reimbursement plans for public employees in Washington.
Belief statements · Plan offerings are supplemental to basic benefits · The Trustees provide effective leadership reflecting well-reasoned and prudent decisions in the best interest of all members · The Trust is compliant with regulatory requirements · Members receive excellent service · Trustees utilize professional service providers because of their expertise, experience and cost effectiveness · Members’ claims and insurance payments are processed quickly and efficiently · Members have reasonable choice of investments to reflect their personal preferences · Administrative costs are competitive · Trust growth is managed advantageously for members · Trustees seek feedback from members
In 1997, the state passed legislation to permit employees of community and technical colleges to participate in a medical expense plan funded with retirement sick leave cash out. The following year, legislation was passed to permit retirees of general government agencies and higher education institutions to participate in a medical expense plan funded with compensable unused sick leave at retirement. On March 19, 1999, VEBA Trust signed a personal services contract with the Washington State Department of Personnel to become the sole provider of a medical expense plan for participating general government agencies and higher education institutions.
VEBA Trust currently provides benefits to nearly 40,000 public employees and retirees in Washington. Participating employers include 280+ school districts; 30 community and technical colleges; and 80+ state agencies and higher education institutions.
An annual audit of VEBA Trust is performed by a certified public accounting firm.
Daily service is provided to employers and participants by two firms: Meritain Health, VEBA Trust’s third-party administrator, and VEBA Service Group, LLC, local service provider and plan consultant.
Meritain Health is responsible for providing customer service, claims processing, and participant account administration. Meritain Health is an experienced employee benefits administrator with highly trained staff specializing in health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) administration.
VEBA Service Group, LLC (VSG) provides on-site service to employers, including technical support, plan adoption/renewal assistance, group presentations, etc. In addition, VSG provides specialized consulting services to the Trustees and coordinates all VEBA Trust activities. VSG is known throughout the United States for its experience in providing VEBA and HRA consulting services since 1984.
VEBA Trust’s legal counsel, Russell Greenblatt of Katten Muchin Roseman LLP, is nationally recognized as a leader in the employee benefits field of VEBAs and HRAs. Before joining Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP in 1980, Mr. Greenblatt served as an Attorney Advisor with the Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations Division of the Office of Chief Counsel to the IRS (Washington, D.C.), during which time he was the principal author of the IRS regulations on VEBAs. Mr. Greenblatt’s experience brings employers and participants the highest level of legal expertise to ensure the VEBA Trust and Plan comply with complex federal tax regulations.
Three professional school organizations in Washington have sponsored VEBA Trust since 1984. Each of the sponsors appoints two trustees to serve on the board of trustees. VEBA Service Group, LLC prepares and delivers a periodic report to the sponsors’ executive directors and boards to keep them updated on VEBA Trust’s activities and status.
Association of Washington School Principals
Address:
Phone: (360) 357-7951 or 1-800-562-6100
Fax: (360) 357-7966
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Web site:
Executive director: Gary Kipp
Washington Association of School Administrators
WASA's membership includes more than 1,600 members and is open to all educational administrators in central office, building management and educational agency positions.
Address:
Phone: (360) 943-5717 or 1-800-859-9272
Fax: (360) 352-2043
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Web site:
Executive director: Paul Rosier The Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) leads, partners with, and trains school business professionals to deliver effective business services in support of quality education.
WASBO is a non-profit organization of school employees whose responsibilities include the business affairs of public and non-public schools. Members may be wholly or partially responsible for budgeting, school finance, accounting, and payroll; purchasing and supply management; maintenance and operations; data processing; school plant planning and construction; school food service management; transportation; and any other major areas of school business administration.
Address:
Phone: (360) 528-2025 or 1-800-524-4706 (Washington State only)
Fax: (360) 528-2028
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Web site:
Executive director:
Board of trustees The board of trustees is comprised of K-12 educators, specifically, school superintendents, principals, and finance directors. The board of trustees oversees all trust and plan operations and meets periodically throughout the year with its professional advisors and service providers to review trust and plan status, changes in regulations, etc. In addition, the investment consultant provides in-depth reviews and analysis of VEBA Trust’s investments.
Each of the three plan sponsors appoints two trustees. The trustees serve voluntary, two-year terms which may be renewed. The trustees are fiduciaries and have a duty to act prudently and in the best interest of all plan participants and beneficiaries.
Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) Paula Bond, Secretary & Treasurer Gordon Grassi Dr. Polly Crowley Dr. Steve Rasmussen, Chairman Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) John Knutson Back to top
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